25 for 2009: One
Album #1: Journal For Plague Lovers by Manic Street Preachers
The Manics had no business making an album this amazing, this essential, nine records into their career. But they did. Using a notebook of lyrics that Richey Edwards had bequeathed the band, the Manics set about making a visceral, confronting record and that is exactly what Journal For Plague Lovers is. Journal has the best lyrics of any record I heard in 2009 (not bad considering the lyric writer wrote them in 1994) and the band haven’t sounded this necessary since their mid-90s commercial and creative peak. As a longtime Manics fan this record really means a lot to me.
Watch:
Song #1: Young Hearts Spark Fire by Japandroids
I first wrote about this song back in January and here it is in December at the top of the pile. I may be a few years older than the Japandroid boys but I find that their “Uh oh, I’m getting older” sentiment is spot on. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m staring down the barrel of a landmark birthday but these types of songs (LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends is another) are really hitting home lately.
But all I really need to say about this song is this:
It kicks ass.
Download:
Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire
—> See the rest of the 25 for 2009 list here.
And with that, the list is done and I’m taking a break. I hope you all have a very, very Merry Christmas (if that’s what you celebrate). Enjoy the holidays, kids.
