#49 - Phil

The Dirty Projectors

Bitte Orca

2009

I had never heard this band until this year. Hell, I had never heard of this band until this year. But in preparing for this massive list I knew it would be in my best interest to listen to this year’s best reviewed albums, and Bitte Orca is certainly one of them. So I went and picked it up along with the Grizzly Bear and Maxwell albums, expecting it to be solid but probably the weakest of the three. Boy was I wrong about that! Not only does The Dirty Projectors’ brilliant record blow those other two out of the water; it’s one of the most unique and inventive pop rock records I’ve ever heard!

This band does not care about convention or rhythm. They don’t stick to a set BPM pace. Yet somehow, some way, they are still able to create infectious tunes that will stay in your head for days. The album’s greatest track is undoubtedly “Stillness Is the Move,” a song that’s so perfect it feels like it’s always existed, like a hidden treasure in an Egyptian pyramid the Dirty Projectors were fortunate enough to discover. “Useful Chamber” ’s verses and chorus should not work together - they sound nothing alike at all - yet they mesh into one another seamlessly. And that’s what makes this album so great: it breaks every rule in the book… but it works oh so well! -P.W.

Despite my severe distaste for Dave Longstreth, I cannot help but follow Dirty Projector’s off-kilter indie rock output. 2007’s Rise Above was a bizarre yet fascinating cover of the punk classic by Black Flag. While I think the album concept was a bit more interesting than its execution, I knew their next proper full length would be something to look out for and boy did Bitte Orca deliver. The R&B beats and influences make the band’s indie rock very unique and gave us the fantastic track that is “Stillness Is the Move,” which is easily my favorite single of the year so far. I can’t wait to see where they go from here. - Ryan

Outside of "Merriweather", "Bitte Orca" was one of the most hyped independent albums during the final year of the decade - and with good merit. David Longstreth has composed some of the most engaging and involved folk/pop/prog for quite some time. A strange record with a unique vision, definitely a band to look forward to in the '10s. - Steve