Top 5 Records Loney Dear, “Dear John” (Polyvinyl) A.C. Newman, “Get Guilty” (Matador) Future of the Left, “Travels With Myself and Another” (4AD) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, “The Pains of Being Pure at Heart” (Slumberland Records) The Antlers, “Hospice” (Frenchkiss) —Tom Lynch
Top 5 Albums Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavilion” (Domino) Luciano, “Tribute to the Sun” (Cadenza) Jesse Rose, “What Do You Do If You Don’t” (Dubsided) The Juan Maclean, “The Future Will Come” (DFA) The xx, ” xx” (Young Turks) —Duke Shin
Top 5 Local Records Kid Sister, “Ultraviolet” (Downtown Records) Mannequin Men, “Lose Your Illusion, Too” (Flameshovel) Califone, “All My Friends Are Funeral Singers” (Dead Oceans) Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, “…And the Horse You Rode In On” (Bloodshot Records) Azita, “How Will You?” (Drag City) —Tom Lynch
Top 5 Honorable Mention Records Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone” (Anti) Built to Spill, “There Is No Enemy” (WEA/Reprise) The Thermals, “Now We Can See” (Kill Rock Stars) Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca” (Domino) St. Vincent, “Actor” (4AD) —Tom Lynch
Top 5 Songs “Graphics,” Memory Tapes “Arming Eritrea,” Future of the Left “This Tornado Loves You,” Neko Case “What If I’m Wrong,” The Record Low “Bell,” Screaming Females —Tom Lynch
Top 5 Shows The Jesus Lizard, Pitchfork Music Festival The Thermals, Bottom Lounge A.C. Newman, Logan Square Auditorium Fucked Up, Pitchfork Music Festival Pearl Jam, United Center —Tom Lynch
Top 5 Dance Floor Tracks Luciano, “Los Ninos De Fuera” Jamie Jones, “Summertime feat. Ost & Kjex” Claude VonStroke, “Vocal Chords” Manoo & Francois A, “Today Is Tomorrow” Johnwaynes, “Libertango” —Duke Shin
Top 5 Remixes The Juan Maclean, “Happy House (Paul Woolford Apocalypse Version)” Visti & Meyland, “Yes Maam (All Nite Long) (Trentemoller Remix)” Florence + the Machine, “You’ve Got The Love (Jamie xx Re-Work)” Tensnake, “In the End (I Want You to Cry)” Jimmy & Fer Ferrari, “Let It Play (Fernanda Diaz Rokit Remix)” —Duke Shin
Top 5 Leftfield Electronic Tracks Damian Lazarus, “Moment” Ben Benjamin, “Mentors of Temperature” Plein Soleil, “Casus Belli (The Brontosaurus Saga Remix)” Charles Trees, “Memories” Clap Rules, “Braxx (Tim Toh Remix)” —Duke Shin
Top 5 Mixes/Compilations Beyond The Wizards Sleeve, “Re-Animations Vol. 1” (New State Music) Dixon, “Temporary Secretary” (Innervisions) DJ Koze, “Reincarnations: The Remix Chapter 2001-2009” (Get Physical Music) Various, “Factory Records: Communications 1978-92” (Rhino) Will Saul, “Balance 015” (EQ) —Duke Shin
Top 5 2009 Debut Albums The xx, “xx” (Young Turks) Passion Pit, “Manners” (Frenchkiss Records) Florence + the Machine, “Lungs” (Universal) Fever Ray, “Fever Ray” (Mute U.S.) Neon Indian, “Psychic Chasms” (Lefse) —Duke Shin
Top 5 Electronic Music Labels Ghostly International Wolf + Lamb Freerange Records Buzzin’ Fly Records dirtybird —Duke Shin
Top 5 Classical Concerts Simon Rattle & the Berlin Philharmonic, Symphony Center Verdi’s Requiem, Riccardo Muti & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Schubert Song Cycles, Christoph Eschenbach & Matthias Goerne, Ravinia Handel’s Dublin Messiah, Baroque Band Herbert Howells’ Requiem, Bella Voce —Dennis Polkow
Dennis Polkow is an award-winning veteran journalist, critic, author, broadcaster and educator. He made his stage debut at age five, was a child art prodigy and began playing keyboards in clubs at the age of fourteen. He holds degrees in music theory, composition, religious studies and philosophy from DePaul University in Chicago. Polkow spent his early years performing and recording in rock and jazz bands while concertizing as a classical pianist, organist and harpsichordist and composing, arranging and producing for other artists. As a scholar, Polkow has published and lectured extensively and taught at several colleges and universities in various departments. As an actor, narrator and consultant, Polkow has been involved with numerous films, plays, broadcasts and documentaries. As a journalist, Polkow helped co-create the experiential Chicago Musicale and Spotlight, the award-winning tabloid arts and entertainment section of the Press Publications chain of newspapers, which he later edited. He also created and ran the nationally recognized journalism program at Oakton College and was faculty advisor to its award-winning student newspaper; many former students went on to major media careers, including Channel Awesome’s the Nostalgia Critic. Polkow’s research, interviews, features, reviews and commentaries have appeared across national and international media and he has corresponded from the Middle East, Asia and Africa for the Chicago Tribune. Contact: dpolkow25@aol.com
