Ben Perowsky: Moodswing Orchestra (9/29/09)
Ben Perowsky: "Dolly" (feat. Elysian Fields & Steven Bernstein)
Drummer/producer/composer Ben Perowsky instructed his illustrious guests away from the jazz idiom on Moodswing Orchestra — in his words, “less Herbie, more Eno.” The result is an eclectic disc full of elastic grooves, sultry and low-key vocals, and atmospheric improvisation.
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez: Xenophanes (Rodriguez Lopez Productions, 9/29/09)
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez: "Asco Que Conmueve los Puntos Erógenos"
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Xenophanes is another journey through Omar’s progressive soundscape, this time leaning on the scurrying piano lines of Marcel Rodriguez Lopez and Mark Aanderud. Most notably, Omar takes full control of the vocals, singing entirely in Spanish and showcasing an underutilized ability.
Om: God is Good (Drag City, 9/29/09)
Om: "Cremation Ghat II"
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On its latest spiritual adventure, hypnotic bass-and-drums duo Om found a chiefly suitable new drummer: Emil Amos, a key component of visceral, worldly, genre-defying quartet Grails. God is Good showcases Om’s penchant for creating music that is as genuinely emotive as it is heavy.
Doomriders: Darkness Comes Alive (Deathwish Inc., 9/29/09)
Doomriders: "Heavy Lies the Crown"
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Known best as Converge's bassist, Nate Newton reconvened Doomriders this year to once more brandish his guitar/vocal chops, resulting in another weighty disc of rock-fueled hardcore.
Javelina: Beasts Among Sheep (Translation Loss, 9/29/09)
Javelina: "You're Going to Hate This"
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Beasts Among Sheep brings more down-tuned, mid-tempo sludge metal from these purveyors of fuzz and feedback. High-register speed picking duels with low-end head-bashing riffs.
Sole & The Skyrider Band: Plastique (Fake Four, 10/13/09)
Sole & the Skyrider Band: "Pissing in the Wind"
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Following a turning point with his last album, Sole returned with his full band of cohorts for another go-round. Plastique is delicately constructed, with breakbeats that give way to somber string vibratos and pizzicatos, dense atmospherics, and ghostly samples. Guitars weave in and out of a mix that brims with layers.
Converge: Axe to Fall (Epitaph / Deathwish Inc., 10/20/09)
Converge: "Dark Horse"
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Possibly Converge's best album, Axe to Fall delivered a heaping dose of full-throttle thrash metal, accelerating through push beats, palm-muted speed riffs and squealing solos, and double-bass blasts to establish a new tone for the band.
Russian Circles: Geneva (Sargent House, 10/20/09)
Russian Circles: "Fathom"
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Geneva represents a new peak for Russian Circles, establishing a dynamic vibe through rhythmic heaviness, much of which comes via new bassist Brian Cook. Adjunct instruments, generally stringed, augment and guide much the album’s material.
Lymbyc Systym: Shutter Release (Mush, 11/03/09)
Lymbyc Systym: "Trichromatic"
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On Shutter Release, brothers Jared and Mike Bell expanded their beautiful brand of electro-acoustic jams with a new set of densely packed, melodically driven creations that lean on reappearing refrains and crescendos.
David Sardy: Zombieland soundtrack (Relativity, 11/24/09)
David Sardy: "406"
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Best known from Barkmarket, producer David Sardy was a great choice to pen this dark, highly percussive score that oscillates between brooding minimalism, blood-curdling neo-classicalism, and horror-infused rock and roll.
Honorable mentions
The Bastard Noise: Rogue Astronaut (Gravity, 1/13/09)
Gutbucket: A Modest Proposal (Cuneiform, 1/20/09)
Ephel Duath: Through My Dog’s Eyes (Earache, 1/26/09)
Jamie Saft: Black Shabbis (Tzadik, 1/27/09)
Harmonic 313: When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence (Warp, 2/2/09)
Irepress: Sol Eye Sea I (Translation Loss, 2/17/09)
Powersolo: Bloodskinbones (Crunchy Frog, 3/3/09)
Soap & Skin: Lovetune for Vacuum (PIAS UK, 3/16/09)
Fever Ray: s/t (Mute, 3/24/09)
Bob Log III: My Shit is Perfect (Birdman, 3/31/09)
JG Thirlwell: The Venture Bros.: The Music of JG Thirlwell (Williams Street, 4/7/09)
Isis: Wavering Radiant (Ipecac, 5/5/09)
Nomo: Invisible Cities (Ubiquity, 5/5/09)
Upsilon Acrux: Radian Futura (Cuneiform, 5/19/09)
Busdriver: Jhelli Beam (Anti-, 6/9/09)
Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey, 6/9/09)
Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy: Spirit Moves (Greenleaf Music, 6/16/09)
Dysrhythmia: Psychic Maps (Relapse, 7/7/09)
Eyedea & Abilities: By the Throat (Rhymesayers, 7/21/09)
Squarepusher: Solo Electric Bass 1 (Warp, 8/17/09)
Cougar: Patriot (Ninja Tune, 9/1/09)
Rodrigo y Gabriela: 11:11 (ATO, 9/8/09)
Polvo: In Prism (Merge, 9/8/09)
End: The Dangerous Class (Hymen, 9/15/09)
Ahleuchatistas: Of the Body Prone (Tzadik, 9/29/09)
Air: Love 2 (Astralwerks, 10/16/09)
Shrinebuilder: s/t (Neurot, 10/20/09)
Ben Frost: By the Throat (Bedroom Community, 11/10/09)
Raise the Red Lantern: s/t (At A Loss, 11/3/09)
