A few of the crew turned in Top 10 Music of 2009 lists. This was originally suppose to be "Stones Throw not-eligable" but a couple slipped through the cracks.
PEANUT BUTTER WOLF'S TOP TEN SONGS FROM 2009
“Want You Back” – Nite Jewel
“Sofia” – A Grave With No Name
“24 Karat Love” – Monty Guy
“Summertime Clothes (DâM-FunK Remix)” – Animal Collective
“Good Looks” – Night Control
“I Can’t Let You Go Away” – Myron & E
“Feel It All Around” – Washed Out
“You Hear Colors” – CFCF
“It Don’t Matter At This Point” – Madlib
“Sonny’s Missing” – Raekwon
MAUREEN "MA DUKES" YANCEY TOP SONGS OF 2009
THE VERDICT-MADLIB & GUILTY SIMPSON
PARTY IN THE USA-MILEY CYRUS
IF YOU SEEK AMY-BRITTNEY SPEARS
BOOM-BOOM-POW -BLACK EYED PEAS
FOREVER -DRAKE
TIMELESS- ILLA-J
POKER FACE – LADY GA-GA
SINGLE LADY -BEYONCE
OBSESSED -MARIAH CAREY
CATALINA -RAEKWON
—THESE HAVE BEEN PLAYED OVER AND OVER IN THE HOUSE
LOVE, MADUKES
DAM-FUNK'S TOP ARTISTS OF 2009
Criteria: Sound, uniqueness, shows, hustle, bubble.
1. NITE JEWEL: The most beautiful music & videos made for her Good Evening LP, (which was re-issued this year) resulting in overdue broken rules, many shows around the world & respect. One of my favorite records of all time.
2. KAIDI TATHAM: 1 of the tightest musicians in the game; Kaidi dropped a HEAVY album in late '08 titled In Search Of Hope on Freedom School Records (Japan) which stayed in my DJ bag all of '09. Fantastic record!
3. THEO PARRISH: While smashin' worldwide via his unique DJ sets; he managed to move me deeply w/ his “Going Through Changes” B-side on Sound Signature in mid '09. Pure class.
4. FUNKINEVEN: Reppin' the new school of the London scene, this brutha came out hittin' on Eglo with his joint titled “Kleer” feat: Fatima on vocals. Modern-Funk biz that got the parties poppin' (as we say on the 'westside').
5. DEVONWHO: This talented cat who recently relocated to Los Angeles from the Portland, Oregon area has self released some nice works this year via comps and w/ his crew Klipmode. His joint “Looselydefined” was a staple in my sets throughout '09.
6. REGGIE B: “Belief”, which has been featured on Benji B's excellent radio show the latter part of this year (in CD-R form), is one of the hardest grooves to surface in late '09. Straight up Modern-Funkin' on foolz!
7. MONO/POLY: Nice 45 that came out this year on Fat City called “Oil Fields” that worked real nice in the beginning part of my sets throughout Europe, as well as in my exclusive mix for CLAE Footwear in '09. Fresh beats, chords & vibe. Hella tice groove to glide to.
8. JOKER: When I was in Europe this year throughout '09….I 'caught up'. “Digidesign"…'nuff said. Hyperdub!!
9. HAWTHORNE HEADHUNTERS w/ Coultrain: A group of talented cats from all over the Western to Mid-West section of the United States of America who are now loosely based outta Hawthorne, CA. In 09' they came out the gates hard w/ their 12” long player on HVW8 Records. “U Say” banged!
10. KYLE HALL: The young detroit based Kyle Hall caught me and my circle of friends ears this year w/ his unique production style, long tracks, and his DJ sets, which I recently discovered were hella tasty and on point via by my having him on the bill of my Los Angeles album release party for “Toeachizown” in Nov. of '09.
Overall…I'd say, it was a pretty enjoyable year of music. One I'll remember for a long time. Honorable mention goes 2: RED aka 'The Man Without The Machine' – he's on STONES THROW x HVW8, which results in an automatic cancelation for this list. RED straight KILLED it though!! Done deal.
TOP 5 'RADAR' for 2010:
SFV ACID, JIMIJAMES, PEARL HARBOR, NICKY B. (aka Nibby), MYNK RICHARDZ
Stay FREE!! – D-F
J.ROCC TOP 10 LIST
No order of course.
Mayer Hawthorne-Just Aint Gonna Work Out
Mr.Oizo – Gay Dentist
Mos Def – Roses f. Georgia Anne Muldrow
Blaq Poet – Whats the Deal?
Illa J – “Timeless
Raekwon – House Of Flying Daggers
Dam Funk – Killdatmuthafucka
J Dilla – 24k Rap f Havoc & Raekwon
De La Soul – Big Mouf
MF DOOM – Still Dope f. Starhh
JAMES PANTS TOP 10 FAVORITE 60'S SONGS FROM 2009
1. Cromagnon – “Caledonia”. This is off the "Orgasm" record from the late 60s. I was obviously quite late, but this is hands down the craziest tune I heard all year. Some Deicide or Ministry style vocals with a serious bagpipe section. And the drums!
2. Dick Dale & The Deltones – “Miserlou”. One of those tunes I can never seem to get sick of. This was one of the first songs my garage band covered when we were like 11 or so. Our name was "Astro Turf." Our version wasn't quite as good.
3. The Seeds – “Two Fingers Pointin' On You”. Sky Saxon has one of the best "badd" voice in rock. He hits that perfect strained sound, with almost a southern accent. The whole bands rhythm is perfect. Then he quit the band and joined some cult.
4. The Lost Weekend – “The Bridge of Love”. I found this 7" at Kstarke records in Chicago this year. My copy is super beat up, but this is one of the most emotional doo-wop ballads I've heard. In my next life, I'll be able to sing like this. Maybe.
5. Can – “Father Cannot Yell”. The Can song that started it all. Blah, blah, blah… How pretentious of me to put Can on a list. Oh well.
6. Alton Ellis – “I'm Still In Love”. The reggae song that started it all. At least that rhythm, anyways.
7. Bo Diddley – “Diddling”. This is super early 60s. Like 1960 exactly I think. It sounds like the noisiest sock hop party I've ever heard. Speaking of which, why won't promoters book me for my sock hop party? It's a hoot.
8. Sweetwater – “My Crystal Spider”. I'm a huge Doors fan, and these guys used to be the opening band for the Doors. This is hands down a great psych tune. The title is perfectly creepy because one time a spider laid eggs in my bed. True story.
9. Lord Melody – “Melvina”. I found this record at A1 in NYC this year. It's fairly X-rated calypso from the 1960s. Kind of a Satanic theme as well. I think the name of the album is "Mas Is Devil Power." All the right ingredients…
10. Ralph Lundsten – “Elektronisk Musik”. What would my list be without one of my electronic heroes? (I owe a big thanks to PBWolf for showing me this guy in the first place.) I think I found this record in Copenhagen. Actually, I know I did. I paid way to much for it too. But anyways… Ralph is one of the most innovative electronic artists out there. Pretty much all his instruments are homemade. Machines that could make sound based of facial images, and sexual tension and stuff. You know, the usual..
EGON'S FAVORITE AFRICAN REISSUES OF 2009
Sound clips of Egon's selections at NPR's Funk Archaeology
Various Artists – Ghana Special
BLO – Chapters & Phases Complete Albums 1973-75
Mulatu Astatke – New York, Addis, London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975
Amanaz – Africa
WITCH – Introduction
Ofege – Try and Love
Victor Olaiya's All Stars – Soul International
Various Artists – Legends of Benin
Tirogo – Float
SJOB Movement – A Move In The Right Direction
MAYER HAWTHORNE: ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
I'm an LP guy. I really appreciate and like to listen to a complete
album rather than a song here and there. So here, (in no particular
order) are my selections for albums of the year.
James Pants – Seven Seals.
An album is more than a collection of songs, it's a complete package.
Nobody delivered the complete package better than Pants. The music,
the artwork, the packaging, the videos, the CASSETTE?? come on! Seven
Seals is a mighty accomplishment and by far my favorite release yet
from JP.
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Like many people, I found out about this French group from a car
commercial. The combination of lead singer Thomas Mars' swagged out
vocals and the incredibly catchy, yet strange songwriting made them
one of my new favorite bands.
Empire of The Sun – Walking on a Dream.
I'm cheating a little on this one as the CD says 2008, but Soundscan
says 2009 so I'm rollin with it. These songs are just so damn good.
Timeless melodies that are anthemic but not cheesy. Still on repeat on
my ipod.
The Bird and The Bee – Rayguns Are Not Just The Future.
Inara George has the illest harmonies in the game. I loved their last
album as well, but they really stepped up the production this time
around.
Jon Brion – Synecdoche, NY.
Sir Jon is one of the true musical geniuses of this generation. His
compositions for this soundtrack to the Charlie Kaufman film are not
only brilliant but entirely listenable as an album.
The XX – XX.
Excellent, minimal, but warm production and good songwriting win
again. The whole album is extremely mellow, but is a great listen from
start to finish. Bonus points for the die-cut vinyl jacket.
Little Dragon – Machine Dreams.
This one really grew on me. The futuristic beats knock and the vocal
performances are great. Score one for Sweden.
Silversun Pickups – Swoon.
I heard this record while shopping at Amoeba and had to ask what it
was. Great from end to end and it reminds me a lot of one of my all
time favorite albums, The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream.
Dam-Funk – Toeachizown.
Dam is in a class of his own. The sound is so new and fresh and his
feel and timing is so incredible. Joints like "Killdat", "Hoodpass"
and "10 West" are instant classics that you CANNOT sit still to. The
album hits like a charging rhino – Funk, or get out of the way.
Grizzly Bear – Vekatimest.
The Brooklyn Bears were unstoppable in '09. A beautiful and cohesive
album that is both instantly gratifying and more appreciated over
time. Their live show is also top notch.
SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION
goes to Norwegian singer/songwriter Hanne Hukkelberg who is probably
my artist of the decade, but I haven't had the chance to dive into
her new album.
