There is still something to be said about releasing a great single, and I’m not just talking about the A side…

The Great Pumpkin favorite 7″s of 2009

10.) Slumberland‘s Searching for the Now Vol. 5 (Liechtenstein split 7″ w/ The Faintest Ideas)

Liechtenstein might be the show that I’m most disappointed that I missed this year, and this 7″ would have made my top ten for “This Must Be Heaven” alone.

[mp3] Liechtenstein- “This Must Be Heaven”

• Buy Searching for the Now Vol. 5 here.
• gprecs posts on Liechtenstein can be found here.

9.) The Mayfair Set- “Already Warm//Desert Fun”

One of many great 7″s released by Captured Tracks in 2009, and the combination of Dum Dum Girls and Blank Dogs. I can’t say that I liked the 12″ as much as the 7″, but I’m hoping this wasn’t their peak…a great 45.

[mp3] The Mayfair Set- “Already Warm”

• Buy it here.
• Mayfair Set’s website.

8.) Kurt Vile- Fall Demons

Released by Skulltones in an extremely limited quantity (375 copies, and 25 test presses).  Almost a proper EP at five songs.  One of many releases by KV that I loved this year.  Thanks to Permanent for saving me a copy.

[mp3] Kurt Vile- “Summer Demons”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Kurt Vile can be found here.

7.) Ganglians- “Blood on the Sand// Make it Up”

The second Captured Tracks release to make this list.  I couldn’t have asked for a better follow up to Monster Head Room.

[mp3] Ganglians- “Blood On the Sand”

• Buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Ganglians can be found here.

6.) Best Coast- Make You Mine

The first official release of Group Tightener Records, and a great one at that.  I was able to grab a copy right before it sold out.

[mp3] Best Coast- “Make You Mine”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Best Coast can be found here.

5.) Magic Kids- “Hey Boy//Good To Be”

These kids make pop from another time, and Goner Records is very lucky to have them.  Expect big things in 2010.

[mp3] Magic Kids- “Hey Boy”

• buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Magic Kids can be found here.

4.) Real Estate- Suburban Beverage

The record that started it all for both Real Estate and Underwater Peoples Records.  Nice people and good music.

[mp3] Real Estate- “Suburban Beverage”

• out of print.
• buy Real Estate’s self titled LP here (includes almost all of these songs).

3.) Young Governor- “Virginia Creeper// I’m A Mess”

Plastic Idol Records put out this great 45 of punk pop by Ben Cook of Fucked Up.  I don’t know why, but I seem to like everything Cook is involved with except for Fucked Up…at least he has enough projects to keep me busy.

[mp3] Young Governor- “Virginia Creeper [edit]“

• buy it here (this has to be almost sold out).
• gprecs post on Young Governor can be found here.

2.) Julian Lynch // Ducktails split 7″

Julian Lynch and Ducktails are two of my favorite discoveries of 2009, and I can thank Underwater Peoples for this.  Oh yeah, and Julian has to be one of the nicest dudes ever.

[mp3] Ducktails- “Parasailing”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Ducktails can be found here.
• gprecs posts on Julian can be found here.

1.) Sic Alps- “L Mansion// Super Lungs My Supergirl”

Another beautiful 7″ put out by Slumberland.  I have to say that I’ve seen Sic Alps, and when I did they were not a band I cared for, but after reading about this 7″ I picked it up and was totally blown away.  I can’t wait to hear what comes out of this band in the future…this is one fucking great 45.

[mp3] Sic Alps- “L Mansions”

• buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Sic Alps can be found here.
  • 2/10/10- sorry I just fixed the link to this song. it was another sic alps track until now.

Thanks for reading…I’m getting behind on these best of posts, and they are a little intimidating to do, but I’m going to keep with it…two more…EPs and LPs.  Bare with me while I deal with this last graduate application and the crazy awfulness that is my job…but more is to come.  thanks again.

Links:

• more Best Of posts can be found here.

Welcome to Vol. 2 of Speed Dating.

This is something I’m going to try to keep up with even while my other posts slack off over the holiday season (yes, my posts are going to dwindle to just a couple a week)…but that’s ok. I’m probably going to stop doing my weekly recs post because I would rather have actual posts on the blog rather than out dated event listings…but other than that content will remain the same…just less of it.

I’m pretty excited to post about these three bands being that they all have been running around in my head for a while. I hope you enjoy too.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Named after two things that I really like sandwiches and ummmm anything paranormal I have to say these ladies would have made it on to my iPod independently of the fabulous scene that surrounds them…but the fact of the matter is that The Sandwitches roll in the same scene as Thee Oh Sees, Tim Cohen, and Sonny and the Sunsets, as well as share members with Fresh and Onlys, and Brilliant Colors… this only points to good things. Twangy riffs coming out of the head phones totally caught me off guard, but I kept on listening. From the twangy bluesy guitars to the chorus-ey, at times doo-wop esque, vocals the Sandwitches seem to be bringing some fresh new sounds that actually sound pretty old with hints of blues, country, and a hint of rhythm and blues.   Look forward to seeing what is on the horizon from them…if their cohorts are any indication we should expect to be bombarded with Sandwitches vinyl in 2010.  The Sandwitches have  already started with the release of an LP on Endless Nest, titled How to Make an Ambient Sad Cake, this year that I’m beginning to think I should be tracking down.

[mp3] The Sandwitches- “Fire” (via rstb)
from How to Make an Ambient Sad Cake
buy it here.

Magic Kids have been spinning quite often on my turntable since I picked up the Hey Boy 7″ at the WFMU record fair (and for only $2 at that!), and again more music being made today that feels like it could have been many many years ago. Magic Kids are putting their own touch on a throwback to ’60s pop, and I don’t think it can get any catchier. Magic Kids are on Goner Records in the US, and Rough Trade picked them up in the UK…here is what sparked my interest:

[mp3] Magic Kids- “Hey Boy”
from Hey Boy 7″
buy it here.

I thought that it could only go down hill with a debut single as strong as “Hey Boy,” but the second single hit the interweb a couple weeks ago…called “Superball” it is also a really strong showing in the same vein as the first single and b-side. I’m glad a got the first single, and can’t wait to see what they do with an LP. Rough Trade is proclaiming “Hey Boy” to be the best song of 2009.

[mp3] Magic Kids- “Superball”
from their upcoming split with Smith Westerns on Fat Possum
it will eventually be available here

klk has been telling me to listen to Field Music for years (probably literally), and for some reason it has never happened until now. I downloaded the the track “Measure” from their to be released album, and all I have to say is that I don’t know why I waited so long.   I’m pretty sure there is an album or two lurking on our hard drive, and I think it’s time to dig them out.  I can’t wait to see what I have missed from the past couple of years from David and Peter Brewis, who seem to be a phenomenal song writing duo.  Overall just really well done indie pop, and that is just the type of thing that I have been in the mood for lately…maybe I need to catch them when they play the Bell House on December 3rd (tickets here)?

[mp3] Field Music- “Measure” (via mbv)
from their forth coming album due out 2/16/10
more info on it at Memphis Industries.
buy Field Music’s other releases here.

This is it for Speed Dating this week…hope to have another installment up next week.

Links:

• more Speed Dating here.