Best Of 2009: By JG Thirlwell

Mainly I listen to classical, contemporary composition, soundtracks, and prog rock, and I spent most of the year writing new music of my own.

Tyondai Braxton, Central Market

Contemporary albums I enjoyed:

Tyondai Braxton, Central Market

Koenjihyakkei, Angherr Shisspa/Viva Koenji!!/Hundred Sights of Koenji/Nivraym

Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest

White, White

Elysian Fields, The Afterlife

Muse, The Resistance

Fuck Buttons, Tarot Sport

Beirut, March of the Zapotec

No Age, Weirdo Rippers (2007: heard it this year for the first time)

Noveller, Red Rainbows

Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Broadcast, Microtronics, Volumes 01 & 02 3″ CDs

Whales and Cops, Great Bouncing Icebergs

Oh yeah, another song I liked:
“Skeletons” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Best concerts of 2009:

1/29: John Adams at Peter Sharp Theater

2/6: John Zorn’s Bar Kokhba at Abrons Art Center

3/10: Boulez conducts Stravinsky, Elliott Carter, and Varèse at Carnegie Hall

4/16 and 4/28: Throbbing Gristle

5/29: Wolfgang Voigt performs GAS at Miller Theatre

6/9: The Psychic Paramount at Santos

6/21: Van der Graaf Generator at Nokia Theatre

7/10: Konono N°1, Sant’Arcangelo Festival

7/16: Kronos Quartet in Prospect Park

7/30: Grace Jones at Hammerstein

8/7: Child Abuse and Ga’an at Silent Barn

8/21: Extra Life/Little Women at DBA

9/9: Boredoms BOADRUM 9 at Terminal 5

9/12: Z’s/Normal Love/Pygmy Shrews at DBA

10/4: Gavin Friday’s 50th at Carnegie Hall

10/18: Lucky Dragons at Roulette and earlier in the year at Sculpture Center

11/12: Futurist Noise Intoners at Town Hall

11/18: Mike Kelley, Day is Done at Judson Church

11/20: Devo perform Are We Not Men? album, Irving Plaza

11/24: Felix Kubin at Santos and lecture at Brooklyn College

12/18: Tristan Perich, Piece for one bit chips and harpsichord, Galapagos

Movies I dug:

Gomorra

Sin Nombre

Cargo 200 and Balabanov’s other films Zhmurki, Brother, Of Freaks and Men

Timecrimes

Fando and Lis

Thirst

Pusher II

JG’s strangest performances of the year:

Gavin Friday’s 50th birthday with U2, Lady Gaga, Courtney, Lydia, Rufus, Antony. . .

Singing at Carnegie Hall and sharing a dressing room with Flo and Eddie

Kronos Quartet performs JG Thirlwell’s “Nomatophobis” in Prospect Park

JG’s Ecclesiophobia solo sound installation in a crypt from the Middle Ages in Italy

Performing naked in John Duncan’s choir at Performa, Gramercy Theater

JG Thirlwell has been featured in Popshifter several times, most recently in Issue 011.