Well, another December means that it’s time for another year-end list! Without a doubt, 2009 was one of the best year’s for music in a long time. I found myself liking a lot of the 175+ albums I acquired throughout the year, making the ‘09 list one of the toughest to compile yet! No doubt there will be some disappointments for most of you (it’s tough to satisfy EVERYONE’s tastes), but I think you’ll find a fair share of albums that you love, some that you recognize but haven’t gotten around to listening to yet, and a good chunk that you’ve never heard of before. Although I was able to listen to a lot of music this year, there are some noticeable albums/artists that I either ran out of time to get through or slipped through the cracks completely (The Avett Brothers, Fanfarlo, Cymbals Eat Guitars, The Very Best, Dinosaur Jr. just to name the most egregious omissions). Sorry folks, I’ll try to do better next year! Why are there 41 albums this year? Well I could lie and say that I wanted to outdo ’08s list in length, but the honest reason is that I accidentally miscounted — whoops!

To start off, here is a list of some of the best music that just missed the cut (in no particular order):

• Neon Indian — Psychic Chasms
• Bill Callahan — Sometime I Wish We Were an Eagle
• St. Vincent — Actor
• Doom — Born Like This
• James Blackshaw — The Glass Bead Game
• The Mountain Goats — The Life of the World to Come
• Of Montreal — New Year’s Eve 2009 Covers
• Nomo — Invisible Cities
• Pearl Harbor — Calistronia Dreamin’
• Handsome Furs — Face Control

Enough with this lengthy intro, let’s get on with The Top 41 Albums of 2009 (after the jump, of course)! [Note: For the lazies, I've included just a list sans description at the very end of the post along with a grooveshark playlist that is composed of the majority of songs mentioned throughout. Enjoy!]

41 // Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do
For those who have read any of my past year end lists, I always like to start off with an oddball selection that I deem “The Scott Walker pick”. Well this year’s choice for the strangest record that I liked was the collaborative project of producers/DJs Diplo and Switch nicknamed Major Lazer. Trapped somewhere between the realm of reggae, hip-hop, surf-rock, and just plain bizarre, Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do is the definition of indefinable. Regardless, spinning tracks like “Hold the Line” (featuring the Queen of 2008, Santigold) and “Bruk Out” at your next dance is bound to get people off the wall and onto the floor bustin’ some serious moves.

Highlights: Hold the Line // Bruk Out //Cash Flow
Major Lazer // Hold the Line

40 // Ducktails – S/T + Landscapes
It seems like 2009 marked the first time summer was a year-long season. The artist that I noticed first hitting the mark with this seemingly never ending “year of the beach” was New Jersey based Ducktails (aka Matthew Mondanile). With shimmering guitar solos casted over lo-fi atmospheric cassette loops, Mondanile was able to harness the euphoric feeling a day filled with sun and sand can lead to – minus the sunburn and the annoyance of trying to put on shoes with sandy feet. No doubt Landscapes, his proper LP on Olde English Spelling Bee, is more focused and refined in its sound that his earlier released tracks, but there is something in the more carefree nature of his home recordings that channels that summertime feeling a tad bit better.

Highlights: Gem // On the Boardwalk // Landrunner
Ducktails // Landrunner

39 // God Help the Girl – S/T
Apart from a single Honorable Mention nod ‘06, I feel somewhat guilty that I have yet to include any of Stuart Murdoch’s prior work fronting the Scottish act Belle & Sebastian, but as soon as he hooks up with some sweet sounding ladies I christen the combo as one of the bests of the year. Although God Help the Girl is technically a soundtrack to an as yet unshot film, it can essentially be considered a side project of Murdoch. Plucking out unknown female singers Catherine Ireton and Asya from the fold and featuring a handful of winners from an online open audition, God Help the Girl could have easily been a major flop. On the contrary, the chosen singers mimic candy-coated 50s pop to the T and blend well with Murdoch’s patented delicate vocals.

Highlights: God Help the Girl // If You Could Speak // Come Monday Night
God Help the Girl // God Help the Girl

38 // The Dutchess and the Duke – Sunset/Sunrise
I’m sure this is going to start a discussion with the country fans out there, but 2009 seemed to not be a good year for them. Sure, it started off promising with a stellar release by Neko Case (which you’ll see later), but I found myself looking far and wide after that to locate another boot-wearing, gun-slingin’ act I liked. Although some would consider Seattle-based band The Dutchess and The Duke to be more indie-rock than honky-tonk (ok – enough with the lame phrases), I’ll go ahead and throw them under the country “umbrella” just so they can have more representation on the list. A slight improvement on last year’s debut She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke, Sunset/Sunrise is one of those rare albums where, if the shuffler lands on any track, you’re bound to like the tune; however, when taking the album in one complete swallow the standard guitar chords and two-part harmonies get a bit repetitive. All-in-all, it’s a great album to have even if you intend on only using it for pleasant transitions on a mixtape.

Highlights: Scorpio // Sunrise/Sunset // When You Leave My Arms
The Dutchess and The Duke // Scorpio

37 // Lindstrom and Prins Thomas – II
Norwegian born space disco extraordinaire Hans-Peter Lindstrom teamed up with fellow countryman Prins Thomas to continue the work they have done previously with their collaborative 2006 self-titled debut. With only eight tracks on the LP (but still clocking in at well over an hour), so much emphasis is made on building layers and timing the best moment for the inevitable climax. With the exception of “Rett Pa”, all songs begin relatively relaxed with lengthy slow moving synth swells or light half-note percussion taps before any sort of rapid bloops & bleeps begin. Almost formulaic, things seem to always begin getting interesting a third of the way through each song with UFO sounds being emitted far across the galaxy finally reaching planet Earth. Even at its pinnacle, this album is certainly not dance music – but what it is is a masterfully produced electronic album that gives rise to a possible future for electronica.

Highlights: Rothaus // Note I Love You +100
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas // Rothaus

36 // Tiny Vipers – Life On Earth
Another Washington based act, Tiny Vipers is the moniker for the talented singer/songwriter Jesy Fortino. Released on famed Seattle label Sub Pop Records, Life on Earth is certainly one of the most demanding albums of the year. The female equivalent of Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), Fortino weaves together austere guitar melodies with emotionally dense lyrics to create some of the most gorgeous, uncomplicated music of the year. As an added treat, she stopped by Rock Island, Illinois studio of Daytrotter.com this past year to record some songs live which you can download here.

Highlights: Development // Dreamer // Tiger Mountain
Tiny Vipers // Tiger Mountain

35 // Washed Out – Life of Leisure EP + High Times
I have to admit, had Washed Out broke onto the scene a little bit earlier when I wasn’t so damn tired of all the “glo-fi” groups out there garnering blog attention, he probably would have been ranked much higher. I know, overexposure of a genre shouldn’t be an excuse in ranking an individual, but it’s tough to distinguish the differences between similar acts when you’ve been inundated with the same sort of stuff the past eight months, but I digress… Like most new electronic-infused acts, Ernest Greene (the brainchild and sole member of Washed Out) started a buzz with releasing a handful of great remixes before putting out two EPs worth of material in a span of two weeks. With a sample-based (sometimes more-than-based) background, Greene does what you would expect from his name and “washes out” summer melodies, placing them on top of each other to create something new from parts that sound really old.

Highlights: Belong // Get Up // Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix of Small Black)
Small Black // Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)

34 // Antlers – Hospice
Indisputably the most depressing album on the list, The Antler’s concept with Hospice was to, “tell the story of a man losing a loved one to cancer and having to witness her death first-hand.” The band coldly and accurately accomplishes this mission, providing the buzz kill to every summer-y feeling album released this year. I mean, even a casual listen to “Kettering” will fill you with enough melancholy that you’ll want to just stay inside and lie on the couch all day. You think I’m joking? Take a look at the opening of the second verse: “When I was checking vitals / I suggested a smile / You didn’t talk for a while / You were freezing // You said you hated my tone / It made you feel so alone / So you told me I had to be leaving.” And it’s not just the lyrics that make you feel so down in the dumps, the stark instrumentation but powerful climaxes perfectly match lead singer Peter Silbermann delicate, yet strong vocals to create such a bleak and helpless feeling. Helpful tip: only listen to this if you’re not on suicide watch.

Highlights: Kettering // Bear // Two
The Antlers // Kettering

33 // Marissa Nadler – Little Hells
Another dark, lyrics driven album, Marissa Nadler is to the Northeast what Tiny Vipers is to the Northwest. Little Hells is her fourth full-length and arguably her best work to date. What I like most about Nadler is her unique voice, the sound of which is analogous to a caged bird – unfortunately constrained, but nevertheless beautiful. There are certainly times where I wish I could hear more range from her, but her self-imposed vocal restriction seems to reaffirm her lyrical content. Lines like “Weaving the scent of the loss of your heart / From they are to meant /Life seems so empty / without you, my friend” from the opener “Heart Paper Lover” wouldn’t have as much impact if Nadler was fluttering around Beyonce style.

Highlights: Heart Paper Lover // Ghosts & Lovers // River of Dirt
Marissa Nadler // Ghosts & Lovers

32 // Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
This is actually one of the few albums that I actually got around to writing a review about before effectively dissolving the blog last spring. No doubt, the majority of critics seem to have been fixated on the fact of whether or not guitarist Nick Zinner abandoning his guitar post to take on the roll as “the synth guy” was a smart move or not, forcing discussion on the quality of the album to a secondary position. No doubt, I like Zinner on guitar, but that doesn’t mean It’s Blitz isn’t a kick ass record, even by Yeah Yeah Yeah standards. Certainly parts of the album are meant to be played at a dance hall rather than a dingy basement DIY venue; however, the strongest pieces are the ones featuring Karen O’s haunting vocals are more ballad-like instrumentals (see: “Skeletons”). Anyways, for the diehards this album was probably a bitter pill to swallow, but lovers of good music were sure to eat it up.

Highlights: Heads Will Roll // Skeletons (Acoustic Version) // Runaway
Yeah Yeah Yeahs // Runaway

31 // The Sandwitches – How to Make Ambient Sadcake
As the blog Gorilla Vs. Bear said on his year end list about San Fran indie-pop outfit The Sandwitches, “the best album of the year that no one seems to be talking about.” Well he caught my attention when he posted the wildly infectious 50s girl-pop hit “Back to Sea” a couple of months ago – and I proceeded to cop both the full-length and a 7”. Catchy as hell, it’s hard not to find yourself tapping you feet and humming along to most of the melodies on this album.

Highlights: Back to the Sea // Marry Me
The Sandwitches // Back to Sea

30 // Wavves – Wavvves
I couldn’t count how many times I’ve had to defend Nathan Williams (aka Wavves) this year. When he first broke onto the scene, I took a lot of flak for liking him because of the roughness of his recordings – but through the noisy exterior lies nuggets of pure pop gold. Take the opener to “No Hope Kids”: “Got no car / got no money / I got nothing nothing nothing not at all”. Not only are the lyrics relatable to any college student on the planet, but it’s catchy melody makes you want to sing along and profess your brokeness. After the whole Spain meltdown and reports about how much of a douche Williams is began to surface, I found myself defending him again – this time from his once courted listeners. Personally, I could care less about what type of guy Williams is – I’m never going to be his friend, and he’ll never know I exist – but as long as he puts out these crude diamonds of songs, I’m going to like him.

Highlights: So Bored // No Hope Kids // Weed Demon
Wavves // So Bored

29 // The Raveonettes – In and Out of Control
A picture perfect follow-up to 2007’s Lust Lust Lust, The Raveonettes find themselves tempering the distortion filled sounds of Lust and highlighting the 50s pop feel of past albums Pretty In Black and Whip It. With the name like The Raveonettes (a combination of 60s girl group The Ronnettes and Buddy Holly’s hit song “Rave On”), you expect to be taken back in a musical time machine to the “Golden Age in Music”, however The Raveonettes add a modern twist to the otherwise cheerful tunes with their heavy reverb electric guitars, making you feel like you are in 50s only in a parallel universe where everything isn’t as bright and sunny.

Highlights: Bang! // Suicide // Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)
The Raveonettes // Bang!

28 // Various Artists — Sonido Martines Presents: Nueva Cumbia Argentina, The Buenos Aires Implosion
This is the only compilation to make the list and I know I’m going to get heat for it not being the excellently curated Dark Was the Night, but I found myself spinning The Buenos Aires Implosion about twice as often throughout the year. Now I don’t know the origins of this compilation and I don’t particularly remember how this found its way into my inbox, but all you need to know is that every track is a dance jam and is bound to fill anyone’s mixtape hole.

Highlights: Para Bailar (El Hijo de la Cumbia Remix) // Piratas del Zanjon (Frikstailers Remix) // Danza Macabra
Sonido Martines Presents… // Para Bailar (El Hijo de la Cumbia Remix)

27 // Lil’ Wayne — No Ceilings
I love Lil’ Wayne, aka “The Greatest Rapper Alive”, and this mixtape was his hottest of the year. No other explanation is needed.

Highlights: D.O.A. // Watch My Shoes // I’m Good
Lil’ Wayne // Watch My Shoes

26 // Atlas Sound – Logos
I know I haven’t given Bradford Cox his fair share of accolades on past lists and some will view his ranking here as underestimated, but I really have a hard time wrapping my head around the majority of his work. If the vote was based solely on the diversity or complexity of an album, no doubt Logos would appear in the top five (with layer after layer of bubbling samples, effects-laced guitars, and melancholy vocals, there is no doubt that an inordinate amount of time was spent making the record). However, that’s not the case and I just couldn’t find many times when I wanted to put on this demanding of a album. No doubt my laziness and constant desire to pass over the record hurt its position, but fortunately one headphone listen was all it took to land it on the list.

Highlights: Walkabout (w/ Noah Lennox) // Sheila // Logos
Atlas Sound // Sheila

25 // Yacht – See Mystery Lights
Fellow Oregonian Jona Bechtolt (aka Yacht) decided that 2009 was the year to expand his electro-art outfit and absorbed Claire L. Evans into the group. Although the added female vocals are new, all the electronic components remain the same with Bechtolt creating some of the most oddball yet interesting beats on the list. Ranging from the bouncy dance-party ready jam “Psychic City” to the funk-filled “I’m In Love with a Ripper” it’s easy to see that Bechtolt is just as much a music fan as a music creator.

Highlights: Psychic City // I’m In Love with a Ripper (Party Mix) // Ring the Bell
Yacht // Psychic City

24 // Mountain Man – S/T
I struggled with including Mountain Man on the list because, as it turns out, they haven’t officially released anything, but then I read how The New Yorker resident pop critic had Sleigh Bells as his number one album (a band who also hasn’t put out anything but songs on their myspace page), and thought that I could get away with it too. The easiest definition of Mountain Man would be to say they are the female counter to Fleet Foxes (surprise! they are all girls), however, a lot is lacking in that description. More haunting than their “White Winter Hymnal” equivalents, Mountain Man carves out mournful melodies from somber instrumental accompaniment that are bound to stick with you for days after your first listen.

Highlights: Animal Tracks, Bathtub, White Heron
Mountain Man // Animal Tracks

23 // Annie – Don’t Stop
I was a late adopter of Norwegian born Anne Lilia Berge Strand’s 2004 debut Anniemal, but nevertheless got just as bowled over with her as her flurry of initial fans. No doubt a lot of hype made her 2009 release difficult to live up to, but Annie does just that and creates an album that is just as playable at a packed Euro club as your Risky Business solo dance party. With its marching band drum intro and crowd shouts of “Hey Annie” on the opener (fittingly titled “Hey Annie”), you can’t help but be revved up from the get-go. The album keeps up the pace track-after-track, and doesn’t slow the tempo until two-thirds of the way through with “Take You Home”. With that in mind, the front cover should probably include a warning label: CAUTION – WILL INDUCE HEAVY SWEATING IF DANCED CONTINUOUSLY.

Highlights: Hey Annie // I Don’t Like Your Band // Songs Remind Me of You
Annie // I Don’t Like Your Band

22 // Ganglians – Monster Headroom + Woodsist 12”
Ganglians are a Sacremento lo-fi indie-pop band (emphasis on pop) that probably put out the best”“morning after a hangover” record this year. Not an unpleasant listen in the bunch, it’s easy to run straight through this near hour-long record and think nothing about hitting the repeat button. The songs can easily be cleaved into two distinct parts: tracks featuring 3 part-harmonies and stripped down instrumentals and tracks that are safe uptempo indie-pop songs. Needless to say, the former is the more interesting of the bunch and, thankfully, they appear more frequently.

Highlights: Valiant Brave // To June // Modern African Queen
Ganglians // To June

21 // HEALTH – Get Color
Ever since LA experimental noise rockers HEALTH put out a split digital single with Denver one-man-dance-band Pictureplane I have been listening near nonstop to them in ’09. Occupying the fine line between experimental and listenable, HEALTH pushes the boundaries with what a majority of people would be comfortable with tuning in to. Certainly helping their appeal is their made-for-mass-consumption single “Die Slow” that you’ve bound to hear at least once this year, and if you haven’t you should because it is the definition of “jammmmm”.

Highlights: Die Slow // Before Tigers // We Are Water
HEALTH // Die Slow

20 // Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
With an album that had lasting power on the Billboard Top-100, an appearance on SNL, and a Top 5 finish in Time’s “Album of the Year” list, I think that it’s safe to say French pop-rock Phoenix had a pretty good year. It’s easy to gain popularity and convert droves of listeners into fans when you put out some of the most entrancing pop songs that could be heard on overplayed TV commercial spots (hell, Matt & Kim followed the same playbook). No doubt the fame must have been surprising for the group – as their prior career highlight was taking the last spot (#50) on the 2006 Rolling Stone year-end list – but they handled it well, always remembering the fans everywhere they went.

Highlights: Litzomania // 1901 // Fences
Phoenix // 1901

19 // Mount Eerie – Wind’s Poem
The last album to make the list, and boy did it make an impact on me. The best summary I can come up with is from the review that I wrote for him about a week ago:

“You don’t have to be Robert Langdon to realize how meteorological events play a huge role in anchoring the album (track titles named ‘The Mouth of Sky’, ‘Wind’s Dark Poem’, and ‘Wind Speaks’ only require eyes and half a brain to figure this out), but Phil Elverum takes this motif past superficial nomenclature and reinforces it with his music. If one were to glance at my notes, words like ‘deluge’, ‘thunderous’, ‘atmospheric’ instantly pop out of the page and are present on almost every track. Take the opener ‘Wind’s Dark Poem’ for example: opens with earthquake guitar rumblings / torrents of fuzz drown out the delicate vocals / briefly subsides just enough to provide a clearing for lyrics.”

Wind’s Poem is arguably one of the most thought out albums on the list, and conceptually it’s a masterpiece.

Highlight: Wind’s Dark Poem // Through the Trees // Between Two Mysteries
Mount Eerie // Between Two Mysteries

18 // Neko Case — Middle Cyclone
If you polled me in March what I thought the best album of the year was, this would probably have been my selection. I hadn’t heard any tracks of Middle Cyclone before I saw her perform it almost entirely live in Munich two weeks before its release, and she absolutely nailed it even with hardly any warm-up and an impending illness. Personally, I never get tired to listening to Neko Case’s powerful country vocals (no doubt Apollo had his hand with gracing her some talent at any early age). Regardless if you’re new to Case or are an avid fan, you will definitely get addicted to this album.

Highlights: This Tornado Loves You // Vengeance is Sleeping // I’m An Animal
Neko Case // I’m An Animal

17 // Girls – S/T
This album bounced around my list the most, getting placed anywhere from 32 to 8, before finally landing at 17 spot, which is coincidental as most songs channel 17 year-old freshman-in-college feelings. Where the complexity of Atlas Sound worked a bit against them, the same is true with Girls and their simplicity. Lead-singer Christopher Owens & Co. produce songs that I feel like, if given a guitar and three months of practice, I could make. You know, the songs whose description can be summed up in sentence, making it near impossible for critics to reach their editor imposed word count without a ridiculous amount of filler. However, these deceptively simple arrangements are part of the groups appeal as almost all songs are sing-alongable and swayable (yeah, two made-up word…). Regardless, I think anyone who has seen them live can attest to – keep you money and just buy the album!

Highlights: Lust for Life // Hellhole Ratrace // Laura
Girls // Hellhole Ratrace

16 // Smith Westerns – S/T
Here’s a list of things I was doing when I was 18: Math Competitions, playing the FIFA 2003 video game, and being awkward. One thing I wasn’t doing is getting a group of my friends together, pick up and learn some rock & roll instruments, and start a successful band which toured across the country playing shows at venues you normally wouldn’t be allowed to enter because of your age. Well that is exactly what Chicagoans The Smith Westerns did – and they left a trail of dropped jaws in their wake. No doubt the comparisons to the Black Lips are mildly accurate, but where the Keys lack musical cohesion at times (and make up for it with insane live shows), the Westerns can piece together tracks which can stand up on their own merit. I am most looking forward to the direction this band will be heading in the near future.

Highlights: Dreams // Be My Girl // Gimme Some Time
The Smith Westerns // Be My Girl

15 // Woods – Songs of Shame
Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard about Brooklyn based Woods before this year. It’s a shame (pun intended) because the sold out catalog off their self-started Woodsist/Fuck-It Tapes label made it next to impossible to find any of their older stuff to compare it to. What I do know, however, is that both “Rain On” and “Military Madness” could be in anyone’s song of the year category. Each feature a hooky guitar line and Jeremy Earl’s Bon Iver-like falsetto vocals, making it easy to just close your eyes and lose yourself in the track. However, not all songs are this pleasant, with the album’s midpoint “September With Pete” being about as prog-rock as you can get in 2009. Regardless, the high points make up for small glitches in an otherwise stellar album.

Highlights: Rain On // Military Madness // To Clean
Woods // Rain On

14 // Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
If I’ve been brutal to Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound/Deerhunter) in the year-end list, it’s nothing compared to what critic starlets and universally accepted best modern band in the world Animal Collective had to endure at the hand of my pen. Only one AnCo album has cracked any one of my lists (2008’s Water Curses, solely on the backs of the titled track) – a travesty I know – however, AnCo made it easy on me this year with releasing their most accessible album to date. There’s not more that can be said about Animal Collective that hasn’t been covered over and over by every single music publication out there, so I’ll keep this short. Without a sliver of doubt, the track “My Girls” is the best song of the year (Melanie can attest to this, as I’ve worn the play button down blasting this track on repeat) and most of the other songs are just as strong. If you were like me and just couldn’t get into them that much prior, give them a try this go around, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Highlights: My Girls // In the Flowers // Summertime Clothes // Brothersport
Animal Collective // My Girls

13 // Memory Tapes – Seek Magic
Before you listen to any tunes of Dayve Hawk (the sole man behind sample-smashing act that is Memory Tapes), you have to read the most bizarre interview you’ll see a musician give this year. The guy has a Ryan Adams level of proficiency (he’s been releasing a steady stream of remixed tracks under the monikers of Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes for the past couple of years), yet he’s pretty much lived a life of a musical acetic by never going to a live show or purchasing recently released music. It’s crazy to think a guy like that can generate such forward thinking textured electronic tunes as shone Seek Magic without claiming to have listened to an album since last year’s Portishead release. I’m having my mind blown again just thinking about this.

Highlights: Bicycle // Green Knight // Stop Talking
Memory Tapes // Green Knight

12 // El Perro del Mar – Love Is Not Pop
Unlikely to read anything about this anywhere, talented Swedish singer/song-writer El Perro del Mar released another album in 2009. The kicker is, it’s her best work to date and nobody seems to notice it. As summed up in my piece on her:
Sung in her patented monotonously restrained style (straight up Andrew Bird style), El Perro del Mar is able to conjure up highly involved emotions — everything from utter heartbreak to euphoric love — with just simple sentences. With her sparse instrumentation and emotionless lyrics providing scant cover to hide behind, it’s no wonder she was nominated for “Best Lyrics” at the 2010 Swedish Grammies since her whole act pretty much relies on her words. She was doing The xx when The xx was in elementary school.

Highlights: L is for Love // Is It Something (To Have Wept) // I Gotta Get Smart
El Perro del Mar // L is for Love

11 // Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II
Well if hip-hop is dead as some people seem to think it is or if it’s stuck in an auto-tune rut, Raekwon is here to resuscitate it with vintage Wu-Tang style. OB4CLP2 is the Raekwon album that was supposed to be put out four years ago and, for business reasons and a bunch bullshit excuses, was delayed until now. Thank god too, because if there was one thing 2009 needed it was a good hip-hop album. Present are club-bangers “House of Flying Daggers” (featuring fellow Wu-Tang members Inspectah Deck, Ghostface, and Method Man) and “Broken Safety” as well as the smooth raps “New Wu” and “10 Bricks” that are so fresh that you’ll forgot that most of the people on this album are now OGs pushing 40.

Highlights: House of Flying Daggers // New Wu // Black Mozart
Raekwon // House of Flying Daggers

10 // Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
One of the most cerebral albums on the list, Bitte Orca is more akin to a modern orchestral composition than an LP. Complex harmonies at every turn and no semblance of a standard versus-chorus-verse song structure are just a few examples of the intricate arrangements at work on the Projectors latest. Despite (or possibly inspite) the bizarre nature of the work, Bitte Orca has garnered its fair share of supporters – hell even Beyonce’s younger sis has covered one of the songs. Why is this, when all signs point to it just to be a critic favorite? It’s simple — it’s just too damn fun to play. I know we’ve all probably done it, but I’ll be to the first to admit it: I’ve tried mimicking almost all singing parts in the shower at one point in time during the year. The ultra-smooth lines of lead-singer Dave Longstreth in “No Intention” – yep. The “Eh Oh”s of Cannibal Resource – oh yeah. The Mariah Carey-like octave jumps of the female lead in “Stillness Is the Move” – is there any question? Bitte Orca is not only a beautifully constructed record, but a favorite to listen to.

Highlights: Stillness Is the Move, Temecula Sunrise, Useful Chamber
Dirty Projectors // Stillnes Is the Move

9 // Real Estate – S/T
Hatched early on by former New Jersey high school classmates, Real Estate is probably one of the few examples where synergy can’t be applied to a band. The group is composed of ultra-talented guitarist Matt Mondaile (aka Ducktails), mind-blowing bassist Alex Bleeker (Alex Bleeker and the Freaks), and as-yet-to-be-soloists singer Martin Courtney and drummer Etienne Duguay (who no doubt will branch off and create some other cool act in the near future). With a line-up like that, they are like an underground supergroup, and their S/T is just as great as you could hope for. More so than any of the euphoria-inducing bands of the year, Real Estate exemplifies that carefree feeling of lying on the beach on a hot June afternoon, and they know it too. That’s why song after song on their S/T full-length debut is filled with rippling guitars, relaxed vocals, and slow tempos befitting of a lazy afternoon.

Highlights: Beach Comber // Fake Blues // Green River
Real Estate // Fake Blues

8 // Cass McCombs – Catacombs
The final singer/songwriter in the list, California native Cass McCombs entranced me from beginning to end with his mellow tenor voice belting heartfelt lyrics, beginning with “You’re not my dream-girl / you’re not my reality-girl / you’re my dreams-come-true-girl” from the opener aptly titled “Dreams-Come-True-Girl”. Always Quirky, McCombs eccentricities in songwriting is what’s responsible for keeping you on your toes throughout the album. For example, the beginning of “The Executioner’s Song” doesn’t start by lamenting the type of the work the song’s character is in, but rather expresses his gratefulness at having such a steady job with the line “I love my job / almost as much as I do you / It’s a good job”. McCombs is also a masterful storyteller, stitching together unique story lines like chronicling the plight of the politically apathetic young American voter in “Don’t Vote”. Although this is the fifth LP McCombs has recorded, it’s the first I’ve own, however that will soon change.

Highlights: Don’t Vote // You Saved My Life // My Sister My Spouse
Cass McCombs // Don’t Vote

7 // Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Since I knocked out Animal Collective early, let me just go ahead and take Brooklyn natives Grizzly Bear, the universal second favorite, out of contention for top album as well. To be honest, Veckatimest never got ahold of me like their predecessor Yellow House did, however this is not to imply that it’s not a stellar album. With Veckatimest, you still have your inevitable “Knife“-like hits with “Two Weeks” and “While You Wait for Others”, but I think there are more weak points in the new LP which put a damper on straight-through listening. Obviously if it’s at #6 there is SOMETHING I like about the latest indie-rock output, so don’t put too much thought into my negative critiques…

Highlights: Two Weeks // Cheerleader // While You Wait for Others
Grizzly Bear // Two Weeks

6 // The xx – S/T
Like how 2008 was the year of the Crystal and 2007 was the year of the Wolf, 2009 showed us that correct spelling and eliminating redundant consonants was not a priority in choosing a band name. You got the Lovvers, the Wavves, the Nodzzz (with 3!), the jj (hmm, noticeably absent thus far…) and of course the most buzzed about band of the year the xx. Hailing from England and going to the same high school as already made electro-acts Hot Chip and Four Tet, the xx had at least the right education in order to become a hit, however, I think timing played more of a key to their success than musical knowledge. When the US was going ape-shit on determining who the next fuzzed out summer band was going to be, the xx slowly infiltrated our eardrums and brought a radically different musical perspective than what the “glo-fi”ers were offering. Similar to an artist’s use of negative space, the xx concerns itself not just with their bare-bone instrumentals, but with the silence between them. Sounding like it was recorded in the largest auditorium known to man with each musician stationed at the corners, the spacing between notes and instruments is colossal. Every bell note, bass pluck, and soft snare drum tap are so distinct that it’s easy to pick out each individual part in every song, making their music ripe for remixes. Had it been any other summer than 2009, I think it would have been hard for them to get any sort of traction in the States. Talk about right place and right time, and we’re all thankful for that!

Highlights: VCR // Crystallized // Basic Space
The xx // VCR

5 // Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
I should mention that I’m somewhat biased towards the two-piece British experimentalists known as The Fuck Buttons for two reasons: they got me through never-ending train rides while I lived in Germany and they provided me with interesting tunes while I patiently waited three hours for Jay-Z to take the stage at Roskilde festival in ’08. Like its predecessor Street Horrrsing, Tarot Sport is the definition of a headphone album. Unless you have really cool roommates, you are bound to get dirty looks after you get halfway through the opener “Surf Solar” if you play it on the home theatre system. I’ve probably listened to the album over thirty times and always find something new to pick out from their heavily layered blurry compositions – something you would miss unless you are intently paying attention. This album is certainly not for the faint of heart, but if you want to see a perpendicular direction of where music might ultimately be headed, slap on some over-the-ear Sony’s and take a listen.

Highlights: Solar Surf, Olympians, Phantom Limb
Fuck Buttons // Olympians

4 // jj – no. 2
Not much is known about these Swedes (I use “these” but it could very easily be an individual) and very little can even be gleaned from their label’s cryptic website, however, cut in the same form as fellow Swedish ectro-pop outfits Air France and The Tough Alliance, one can speculate at least who their friends are. Sugary pop hooks that are filled with island percussion (ironic considering their Scandinavian) and undulations of synth swells make jj’s no.2 the best background music for a pre-party – you know when you want to just have conversations and not get all crazy on the dance floor because it’s too early. Not only that, but you can impress the ladies with your obscure musical knowledge when the inevitable “isn’t this that Lil’ Wayne song Lollipop” happens as soon as the first couple of measures of “Ecstasy” are played (yes, they are identical). “No girl, it’s jj – they’re this tight Swedish group few people know about” will be your reply, and she’ll have to give you mad props for your indie-cred. Note: I just reread this description and it makes no sense. With that in mind, I’m keeping it! Do yourselves a favor and check out the band.

Highlights: From Africa to Malaga // My Love // My Hopes and Dreams
jj // From Africa to Malaga

3 // Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
It’s getting late so let’s wrap this up… It’s not news that I love anything Spencer Krug puts out (he can do no wrong in my book — even a crazy solo marimba EP), so inevitably I was going to like Dragonslayer. What I didn’t know is that I was going to like it THIS much. Initially I gave it a luke warm reception because I was kind of bummed half the songs I’ve heard elsewhere from various Daytrotter and Black Cab sessions, however after reading this Tiny Mix Tape Review, it brought me out of the funk and made me appreciate the album a lot more. It’s stunning, and if I listened to it more I might have to marry it (sorry Mel!).

Highlights: You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II) // Idiot Heart // Black Swan
Sunset Rubdown // Idiot Heart

2 // Fever Ray – S/T + w/ Van Rivers 7’’ + Live in Lulea
To be honest, it really was a toss-up between this album and my number one. Seriously, I went back and forth with my 1 and 2 choices like a blonde trying to parallel park (ZINGGG! I kid…). So I did what anyone is bound to do in my position – drew numbers out of a hat to determine the ranking, and voila! Fever Ray is at #2. This year showed the resurgence of ½ of Swedish electronic group The Knife (who was my favorite of 2006) with Karin Dreijer Andersson coming out of her cave to record some stuff. Much darker than any of the Knife’s work (which is saying something – I just relistened to Silent Shout again and it’s not exactly chipper), I’m convinced that the press photo of her as a skeleton is real and she’s been to Hades and brought back from there a recording and slapped on a S/T sticker. Just as enjoyable as her records (notice, she’s put out an LP, Split 7’’, and a Live Album) have been her music videos which, in a just world, would have won every single MTV VMA. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that world and MTV’s top show is about a group of New Jersey guidos acting like assholes. So, uh…, yeah, check out Fever Ray.

Highlights: If I Had a Heart, If I Had a Heart (Fuck Buttons remix), Seven, Keep the Streets Empty for Me
Fever Ray // If I Had a Heart

1 // Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Now I am not by any means an avid Flaming Lips fan, however, I share the sentiment a fellow redditor had when he said this about Embryonic: “This album makes me want to tear off my clothes and burn the world — in a good way”. And if the NSFW video for “Watching the Planets” is any indication, it looks like lead singer Wayne Coyne is actively supporting half of that statement. Most people harp on the Lips for putting out only one mediocre album since the wonderful 2002 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots prior to Embryonic, but the thing is, if you’re the Lips, you’ve had plenty of commercial success and enough good karma from critics stored up that you can afford to take your time with making a solid album. And that’s exactly what Embryonic is, a solid album and one of the best of the decade in my opinion. I think Wayne & Co. consciously wanted to send a message to all the lo-fi distortion filled groups cropping up left and right by letting them know that they are the masters of noise and that the young guns could learn a thing or two from their elders. I mean, who else could pull off a constant raucous gong bang at the start of every measure on a song and somehow have THAT SAME SONG wind up as the most catchy in the bunch?!?!? Only the Lips, only the Lips… God, I’m getting too worked up about this, so I’m going to end it here. 2009 – what a great year in music!

Highlights: Watching the Planets // Powerless // Evil // Convonced of the Hex
The Flaming Lips // Powerless

As promised at the beginning of the post, here is abridged version of my Best Albums of 2009 without all the filler:
1: Flaming Lips // Embryonic
2: Fever Ray // S/T + w/ Van Rivers (7”) + Live in Lulea
3: Sunset Rubdown // Dragonslayer
4: jj // no. 2
5: Fuck Buttons // Tarot Sport
6: The xx // S/T
7: Grizzly Bear // Veckatimest
8: Cass McCombs // Catacombs
9: Real Estate // S/T + Atlantic City Expressway EP
10: Dirty Projectors // Bitte Orca
11: Raekwon // Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II
12: El Perro del Mar // Love is Not Pop
13: Memory Tapes // Seek Magic
14: Animal Collective // Merriweather Post Pavilion
15: Woods // Songs of Shame
16: Smith Westerns // S/T
17: Girls // S/T
18: Neko Case // Middle Cyclone
19: Mount Eerie // Wind’s Poem
20: Phoenix // Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
21: HEALTH // Get Color
22: Ganglians // Monster Head Room
23: Annie // Don’t Stop
24: Mountain Man // (???)
25: Yacht // See Mystery Lights
26: Atlas Sound // Logos
27: Lil’ Wayne // No Ceilings Mixtape
28: Various Artists // Sonido Martines Presents: Nueva Cumbia Argentina, The Buenos Aires Implosion
29: The Raveonettes // In and Out of Control
30: Wavves // Wavvves
31: Sandwitches // How to Make Ambient Sadcake
32: Yeah Yeah Yeahs // It’s Blitz!
33: Marissa Nadler // Little Hells
34: Antlers // Hospice
35: Washed Out // High Times + Life of Leisure EP
36: Tiny Vipers // Life on Earth
37: Lindstrom & Prins Thomas // II
38: The Dutchess and the Duke // Sunset/Sunrise
39: God Help the Girl // S/T
40: Ducktails // Ducktails + Landscapes
41: Major Lazer // Guns Don’t Kill People…

And also a handy dandy grooveshark playlist so you can stream most of the “Highlighted” songs mentioned in the list: Listen Here!

Later this week I plan on doing a listing of 7′’s and songs that I’ve liked throughout the year, so staying tuned!