The local rockers of Wussy received some well-deserved “list love” at the end of 2009. A writer for the Patriot Ledger in Massachusetts named the band’s self-titled Shake It Records release (the band’s third) one of the Top 10 of last year, former Afghan Whigger Greg Dulli put it at No. 4 on his list and outlets from online ’zine Blurt to influential radio outlet KEXP also included them in Top 10s.
But Wussy’s most high-profile big-fan — legendary music journo Robert Christgau — gave the group even bigger props on his “Best of the Decade” list, putting the band’s debut Funeral Dress at No. 4 (between releases by Lil Wayne and Kanye West) and 2007’s Left for Dead at No. 14. (Check out Chistgau’s list here). Oddly, Wussy’s eponymous release didn’t make the cut (odd because it’s their best record to date). I’d vote for it to replace Lil Wayne (overrated!) at No. 3, but that’s just me.—-
Indie Pop duo Bad Veins also deservedly made some 2009 lists (though they should have been on way, way more). EPSN.com writer Paul Shirley tagged the band with No. 9 honors, AbsolutePunk’s Gregory Robson put them at No. 4 and the band’s song “Go Home” made the USA Today blog Pop Candy’s Top 20 Songs of the Year. The ABC News Web site also named the group’s self-titled release on Dangerbird Records one of the year’s best (No. 7), aptly calling it “criminally underrated.”
CityBeat had both Bad Veins and Wussy at the top of its Best of 2009 local release rundown. Did other Cincinnati artists get national year-end/decade-end love? Put ’em in the comments if you know of any.
This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2010.