Before 2010 begins, I wanted to get one more “best of” list in! Here are Anne Litt’s Top 10 Songs of 2009  — followed by some runner ups

Bill Callahan “Too Many Birds”  I Wish We Were An Eagle
Neko Case “This Tornado Loves You”  Middle Cyclone
Mum “Illuminated”  Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know
Alela Diane  “To Be Still”  To Be Still
Mayer Hawthorne  “Maybe So, Maybe No”  A Strange Arrangement
The Horrors “Sea Within A Sea”  Primary Colours
Florence and the Machine “Hurricane Drunk”  Lungs
Nosaj Thing  “Coat of Arms”  Drift
Sonic Youth  “Malibu Gas Station”  …

Duke Ellington is one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the20th Century and Eclectic24 will preview his “Three Suites” album in its entirety tonight (Monday, Dec 28) at 8pm PST. It will also be available on demand, after it airs, until Tuesday, January 26. On  “Three Suites” he masterfully adapts material from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” and Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suites,” then offers a suite of his own.
RR

I loved the movie “500 Days of Summer” and I’m not surprised to see it making many Top 10 lists for the year. For today’s Guest DJ set, we hosted Scott Neustadter, who co-wrote the indie hit film.  The movie was recently nominated for a Golden Globe and was released on DVD yesterday. It is based on Scott’s real life romance, so I wasn’t surprised to hear his reflections on love and relationships – both the good and the bad – in his Guest DJ set, from the Talking Heads …

Just last week the LA Times featured local band Music Go Music as one of the best in town, calling their debut a “hook-filled blast through pop’s past.” The band is fronted by married couple Meredith and David Metcalf from the band Bodies of Water, as well as Adam Siegel. Music Go Music tip their hats to bands like Abba, with a mix of progressive pop songs recalling the sounds of the 70′s. As Today’s Top Tune – our free song a day download – we are happy to offer …

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY
Friday, December 25, Tom Schnabel hosts a globe-hopping yuletide special as Morning Becomes Eclectic
Monday, December 28, Jeremy Sole is guest host on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Tuesday, December 29, Michael Barnes is guest host on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Wednesday, December 30, Eric J. Lawrence is guest host on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Thursday, December 31, Gary Calamar is guest host on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Friday, January 1, Chris Douridas guest hosts Morning Becomes Eclectic for a look back at the highlights of 2009 – the year’s …

When the Flaming Lips performed on Morning Becomes Eclectic this past October, they brought a special pre-Halloween treat – a cover of Pink Floyd’s song “Eclipse” off “Dark Side of the Moon.” It was the first time they had performed it live and Wayne Coyne told us they planned to cover the entire album. Lo and behold, it is out today exclusively on iTunes. We’re doubly excited because our own Henry Rollins is featured on the record.
If I could magically appear anywhere on New Year’s Eve, I would attend the …

KCRW Music Librarian and DJ Eric J Lawrence (Sun, mid-3am) sees it all. His “office” is filled with postal bins of hundreds of CDs from all around the world – hand-sharpied demos, releases for labels big and small – just about everything. He listens to them ALL. Every CD gets a chance because you never know when you might hear the next Jesca Hoop. Speaking of, we’re already spinning tracks from some hotly anticipated albums of 2010, Jesca’s included, and here’s Eric take on what to look out for:
“In …

KCRW DJs have been all over the new record by Portland-based singer-songwriter Laura Veirs, particularly the track “Carol Kaye.” The song was Today’s Top Tune last week and features vocals from My Morning Jacket/Monsters of Folk singer Jim James. I read this quote from Jim and I have to share it: “Laura’s like the queen bee and my ear is her hive; she nests and makes honey in the hairs of my cochlea.” What more can I say?
You can hear her new album “July Flame” streaming on KCRW.com until January …

If you’re staying in town for New Year’s Eve here are some sure bets for a great time.

New Year’s Eve – Thursday, December 31 2009

Viceroy Hotel (Santa Monica)
KCRW DJs Jason Bentley and Raul Campos join King Britt and Jaime Strong for TWENTY 10 (A NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION).
Zanzibar (Santa Monica)
AFRO FUNKE NYE 2009 feat. GARTH TRINIDAD, JEREMY SOLE, NAJITE AGINDOTAN AND CAPOEIRA BATUQUE AT ZANZIBAR
(Note from RR: I was among the revelers popping champagne here last year and I promise it will be an unbelievable dance party in one of …

Every time I ask KCRW DJ Gary Calamar to make a Top 10 album list, he cringes. He’s just more of a song guy, which I can appreciate. It’s probably in part due to his work as a music supervisor, where each individual track is key. With that, I give you Gary’s Top 10 SONGS of the year.
(also, check out his program page for some of the excellent guests he’s hosted this year – Jody Stephens from Big Star, Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey and …