The Top 25 Albums of 2009

Yes, I'm aware that it is July 2010. To start this blog off I decided I would just throw up something that I had already finished writing but didn't have a place to post. So without further ado, here are my top 25 albums of 2009.

25. Bowerbirds - Upper Air Grooveshark Link
Upper Air is another record of restrained folk from Bowerbirds. Lyrics are still strong, but it feels like something is missing from this album.
Highlights: Teeth, Northern Lights

24. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic Grooveshark
Probably the most fleshed out chill wave release of 2009. Nostalgic and haunting at points
Highlights: Bicycle, Plain Material

23. Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care Grooveshark
This is ironicly Junior Boys Dullest album to date. But there are still strong points to be found within. Their style still shines through despite sometimes feeling too predictable.
Highlights: Parallel Lines, Dull To Pause



22. A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose Grooveshark
A.A. Bondy is a great lyricist. Once his musicianship catches up to that he will make a classic record. But for now, When The Devil's Loose isn't too bad.
Highlights: When The Devils Loose, I Can See the Pines are Dancing

21. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches Grooveshark
Speaking of lyricist, David Bazan ain't to shabby either. Bazan's first record as a solo artists is a brooding work, dealing with loss of faith and alcoholism.
Highlights: Hard To Be, Bless This Mess, Bearing Witness

20. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night Grooveshark
A Red Hot Compilation for AIDs prevention in Africa. Pretty much every relevant indie artist is involved in this compilation. Strong showing from The National and Bon Iver.
Highlights: Brackett, WI, So Far Around The Bend, You Are The Blood

19. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More Grooveshark
You could pretty much call this band the English Avett Brothers, but that is not doing them justice. One of the best debut albums of the year. These guys should have a bright future
Highlights: The Cave, Winter Wind, Little Lion Man

18. The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead Grooveshark
After a great debut that mixed The Smiths with post-rock, Forget the Night Ahead was surprisingly much more of a standard rock record. The change doesn't necessarily hurt them though.
Highlights: I Became A Prostitute, Mad To Disappear, That Room

17. Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another Grooveshark
Another album filled with loud instruments and pithy lyrics. What more do you need?
Highlights: Throwing Bricks At Trains, You Need Satan More Than He Needs You, Lapsed Catholics

16. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls Grooveshark
I'm beginning to believe that everyone in Scotland is depressed. Or it might just be bands on Fat Cat Records (including this band, The Twilight Sad, and Frightened Rabbit). Another debut album, in a good year for them.
Highlights: It's Thunder and It's Lightning, Roll Up Your Sleeves, Quiet Little Voices

15. Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic Grooveshark
Luke Temple re-invents himself as a psych folk artists. The actual songs on this album are very strong, but I could do without the random instrumentals and field recordings.
Highlights: Only Pieces, Tunnelvision, Everything's Big

14. Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth Grooveshark
Spacy rock from these Brooklynites. Mixes electronic and space rock for an interesting result.
Highlights: Wholehearted Mess, You Do You, Lovesick Teenagers

13. Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen Grooveshark
Cursive return in a big way. Emotional lyrics, questioning religion and family values. A sequel to Happy Hollow.
Highlights: I Couldn't Love You, Mama, I'm Satan, Let Me Up

12. Passion Pit - Manners Grooveshark
Passion Pit pretty much followed the mold that MGMT laid out. Catchy electronic music with a little bit of childish wonder.
Highlights: Little Secrets, Moths Wings, The Reeling

11. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion Grooveshark
Maybe it was a little over hyped when it was first released, but MPP is still a solid album. Panda Bear get his turn in the spotlight after the Avey Tare heavy Strawberry Jam. Very upbeat and fun to listen too.
Highlights: Summertime Clothes, Daily Routine, Taste

10. Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health Grooveshark
This band got it. I would say they came close to perfecting the "indie" sound. Sadly they broke up the same year that their only album came out.
Highlights: Strictly Game, TFO, Technicolor Health

9. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Grooveshark
It's been a great ride for Phoenix. They have found massive popularity in the last year, mostly because of "1901". Behind that song is a well balanced album that shows that Phoenix is on a new level.
Highlights: Lizstomania, 1901, Rome

8. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You Grooveshark
Rick Rubin produced this album. I, for one, still think that means something. His stripped down style fits Avett Brothers perfectly. A sappy, lovesick, introspective album.
Highlights: Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise, The Perfect Space, Ten Thousand Words

7. Japandroids - Post-Nothing Grooveshark
Probably my favorite album name of the year. I pretty much love any band that is loud as hell and only has two members (see: Lightning Bolt and DFA 1979). Also good: angsty lyrics and punk music.
Highlights: Young Hearts Spark Fire, Crazy/Forever, I Quit Girls

6. St. Vincent - Actor Grooveshark
Annie Clark continues her development as a solo artist with Actor. The songs are more thought out, with lush instrumentation. It's a nice step up and shows that she has nowhere to go but up.
Highlights - Save Me From What I Want, Actor Out of Work, Laughing With A Mouth of Blood

5. Kid CuDi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day Grooveshark
What kind of era of rap do we live in where an artist like Kid CuDi can thrive? Even if it doesn't make sense, Cudi's introspective lyrics and amazing beats make this one of the better conceptual rap albums in a long time.
Highlights: Heart of Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Song), Cudi Zone, Pursuit of Happiness (nightmare)

4. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest Grooveshark
Yellow House was certainly a large step forward for Grizzly Bear, which started as a 4-track bedroom folk project, but Veckatimest is their first album as a fully fleshed out band. Layered and beautiful.
Highlighs: Two Weeks, Chearleader, While You Wait For The Others

3. Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Lynx Pt 2. Grooveshark
Raekwon's back everyone! OBCL2 is the first legitimate classic Wu album since Fishscale. Even if Rae had to play this album off as a sequel to get it any notice. The whole clan came out and brought their A game.
Highlights: House of Flying Daggers, Cold Outside, Mean Streets

2. The XX - XX Grooveshark
Is it the simplicity of XX that makes it so great? The male and female call and response lyricism in hushed voices makes the album seem so impressively personal and secret. It is almost like a dramatic retelling of two teenagers falling in love; still believing that love can conquer anything; no worries, just love.
Highlights: VCR, Islands, Stars

1. The Antlers - Hospice Grooveshark
Where to begin with Hospice? Haunting is the only word that comes close to describing it. The story of a hospice worker falling in love with a terminally ill patient. It deals with the deepest and most difficult subjects in music (and in life): abuse, death, neglect, depression. There have been times when listening to this album that by the time I get to Epilogue I am close to tears. The album itself is strikingly unbalanced, but when you take the subject matter into account, it seems almost certainly intentional. A beautifully emotional tour de force.
Highlights: Bear, Two, Wake