Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself

Kill Rock Stars

Jamie Stewart's best LP since his classic 2004 LP, Fabulous Muscles. It is also his first since the departure of longtime collaborator Caralee McElroy (she's in the shit-hot Cold Cave now.) Wearing his poppier influences on his sleeve (Morrissey, Bjork), Stewart has made his most accessible, consistent, and cohesive album to date.

These New Puritans - Hidden

Domino

TNP follow up their excellently angular debut, with an even tastier disc adding everything from military and Dubstep-inspired beats, lush orchestration, and jazz piano to choral sections and waves of synths. Kinda like Horse Rotovator-era Coil meets The Fall in 2012.

Sixx - Sister Devil

NWN! productions

Sixx’s Sister Devil is a starkly excellent yet nearly-forgotten Deathrock recording from 1991 by the members of San Francisco cult (and largely considered America’s first) Black Metal band, Von. Sister Devil features Murky Deathrock that retains lo-fi bleakness and the Satanic bent of Von’s now infamous and highly influential demo recordings. Sister Devil has threads of early Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Samhain, early Xmal Deutschland, and The Cure.

Ruby Throat - Out Of A Black Cloud Came A Bird

Sleepslikewolves

Folk-Noir duo's sophomore album. Katiejane Garside's unsettling and psycho-sexual fairytale-stylings covered in ethereal-psychedelic dream-wrap courtesy of Chris Whittingham's instrumentation. Her voice is equal parts PJ Harvey, Alison Shaw (Cranes), and Hope Sandoval -- though sometimes a bit of Diamanda's babelogue madness creeps in.

Brigitte Fontaine - Prohibition

Polydor

Her best album in many years. Produced by Ivor Guest who also helmed Grace Jones' excellent 2008 comeback LP, Hurricane. No surprise here then, Jones makes an awesome and freaky cameo. Incendiary, switched on, and celebratory.

Moon

Ground Control to Major Tom. Go figure, Ziggy Stardust's son has made an instantly classic existential Science Fiction film about an astronaut on the moon. Sam Rockwell rules, as does Clint Mansell's first-rate score. Gorgeous and totally affecting.

Let The Right One In (Theatrical Subtitles Edition)

Did you buy this movie when it first came out on DVD? Well then PLEASE buy the recently re-released "Theatrical Subtitles" edition - otherwise you are missing out. This reissue features the correct English subtitles as seen in the original theatrical presentation. The original DVD release featured a dumbed-down, lazy (likely cheaper) translation that truly slaughtered the film's wonderful dialogue. Really! The old version is no good! Get this far superior version!

Julia

Tilda Swinton is god. At the time of this writing, the Oscar nominations have not been announced, but it's unlikely Swinton was nominated for this under-appreciated-but-totally-killer kidnapping drama/thriller whose "protagonist" is an alcoholic kidnapper. Her performance is completely spellbinding through the film's awesomely torturous, never-ending, and nerve-wracking plot twists. Don't sleep on this one!

The House Of The Devil

Stylised, spot-on homage to '80s Satanic B-horror flicks right down to the John Carpenter-esque soundtrack, continuity errors, and the presence of Mary Woronov!

Dollhouse - Season 1

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon returns with a much darker sci-fi universe for examining our existince. As with Firefly, Dollhouse was given the axe too soon by the network. The second and final season should also be on DVD soon. Whedon's usual "band of misfits" is here in this Sci-Fi/Drama/Action epic with his characters drawn as damaged and complex as ever. Buffy series regular Eliza Dushku stars as a programmable human named Echo with Olivia Williams as the super ice queen, "Dollhouse" manager/pimp, Adelle DeWitt. Get Season 1 & 2. Think of it as a really awesome 26-hour movie.

tip: Bands To Watch For:  Feral Kross, Death Domain.

Bill Orcutt - A New Way To Pay Old Debts

Palilalia Records

Harry Pussy guitar hero goes acoustic after more than a decade of silence. His playing is a crushingly beautiful hybrid of Sonny Sharrock-style abandon and Joseph Spence's stomp. Already considered one of the premier solo guitar LPs of all time in my world.

Jim O'Rourke - The Visitor

Drag City

This record is the perfect summation of what Jim O'Rourke is all about. One long track that could be a lost John Fahey record arranged by Van Dyke Parks. Jim apparently played every instrument on this puppy himself, which is pretty damn impressive. Totally worth the wait.

Best Coast - When I'm With You b/w This Is Real

Black Iris

I'm not sure I want to know too much about this band, and I'm fairly certain they won't be able to live up to all the hype, but When I'm With You will not unlodge itself from my brain. Sunny and fuzzy and dumb and catchy...kind of a perfect pop song.

The Vulcans - Star Trek

Trojan

This isn't new and I think the CD may actually be out of print, but it's new to me and in heavy rotation in my car. I had no idea there was a sci-fi themed, Moog/reggae (mooggea, anyone?) record out there, but I finally found this thing and it makes me insanely happy. And yes, I realize that combination may sound awful, but trust me...it's awesome!

Broadcast - Mother Is The Milky Way

Self Released

More electro pagan-pop musique concrete from my favorite UK duo. I've loved this band from the get-go, but they've been on an extra hot streak since trimming the fat and releasing their masterpiece Tender Buttons. Those Stereolab comparisons seem pretty silly now, huh? Also, not sure why the band would put out something this great in a limited, tour-only edition, but I don't make the rules.

tip: Long Beach. We totally have everything down here except an Amoeba. Also, even though it was made in 2001, the first Strokes record is without question the finest pop/rock album of 2010.   

Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe

Mute/EMI

Piano Magic - Ovations

Darla Records

Der Blutharsch - Flying High!

WKN

Matias Aguayo - Ay Ay Ay

Kompakt

Rome - Flowers From Exile

Cop International

Systems Officer - Underslept

Temporary Residence

Werkraum - Early Love Music

Ahnstern

Irmin Schmidt - Filmmusik Anthology, Vol. 4-5

Mute U.S.

Les Paradisiers - More Tales From The Garden

Disques de Lapin

Ben Frost - By The Throat

Bedroom Community

Throbbing Gristle - Gristleism

Industrial Records Ltd.

Brett Anderson - Slow Attack

B A Songs

UnicaZurn - Temporal Bends

uZu Music

Rowland S. Howard - Pop Crimes R.I.P.

Liberation Records

Kraftwerk - Reissues

Astralwerks

Cluster - Reissues

Bureau B/Forced Exposure

Roky Erickson & The Aliens - The Evil One

Sympathy For The Record Industry

It took me a minute to get lifted up by The 13th Floor Elevators. It took me another minute to develop a taste for Roky's solo output. The available recorded material is not only finite, but highly limited. Dig!Dig!Dig! Time is obsolete. Time is over. Time is NOW. - As for RIGHT NOW, I cannot stop listening to this record... This is pure transcendental sanity-splitting ROCK MUSIC, directly from a tormented soul. It will torment your soul. It will burn. Fire. Demons. Evil. ... (Check out the movie "You're Gonna Miss Me" as well, but ONLY AFTER dwelling into the music.)

Dinosaur Jr. - Farm

Jagjaguwar

How good is this album. Just how good is it. Oh how good. VERY.

Inquisition - "everything by this band"

No Colours

Formerly of Colombia. Now of Washington State. This two-piece is the best black metal band out there. In the world. (I saw them live and they wasnt fakin it.) Their music is morbidly beautiful and unforgivingly raw and majestically satanic. Xtian extermination. Devil invokation. Bliss. Laugh.

Throneum - "everything by this band"

varies

THRONEUM is a Polish 2-piece. Savage shit. Do you like both DARKTHRONE and ABSCESS? - Do you like THRONEUM? Yes YOU DO.

tip: I recommend BEING ALONE.
U-8-C.com

Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights

Load Records

The Jesus Lizard - Touch & Go Reissues

Touch & Go

Food Inc.

The Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Warner

Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

Drag City

XX - XX

Matador

Best album of the year!! A debut album from a male/female fronted band that masters the art of subtlety. The restraint used while making this album just shows how talented they really are. Hopefully nothing but great things to come from this new UK band!!! I bought this record three times this year as gifts. I suggest you buy it for yourself!!!

Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones

Anti

Best breakthrough album. It's a lovechild of the Vince Guaraldi Trio (Charlie Brown Fame), Elliott Smith, and garage rock...Add a dash of The Cramps?...The creepy lyrics along with the feet stompin' rock backed by the Children's Choir from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music is really like a breath of fresh air the day after it rains in LA!!! Seriously, breakthrough record 2009.

Frank Fairfield - Frank Fairfield

Tompkins Square

Best New Artist. Frank Fairfield is a local LA artist that jams armed with his banjo and pocket watch! Just after getting off tour with The Fleet Foxes, his ancient folk music comes alive on his debut album. If you are lucky enough to catch him in person I highly suggest doing so!

Gossip - Music for Men

Columbia

Best Pop Album. NME reviewed and quoted, "they will look back on this record and say it's the record they should have never made." I say... Eff that!! This is a solid record. It is very different from their usual style but artists need to be able to grow. Plus having their first major label debut produced by Rick Rubin is the icing on this triple-layer pop cake!!

Tom Petty - Live Anthology

Reprise Records

Best Oldie But Newbie. This 4-LP set uses tracks taken from various concert dates from 1981 through 2005!  It's so fabulous that you can't even tell which track is '81 and which are early 2000s. Some of the tunes are from early Petty to Full Moon Fever to Wildflowers. This live anthology will make the perfect gift for the Tom Petty fanatic!!

Lady Gaga

Best Concert 2009. LADY GAGA!!! I know, I know...right?! Her production alone makes the frequent concert-goer question where the ticket revenue from every other show they've seen has gone...From using old school Pink Floyd laser and smoke tricks, to a perspective distorting stage set up, crazy costume changes, along with the classical piano interlude...who would not like it?! It's a great time for you and your mom!!!

The N.E.C. - Is

Double Phantom

A thick shag carpet of dark, murky, minimalist psych rock guitars. Plus it's available on cassette.

Abby Go Go/Carnivores - Split

Double Phantom

The two Abby Go Go songs - "The Lost Song" and "Nothing All the Time" - are well worth seeking out on this split. Noisy, narcotic, groove gritty, garage rock, shoegazers.

All The Saints - MySpace

Killer Pimp

A shoe-gazing sheen, with a coat of grunge, spirals, rumbling tom tom drums, woozy, stomping, and spaced-out with a dense psych aesthetic. ATS debut Fire on Corridor X (2008), was sometime ago and with Touch & Go hiatus it might be awhile before ATS gets a new record out, but if you go to their MySpace page there is a good amount of new music and video.

The Strokes - Is This It

RCA

I'm not sure why, but this is hands done my favorite 2010 record. Released back in the summer of 2001. My advice look for the booty & glove cover with "NYC Cops."

Spoon - Transference

Merg

Another great album from Britt & co.

Henry "Junjo" Lawes - Volcano Eruption: Reggae Anthology

Greensleeves

Essential 2-CD/1-DVD set is the ultimate tribute to the man behind Volcano Records. The bonus DVD includes a documentary chronicling the label, sound system, and its large roster of artists, plus a 30-minute vintage live dancehall session of the Volcano posse in Jamaica circa 1984.

Popular Piano Works - Erik Satie

Aldo Ciccolini

For me, no one comes close to interpreting Satie as superbly as Aldo Ciccolini. Purity, delicacy, feeling, strength, and power when it is called for.

Brownout - Aguilas and Cobras

Six Degrees

Austin, TX funk rock band Brownout are back. Featuring members of Grupo Fantasma (including Adrian Quesada of the Ocote Soul Sounds), these guys have been backing up Prince for some of his live performances. The track "Nawlins" is an afrofunk stomper, while the cover of El Chicano's "Tell Her She's Lovely" reminds me of the Poets of Rhythm's first record. A really great listen from start to finish. I recommend this for fans of War, Mandrill, Malo, Santana, or Bronx River Parkway. Get this!

Fat Freddy's Drop - Dr. Boondigga and the Big BW

!K7

New Zealand artists Fat Freddy's Drop return with another set of moody dubbed out soul. Great vocals and horn arrangements make this a sweet listen. Standout tracks include "Pull the Catch," "The Camel" featuring Alice Russell, and my personal favorite, "The Raft." I recommend this one for fans of the Lions, Jazzanova, Alice Russell, Natural Self or Nostalgia 77.

La Roux - La Roux

Cherrytree Records

New wave indie electro pop sounds from UK duo La Roux. Influenced by the Human League, Prince, David Bowie, Madonna & the Knife. La Roux's debut album is full of catchy hooks and stripped down synth melodies. It's a fun listen throughout. Dubstep fans should already know the Skream remix of "In For the Kill," which was a huge crossover hit last year. For fans of Hot Chip, Hercules & Love Affair, Junior Boys and perhaps MIA or Santigold. I'm looking forward to hearing her collaboration on the much anticipated Flesh Tone album from Kelis.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program

Preservation Hall

Just in time for Mardi Gras comes a benefit for New Orleans jazz institution Preservation Hall. The complete roster of guest artists includes: Louis Armstrong, Andrew Bird, Terence Blanchard, Pete Seeger, Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandi Carlile, Cory Chisel, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Richie Havens, Jason Isbell, Jim James, Angelique Kidjo, Amy LaVere, Anita Briem, Del McCoury, Buddy Miller, Paolo Nutini, and Tom Waits. Support New Orleans and the legacy of American music. Check them out online and find out more on how to get involved at www.preservationhall.com.

Gamorrah

A gritty Italian film about organized crime and corruption. Recommended for fans of The Wire, The Godfather, etc.

CHOPS

I'm looking forward to seeing this one. This documentary film follows some of the best and brightest high school jazz musicians across the country as they prepare for a performance at the Lincoln Center in NYC. Featuring Wynton Marsalis. See this film and share it with the young folks in your life. Look for this one with the music DVDs in our world famous Jazz Room. P.S. - Happy 5th Birthday Noah and Ethan!

Alice Russell - Pot of Gold Remixes Volumes 1 & 2

101 Distribution

UK soul singer Alice Russell returns with a massive set of remixes from her Pot of Gold album. While her previous albums featured electronic and sample based productions from Tru Thoughts recording artists TM Juke & Quantic, Pot of Gold is her first solo album with a full studio band. The whole album gets a makeover with many songs being remixed several times by different producers. Some of the standouts are remixes by J-Boogie, Mr. Scruff, DJ Vadim, Kid Gusto, the Greenwood Rhythm Coalition, Ohmega Watts, Ticklah, Yellowtail, DJ Day & Clutchy Hopkins. Be sure to check out her live show because her voice is a truly impressive instrument that needs to be heard in person to be fully appreciated. For fans of soul, hip-hop and electronica.

Man On Wire

This is the true story of a brilliant tightrope walker from France determined to do the impossible by walking between the World Trade Center towers. Easily one of the most thrilling and compelling movies of 2009. This one is not to be missed. It is an amazing triumph of human will and passion.

Yo Gabba Gabba!: Meet My Family

Away We Go

Maya Rudolph (SNL) and John Krasinski (The Office) play an expecting couple searching to find a home to raise a family. A great cast including Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Paul Schneider, Carmen Ejogo, Chris Messina, Melanie Lynskey, Josh Hamilton, Jim Gaffigan, and a stand out performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal make this one worth your time.

Yo Gabba Gabba! - Music Is Awesome!

Filter U.S.

Performances from The Roots, Biz Markie, The Shins, Chromeo and many more make this the hippest set of children's music around. If you dig this check out Aaron LaCrate's Da Club Kid's EP which features some of Baltimore's youngest MCs doing it for the kids.

Various Artists - Daptone Gold

Daptone

A great collection of recordings from the first 10 years of Daptone Records. Featuring lots of outstanding tunes from Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Lee Fields and the Expressions, the Budos Band, Antibalas & the Menahan Street Band. If you're a fan of classic soul sounds, afro funk, or hip-hop sample sources then you ought to own this. Also check out The Bamboos, The El Michels Affair, and LA's The Lions and Breakestra for more heavy funky soul sounds.

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My favorite movie of 2009.