TOP 5 COMPILATIONS OF 2009
by Brian Dubin
There were loads of incredible compilations that came out this year. Here is my Top 5 compilations of 2009 list in no particular order.
(Note: I talk about LP's mostly because I don't like buying CD's, however all of these albums are readily available on CD for those of you that don't buy records.)
BACK TO PERU VOLUME 2
This is it. Seriously. I have only owned this record for 4 or 5 weeks tops, and in that time it has become one of my favorite records of the year. This double LP is packed with some of the most amazing Peruvian garage, psychedelic, soul, funk and Latin rock I have ever heard. As record nerds say, "This record has some deep cuts on it." Some of these songs are so obscure that they are only on this comp (or are from some incredibly rare 7" that no one owns). If you have any interest at all in Latin American music, and like any or all of the aforementioned genres, this is thee compilation to check out. Never once have I skipped a song or not payed attention to a track. In fact, I have listened to each side so many times, there's a ton of dust on my records already. This is a phenomenal collection of rare Peruvian jams. I could go on to list my favorite songs and artists, but I honestly (and I'm not just saying that 'cause I can't think of anything else to say) love all of the songs. I could listen to this 10 times over and still catch something I may have missed before. So....go buy this album. You won't be sorry. LIGHT ON THE SOUTH SIDE
Numero Group is well known for releasing rare, interesting and beautifully packaged collections of unknown, forgotten about or overlooked artists from the 40's through more modern times. Light on the South Side is a two LP collection of songs from some of the artists that constantly played Chicago's South side clubs between 1975-1977. This album has some of the best funk, soul and blues that Numero Group has released so far. This release is paired with a 132-page hardbound book of photographs by Michael Abramson. Michael befriended a lot of the people that played an integral part in these clubs on Chicago's South side. Because of this he was able to capture the energy and the overall good spirits of the handful of clubs where these artists either played regularly or hung out. The one thing I really enjoyed was slowly flipping through the book while taking in the music. Although it obviously doesn't compare to actually being there, it gives you a small glimpse as to what it would have been like to frequent these clubs in the '70s...and damn it looked like a lot of fun.
PSYCH FUNK 101
The title says it all. This compilation blew my mind a bit when I heard it. There are artists from all over the world on this record. From Italy to Korea to Nigeria to Russia. Because of the geographical differences, you get various takes on one kind of music, and oddly (or not oddly) enough, they all have a commonality they share. All of these songs come from the 60's and 70's and within these funky jams you really get a sense of how groups from all different kinds of cultures incorporate traditional music into the songs. The musicians are happy to incorporate all kinds of elements into a body of work that is unique and wholly their own, while still baring a common thread with other similar minds across the globe.
FORGE YOUR OWN CHAINS: HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC BALLADS AND DIRGES 1968-1974
Though similar in theme to Psych Funk 101, this compilation focuses more on the Psychedelic side of things from groups all across the globe. From Latin America to Korea there are some real mind-melters on this one as well as some beautiful ballads that you might not have expected. Some of the tracks clock in at over 9 minutes, some barely 2 minutes. This compilation really runs the gamut of psychedelic songs and you begin to realize that psychedelic music isn't just made by The 13th Floor Elevators or The Chocolate Watchband. I really love hearing groups from all over the world playing their versions of what they deem psychedelia to be. There are descriptions of every band on here and it tells you a little something about their output. Some of the groups only have a few songs, others have a bunch of records.
SIAMESE SOUL: THAI POP SPECTACULAR VOL. 2 19602-1980s
Sublime Frequencies is a record label that I always try to keep in mind in terms of their newest releases for a couple of reasons. First off, everything I have bought from the label I have loved. Secondly, a lot of their catalogue goes out of print very quickly since the label has more or less of a cult following. This is probably the only label that I will buy actual CD's from (since the bulk of their releases are not released on vinyl). Anyhow, enough about the label, more about the compilation. This is the second volume of Thai Pop Spectacular. These songs focus on more of a soul/funk feel. These songs can definitely be called Thai Soul (or Funk). All of the songs have a very traditional Thai feel to them, even though they take certain cues from Western pop/soul/funk. The songs on this compilation were found in Thailand in various formats: records buried under shelves or old cassette tapes. The other thing I love about Sublime Frequencies is the artwork that comes with the albums. This album has some amazing photos that document the era and give you a small glimpse into a world of music that us westerners have seldom, if at all, seen.
TOP 5 COMPILATIONS OF 2009
by Benn Ray
In my top 20 albums of 2009 list, I already called this year, musically, The Year of Meh. New music-wise, while this year was okay, it wasn't great. But where the slate of new releases was a little lacking in 2009 there is a ton of archival stuff, re-releases and compilations coming out that are, in some cases, just devastating.
My 5 favorite this year, in no particular order.
SIAMESE SOUL: THAI POP SPECTACULAR VOL. 2: 1960s-1980s
This second mining of the music of Thailand (via long forgotten cassettes and vinyl) grooves with horns, organs, and mesmerizing vocals. Soul, funk and rock'n'roll are all represented here. And discovering this kind of music from another part of the world is, for me, always fascinating. I find myself saying, over and over, "I had no idea, I really had no idea this was going on."
You can hear the inescapable influence of the West in these songs (to be honest, in all likelihood none of these recordings would exist if not for that influence), but as this compilation reveals, you can also hear Thailand from decades ago.
SINGAPORE A-GO-GO VOL. 1
Who knew? China rocks! At least it did, back in the 60s.
Catchy hooks, quirky beats, and vocals sung in varying Chinese dialect provide the foundation for the charm of this compilation.
In terms of Southeast Asian '60s music compilations, Singapore A-Go-Go ranks high in terms of its scope an selection.
But the best part about this record isn't the excellent "Happy Lunar New Year" (although it is right up there), it's that there is a "Vol. 1" in the title. I am already anxiously awaiting Vol. 2.
SHADOW MUSIC OF THAILAND
The influence of Western rock'n'roll in Thailand resulted in "Shadow Music" - a term used to describe that country's '60s guitar rock pop scene.
What was happening is that traditional Thai melodies were given the Shadow treatment - which mean that styles like rock, surf, a-go-go, exotica, soul, blues, and Latin would be applied to them.
I'd read an ill-considered review of this somewhere that whined that this compilation lacked diversity - but from where I sit, it's an illuminating and fascinating report on a scene from 50 years ago on the other side of the world.
AK SLAUGHTER'S MIXTAPE
[download free here]
I love AK Slaughter - and I originally was attracted to this Mixtape simply for the AK Slaugher tracks. But then listening to what they did here, the way they put these songs together, mixing in their beats to other vocals, it's just a half hour of strange. They pull influences and references from all over the place and create a mixtape that is just a shit-ton of fun. And even though they put together Quincy Jones, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Cardigans, Busta Rhymes, The Cars, Elvis Presley and more - their originals are still the proverbial cherries on top.
ATOMIC BOOKS MUSIC CLUB '09
So I'm part of this quasi-secret music club that gets together every other week or so and shares and discusses music that we're into. This year, members voted on their favorite tracks that were shared with the group in 2009, and the result is a mix of quirky and diverse styles, artists and eras ranging from the 1930s - 2009. The 17 track mix features songs by Duck Sauce, Group Doueh, Kashmere Stage Band, Charles Manson, Metal Skool, Gas, Kurt Vile, "Beans" Hambone, Novos Baianos, and my favorite of the year, by Native Hipsters. (Anyone looking for a free copy of this mix or more information about Music Club, email me.)
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Over the next several weeks, we will be regularly posting Year End Wrap Up lists from our friends, readers, and regular Shank contributors. So please stay tuned...
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