bip-bip presents... (includes download)

After much deliberation, bip-bip. has compiled our very own "Best Albums of '09" list. With so many great albums being released this year, there are certainly noteworthy albums that didn't make the cut. A few of the most deserving honorable mentions include: The Avett Brothers' I and Love and You, Neko Case's Middle Cyclone, White Rabbits' It's Frightening, Major Lazer's Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' It's Blitz, Islands' Vapours... to name a few. Still, if we had to recommend just ten albums to buy this whole year... these would be it. Enjoy.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Best Track: Young Adult Friction) -- Take some washed out vocals mixed with a little melancholy and a sound that is eerily reminiscent of The Smiths, and you have a debut album worthy of the repeat button.




Basement Jaxx - Scars (Best Track: Feelings Gone) -- This London duo has put together another addictive electronic album that features distinct sounds from track to track (as well as great contributors such as Santigold and Sam Sparro).





Regina Spektor - Far (Best Track: Eet) -- Imaginative lyrics and innovation song construction makes Far possibly the best Regina Spektor album to date... which is saying something.






Discovery - LP (Best Track: So Insane) -- It's no shock that an experimental side-project between members of two the best modern indie rock bands, Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend, created a musical gem.






The Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (Best Track: Two Doves) -- Strangeness and unfamiliarity of the first listen quickly turns to genius and obsession by the third or fourth listen.






Fanfarlo - Reservoir (Best Track: Finish Line) -- A sure to be staple of chamber-pop, this band which has been heavily compared to Arcade Fire has put together a Funeral of its own.






Miike Snow - Miike Snow (Best Track: Song for No One) -- Perfectly executed pop-music that simultaneously sounds familiar and completely original. For such a heavily produced album, they can pull it off live as well.





We Were Promised Jetpacks- These Four Walls (Best Track: Moving Clocks Run Slow) -- How this Scottish band fell completely off the radar for most popular "best albums" lists is beyond me. Similar to Frightened Rabbit-- with just as much promise.





Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Best Track: Girlfriend) -- The no-brainer number one for most lists. Phoenix has finally broken through to the mainstream in a big-way, creating a cd that finally reflected their long-standing potential.





Passion Pit - Manners (Best Track: all great... but start with Sleepyhead) -- Who knew that the combination of weird falsetto vocals, a children's choir, and some of the most unique sampling and synths could create the best album of the year. Give it a try -- it is musical perfection.

MP3: DOWNLOAD Passion Pit's Myspace Transmissions Live (click here).

Sunday Video Round-Up

Here are some live performances by Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, Bon Iver, and Arcade Fire worthy of being posted. Somewhat unusual, very awesome. Enjoy.

Passion Pit and the Magic of Electro-Pop (A+)

Without question, one of my favorite albums that were released this year is Passion Pit's Manners. The band's high-pitched vocals combined with its high-energy make their sound both addictive and distinct. Manners is their first studio release, but it does contain a mastered version of "Sleepyhead" (no, i didnt mean "remastered")-- which was featured on their 2008 EP Chunk of Change.

The band was formed in Massachusetts in 2007 and their use of synthesizers and samples is pretty remarkable. In fact, their unique sound has spawned relatively quick success in only two years -- doing well on the Australian (#19), British (#55), and US Charts (#51). They have even opened up for some of my favorite artists Death Cab and Girltalk.

Think music with a dreamwave kick. Insanely upbeat synthesizers, all sorts of samples, and truly unique vocals make this album irresistible. Since its hard to explain, you'd get a lot further by just taking a listening. Seriously buy this cd... as the entire album is near flawless. Your ears with thank you.

Passion Pit - Sleepyhead


Buy their album here.