This was a relatively uninspiring year for music that I like. Maybe it’s because I keep hoping every year will be as good as 2007, or perhaps I simply didn’t listen to enough new records. Maybe my favored brand of pop/rock/alternative music is dying along with the record industry, or maybe I’m just jealous that Aaron’s list is full of solid albums. Still, my best educated guess is that Spoon did not release a full length album this year. That must be it.
Seriously though: very few new ’09 releases gave me as much satisfaction as a couple of Lady Gaga songs (I did consider giving my Lady Gaga mix the #1 spot on this list – seriously). Also, I should mention that I don’t like including live albums of compilations on “Top 10″ lists. Nirvana – Live at Reading was easily one of the best things I heard all year, and the Dark Was The Night compilation wasn’t too shabby either. Disclaimers aside, here’s the list:
10. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Sleek, infectious and car-commercial-ready, this is the definitive indie-pop album of the year (I know that’s a lame pseudo-genre, but luckily that doesn’t detract from the quality of this release). If Side B was as good as Side A, this would have been a more serious contender. [Apparently, I need to keep writing to make sure the editing of this post doesn't fail, so I will add that this album almost missed its Top Ten slot to Neko Case - Middle Cyclone]
9. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Crazy up-its-own-ass concept album with guest vocalists and heavy metal undertones by a particularly wordy band. At this point I can admit The Crane Wife should have a better shelf-life, but few albums this year have provided a listening experience as fascinating as this one. [I was rather bummed that the cold Chicago rain ruined my experience of seeing this record played live in its entirety, but still think it was worth it for me to stick around until "Repaid/The Wanting Comes in Waves"]
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
I wasn’t sold on this album until I heard many of these songs live. Then again, another Fever to Tell would have been redundant (and another Show Your Bones, for all of the original’s goodness, would’ve been no less than cringe-worthy). The YYY’s third full-length is yet another inevitable progression for this proudly artsy band, an album split half and half between bangers and ballads.
7. The Raveonettes – In and Out of Control
Just a (60s)pop-(80s)rock album with a Scandinavian twist; sometimes that’s all you need. Sadly, the cover is rather stupid, reinforcing my jealousy toward Aaron’s list. [Since I have already written a review's worth of ruminations on this album, I'll go ahead and sneak in another memorable mention: Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs, a great album that probably would have made this list if it wasn't for its eccentric track list]
6. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
In the year of ambitious albums (I suppose 2009 was also a big lo-fi year, which doesn’t quite float my boat), this is as down-to-earth as Wilco has been in a long time; they may just be punching-in, but few major label bands do their job as well as Jeff Tweedy & cia. [At this point I'd like to include my third and final honorable mention, Stuart Murdoch's odd God Help The Girl project. In this case, the reason forthe exclusion from the Top Ten is probably bitterness: while this LP was definitely a treat, I could really use another actual Belle & Sebastian album]
5. jj – jj #2
This album is concise, dreamy, and (despite the weed leaf on the cover and a song called “Ecstasy”) can be enjoyed in any state of mind. When it’s over, play it again. I have been listening to this for the past couple of months trying to find flaw in its design, but other than a random shouting voice that taints a couple of seconds of its penultimate track, this is a very sharp record.
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
Tempting as it may be to forget an album that came out in early January, MPP is a timely masterpiece within its own terms. “My Girls” and “Summertime Clothes” realy are that good. Even quirkier tunes (“Brothersport” and “Lion in a Coma”) featuring classic Animal Collective elements I’ve disliked in the past now simply shine. Part of me doesn’t want to rank it so high, but this is a crucial listen – the Kid A of 2009.
3. The xx – xx
2009′s best 3 a.m. album, whether you’re by yourself or have company, at a party or at home. With a delicate balance of originality and novelty, this is one tough band to pin down, making it harder to diss this them as “this year’s Vampire Weekend” (or Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah, or whatever other up-and-coming 2000s indie band-of-the-moment that generates intense online love and hate). Worthy of the hype, though I do hope we are through with these letter-letter band names.
2. Sunset Rubdown – Drangonslayer
The definitive art-rock album of the year. Each of the eight tracks is its own self-contained epic, humbly produced, reliant only on creative songwriting and emotional musicianship. Listening to this while reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was one of the highlights of my year. This is arguably a flawless record. Should have been an easy #1 if it wasn’t for…
1. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
This record has triggered more emotional reactions than any other album I’ve heard through all of 2009. Although it’s not flawless, many of its songs get better, cozier, more welcoming each time around. “Daniel” is probably tied with another man-named song as my favorite tune of the year (the other one would be Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”).
RSS: