31 12 / 2009
My Top Albums of 2009 List
I have to admit, 2009 wasn’t that great of a year for music. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t 2008, or 2007. There were some standouts this year, and that’s where I come in. Without further ado, here’s what I listened to this year in order.
The Top Prizes Go To…
Antlers – Hospice
This album owned my soul this year. From incredibly heart-wrenching lyrics and Arcade Fire-esque epic movements, this album was by far my most listened to album of the year. (Recommended tracks: Two, Bear)
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
This album won me over after a couple of listens. Everyone loved the song “Two Weeks” but the more I listened to this album the more I fell in love. I’m a huge fan of Department of Eagles, so pretty much anything Daniel Rossen touches is now on my watch list. (Recommended tracks: Two Weeks, Cheerleader)
A Close Second…
These are albums that were on replay all year, and I consider them next best to my top prizes.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
This album surprised the hell out of me. Karen O and her gang really outdid themselves with this one. It had some incredibly breakout tracks, and is a great driving and/or party album. I saw YYY’s live this year as well on their tour in support of this album and it sounded just as great live. (Recommended tracks: Heads Will Roll, Soft Shock)
Metric - Fantasies
In their most radio-friendly album yet, Metric are almost a household name in more than just indie homes now thanks to Fantasies. I listened to the shit out of this album in 2009. (Recommended tracks: Gold Guns Girls, Twilight Galaxy)
The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
I almost put this in my “disappointed” list, but I really have listened to it probably more times than any other song. There are some truly beautiful tracks (”The Wanting Comes in Waves” comes to mind) and it really does tell a riveting story. Decemberists are in my top 3 bands of all time, but this album wasn’t The Crane Wife. It was beautiful in places, left some to be desired in others, but still warranted a ton of listening on my part. (Recommended tracks: The Wanting Comes in Waves: Repaid, Isn’t it a Lovely Night?)
La Roux – La Roux
La Roux are an awesome British electropop band that could make anyone dance. This album is poppy, dancy, fun, and incredibly catchy. Plus, I have a girlcrush on their singer, Eleanor Jackson. “In For The Kill” is almost my 2009 theme song. (Recommended tracks: In For the Kill, Bulletproof)
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
If this album was nothing but the track “My Girls”, it would still be on my top albums list. Freaking brilliant. I love AC, and although they’re not for everyone, this album was definitely a standout of ‘09. (Recommended tracks: My Girls, Summertime Clothes)
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix tops just about every list on the web, but I don’t give it THAT much credit. I won’t deny it was a brilliant work of rock art, but for some reason it didn’t resonate as much with me as other albums did this year. 1901 and Lisztomania were amazing songs that thankfully got some commercial airtime. (Recommended tracks: Lisztomania, 1901)
St. Vincent – Actor
Annie Clark’s voice is so beautiful to listen to, and I think this album is so magical in places. It has such an innocent sound, and I love listening to this album at work. I love songs with clever lyrics, and this one wins the award this year. (Recommended tracks: Save Me From What I Want, Laughing With a Mouth of Blood)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Who cares what movie it was in, this was the best soundtrack of the year and definitely in the top albums. They landed such a great lineup. Bon Iver/St. Vincent duet, Lykke Li, Sea Wolf, Death Cab, Grizzly Bear, Editors – just a great album overall. (Recommended tracks: Possibility by Lykke Li, Rosyln by Bon Iver w/ St. Vincent)
Florence & The Machine – Lungs
Every since I heard their Beirut cover earlier in the year, I’ve been stalking their every move. This album is gorgeous, and it’s not just because of the singer’s voice – which is magical. (Standout tracks: Kiss With a Fist, Cosmic Love)
Biggest Disappointment:
This one was easy. My biggest disappointment over all was Muse – The Resistance. I gave this 3 listens through, and that was all I could handle. I’m such a huge Muse fan, I’ve seen them live more times than I can count and I want Matt Bellamy to father my children, but that didn’t stop me from disliking this album. It was copycat, it was uninspired, and there were no tracks on the album that redeemed it for me. Definitely a disappointment for me.
