Best of 2009 - Guest List - The Antlers

As a precursor to our impending year-end list, we've asked some of our favorite artists to select their five favorite releases of 2009. The Antlers have quietly become the breakout band of the year. Their third album Hospice has shown up with high placing on year-end lists such as The Music Slut, Stereogum and NPR's All Things Considered. And just last night they headlined a sold-out Bowery Ballroom. I think you get the point - the album is amazing!

Here are The Antlers' six favorite songs of the year, according to drummer Michael Lerner:

(In no particular order)...

Bon Iver - "Bloodbank"

Justin Vernon's soul/folk picked up right where he left off with For
Emma, Forever Ago. Beautiful melody and imagery here.

Sharon Van Etten - "I Wish I Knew"

Can a song be both fragile and powerful at the same time? Absolutely!
Just a gorgeous song. Sharon's live shows are also a must see.

Phoenix - "1901"

I feel like I heard this song everywhere this year and it still
continues to dominate my iPod. It completely succeeds in striking the
perfect balance between pop and rock.

Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait for the Others"

Such a great song! The verses slyly creep along before exploding into
the soaring chorus. The harmonies in that chorus are amazing! Also
great is the way the downbeat is dropped and lands on the 2 - Love
that!

Dirty Projectors - "No Intention" / "Stillness is the Move"

Ok, maybe I am breaking the rules by choosing both of these songs here
instead of just one, but I don't care - they are both that good!
2 of the best songs you'll never hear on Hot 97 but totally could/should.

FULL YEAR-END COVERAGE

PHOENIX - Take Away Show in Paris

This is awesome, as most Take Away shows at LaBlogotheque are.


Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Check out more here.

Coachella Rumors 2010

As 2009 nears its end, rumors are starting to swirl as to who might grace the Coachella stages in 2010. Today Consequence of Sound has divulged that Muse are more than likely slated to be one of the headliners of the yearly festival when it goes down April 16-18 in Indio, California. Muse join the shortlist of (confirmed?) acts, which includes Devo, Hot Chip, The XX, Miike Snow, and Aeroplane. Other heavily rumored acts include Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, The Raveonettes, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Dead Weather, Pavement, Spacemen 3, and The Stooges. The official lineup announcement is expected sometime in January.

THE SOFT PACK - Fences

The Soft Pack (formerly The Muslims) are a Southern California garage quartet of 20-something guys who are gaining a lot of mileage from this fresh new cover of the Phoenix track "Fences".