Top Ten Albums of 2009

The onslaught of music is so overwhelming, compiling this year’s list was a daunting task that I have been contemplating for the last couple weeks, dreading the final product for fear of excluding something fantastic. Like last year, a top ten hip-hop/rap list will follow as well. And here it is:

1) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Nothing capsulized my 2009 listening experience better than this album. The Frenchies finally got their much deserved respect this year.

2) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz – One of the hardest things about best of lists is keeping early releases in perspective as the year drags on. I told myself from the beginning this would be a best of ’09 drop and it definitely withstood the test of time this year with this dancey. Additional kudos to Karen O and her score for the Where the Wild Things Are.

3) Passion Pit – Manners – Possibly the most saccharine-laced offering this year, and definitely the most addictive because of this.

4) The Xx – Xx – Smoky, subdued back-and-forth bedroom banter from this London entourage is irresistible.

5) Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest – I’ve always actually “seen” this Grizzly Bear as opposed to hearing it. It creates a dark Americana soundtrack, harmonious and haunting.

6) Gallows – Grey Britain – Thirteen tracks of a London back-alley bludgeoning from brass knuckles and steel-toed boots.

7) Girls – Album – Album made you feel like you were nursing a fantastic hangover (is that possible?) on a beach, in a sun-streaked simpler life.

8 ) Neko Case – Middle Cyclone – This is “alt-country” at it’s finest and steeped in soul. Thank Mother Nature for being such a treacherous nurturer.

9) Atlas Sound – Logos – Washed-out, ambiance from a leaky faucet delivered via the skinniest man on the planet.

10) Bon Iver – Blood Bank EP – Justin Vernon makes the list again, this time with an equally beautiful EP made for this time of year. 20+ inches of snow in unforgiving cold on the longest night of the year.

Honorable Mention:
Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
Washed Out – High Times / Life of Leisure EP
Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
Baroness – The Blue Album
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies