Top 25 Albums of 2009

Let’s just get right into this.  This is by no means extensive, and I’m not claiming to have heard every single album to come out this year, but this collection of 25 have been gems for me.  Hopefully for you, too.

25. Real Estate – Real Estate

A very “chill,” laid back vibe reverberates throughout this album, and with  song titles like the excellent opener “Beach Comber” among “Atlantic City” and “Let’s Rock The Beach” you can almost feel the ocean breeze in your hair.

24. Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

While some may not be able to get past Callahan’s vocals that you might describe as flat, depressed and deadpan, those who do are rewarded with deeply profound lyrics that, despite some of the more introspective and downtrodden subjects, soar on beautiful arrangements.

23. The Dodos – Time To Die

The melodies are simply a joy to hear, and the energy behind the music is both exciting and genuine.

22. St. Vincent – Actor

Annie Clark’s Actor is one of the most beautiful sounding albums of the year, with the production fully bringing you into compositions that sound like a twist on “it’s a small world after all.”

21. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Perfect pop songs in classic Phoenix style that finally gave them the attention they deserved a long time ago…it also put them in a Cadillac commercial.

20. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)

“Deeper Down” is the most exciting Wilco song I have heard since those that appeared on A Ghost is Born, and a breath of fresh air after the semi boring Sky Blue Sky.  Although The Album can at times be predictable itself, this is Wilco being comfortable with who they are as a band and just delivering really solid tunes.

19. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast

Bird has created yet another lovely album and is at the top of his game with Nobel Beast.  Intricately composed melodies and sounds, along with the iconic Bird whistling, makes for some of his most enjoyable songs yet.

18. Lilly Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You

Rare in the pop world, repeat listens are rewarding, with some of the best hooks of the year and a smart departure for Allen from the sound of her debut.  Relevant, smart, introspective and very enjoyable, it’s a great step in a new direction for the artist.

17. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE

Although all instrumental and not really the true “album” that we have been waiting for from Stevens, The BQE is a great musical achievement.  When taken together with Stevens’ film that accompanies the score, along with the fantastically written essay about Robert Moses and the creation of the highway in New York penned by Stevens himself (oh, and a comic book about the “hooper heroes” that appear in the film) this almost overwhelming project is either madness or sheer genius.  I like to think it’s the latter.

16. Drake – So Far Gone

Although not an official release, this mix tape of sorts from one of the hottest names in the game right now is full of some of the best hip hop beats to come out this year, and the guest list is just as impressive.  “Uptown” (featuring Bun B and Lil Wayne) is one of my favorite tracks of the year.

15. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career

Light and happy and also sad and deep at times, My Maudlin Career has a bittersweetness to it that is often rare to achieve, but this album pulls it off flawlessly.

14. Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

Recalling Tori Amos at the top of her game, Natasha Khan has recorded some of the most exciting music of the year on Two Suns, with deep baselines and an almost 80s influence synth sound throughout that works wondrously.

13. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – It’s Blitz!

The whole album has a sort of buzzing excitement about it, and Karen O spits out the lyrics with a deep conviction that makes this collection of songs that much more relatable.  Nothing will ever top “Maps” but “Little Shadow” is both heartbreaking and gorgeous at the same time, quite possibly the sweetest ending of any album that has been released this year.

12. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

While you pretty much know what you’re getting yourself into when popping in any Neko Case album, Middle Cyclone is the most fierce.  A literal whirlwind of a listen, with Case’s wholly unique and powerful voice detailing some of the best storytelling of the year through great melodies.

11. Atlas Sound – Logos

Bradford Cox’s solo project presents the listener with carefully constructed songs with myriad sounds and sonic delights to be heard and discovered with repeat listening.  Cox is in total control with this one.

10. Antony & The Johnsons – The Crying Light

The Crying Light – Heartbreakingly beautiful, and there’s not much more you can say about this incredible record.  A few missteps here and there aside, these songs about transitions between life, death, love, relationships and the world in general will stay with you for a long time, the spellbinding arrangements enveloping the listener with each spin.  A stunning achievement.  “Epilepsy Is Dancing” is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and pointed tracks of the year.

9. White Rabbits – It’s Frightening

How far the White Rabbits have come from their debut Fort Nightly. With Spoon’s Brit Daniels at the helm, their sound is now fully fleshed out, the music is exciting and original, and the percussion can’t be beat.  Some really compelling stuff here that can only be topped on their next release.

8. Lady GaGa – The Fame/The Fame Monster

Hands down the best pop album of the year.  Going 0 to 60 from obscurity to smashing success, Lady GaGa can claim four smash singles from her debut.  Her musical prowess and amazing voice is matched by the outrageous (yet carefully crafted) fashion decisions and spectacuraly over the top music videos.  Not only will she be crowned the new queen of pop, she is practically ripping the crown out of Britney’s hands with no apologies.

7. The Dream – Love vs. Money

Every single track off of Love vs. Money could be a smash single.  No other hip hop, pop or R&B record can come close to matching The Dream’s production skills (unless he produced a song for another artist).  The lyrics may be cheesy, but they are straight hip hop, R&B magic at its finest.  “Call Latisha your beautician/ ‘Caus your hair is gon’ need fixin’” after listening to one of the hottest albums of the year.

6. The xx – xx

The whole album has a seductive, dark vibe to it, with singers Romy Croft and Oliver Sim going back and forth about the types of things lovers talk about.  But is this blooming love, a long standing relationship, or the end of a relationship?  It could be any or all of the above, and never is there a dull moment on this hell of a debut album.

5. DM Stith – Heavy Ghost

Lush, moody and haunting, Stith has control of every single sound on Heavy Ghost, which transports its listener into a dark forest of sorts that is easy to get lost in.  This album is not an easy journey to take, but when you do, you come away with a better understanding about your own life when all is said and done.  “Fire of Birds” is exciting, mournful and joyous all at the same time, Stiths amazing vocals swirling around with string ghost-like sounding “oohs” and “aahs” that makes it one of the best tracks of the year.

4. The Antlers – Hospice

With a title like Hospice, you know you’re not in for easy listening, but The Antlers and the story they tell on this concept album hits you square in the heart and is too beautiful and genuine to be ignored. This is the music of losing loved ones, dealing with death and disease, and ultimately recovering and finding steady footing.  Music resonates with people because for most listeners it is a cathartic experience.  This album is empathy at its finest and truly, deeply moving.

3. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

The Lips are back in full force with this double album that gives listeners everything they could wish for from the band.  It’s musically delicious, it’s weird, and it rocks hard.  Moving away from the glossy pop sounds of Yoshimi and At War and back to their noisy, rough around the edges sound, Embryonic is all tied together by Pink Floyd-esque keys throughout most of the songs, making it a cohesive listen that is a masterpiece to behold when listened to from start to finish.  Album closer “Watching The Planets” seems to signal a sea change for the band; “killing the ego,” “burning the Bible,” and getting rid of all of their secrets, knowing that “the suns gonna rise.”  I can’t wait to see how the new light of day looks on the Lips in the future.

2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

This is a milestone of an album, one that makes you excited about music again.  Animal Collective has taken everything they have learned with their previous albums to create their near-perfect one, with songs like “My Girls” signaling a crossover to wider appeal, yet still weird enough for life long fans to call their own.  Dreamy, realistic, heartening, sad and celebratory, filled with sounds, melodies, and layers upon layers of texture, Merriweather Post Pavilion is truly a musical tour de force, a wonderful achievement.

1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Baroque and classic sounding, yet refreshing, exciting, original and new at the same time, Veckatimest seems like it has been marinating inside Grizzly Bear for a while.  And you can tell:  The production, the sounds and the melodies are all crafted with care, nothing is out of place on this album. All  band members are in perfect harmony with each other, and lead vocals by Ed Droste and Daniel Rossen never compete with eachother – they are just simply lovely sounding.  Opener “Southern Point” immediately whisks the listener away into the band’s haven, sounding at first mysterious, then exploding with crashing drums, swirling keys and driving guitars   Like chamber pop on steroids, “Two Weeks” and its bouncing piano and choir boy chorus feels familiar but then soars to new levels, musical flourishes wrapping the song in a cozy sweater of sound.  “Ready, Able” is sweet, endearing and intoxicating.  Sure, there’s nothing extremely groundbreaking about the music being made here, but Veckatimest is a collection of the most beautiful sounding music of the year, music that you will want to share with anyone and everyone, young and old.