Top Ten Albums 09-11-09

1. "Poetry of the Deed" by Frank Turner
Maybe my album of the year, buy it and thank me later. Frank Turner is Morrisey as sung by the Flogging Molly, with the folky infusion of Against Me! In short he rocks, and on his third album he adds organ to an acoustic song like it's no big deal. And for him it isn't. Okay I take that back, maybe not Against Me! maybe The Pogues...or Billy Bragg "Try This At Home" just makes you want to pick a guitar and write, now THAT'S talent. After all, if he was hand-picked to open by Gaslight Anthen, who was just handpicked by Springsteen to open for him at Glastonbury, he's gotta be good, right? Most played: "Live Fast, Die Old", "The Poetry Of The Deed", and "Try This At Home"

2. "Daisy" by Brand New
They're baaacck...At first they were emo, then post-hardcore, then indie, now I'm not really sure but it sure sounds amazing. This deifinitely pulls together the best pieces of "Deja Entendu" and "God and the Devil Are Raging Inside of Me", with just enough new style to make this epic. After all how many bands can pull off a opera/screaming intro track and end with a 6 minute plus track with groans in the background and doppler effect like buzzing and have it be their most compelling work? Jesse Lacey may be an egotistical ass, but he has earned a renewal on that here. Most Played: "Noro" (that 6.5-minute opus), "Bed", and "Vices" (the intro).

3. "Yes!" by K-os
This is what hip-hop would sound like if rappers listened to jazz and lounge music instead of drum and bass. A couple songs keep it bumpin' but mostly the album just flows like a hip-hop jam session in a coffee place. And k-os' lyrics sound more like that of a beat poet than anyone you could mistake for being gangsta. Once again proving the Toronto, Canada scene is miles ahead of what everyone else in the genre is doing. Most played: "Eye Know Something", "Burning Bridges", and "Uptown Girl"

4. "The Blueprint 3" by Jay-Z
This has three songs so good, I've barely listened to the rest of the album none which is a current single. And none features superstars like Kanye and Rihanna like some of the other tracks. All of which will most likely be top 10 singles, if not number ones.  They. Are. That. Good. So which songs are these? Most played: "A Star Is Born (feat. J Cole)", "Reminder", and "Young Forever (feat. Mr Hudson)"

5. "The Sufferer and the Witness" by Rise Against
Maybe the deepest, most personal album for the best melodic hardcore band around. (For you old timers, that means they rock hard and actually sing well) And it's political too, the first single "Ready To Fall" has the band in a clearcut forest with scenes of ocean pollution and the second "Prayer Of The Refugee" is set in a big box store telling stories of the exploited workers. So give them a try, or at least look up some lyrics ("Hero of War" is a good start). An essiential band for progressives. Most Played: "Survive", "The Good Left Undone", and "Drones" (with it's excellent line; "If strength is borne from heartbreak, then mountains I could move")

6. "I Told You I Was Freaky" by Flight of the Conchords
The second album from the New Zeland musical comedy duo. But here instead of racist dragons they talk about sad rappers and time travel. "Rambing" is a love song with a bunch of put downs to the imagery (she looked like Parisian river "What? Dirty?"). Most played: "Hurt Feelings", "Rambling Through The Avenues of Time", and "Petrov, Yelyena, and Me" (a song about being cannibalised and poisoning your captors)

7. "(Breach)" by The Wallflowers
The masterwork from Jakob Dylan, son to Bob Dylan. Might not have gotten the airplay of their debut "Bringing Down The Horse" but it should have. Most played: "Hand Me Down" (about being Bob's son), "Some Flowers Bloom Dead", and "I've Been Delived"

8. "The Works" by Jonatha Brooke
Ani Difranco style lady covers love songs written by Woody Guthrie. Most played: "My Sweet and Bitter Bowl", "All You Gotta Do is Touch Me", "The Sweetest Angel"

9. "Sirens and Condolences" by Bayside
It rained a bunch last week and for whatever reason this album is my favorite thing to listen to in the rain. Most played: "Alcohol and Alter Boys", "Poison in My Veins", and "Masterpiece"

10. "More Betterness!!!" by No Use For A Name
A flashback to my more punk rock years, but still enough depth for another listen. Most played: "Let It Slide", "Chasing Rainbows", "The Fairytale of New York"