Best Albums of 2009: #17, Dan Deacon's Bromst

Rank: #17

Album: Bromst

Artist: Dan Deacon

Label: Carpark Records

It takes a few listens through Dan Deacon's Bromst to even begin to grasp what the hell is going on within its layers and layers of electronic experimentation. If one pays too much attention to the cascading synthesizer, you'll lose the sound effects being looped in the background. Spend too much time focusing on the impossibly fast piano part in the forefront, and risk losing the vocal harmonies that, when present, are essential to the experience. But that's how Deacon wants it. Bromst is an assault on the listener's senses, in the best possible way.

If nothing else, the album is structured madness. The chaotic organization of tracks like opener "Build Voice" leave you feeling as if you've entered into the middle of a shouting match-- yet, when you combine the finer points of both sides, something does come of it. The dueling keyboard and saxophone play off the buzzing, beeping effects at a breakneck speed-- challenging the listener to remain focused. With music this active and lively, one cannot just listen with your ears. The sights invoked here are a visual extravaganza essential to the experience as well, with bright, offsetting colors bursting from every direction, in sharp, jagged edges. Then, at the end of each track, it all just comes to a screeching halt, before warming back up again just seconds later. Make an attempt at digesting songs like "Snookered" on the first pass at your own peril, but at any rate, Bromst's ability to stimulate the senses is what makes it one of the highlights of 2009.

Best Track: "Slow With Horns/Run For Your Life"

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Albums of 2009: #18, Sister Suvi's Now I Am Champion]

Best Songs of 2009: #21-30

With the third day of our list of the best songs of 2009 comes a slightly more critical lens. With just 20 tracks to go after these, the questions will undoubtedly begin to mount about what was "forgotten," etc. And that's fine. Just understand that nothing was "forgotten"-- just not liked as much as the other songs on here. Sit back and enjoy.

30. "Drain the Blood" -- The Rural Alberta Advantage

29. "One Wing" -- Wilco

28. "Radio Kaliningrad" -- Handsome Furs

27. "Left & Right in the Dark" -- Julian Casablancas

26. "Warm Heart of Africa (Feat. Ezra Koenig)" -- The Very Best (via Pitchfork)

25. "Walkabout (Feat. Noah Lennox)" -- Atlas Sound (via Pitchfork)

24. "Slow With Horns/Run For Your Life" -- Dan Deacon

23. "Chillin' (Feat. Lady Gaga)" -- Wale

22. "Summertime Clothes" -- Animal Collective

21. "Andrew" -- Crystal Antlers (via Pitchfork)

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Songs of 2009: #31-40]

Weekly Top 10: "Ghost" Songs

In light of Halloween coming up this weekend, we decided to make our Weekly Top 10 reflect the holiday. Below is a collection of our favorite songs involving ghosts. You'll notice that the word "ghost" is contained in the title of all of them. So enjoy the tracks. Hopefully your Halloween is both a successful and safe one.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Album Closers]

Weekly Top 10: Tracks of 2009 (So Far)

We're bringing back an old feature here that I think worked fairly well for the month or so we had it last summer. Basically, either Matt or I pick a theme, and then pick our "Top 10" songs that fit the bill. Sounds simple? It is. I wanted to kick off the relaunch of the column feature with a concept we can all enjoy/debate: the Top 10 Songs of the year thus far. Below is the Imeem playlist, which you can stream all of the tracks from. Usually, if you're an Imeem member, you can hear the song in full, but if not, it only previews-- so if you want to hear the full songs, you're probably going to have to register (it takes five seconds). Anyway, enjoy.

Best of 2009 So Far: #11-15

I'd like to start this off by saying that this has been a fantastic year in music thus far. In six months, one may even go as far to say that the overall quality of 2009's releases has already surpassed 2008's. You can count me one of them. I'd also like to take this time to thank everyone who has been reading over the last 12 months, as well as those who have supported this blog in anyway. As we head into year two, you can expect much more from us, as we hopefully see more of you. It has been, and will continue to be, a pleasure.

Below are albums #11-15 (in opposite order) for the year thus far. For the albums that have been reviewed here already, we've also included a link to the original review. Some things have changed. Others have not. Either way, all original reviews were left as they were.

15. Wilco (The Album), Wilco

Just reviewed last week, Wilco's latest effort squeaks in to the top 15 of the year thus far. It shows a proud and happy Jeff Tweedy- one who, maybe, is finally comfortable with both the life that exists inside, and one outside of the music. Not their best, but in no way their worst, Wilco (The Album) is definitely one fans of the band can embrace.

14. God Help the Girl, God Help the Girl

I'm just going to face facts that I'll probably take some heat for this. I'm a sucker for nostalgia, and a fan of Belle and Sebastian, so when I saw Stuart Murdoch put together a pseudo- 60s concept album, I needed a listen. Quaint, fun and playful, this album does all I could have asked of it.

13. Here We Go Magic, Here We Go Magic

Every year there are a couple of debuts that blow me away. Here We Go Magic would fit that bill. Luke Temple's new project isn't jaw-dropping, as much as it's simply thought-provoking. A fresh gust of air in an increasingly crowded indie and folk scene. Plus, I'm pretty sure one of the underlying themes is an alien abduction, which is fun.

12. Bromst, Dan Deacon

I'm still hooked on the first description I ever read of Dan Deacon- "electro-terrorist". Never has an artist been described so ridiculously, yet so aptly in the same breath. Bromst is a tribute to positive noise, and the outcomes you can create when literally mixing the hell out of an effects board. Not for the faint of ear, but if you enjoy an album with a lot going on, here it is.

11. Mean Everything To Nothing, Manchester Orchestra

As I mentioned when it came out, this album surprised the hell out of me. Positive steps, and real, natural progression and maturity in music. Plus the powerful vocal pipes of one Andy Hull, and you've got yourself quite an album. The band has taken their formula to the next level, hopefully with more to come.

Well that's the first five. Stop back in tomorrow for round two of three, when we reveal numbers 6 through 10.

John's Track of the Week: "Slow With Horns/Run For Your Life"

Track: Slow With Horns/Run For Your Life

Artist: Dan Deacon

Album: Bromst

Year: 2009

I was reading another blog a couple of weeks back, and they referred to Dan Deacon as an "electro-terrorist".  Now, though I, like everybody else, am not a fan of terrorism, hearing an artist described as one makes me want to listen to what they have to offer.  So, when I echo the aforementioned description of Mr. Deacon, know that you should probably pay attention.  Dan Deacon is an electro-terrorist.  It's his job.  It's who he is.  Oh, and he's really good at it. 

"Slow With Horns/Run For Your Life," one of the standouts off of this year's Bromst seems to personify the description to perfection.  The title of the song is also aptly named, as the progression begins slow, with horns, before quickening to an synth-keyboard based duel that creates the illusion of (wait for it)...running for your life.  To me, Bromst as a whole is a masterpiece when it comes to just the pure level of sound he's got going on, and I severely regret not being able to write about it as a whole when it came out.  Still, until the time comes when I can expand upon the album, check out this track, and watch for some Neutral Milk Hotel comparisons in the first half.  The horns get very In The Aeroplane Over the Sea-y at one point and to me, it's a pretty cool deal.