Favorite Music of 2009, pt. 01: The Years – Mixtape
This little gem of an album is short (under 25 minutes), but it’s got some of the best loop-based tracks I’ve heard this year. That said, I don’t know how much of it is truly looped, since the band members are competent musicians, clearly steeped in the jazz tradition, and plenty capable of playing out the songs as if they were just cut up by somebody in Pro Tools.
The thing has soul. Makes me imagine what would happen if Sesame Street fell through a wormhole, was pulverized, then discovered by Cut Chemist in the 90s and reassembled.
The Years – Basura
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It’s never boring, but works as background music, too. The Years aren’t big on endless repetition. They want to hit you with their tunes, make you nod your head for a bit, and before you know it, they’ve moved on to the next song.
The Years – I Are
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The best part is that the album is available for free download. Go. Enjoy.
