top ten albums of 2009

by Sean

10. WILCO (THE ALBUM) by wilco

Wilco (The Song) [LISTEN]

One of my all-time favorite bands releases a decent Wilco record. But, a decent Wilco record is good enough to be top 10 of the year for me.

9. DRAGONSLAYER by sunset rubdown

You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II) [LISTEN]

I was once a Wolf Parade fan and am now a fan of pretty much anything Spencer Krug does. This was a pleasant surprise for me.

8. I AND LOVE AND YOU by the avett brothers

I And Love And You [LISTEN]

Nothing I can really rock to like Emotionalism’s “Die, Die, Die”, but, the title track is great and this is a consistently good record all the way through.

7. WHY THERE ARE MOUNTAINS by cymbals eat guitars

Wind Phoenix (Proper Name) [LISTEN]

My favorite debut of the year and they’re only 20 years old. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for these guys.

6. BITTE ORCA by dirty projectors

Cannibal Resource [LISTEN]

Hadn’t even heard of them until this was released, and after seeing them live I will definitely be keeping my ear out for whatever else they have to offer.

5. MANNERS by passion pit

Sleepyhead [LISTEN]

After hearing Manners for the first time I was sure Passion Pit would be the MGMT of 2009. I’m not sure if they’ve quite reached that point but there are some great dance party tunes on this one.

4. NOBLE BEAST by andrew bird

Oh No [LISTEN]

At this point I don’t believe Andrew Bird is capable of putting out a bad record.

3. WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX by phoenix

Lisztomania [LISTEN]

When an album begins with possibly 2 of the top 5 songs released all year (“Lisztomania”,”1901″) its pretty hard for it to be topped. Gets a little muddled down in the middle but finishes strong.

2. VECKATIMEST by grizzly bear

Two Weeks [LISTEN]

Grizzly Bear finally receives their critical due with Veckatimest. You may have to be in a certain mood to listen to this all the way through, but if you do you will be rewarded with a beautiful record.

1. MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION by animal collective

Summertime Clothes [LISTEN]

AC’s most accessible album to date, while still sticking to form. Named after a venue I have visited many times, MPP is proof that these guys from Baltimore may end up being one of the best of our generation.

top ten albums of 2009

by Gordon

10. LIVING THING by peter bjorn and john

 

I Want You! [LISTEN]

So much more excited waiting for a follow-up to Writer’s Block than I was upon finally hearing it, but you know, there’s still hope. It doesn’t suck, but I wish they’d released the two albums in reverse order.

9. DEAD MAN’S BONES by dead man’s bones

My Body’s A Zombie for You [LISTEN]

This is a band/album few have even heard of, but this Halloween-inspired record from Ryan Gosling and friend Zach Shields, recorded with a children’s choir, is a bold and fresh first creative effort from the two, who describe their influences as Disney haunted mansion, doo wop and 60s girl groups…who can knock that?

8. NOBLE BEAST by andrew bird

Fitz And the Dizzyspells [LISTEN]

As a more recent Andrew Bird fan, I fell in love with Armchair Apocrypha and subsequently his earlier albums. While this one didn’t hit me like his previous, it’s still got Bird all over it, and that’s not bad at all.

7. DRAW THE LINE by david gray

Fugitive [LISTEN]

For a hardcore Gray fan, It may not boast his best tracklisting to date, but it’s not too far off. His songwriting and piano-guitar combinations are still strong on this one.

6. WHITE WATER, WHITE BLOOM by sea wolf

Wicked Blood [LISTEN]

I was a little disappointed with what I see as a step back on this sophomore effort, but seeing as Sea Wolf is still a fairly new band that should be experienced by more listeners, it deserves a nod.

5. VECKATIMEST by grizzly bear

While You Wait for the Others [LISTEN]

Their second full-length album isn’t really a venture into anything new, but sounds close to what you’d expect from the increasingly popular group: bolder, louder and, dare I say happier?

4. FAR by regina spektor

The Calculation [LISTEN]

She’s back with the same great kinds of songs that have grown her popularity to where it is now: sad lullabies, poppy anthems, and everything in-between.

3. WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX by phoenix

1901 [LISTEN]

Yes, there are arguably more talented musicians lower on this list than Phoenix, but damn it, if I don’t just love listening to some of this band’s songs more.

2. I AND LOVE AND YOU by the avett brothers

Laundry Room [LISTEN]

While longtime fans may not call it the brothers’ best album to date, it’s pretty undisputedly a great one, offering some of the best tunes I’ve heard come from the band.

1. RESERVOIR by fanfarlo

Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for A Very Long Time [LISTEN]

How could such a new (and largely unheard of) band produce the best album of 2009? I don’t know, but they did, and it’s because they’re so new and unheard of that they deserve the top spot.