My top 10 picks for this year are SO diverse from each other that it’s really impossible to put them in any kind of numerical order. It’s unlikely that you’ll find many of these records on other top 10 “critics” lists. Overall 2009 was a GREAT year for records!

First up is Dinosaur Jr’s Farm! WOW. This is the album that keeps giving. I never get bored of it and it seems to capture my mood and overall personal themes of this year, all year. “Over It” should be in the best songs of the decade, Period.

Next up is Rancid’s Let The Dominoes Fall Deluxe Edition. And I’m serious when I say Deluxe. The 2nd CD All-acoustic/demo version of the album really shows that these cats are writing amazing, brilliant songs. These are our punk themes of this decade. The high contrast B&W DVD further proves this. I love seeing their whole start to finish process. This is their best record since …And Out Come The Wolves and they should be up for a fucking award.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears! Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! James Brown would be seriously proud to spin this record. This is the funkiest shit I’ve heard in a long, long time. A super-fun, dance around your house like a madman with your girl recording.

Isaac Brock is a genius. This is not news. Modest Mouse No One’s First, And You’re Next really creates a great buzz throughout the room being spun. Everyone digs it, even people who aren’t Modest Mouse fans. It’s eclectic, it’s weird, and it sounds REALLY trippy. I had the great honor of Art Directing/Designing this EP and the 3 singles leading up to it’s release.

Dan Auerbach’s Keep It Hid is a masterpeice. It’s one of those records that is timeless. You will be able to spin it in 30 years, and it will Still sound amazing. This is not just a record for Black Keys fans, its a record for everyone. It’s mellow and easy on the ears. It’s so well crafted it will be hard to beat by Mr. Auerbach himself.

Best Live record of 2009! This is the album I wished Tom Waits was going to release this year. It’s rowdy, it’s insanely dirty, and it’s “Alive As Fuck”! Black Diamond Heavies have just a few releases out, but this is the one that will get you. It’s an intense record but a short one. As soon as you think you’ve had enough, it’s over. Then I say to myself, “I could use some more of that!” Hahaha. Thanks for putting this out there.

M. Ward has made his best album to date, Hold Time. This is a beautifully crafted mellow record. It will inspire you, and it will calm you.

Pearl Jam’s Backspacer! Eddie and The Boys have reinvented themselves once again! Could be the Pop-Punk album of the year. It’s a really catchy record with incredible artwork. I hope Pearl Jam cranks out records for decades to come.

The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic is a record Pink Floyd could have, or dare I say Should have made. It’s a wild trip that has me in a creative frenzy. Highly inspirational and the Deluxe comes in a giant furry alien vagina! WOW

Them Crooked Vultures. Most are claiming this to be highly Led Zeppelin influenced due to the involvement of John Paul Jones. I have to strongly disagree, ‘cause all I hear is really good QOTSA record. I LOVE QOTSA and this is their latest, greatest record since the Last one with Dave Grohl. I strongly feel that Dave Grohl belongs on the drum kit and should stay there. He’s nuts. This album is haunting, it’s rocking, shocking, and it’s a Loooong record. Keep ‘em coming Josh, keep ‘em coming!

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Also check out Bumpin’ Tacos: Greatest Tits and Trippin’ Balls, Vol 1; Akron/Family: Set Em Wild, Set Em Free; Ben Harper & Relentless 7: White Lies For Dark Times; Death: For The Whole World To See; Devendra Banhart: What Will Be; Alice In Chains: Black Gives Way To Blue.

LEVY

Our all zombie puppet video! I Art Directed & Designed the titles!

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2009 is really turning out to be a great one for record releases. Some of the best stuff I’ve heard in years.

First Off is the new Rancid record “Let The Dominoes Fall”

This is their best record since “…And Out Come The Wolves.” Definitely pick up the Deluxe version which come with a beautiful All Acoustic CD and Making Of the Album DVD! On top of 19 tracks already on the first disc, this is their most diverse and creative album to date. Every song is a classic punk anthem and the album is a contender for this years best.

Next up is an album that was recorded in the 70’s and first surfacing on CD Now! An all African-American punk band called DEATH! “…For The Whole World To See.” This is Funk-Punk and it holds up today both lyrically and musically. It is as important as it probably was back before I was born. You can pick it up on Amazon.com and if back ordered it’s worth the wait.

Ben Harper’s new group Relentless7 is a great band. They are high energy live with one of the best drummers I have seen in a while. Lyrically strong as usual and “White Lies For Dark Times” smokes. Kick-Ass artwork fills the physical release.

Akron/Family’s “Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free” is an eclectic mix of psychedelic goodness. It’s a fun listen. I feel it is the answer to Animal Collective, which to me is just un-listenable.

And finally Bumpin’ Tacos! “Greatest Tits.” Some absolutely Love it, some absolutely Hate it. Call it shameless self-promotion, I can’t stop listening to it. ha haa. Keyboard heavy, genre-crossing, freak-folk-punk-rock, reggae… WTF is it? It’s funny and it’s trippy, and it’s our baby.

I Art Directed and Designed the 2nd Modest Mouse 7″ single for Autumn Beds. This is an embossed black on black design using varnishes and is limited to 4,000 copies.

Here’s a picture of the AC/DC Black Ice Vinyl I designed this past year.

I designed the Jamaican themed 7″ single “Hey You” for 311.