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

Posted pre-2010

ARTICLE JUMP

Only Thieves

(Jeremy Barnes)

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

  1. Girls - Album

  2. Built to Spill - There is No Enemy

  3. Friends of Friends - Deep Search

  4. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimist

  5. Phoenix - 1901

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?

A lot of the bands mentioned above I'm pretty new on except for Built to Spill, but I really lost it on those albums. I just started listening to Chuck Berry though. I mean, really listening not just hearing "Johnny B. Good" on the radio. I've been taking time to learn a few riffs, getting to know the deep cuts, and whatnot. It's incredible. I think his biography is my next read.

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

I will remember is chiefly because of the slew of incredible music that got released. It was kind of ridiculous. I didn't mention that Raekwon album above. That shit was real hard.

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?

Dinosaur Jr.! Or did that happen in 2008? Shit, that Pavement reunion next year is going to be amazing. I may lose my mind. Small Brown Bike getting back together was cool too. I'd love to see a Guided By Voices or Replacements reunion. Come on, Bob! I'm not going to hold my breath for Westerberg and Co. to lay swords, though.

What can we look forward to from you in 2010?

"Heartless Romantics," our debut full-length is finally coming out. We think it's going to be pretty good. At least four or five decent cuts. Definitely a big fat tour. Maybe even three or four.

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

Vampire Weekend "Contra" (I know, I know, but that first album is tight. Anyone who likes Paul Simon needs to stop fronting), Spoon "Transference," and the new Hold Steady album. A whole year without a Hold Steady release (live albums not counting) is way too long.

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

— words by the SPB team

Related features

Jumalvauhti

One Question Interviews • March 27, 2025

Kalle (Jumalvauhti – bass) SPB: Who is your favorite band/artist from the 2000-2010 era? Kalle: It's hard to say, but Destiny's Child definitely can't go wrong.  Read more

Bronson Arm

One Question Interviews • March 26, 2025

Black Bickel (Bronson Arm) SPB: What is your favorite stretch of highway to drive in the US? Bickel: My favorite stretch of highway is that bit between Milwaukee and Minneapolis, two cities that Bronson Arm always have a great time playing. So if we are leaving Milwaukee, we are usually … Read more

Unstable Shapes

One Question Interviews • March 25, 2025

Kevin Hurley (Unstable Shapes – bass) SPB: What is your favorite Fugazi record? Hurley: While we can debate the best Fugazi record, a personal favorite of mine is The Argument. It was my entry point for the band. I was admittedly way late to the party on them and as … Read more

Retirement

Bike Shop

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • March 23, 2025

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we chat with … Read more

Let Me Downs

One Question Interviews • March 12, 2025

Paul Levesque (Let Me Downs - bass/vocals) SPB: Has the band ever been in a car/van accident while touring? Levesque: Fortunately, we haven’t! (Knock on wood) We have had our fair share of van issues. Blown tires, A/C going out in an hours-long traffic jam in the Arizona desert in … Read more

Advertisement

DCxPC 2025

More from this section

2024: A Year In Review

Music / Year End 2024 • January 13, 2025

It's a new year – hooray. And things are off to a fine start, too. If the thought of corrupt governments, AI domination, unmoderated social networks and endless war is causing you to retreat into the past, we don't blame you. In fact, we encourage it! Our writers have summed … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2024)

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's 2025, somehow. When did this happen?! Okay, okay, four days ago. But honestly. It feels like 2012 was only a few months ago. Is it just SPB who's feeling a little, well, timestruck? But don't worry – we've got you. Did 2024 pass you by, too? Still not caught … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2024

Music / Year End 2024 • January 4, 2025

It's a SPB tradition to formally "pass the mic" to our artist and label friends to tell us about their year in music. What albums did they enjoy? What shows did they see? What are they looking forward to for the new year? We're joined this year by a host … Read more