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The 2009 Year-End Crazy Ambition
Member Since: 4/6/2007
Posts: 25,604
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5/6
I only didn't hear about Slayer.
Out Of Ashes. 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2001
Posts: 7,772
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Quote:
Originally posted by KarlosVzla
I know 
Muse better be here somewhere........ |
LMMFAO, I had to look up at my post cause I was like, "did I really say that?"
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Member Since: 2/22/2008
Posts: 46,108
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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The YECA: Top Ten Albums of 2009 (10-6)
Quote:
Originally posted by Master Shake
LMMFAO, I had to look up at my post cause I was like, "did I really say that?"
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Yes. Yes, you did. 
Quote:
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As for your excuses about football, there were a ton of fantastic finishes yesterday so I don't blame you.
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Yeah, including a game that my team was involved in...that I refuse to talk about. 
And if you guys are complaining about never having heard *these* albums, just wait until we get into the top five. That won't be the case in this group, though. I guarantee that all of you have heard at least one of these, whether you liked the album or not!
A Yeah Yeah Yeahs album made my top ten. Finally. It's Blitz! is driven as far as Karen O takes it, and, god, does she ever. Listen to the urgency of "Heads Will Roll". Without Karen's unique vocals, those frantic feelings are not as profound. The most important factor, however, is how the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are able to balance the softer music with the harder material.
"Hysteric" is one of the most beautiful songs of 2009, in my honest opinion, and a song that should be heard by everyone. "Softshock" is similarly beautiful, and it feels like the kind of song I can see myself chilling out to often. But the star of this album is "Zero", a song that finally gives the Yeah Yeah Yeahs their first anthem since "Maps" enslaved the world five years ago. Unlike "Maps", though, it truly gets the heart pumping and the pulse pounding, and, if you find yourself dancing to the song, "Zero" has truly done its job.
Favorite Songs: Zero, Hysteric, Softshock
I never thought I would see the day that the lead singer of the Strokes would be involved in a list of my favorite *albums* of the year, but here we are, and Phrazes for the Young is AWESOME. It single-handedly got me into The Strokes full-time, as well as inspired another minor tweak of my music taste. It helps that the music itself sounds like it truly came from 2009 (or even could have come from the future), posing as an alternative to The Strokes' more laid back and old school feel. As a first solo effort, I would say it's close to being on par with Serj Tankian's Elect the Dead, if not exactly on par.
Casablancas has some messages to send in his material on this album, including reminding us that it's almost impossible to get people to realize the problems that plague the world today, but the main focus is the music itself. It truly sounds like the music of the future. "River of Brakelights" is a feast for the musically enlightened, with constant tempo changes and a truly uplifting chorus. "11th Dimension" may be one of the catchiest songs of the last five years, let alone this year. "Out of the Blue" sounds like the best Strokes songs, only with even more frantic feelings, as well as a chorus that could move mountains. It's just amazing that it took me this long to see the beauty of The Strokes, and, by proxy, Julian Casablancas. It's not that JC and The Strokes are out there to "sound" hip. They just are.
Favorite Songs: Out of the Blue, River of Brakelights, 11th Dimension
Onto a less surprising top ten entry, as AFI is a staple of my year-end countdowns. In 2009, Crash Love was handed down to us by the music gods, and it was good. Damn good, actually. There was talk of this being AFI's "Black Album", and I can see the comparisons. One thing that Crash Love also feels like is a mini-retrospective of their past albums and success.
Some songs, like "Sacrilege", sound like they could have been made six years ago and made the now classic Sing the Sorrow. Others, like "Too Shy to Scream", harken to a more Decemberunderground-like sound, while also adding new techniques and sounds to separate it from their past music. However, the thing that I like the most about Crash Love is how it truly feels IMPORTANT. "Beautiful Thieves" just sounds like it matters, like it will bring something more to the table than your average song, and it feels like an anthem waiting to happen. The comparisons to Metallica's landmark album are there. Oh, one more comparison: the Black Album? Contrary to what people would have you believe, it's damn good, too.
Beautiful Thieves, Sacrilege, End Transmission
Okay, I have the daunting task of talking about why this album is an incredible piece of work. The first thing that I have to do is explain the album's premise, because it will help give you some insight as to how insane Mastodon really is. Here goes: A paraplegic can only travel through astral means. When he tries, however, he gets too close to the sun, and he loses an umbilical cord attached to his solar plexus. He gets lost in space and sucked into a wormhole, only to end up in the spirits realm. The spirits send him to a Russian cult, and they decide they are going to help him...by putting the soul of Rasputin into his body.
Yeah. There's more to it than that, but I think that's enough to give you an idea of just how out there Mastodon's messages and meanings really are. Thankfully, the music itself is incredible. "The Czar" is one of the most mind-blowing songs of the last couple of years, as it takes you on a roller coaster ride that is hard to come down from. "Divinations" rocks harder than most songs could dream of doing, as well as featuring one of the most memorable choruses of 2009. "Oblivion" is the closest Mastodon has come to making something *gasp* MAINSTREAM. Their music has taken the next step to immortality. Now, the new question: will their pretentiousness keep them from their ultimate glory?
Favorite Songs: The Czar, Divinations, The Last Baron
It's amazing to think that it has come to this for Paramore in three albums. Over the first two albums, they found themselves maturing exponentially, in different ways. On Brand New Eyes, however, their maturity has come full circle, and it reflects both the music and the lyrics. One thing that this album quite clearly tries to distance itself from is the innocence and the naivity that, for the most part, roamed the first two Paramore albums, as the third album is more down to earth and grounded.
Another important thing to point out is that this album, quite simply, rocks. Literally. Riot! was a great showcase for what bands of Paramore's genre can accomplish, but Brand New Eyes starts viciously, especially for a pop-rock band, with "Careful" and "Ignorance" lighting a dark flame that only extinguishes for a few moments. Of course, you also cannot mention a Paramore album without mentioning Hayley Williams, who comes through yet again with solid vocal after solid vocal. I have stated in the past that she is a robot in human form, with a voice that moves mountains. Well, listen to "All You Wanted" and tell me that opinion should be changed. I'll wait.
Favorite Songs: Careful, All I Wanted, Ignorance
The next update, which may still come tonight, will feature albums 5-3. 5-3 will feature an album that everyone knows and two albums that very few people know, especially here on ATRL. Have fun guessing what's in this block. I guarantee that no one will get the order right, especially. 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 11/6/2002
Posts: 10,641
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs, AFI, Paramore, and Mastodon in the same set...MADNESS!
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Member Since: 4/6/2007
Posts: 25,604
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3/5
I don't like Mastodon (yes, I know them xD) and Paramore.
AFI. 
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Member Since: 6/24/2008
Posts: 21,950
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4/5
"Out Of The Blue" is so ****ing amazing 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2001
Posts: 7,772
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Where is Fame Monster or Circus or something I care about?
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
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Dead by Sunrise I really like, and that 311 album was definitely sick.
Paramore album ****ing owns donkey balls, and YYY was such a solid album. Too bad it didn't get any bigger than 'Zero' for them off that one.
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Member Since: 10/28/2008
Posts: 22,771
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It seems a bit uprising to see Paramore beating out the veterans. I cannot "RESIST" to see the Top 5.
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Member Since: 1/26/2006
Posts: 17,384
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haven't heard any of those, but "It's Blitz!" might be a great album.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 12/21/2002
Posts: 20,569
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Wow. 16-11 = perfect set. I love all of these albums; I still need to give more listens to Orianthi, though. 100/100 
Crash Love, my friend, is way too low.
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Member Since: 1/20/2009
Posts: 17,143
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5/5
I-LOVE-EVERY-SINGLE-ALBUM-ON-YOUR-SET. 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
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The album set so far has been a DELIGHT. And, I don't say that often.
The Yeahs, Mastodon, Casablancas (Nice to see you in the Strokes fold! Stay a while!), and The Dead Weather. All wonderful.
Looking forward to the rest of the albums.
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Member Since: 1/14/2007
Posts: 6,202
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You cannot be a fan of rock music without listening to The Last Baron from Mastodon. Truly epic. The whole album rocks as well. The rest are great too (one in particular is especially good). 
5/5
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Member Since: 6/25/2008
Posts: 15,884
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YYY  Julian, AFI, and Paramore
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Member Since: 1/27/2007
Posts: 17,635
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Member Since: 10/30/2008
Posts: 15,385
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It's Blitz! my favorite! 
BNE & Crash Love 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
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Paramore
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/11/2007
Posts: 63,796
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