Loved and Loathed in 2009

I come to you on the eve of a new decade, the Year 2010 with our Second Annual Loved and Loathed list! Much has changed here at Tastes Like Caramel since writing the 2008 list. We’ve completely moved the site to a new server, redesigned entirely and found our writing style/voice.

Looking back at 2009, we have so much to smile about: interviewing some of our favorite bands (ie: Friendly Fires and White Lies) seeing lifelong heroes in concert (ie: Morissey and Pixies) and many other countless experiences! For all of this I would like to just say thank you to our readers, peers, and the musicians. This post will outline highlights of the year for TLC, much like our Loved and Loathed list for 2008. So without further ado, I bring to you the highs and lows of 2009 and as always we welcome your feedback.

Have a safe and Happy New Years celebration!

LOVED…

The color black as seen on White Lies, Glasvegas and The Xx.

Vamps on Film: True Blood, The Twilight Saga, Thirst, Let the Right One In.

Festivals: Could go on for days about the awesomeness of All Points West, Lollapalooza and Electric Zoo in 2009!

Remixers work the dancefloor: Stuart Price, Erol Alkan, Skream, Crookers, Fake Blood, Calvin Harris and Diplo kept the surprises coming in 2009 with their reworks.

Brooklyn’s Pool Parties relocate to the East River Park: Great view (pro) but tighter rules (con.)

Major Lazer: Switch, Diplo and their army introduce dancehall to electronic music.

[MP3: Major Lazer - Pon De Floor Featuring VYBZ Kartel or zShare]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs burned down the disco with It’s Blitz! Still holding onto that dream of someday being Karen O.

MUSIC: The Best Albums of 2009!

Brits on Broadway: Jude Law in Hamlet, Sienna Miller and Johnny Lee Miller in After Miss Julie and Daniel Radcliffe in Equus.

Lo-Fi / Chillwave: jj, Beach House, Zola Jesus and Washed Out were a few of our favorite mood-setters of 2009.

[MP3: jj -Hopes and Dreams or zShare]

Lady Gaga wins the Love/Hate battle with the ultra catchy and visually stunning Bad Romance video.

The ongoing revival/revolution of New York’s dance culture.

FILM

Inglourious Basterds
500 Days of Summer
Watchmen
Jennifer’s Body
District 9
Whip It
Coraline
Paranormal Activity
Zombie Land
Away We Go

Concerts

Pixies Dolittle Tour at Hammerstein Ballroom
Kings of Leon at Madison Square Garden
Fader Fort: CMJ 2009
Jack Penate and Miike Snow at Mercury Lounge
Morrissey: The Tour of Refusal at Webster Hall
Bat for Lashes at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
Peaches at Webster Hall
Echo and the Bunnymen at Mercury Lounge
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at APW and Lolla
Friendly Fires + White Lies at Bowery Ballroom
Fever Ray and Vuk at Webster Hall
JayZ at APW

[MP3: Jay-Z and Santigold - Brooklyn Go Hard or zShare]

[MP3: Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (Stuart Price Remix) or zShare]

LOATHED…

H1N1 Outbreak, better known as Swine Flu.
Economic Crisis continues and unemployment rate is at historic low in 2009. Sigh.
Another year without Missy Elliott: Block Party pushed back for a second year as unfinished demos continue to leak.
Kanye West: Don’t really need to explain this one.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

Where the Wild Things Are: Visually and musically it was phenomenal but the film lagged for about 30 minutes more than necessary, causing me to fall asleep.
Bruno: Just bad.
Little Boots: Hands did not deliver. We were expecting something more along the lines of what she described in our interview with her last spring…
Beastie Boys’s MCA diagnosed with cancer forcing tour cancellation and album delay. Pro: He is recuperating well!

BREAK UPS

The Metros: Once called one of London’s Most Promising Young Bands, The Metros sadly called it quits over the summer. We feel fortunate to have started 2009 with an exclusive interview with Saul Adamczewski which you can read HERE.

The Rakes: Right before embarking in their Fall North American Tour, The Rakes shocked fans by canceling their tour and announcing their split. We interviewed the band last spring as well which you can read HERE.

[MP3: The Rakes - We Danced Together or zShare]

DEATHS

Michael Jackson The Legendary King of Pop (August 29th, 1958 – June 25th, 2009)
Brittany Murphy Talented actress and striving musician (November 10th, 1977 – December 20th, 2009)
Farrah Fawcett Pop culture icon and Charlie’s Angel (February 2nd, 1947 – June 25th, 200)
Virgin Megastores in New York: The last remaining stores in the UK and NYC closed this year.
Blender Magazine: One of my favorite music and pop culture magazines turned it’s last page in 2009.