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

Posted pre-2010

ARTICLE JUMP

Hex Records (Ryan Canavan)

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

  1. Pissed Jeans - King Of Jeans

  2. Coalesce - Ox

  3. Teenage Cool Kids - Foreign Lands

  4. Prayers for Atheists - EP

  5. Urchins of the Night - Reentry

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?

Title Tracks, the new band from John Davis of Q And Not U, was an awesome surprise. Even though they only have a two-song 7" out it's some great stuff that brings to mind early Elvis Costello and I look forward to what's up next from them.

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

A lot of good and quite varied music made my top records. It was also the busiest year ever for my label as there were a ton of new releases that I'm very proud of. All in all, a very busy year for music!

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?

Seeing Rorschach in September and The Jesus Lizard in November were incredible highlights for me as both are a couple of my favorite bands. I never saw Rorschach when they were around and seeing The Jesus Lizard for the first time in over fifteen years showed that they have just as much energy as they did the first time I saw them. Also, seeing Earth Crisis in my hometown (Syracuse) for the first time in eight years was very near and dear to my heart, and a great time. Naturally, in 2010 I'm not going to hold my breath for a Quicksand reunion, but hell, that would be rad. It's not going to happen though.

What can we look forward to from you in 2010?

The output from Hex Records will be a little more relaxed next year seeing as 2009 was so busy. But right now I'd like to try and get a new Achilles 7" out when they have the time and try to get Oak & Bone to record a full length. And with any luck, the much hyped, and long overdue, Helms Alee 7" I've been talking about forever.

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

Ones that I'm hopefully putting out. That's all I can think of right now.

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

— words by the SPB team

Related features

Fest 24: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

It's almost FEST time, and you know what that means: SPB has dived in to speak to a bunch of bands and artists playing this year's event. Some are FEST veterans with tips and highlights for newcomers, and others are FEST newbies with their own plans for the week. Read … Read more

FEST LIBS 24 & Fest Survey Findings

Music / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #5

Music / New Kids On The Block • October 13, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Coral Springs

One Question Interviews • September 24, 2026

Siebe (Coral Springs) SPB: What is your favorite record store (this can be local or not)? Siebe: I want to preface this by mentioning that I rarely buy records at stores these days. Most of the local stores aren't big on pop-punk/skate punk/emo and it's rare that they carry records … Read more

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

One Question Interviews • September 23, 2026

Mikey (Eddy Current Suppression Ring) SPB: Australians seem to love Canada, when are ECSR coming to play here? Miked: as much as i'd dearly LOVE to go to Canada, it doesn't look super likely on my or the band's immediate radar. we only just played interstate down here for the … Read more

More from this section

FEST LIBS 24 & Fest Survey Findings

Music / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #5

Music / New Kids On The Block • October 13, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Anathema Editions

Music / History 101 • August 11, 2026

Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more