jonoellis.co.uk

Seems like an age since I last wrote a blog post – it’s been a busy year! I thought that it was about time for me to round up the music that I’ve been listening to in 2009, the final year of the Aughts. Maybe my resolution for next year should be to blog more!

So, without further ado, here is my list of the top music from 2009:

1. Frightened Rabbit – even though “The Midnight Organ Fight” was a 2008 album it hasn’t left my headphones all year. I can’t wait for “The Winter Of Mixed Drinks” to come out next year. The gig in the Queens Hall was one of the most memorable gigs. Ever.
2. Them Crooked Vultures – It would have been almost impossible for these guys not to have written a fantastic album but the real surprise for me was just how fun seeing them live was. I’m really looking forward to seeing if these guys take this further.
3. Mumford & Sons – I’m a bit gutted that I didn’t hear about this band sooner but Mumford & Sons sound sooooo sweet! Really worth a listen. Check them out now. Go. Stop reading this post. Go now!
4. Jónsi & Alex – Sigur Rós are one of my all time favourite bands and “Riceboy Sleeps”, the album from Jónsi’s  side project, is well worth a listen.
5. We Were Promised Jetpacks – “Quiet Little Voices” is sure to be a song that I’ll be putting on playlists for years to come. Great début album.
6. She & Him – another 2010 album to watch out for is “Volume Two”, the creatively named follow up to last year’s “Volume One”. Chilled out and quirky it’s sure to be a hit.
7. Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn - Not to be outdone by Zooey Deschanel as an actress that’s also in a band, Scarlette Johansson’s album is really chilled and is surprisingly listenable.
8. Weezer – the year started off listening to “Weezer” (June 2008) and flowed seamlessly into “Raditude” (which came out in November). Great to see 2 great albums come out in such quick succession.
9. Biffy Clyro – “The Captain”, the first single from the album of the same, is so very good.
10. The Twilight Sad – Although I can’t listen to too much Twilight Sad in one “Forget the Night Ahead” is a brilliant album, worthy of being on any of 2009′s top ten lists.

Top 5 TV shows:

1. True Blood – Best moment: the music
2. Q.I. – Best moment: Alan Davies
3. James May’s Toy Stories – Best moment: the joy on everyone’s faces as they revealed the life-size Airfix
4. Top Gear – Best moment: Caravan Blimp
5. Derren Brown – Best moment: the fact that he was the gorilla

Top 6 Films:

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Best moment: the fact that with each film the story gets darker and darker
2. Zombieland – Best moment: the cameo!
3. Star Trek – Best moment: the fact that the film actually delivered what most people wanted
4. Watchmen – Best moment: the filming
5. District 9 – Best moment: his transformation
6. Inglourious Basterds – Best Worst moment: hearing a girl in the cinema say “Is that a true story? Is that how World War 2 really ended?”

Top 8 gigs:

1. FRIGHTENED RABBIT!!!! – Best moment: hearing the entire audience sing every word along to an unplugged acoustic guitar
2. Death Cab For Cutie – Best moment: the encore
3. Them Crooked Vultures – Best moment: a one hour fifty minute gig from an album that lasts just over an hour
4. Jonathan Coulton – Best moment: A Talk With George was amazing but Birdhouse in your soul kicked ass
5. Tourists in the Warzone – Best moment: hearing just how good they were
6. Kiltreiser – Best moment: the banter
7. Come On Gang – Best moment: hearing the slickness
8. Queens Of The Stone Age – Best moment: the noise