Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2009

Posted pre-2010

ARTICLE JUMP

Murder By Death

(Matt Armstrong)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2009? (In order 1-5)

  1. The Life And Times- Tragic Boogie

  2. Mastodon- Crack The Skye

  3. Them Crooked Vultures- Them Crooked Vultures

  4. William Elliott Whitmore- Animals in the Dark

  5. Future of the Left- Travels With Myself and Another

What band did you discover in 2009 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Future of the Left is a band that I was aware of for a year or two but did not listen to until this year. They are really fantastic. They're clever and playful and pissed off and hilarious and badass all at the same time. Of course we have met lots of great bands on tour this year. Fake Problems, The Builders and the Butchers, The Gaslight Anthem, The Loved Ones, Frank Turner. The list goes on and on. For me, all these bands are significant because they are great dudes who mean what they do and do it well. We are all part of a touring family, and that familial type of bond is one of the most important (and fun) aspects of touring/being in a band.

How will you remember 2009? (In terms of music)

In addition to the top five list above, I will remember True Widow, the new Pelican album, the new Clutch and Reverend Horton Heat records, Mariachi El Bronx, and getting to see Motorhead and Los Lobos live for the first time. (Totally not kidding about Los Lobos. They were amazing.)

2009 was a huge year for reunions. What reunion excited you the most? What band that has not reunited would you love to see play/record most in 2010?

There were two reunions this year that meant so much to me, and they both are pretty much tied for first place. One was finally getting to see The Jesus Lizard live, and the other was the Jawbox reunion on Jimmy Fallon. Both of those bands are very big deals to me. I would love to see The Afghan Whigs fully reunite and tour since I never got to see them. I know Dulli is keeping busy with Twilight Singers and Gutter Twins, but come on- do a Whigs tour. Please? Pretty Please?

What can we look forward to from you in 2010?

A new album and lots and lots of touring. Drunk dials. Inside jokes. Hopefully some pyrotechnics if we can afford them.

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2010?

I'm not sure what's coming out in 2010. I've heard that there is a new Grinderman album that's finished, and I think Mogwai is in the studio. If those come out next year then my dance card is full.

Website Link (Website/Myspace/Blog/Etc.): http://www.murderbydeath.com

— words by the SPB team

Related features

Unseemlier

Interviews • April 24, 2026

It was about a year ago I discovered Unseemlier, shortly before the release of I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere. It's a wordy title and a somewhat unwieldy band name -- and I’ll use that “a lot going on in a little space” metaphor even further to talk about the … Read more

Guest List: War On Women

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2026

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 … Read more

Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2026

Maria (Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental – vocals/artist) SPB: The artwork of your album took over a year to make. What was this long experience like for you? Maria: If I were to put it shortly, the first thing that comes to mind is a long and winding road: exhausting but exciting … Read more

Brux

One Question Interviews • April 14, 2026

Brux SPB: You choose to skip English and sing in your mother tongue. What are the pros and cons of this choice for you? Brux: Our songs are mostly in our mother tongue (spanish / catalan), we just have a few in English. Pros: they sound more natural, the link … Read more

The Goons

One Question Interviews • April 13, 2026

Serge (The Goons - vocals) SPB: How did writing the new material compare to when you sat down and started work on your last record – 19 years ago? Serge: The old stuff was written more collaboratively than the recent songs. These days we don’t get together as often as … Read more

More from this section

Guest List: War On Women

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2026

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 … Read more

The New York Dolls: Reflections and Legacy

Music • March 30, 2026

I first discovered the New York Dolls in the mid-to-late 1980s, just as I was beginning to stretch the boundaries of my musical journey. Up until then, my exposure to music had mostly come through my parents, aunts, and uncles. They planted the initial seeds, and those seeds quickly grew, … Read more

Post Office Experiences

Music • March 10, 2026

In a different world, which we think was shortly before COVID and MAGA and all things bad and in ALL CAPS occurred, Scene Point Blank had the idea to write a comprehensive piece about mailorder experiences from the people who dedicate their free time to sending you records, cds, tapes, … Read more