Best of 2009 - Guest List - Class Actress

As the year winds to an end, we've asked some of our favorite artists to select their five favorite releases of 2009. Class Actress is the brainchild of Brooklyn based artist Elizabeth Harper, and she is poised to breakout in a big way in 2010. Her debut ep Journal of Ardency is scheduled for a February 9th release on Terrible Records, the new offshoot from Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor. If you haven't yet, get the leadoff track "Careful What You Say" below. Harper took time out from her busy schedule to share her favorite things of the year.

2009 In no particular order.

Girls - "Lust for Life" (single)
A warm, honest hug from the friend you wish you had who'd admit they were as fucked up as you.

Mariah Carey - "Obsessed" (single)
Nobody does it like Mariah, she just makes hooky, bitchy, diva pop hits.

Cass McCombs - "You Saved My Life" (track from Catacombs)
Epic love song. Seeing him play this live at the Bowery Ballroom was beautiful. I have a crush on him.

Patrick Cleandenim - "Telephone Song" (track from Orange Moonbeam Floorshow)
I listened to this song for a month straight. Maybe because I had a crush on him, maybe not.

Chairlift - "Evident Utensil" (video)
I was tied up limb for limb to a tree in the woods, whipped by Victor (Boy Crisis/Das Rascit) and then baptized in a river.

Bat for Lashes - "Daniel" ( live on David Letterman).

Das Racist - "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" (track)
Kinda genius.

Major Lazer - "Pon De Floor" (Video)

Robert Pattinson

Girl Crisis

Let the Right One In (film)
still and romantic

FULL YEAR-END COVERAGE HERE

New CHAIRLIFT Video - "Evident Utensil"

Chairlift became an indie sensation last year when their song was used in an iPod Nano commercial. Now the trio from Brooklyn have a new video for the track "Evident Utensil". The video is a real trip. Singer Caroline Polachek rolls around the frame in crazy, warped pixelation as her band mates seemingly stalk her in the fuzzed-out background. The track is definitely a lot stranger than "Bruises", but also way more interesting.

Chairlift are playing BAM on February 13th with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The LP Does You Inspire You? is available now on Kanine Records.

The Sky Report in Bushwick

I'll be playing some of my favorite new (and old) tracks at Northeast Kingdom in Bushwick this Saturday night, starting at around 10:00 pm. The venue is up and coming, but has occasional DJ sets by Patrick Wimberly of Chairlift (02/14) and the much hyped electronic artist Eliot Lipp.

The Kingdom also features an amazing menu, but if you just want to drink, head down to the den for cheap beer and chalkboard wines. Admission is free and the gig is conveniently located at the Jefferson L stop. If you can brave the cold I'd love to see you!

CMJ 08 Wednesday

-Crystal Antlers at Continental Army Plaza, Brooklyn

I started off Wednesday with a non-CMJ show, part of Todd P's week of free shows at the Continental Army Plaza in Williamsburg. Yes it was outside. Yes it was cold. But that didn't seem to put a damper on Crystal Antlers' ferocious performance. These guys are a loud and gritty, somewhat oversexed, desert rock band from Long Beach CA, whose music may have felt more at home in the grunge era. They sounded really great outside, with the J train passing over the Williamsburg Bridge in the background. It was kind of perfect.



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I headed over to Piano's, intending to catch the Free Yr Radio showcase with Bumblebeez and Chairlift. When I got there I discovered Bumblebeez had been replaced by a band I had never heard of. Since I was there I went in and caught BM Linx, a bass-heavy softcore metal band that had the crowd in a tizzy, but I was really not into it. For me it was like watching a hair band on the Sunset Strip circa 1991. Not my thing.

It got really crowded and I had two hours until Chairlift were scheduled to go on, so I decided to change up my plans. I headed down to the Knitting Factory for the After the Jump showcase.

-Bad Veins

A pleasant surprise was Bad Veins of Cincinnati, Ohio. The duo are comprised of Ben Davis (vocals, guitar, synth) and Sebastian Schultz (drums) and they make dramatic rock music with an electronic backbone. I was really impressed with Davis' captivating performance - utilizing a megaphone to accentuate his complex and soaring vocals. Davis is a true artist and that became clear almost immediately.

-Crystal Antlers

In a funny case of irony, Crystal Antlers were also on the bill at the Knitting Factory. So yes, I unintentionally saw them twice in one night. And they rocked it both times!

-Heloise & the Savoir Faire

Heloise & the Savoir Faire were completely amazing, though the crowd had suddenly dissipated to about fifteen people, most of which were dancing their asses off. Heloise and her collective were high energy, rock 'n' roll fun, with a twist of carnival for flavor. I would really love to see these guys play a packed house. They would so own it.

-all photos by Scot Bowman

CHAIRLIFT

Chairlift are an interesting new band from Brooklyn. Their combination of electro-folk and sensitive synth-pop casts them under the same spell you might find MGMT under when they recorded their initial ep. Though not as flawlessly produced as Oracular Spectacular, Chairlift might appeal to you if you're still in the mood for some good old wizard-pop. I'm kinda feelin' it. The new single(?) "Planet Health" is definitely elevated by the delicate vocals of Caroline Polacheck, which can be heard in the new video below.

The debut LP Does You Inspire You is scheduled to hit iTunes soon, but in the meantime you can get their "Evident Untensil" single here. It also features a MGMT remix of the track.

More at Chairlift's Myspace page.

Chairlift - Planet Health (music video)


Chairlift play The Yard in Brooklyn this Saturday, as part of Todd P's Midsummer Party. Other bands on the bill include Ponytail, Shy Child, Vivian Girls, Oneida, High Places, Abe Vigoda, Titus Andronicus, and Crystal Antlers. Tickets are only $10. This is gonna be a good one! More info here.