James Bash – Classical Editor
1. Messiaen - Saint Francois d’Assise / Metzmacher, Tilling, Gilfry, Hague Philharmonic / Opus Arte
2. Bernstein - Mass / Jubilant Sykes, Marin Alsop, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra / Naxos
3. Fire and Blood, Motor City Triptych, Raise The Roof /Michael Daugherty, Ida Kavafian, violin, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, conductor/Naxos
4. Rossini – Colbran, The Muse / Joyce DiDonato, Edoardo Müller, conductor, Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra / Virgin Classics
5. Wendy Warner Plays Popper & Piatigorsky / Wendy Warner, cello, Eileen Buck, piano / Cedille
Chris Young – Associate Editor
My top 5 in no particular order from the wide world :
1. Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
4. Metric – Fantasies
5. Pretty Lights – Passing Behind Your Eyes
From home :
1. Hockey – Mind Chaos
2. Starfucker – Jupiter
3. YACHT – See Mystery Lights
4. Stephanie Schneiderman – Dangerous Fruit
5. Logan Lynn – From Pillar To Post
Get the low down on these artists and who to watch for 2010 here.
Robert Ham – Indie Editor
My Top 5 of 2009 (Portland-only edition)
1. Ethan Rose – Oaks (Holocene Music)
2. Arrington de Dionyso – Malaikat Dan Singa (K)
3. Explode Into Colors – “Eyes Hands Mouth” 7″ (Kill Rock Stars)
4. Laura Gibson – Beasts Of Seasons (Hush)
5. Nurses – Apple’s Acres (Dead Oceans)
Who’s on the top 5 in 2010? It’s all here.
Barbara Mitchell – Acoustic Editor
1. Grant-Lee Phillips – Little Moon
2. Robyn Hitchcock – Goodnight Oslo
3. J. Tillman – Year In The Kingdom
4. Rhett Miller (self-titled)
5. (tie) Avett Brothers – I And Love And You and Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
Stephanie Salvey – Country Editor
1. Corb Lund – Loosin’ Lately Gambler
2. Buddy and Julie Miller – Written in Chalk
3. Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
4. Willie Nelson and Asleep at The Wheel – Willie and The Wheel
5. Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles – The Stars Are Out
Tom D’Antoni – Editor-in-Chief
Not in any particular order:
Quadraphonnes Photo by Courtney Erskine
1. Quadraphonnes – Music To Watch Girls By
2. Andrew Oliver Kora Band
3. Commotion
4. Chris Mosely – Semi-Somnus
5. Stephanie Schneiderman – Dangerous Fruit
Lagniappe: Gretchen Mitchell – Love For Real but I loved Gordon Lee’s Rough Jazz at Jimmy Mak’s
Sarah Shaoul – Kids Editor
1. Captain Bogg and Salty – Emphatical Piratical
2. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
4. Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information
5. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
Brandon Ellison - Marketing Assistant
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
4. The Antlers – Hospice
5. The Dodos – Time to Die
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Animal collective: Meriweather post pavillion/ fall be kind
Timber Timbre: Timber Timbre
Dan Deacon: Bromst
A hawk and a hacksaw: Deliverance
The pains of being pure at heart: The pains of being pure at heart
Such a wide variety – love what you all do!
-Lori
I’m surprised at the top 5 local listings that the Excellent Gentleman’s Just Say Yes was not mentioned. Have you all heard it?
I’m surprised to find that The xx didn’t make anyone’s list…that’s the band to watch in the coming year, and probably the best release this year.
I’m glad that I took a look at these lists, because it leaves a void in the Portland music scene by not including any of the fantastic blues releases that came out this past year. There are numerous, but if I were to list just five, not in any specific order, these are the ones that come immediately to mind:
The Insomniacs – At Least I’m Not With You
Boogie Bone – Bone-a-fied
Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes – Playing The Game
Rick Welter Band – I’m All Yours
Mary Flower – Bridges (okay, it was released in Portland in November, but it’s national release was in January 2009)
Others that should not be overlooked by Woodbrain, Steve Cheseborough, Linda Hornbuckle & Janice Scroggins . . .