Suburban Voice blog #83--best of 2009

AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER

Yeah, this is a bit late and there should hopefully be a "regular" blog in the not-too-distant future. I'm spending WAY too much time watching "Mad Men" (a new addiction) instead of reviewing records. What can 'ya do?

So, with that in mind, there were a fair amount of good records in 2009 but only a handful I'd consider great, that will stand the "test of time," so to speak. You never know, though. I'll occasionally go back and re-discover a record I might have underrated at that particular time.

Here's the list, not in any sort of strict order but my two favorite 12" releases of the year were from Destino Final and Wasted Time (although the echo-y vocals detract a little on the latter but not on the former--go figure). My top 7" EP was the Pisschrist/Framtid split. The Framtid songs were OK--not particularly well-produced. The Pisschrist songs, on the other hand? Mind-melting stuff, a blown-out dose of raw-as-fuck hardcore. It makes me hope even more that they'll return to the States someday and I can stop kicking myself for missing them a few years ago.

BLANK STARE

LP/12"/CD's

WASTED TIME-Futility
DESTINO FINAL-Atrapados
AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER/RELIGIOUS AS FUCK-Split LP
VAASKA-s/t
SHITTY LIMITS-Beware The Limits
SYSTEMATIC DEATH-Systema 6
BLANK STARE-s/t
LIGHTS OUT-Destroy-Create
AVO-Domestic Violence Kept The Neighbourhood Quiet
VARIOUS-Does It Hurt? (compilation)

7"

PISSCHRIST/FRAMTID-Hardcore Detonation Attack
MUNDO MUERTO-Rompe El Silencio
BRAIN KILLER-s/t
NITAD-Nu Borjar Minnena Komma Tillbaka
FASHION-s/t
HYGIENE-Jan. '09 EP
REPORTS-Bill Wyman Metal Detector
ACCIDENTAL GUN DEATH-Skies Are Blue
A/V MURDER-Tourettes
OMEGAS-s/t

DEMOS

MURDER-SUICIDE PACT
GARBAGE STRIKE
CONFINES
POINTBLANK

OMEGAS

BEST LIVE BANDS
(note: I saw some of these bands more than once and they were consistently good)

TOTAL ABUSE
SMART COPS
MALE NURSES
WASTED TIME
OMEGAS
SHITTY LIMITS
BRAIN KILLER
RORSCHACH
CHRONIC SEIZURE
BUKKAKE BOYS
BRAIN HANDLE
PROJECT HOPELESS