More favorites from the Twin Cities Critics Tally voters.
Our favorite local songs of 2009 1. Mason Jennings, "The Field" (23 points)
2. Red Pens, "Hung Out" (15)
3. (tie) Lookbook, "Yesterday's Company" (14)
P.O.S., "Goodbye"
5. The Evening Rig, "The Steve McQueens" (12)
6. Brother Ali, "Fresh Air" (11)
7. (tie) Halloween, Alaska, "In Order" (10)
The Honeydogs, "Good Fight"
Mason Jennings, "Pittsburgh"
Lookbook, "True to Form"
P.O.S., "Purexed"
Our favorite local live acts of 2009 1. P.O.S. (30 points)
2. Chooglin' (15)
3. (tie) Gay Witch Abortion (14)
Gospel Gossip
5. Solid Gold (13)
6. (tie) Private Dancer (12)
Red Pens
8. (tie) The Blind Shake (10)
A Night in the Box (10)
No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2009 Jay Boller, Minnesota Daily: "In terms of quality, there's real depth in the Twin Cities. I can count the local acts I'm physically pained to see on one hand. There are some top-tier artists; but almost everyone sounds decent with a beer or two."
Tim Campbell, Star Tribune: "Breakups, makeups, new loves, fresh starts -- these seem to be the themes as I look at my list of local favorites from 2009. Whether it's the Red Pens, Lookbook, various recombinant Jayhawks and Trip Shakespeareans, this is a scene that's about second chances -- or 52nd chances, as in the case of the ever-lovin' Willie Murphy."
Cyn Collins, freelancer:
"This seemed like a particularly strong year for comebacks and continuation of those that created the great Minnesota scene -- Grant Hart, Soul Asylum, Suicide Commandos, Twilight Hours (members of Trip Shakespeare), the New Standards, Patches and Gretchen and more. Also, the fact that we have so many different genres -- the scene is highly eclectic -- all strongly supported by large live show attendance regardless of the number of shows on any given night. And, the new old-timey, alt-country scene continues exploding in numbers of bands, talent and appeal."
Kyle Matteson, MoreCowbell. net:
"In a year that saw MANY live music venues close, most notably the Uptown Bar as well as the Dinkytowner, Stasiu's, Trocadero's, the Myth, etc., 2009 also saw a handful of new venues open their doors -- Sauce Soundbar (which is booking great local lineups numerous nights every week), 501 Club, the Music Box and Honey, just to name a few. While it's sad to see any venue that hosts live (especially local) music close, it's a great testament to the local scene that people are still willing to take a chance and open a new music venue in our current economic climate."
Pat O'Brien, freelancer:
"Gay Witch Abortion opening Art-A-Whirl in Northeast by playing a short set floating down the river on a makeshift barge. It was stunningly loud onshore, and an idea that seemed like it could only end in disaster didn't, and will be talked about for years by those lucky enough to see it."
Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune:
"As touring shows waned for the year, the locals kept First Avenue rocking through November and December. Among those who sold out or at least nearly packed the 1,500-capacity venue in the past few weeks were Solid Gold, Brother Ali (two shows), Mason Jennings (two shows), Trampled by Turtles, Doomtree, Soul Asylum and the all-local Replacements tribute. Even the Tuesday night John Lennon tribute did well despite a winter whiteout thicker than Curtiss A's hair."
Erin Roof, freelancer:
"I moved here from NYC last year partly because I heard the music scene was so strong. And it's true -- on any given night, in any venue, you're likely to hear local music that's better than bigger-city bands that are racking up inches on Pitchfork or Time Out: New York or Spin or any other publication that's supposed to tell you what to listen to. Twin Cities musicians have the creative freedom that comes from living outside of the limelight, and their music is all the better for it."
Andrea Swensson, City Pages:
"My pride for the Minnesota music scene really flourished every time I crossed the state lines this year. Whether watching Mark Mallman in Chicago, Solid Gold in Brooklyn, or a whole slew of local peeps at SXSW, I was reassured that the Twin Cities are being well represented by our hard-working touring bands while they're out there on the road."
Rob van Alstyne, freelancer: "When winter hits and all the touring bands are too scared to come here for four months straight for fear our subzero temps and snow-strewn roads will destroy their vans, it barely matters because there's more than enough top-flight local talent to fill every local club a dozen times over."
Other TCCT '09 voters Christopher Bahn, the Onion's A.V. Club Twin Cities; Jon Bream, Star Tribune; David De Young, HowWastheShow.com; Tom Horgen, Star Tribune; Jahna Peloquin, freelancer; Ross Raihala, St. Paul Pioneer Press; Peter Scholtes, freelancer; Tom Surowicz, freelancer; Jim Walsh, freelancer.
Chris Riemenschneider's top 10 albums (unranked for the first time this year; simply couldn't choose between 'em)
Black Blondie, "Do You Remember Who You Wanted to Be?"
Gay Witch Abortion, "Maverick"
Grant Hart, "Hot Wax"
Idle Hands, "The Hearts We Broke on the Way to the Show"
Lookbook, "Wild at Heart"
P.O.S., "Never Better"
The Pines, "Tremolo"
Red Pens, "Reasons"
Twilight Hours, "Stereo Night"
Vampire Hands, "Hannah in the Mansion"
Family members and a lawyer say they have been blocked from access to the bedside of Bonfilia Sanchez Dominguez, while her husband was detained and shipped to Texas within 24 hours.
