Lou's a bit of a Francophile, can't you tell? Beats Sydney Opera House snow domes.
Top Tens (in no particular order) :
The Stabs : Dead Wood CD - So fucking cool & awesome it hurts. Long-time campaigner and lover of this band. One of our finest from the past few decades. My fave music review of theirs : ‘The Stabs are simply ugly fuck-ups, playing ugly music for fuck ups – Time Off, Brisbane: http://www.myspace.com/thestabs
Witch Hats : Solarium Down The Causeway EP/10” vinyl - I’m biased clearly, but GO Witch Hats GO! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2010 for these dirty little punks: http://www.myspace.com/witchhats
The Maladies : With You Right By My Side Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down CD – Sydney based gospel choir-esque/rackety/hullabaloo goodness. What a set of pipes Daniele Marando has. Wowie Zowie: http://www.myspace.com/themaladiesband
She’s The Driver : Distorted Harmony CD - Cross b/ween Jesus & Mary Chain, Dandy Warhols, Swervedriver etc. Ex-Violotene Melb 2-piece that pack a dirty shoegazey punch right between the eyes: http://www.myspace.com/shesthedriver
Loene Carmen : It Walks Like Love CD – Holy shitsticks! Wow. What a talent & what a sweetheart too. Oft-overlooked amazing woman whom definitely deserves her time in the sun: http://www.myspace.com/loenecarmensrocknrolltears
Mother & Father : Nothin’ CD/LP - Again, clearly biased, but if they didn’t blow my wig off I wouldn’t have signed them to my record label. Fingers crossed for big things in 2010 for this unassuming and very deserving Melbourne three piece: http://www.myspace.com/motherandfathermusic
Dinosaur Jr : Farm CD - J Mascis and Co proving you don’t have to be young to be cool, and there’s life in this band yet. Cannot wait for Golden Plains Festival 2010.
Thee Oh Sees, Witch Hats and Eddy Current at Billboard (Melb) on Friday 18th December: These two Oz bands are my fave live bands, and as for Thee Oh Sees : they are my newest band crush : I adore them. I’ve gone completely ga-ga over them. Let’s hope they return from the States to our shores soon. Their secret gig at The Empress Hotel on Sunday 20th December was a wonderful way to cap off another brilliant year of music – and was my Gig Of The Year for 2009.
Mother & Father, Miniature Submarines, Bleach and Daddy Long Legs on Wednesday 16th December at Ding Dong (Melb) : I didn’t get out so much this year (too busy/too old hee hee), but these four Australian bands have redeemed my faith in the music scene. Long live the new generation of young bucks out there doing it. Miniature Subs song The Little Room Under The Stairs is a killer song and my Single for 2009 – can’t wait for Sonic Youth to do a cover version of it (ha ha).
And the best Australian music journalist Award goes to Patrick Emery – Consistent, passionate, generous and honest. This man has integrity running through his veins. Without people like Patrick, the musical wheel doesn’t spin as well as it does/should.
Honorable Mentions : My Morning Jacket gig at Billboard (Melb); Primal Scream at Billboard (Melb); Midnight Soul Serenade LP by Heavy Trash; Thee Oh Sees Help on yellow vinyl (yum!) and Mark Steiner Broken + Fallen Birds Special Edition CD and Broken LP.
You can find Z-Man Records here.
