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United States12607 Posts
I tried to stay away from ranking albums based on their significance or musicality. Instead I'm basing my rank on the albums from this year that I enjoyed most (for whatever reason).
DL links included for some stuff!
+ Show Spoiler [Honorable Mentions] +
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns: a worthy follow-up to her debut, and had one of the year's best singles in "Daniel". Also she is super hot and mesmerizing on stage.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: sort of encapsulated 2009's trends in indepop. Catchy record, and another one of the year's best singles ("1901").
Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport: kickass, in your face, abrasive, fucking awesome. Might deserve a higher spot for ingenuity but I think the record's only standouts are "Surf Solar" and "Lisbon Maru".
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns: not much to say, just yet another good but pretty run-of-the mill folk-leaning indierock album from Canada. I listened to this album a lot this summer, until I shared it with the girl I was seeing and she told me that the band was recorded poorly and all the tracks sounded flat.
Animal Collective - MPP: tbh this was the most overhyped album of 2009. It was ingenious in a lot of ways, but always sounded like shit to me (for the most part). It's here because "My Girls" owns 2009.
Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light: bare bones synthpop. They can get away with it because they're three girls and so their voices sound sweet. By far their best. Good album for late night listening, very delicate sort of sound.
Bowerbirds - Upper Air: I fell in love with "Northern Lights" this summer.
10. Delorean - Ayrton Senna
Yeah it's just an EP, but this is some of the year's catchiest pop. Delorean has the potential to differentiate themselves from the legions of mediocre bloghouse remix squads with a good full-length album in the vein of Ayrton Senna…fingers crossed.
I listened to this album: loud driving around this summer, and on vacation flights.
Best track: Big Dipper
Download (I think)
9. Mew - No More Stories / Are Told Today / I'm Sorry / They Washed Away / No More Stories / The World Is Grey / I'm Tired / Let's Wash Away
Mew has been making borderline-great stuff for a while now, but they truly brought it together for No More Stories (don't expect anything better than this). This the sort of album that you'll find a new favorite track on every time you play it.
I listened to this album: at the gym this summer, especially "New Terran" and "Introducing Palace Players".
Best track: Hawaii
Another record that's the culmination of a lot of years of good music…Royksopp fans can't be disappointed and as a casual Royksopp listener who always felt their stuff was lacking good hooks this album was a dream come true.
I listened to this album: through my phone's speakers while biking to and from my favorite field for napping, during spring. Also loud in my dorm room with all the windows open when the weather was just starting to get nice
Best track: You Don't Have a Clue
I inadvertently saw these guys when they opened for The Pains in SF this summer (a few months before their record dropped) and didn't think they were anything special. So I was surprised to see music people gushing over Album, but I gave it a listen and found out why. The lyrics make this music. And it's pretty much a Beach Boys homage, which is cool.
I listened to this album: in Rite Aid drunk buying cereal and milk at 3:00AM
Best track: Headache
Download
6. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
I had to listen to this one four or five times before I got a feel for its sound. Aside from "Two Weeks" the instrumentation has a lot of depth. Grizzly Bear takes this weird, syncopated brand of folky music (that lots of bands tried in 2009) and makes it actually enjoyable to listen to.
I listened to this album: in headphones, laying on my couch trying to read about the Ottoman Empire for a class this spring; walking to play tennis with my brother
Best track: hard to decide, I'll pick Ready, Able since it's what got me hooked
Shallow though it is, this was the album that defined my summer. Dudes who made this (one from Vampire Weekend, blech, and another from Ra Ra Riot) captured a lot of sort of stupid trends in pop and worked them into a dangerously catchy record that seemed to fit my summer perfectly.
I listened to this album: walking to play frisbee and soccer, getting ready to go out on hot summer nights
Best track: Swing Tree
Download
4. Pictureplane - Dark Rift
Almost no musical integrity, but who gives a fuck? This is 2009 in dance music: reverb, chopped up voice samples, heavily clipped beats, and wicked synth hooks. If you have ever enjoyed shitty techno (as I did all through high school) you will die for Dark Rift.
I listened to this album: at his show (the first one I went to in my new home Philly), getting ready to go out with new friends during the first few weeks of law school, through headphones while dancing around my apartment
Best track: Goth Star
Download
Everything that fans of Chunk of Change could have hoped for in an LP (well, maybe aside from the fact that they fucked up "Sleepyhead" with that stupid sample that sounds like mermaids singing). Happy, hot weather music; if this doesn't make you want to dance, there is something wrong with you. I will say though, going to see these guys over AC was one of the biggest mistakes I made in concertgoing this year. Entirely missable live.
I listened to this album: as the weather was just starting to get hot; in the car with my friend Joanna; while dancing horribly with SF hipsters at a bar
Best track: Swimming in the Flood, but Little Secrets is probably the defining song
Download
So simple, yet so good. At first I thought its b-side was boring but that's just because I wasn't paying enough attention. The xx are the sort of band who I listen to just for "their sound" as opposed to any specific lyrics or melody. Oh and this album is now top on my list of albums to have sex to.
If you want a kick, go back and listen to the first track off Young Marble Giants' Colossal Youth. Striking…you can see where these guys have their roots.
I listened to this album: while studying at the law school; while writing the last of my articles for TL; as summer faded; at my friend Tyler's place, until he got annoyed at how chilled out it was
Best track: Crystalized is where you should start, but every single one is great in its own little way
Download
1. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
2009's most underrated release and the defining album of my year. A Philadelphia band that I got into just after moving from CA to Philadelphia—somehow this music did more to welcome me to the city than any person I've met here. Difficult to classify: at the intersection of dreampop, chamber pop, and shoegaze. An album that maintains tons of depth and incredible continuity despite changing melodies often, sometimes multiple times per track. If you like music just do yourself a favor and get your hands on this album and then set aside some time to listen to it (preferably in some good headphones). So satisfying right through to the epic electronic fuzz that caps "Headphone Space".
They played the last show of their tour here in Philadelphia last night, and I missed it because I was studying for my torts exam this morning. Fuck.
I listened to this album: while studying; while walking to and from school; while the weather got cooler; in headphones on vinyl laying on my living room floor
Best track: Shy and Passionate Introverts are catchiest, but it's all sublime
 
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No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. Not to say they're bad though, although I'm not really into that music. Just overrated 
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United States12607 Posts
On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around.
seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention.
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United States4796 Posts
JWD...you live in Philly?
So do I. :D
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On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention.
Repeaterbeater was one of the 2 best songs of the year.
No love for Fever Ray here either. Karen disapproves.
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Very nice, I don't know most of these so I'm not downloading the albums. Much thanks for the download links, this is the way music is meant to be meant to be shared imo.
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United States12607 Posts
On December 17 2009 14:48 El.Divino wrote:
JWD...you live in Philly?
So do I. :D
haha sick…yeah I am thinking about doing something for OSL/MSL finals so stay posted!
I live in center city btw
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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention.
Agreed on Animal Collective. So overhyped at the beginning, and I probably said I liked it a lot less than I did. I came back to it a lot over the summer, and liked it more and more each time. My Girls and Brothersport, imo.
Let's see what else I have strong opinions about...
- Royksopp was definitely at their best this year.
- Girls is an band that got exactly the right amount of attention. I think Album is a fine album, but not brilliant.
- Grizzly Bear is another album I grew into.
- I had forgotten how beautiful the cover to LP is.
- Passion Pit is to me 'Sleepyhead and a few other songs'. It's funny that you had the exact opposite reaction...
Cheers!
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United States12607 Posts
On December 17 2009 14:56 tree.hugger wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention. - Passion Pit is to me 'Sleepyhead and a few other songs'. It's funny that you had the exact opposite reaction…
haha yeah, I still think that Sleepyhead is by far their catchiest song. Thing is I had already played it way out by the time Manners dropped, so the rest of the record was much more appealing to me. Also, I just think the version on Chunk of Change is superior 
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United States12607 Posts
On December 17 2009 14:48 LightRailCoyote wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention. Repeaterbeater was one of the 2 best songs of the year. No love for Fever Ray here either. Karen disapproves.
Fever Ray was so hyped, but never did anything for me. Honestly I think the buzz was just diehard Knife fans looking for a new way to occupy themselves now that Silent Shout is getting old.
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fever ray is strong music unlike most of the pussy shit indie is filled with nowadays
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
so what kinda music are these bands o _O
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
i onl know royksopp and mew lol ~_~
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On December 17 2009 14:59 JWD wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:48 LightRailCoyote wrote:On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention. Repeaterbeater was one of the 2 best songs of the year. No love for Fever Ray here either. Karen disapproves. Fever Ray was so hyped, but never did anything for me. Honestly I think the buzz was just diehard Knife fans looking for a new way to occupy themselves now that Silent Shout is getting old.
Silent Shout is fucking timeless. Probably my favorite album ever.
Fever Ray has depth beyond what almost any artist released this year. I still listen to that album straight through on a consistent basis.
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i hate that girls album fuck
edit did you see the music video for it? so, so gay
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Gotta like jj if you like Delorean. Fucking Passion Pit came to town and got sold out  .
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On December 17 2009 15:42 LightRailCoyote wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:59 JWD wrote:On December 17 2009 14:48 LightRailCoyote wrote:On December 17 2009 14:47 JWD wrote:On December 17 2009 14:45 Sunny Afternoon wrote:
No offense, but Mew has to be one of the top 10 most overrated bands around. seriously? No More Stories… got almost no attention. Repeaterbeater was one of the 2 best songs of the year. No love for Fever Ray here either. Karen disapproves. Fever Ray was so hyped, but never did anything for me. Honestly I think the buzz was just diehard Knife fans looking for a new way to occupy themselves now that Silent Shout is getting old. Silent Shout is fucking timeless. Probably my favorite album ever. Fever Ray has depth beyond what almost any artist released this year. I still listen to that album straight through on a consistent basis.
yea i actually bought the cd just so i can listen to it while driving. I call it singer-songwriter electronica. Everything from Karin Dreijer's songwriting to the rhythm to the instruments is just on another level from every other kind of pop/indie music.
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United States12607 Posts
On December 17 2009 15:50 Pyrrhuloxia wrote:Gotta like jj if you like Delorean. Fucking Passion Pit came to town and got sold out .
jj's pretty good, not nearly as good as some other bands on their label though (Air France, notably)
Don't worry about Passion Pit, you didn't miss much I don't think…they're not the best live. Lead singer simply cannot maintain falsetto for an entire set, and their on-stage presence is like that of any other weaksauce indie band despite how energetic their music is. But maybe they've improved since I saw them.
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JWD, I'm dling these albums based solely off of your word - you're usually pretty spot on with music - managed to get me hooked on The Editors big time.
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i liked the way you organized the list. not the music... good job.
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YES! this is right up my alley. I'm honestly sooo into girls album, It was extremely relevant to my life when i came across it. Funnily enough the XX album was one of my favourites as well, and I was having a conversation with my friend about music that is good for "the mood" and I was pretty happy to think of that album.
Some of these i haven't checked out but i will. cheers!
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nice pick on the discovery album, i have the exact same connection to it; listening on hot summer nights going to frisbee pickup. such a good summer soundtrack
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I'm a big Mew fan. I have their prior albums, but I didn't take a look at their new album due to the fact that my gf said it didn't sound anything like Mew.
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On December 17 2009 14:52 JWD wrote:Show nested quote +On December 17 2009 14:48 El.Divino wrote:
JWD...you live in Philly?
So do I. :D haha sick…yeah I am thinking about doing something for OSL/MSL finals so stay posted! I live in center city btw
....DUDE PHILLY MEETUP!
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I actually really liked xx too.
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I don't really like these songs. =/
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On December 20 2009 13:17 LittleGirl wrote:
I don't really like these songs. =/
that's because they aren't for little girls
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Taiwan619 Posts
passion pit & grizzly bear <3
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Thanks for the list, nice writeup! Fuck Buttons, Passionpit and Royksopp would be my favorites out of that list.
My list would look completely different though :D
And I really don't get Grizzly Bear, I read so much good stuff about them but I just don't understand what people like about that album.
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United States33392 Posts
it's easily: I am.. Sasha Fierce by Beyonce ;o
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This is an awesome list imo. 5 of those albums are on my top 10 aswell.
MPP is incredible hyped but it's well deserved. It's an awesome album.
The xx is my nr.1 this year, I just love it.
The only thing I can't agree with is a sunny day in glasgow. I really don't get that album, not that it's bad in any way, just.. meh.
anyway.. great list!
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Philadelphia, PA10406 Posts
On December 20 2009 21:02 Waxangel wrote:
it's easily: I am.. Sasha Fierce by Beyonce ;o
I'm not sure whether you're serious or not, but that album was a excellent one, imo. But 2008.
On December 20 2009 12:16 Mickey wrote:
I'm a big Mew fan. I have their prior albums, but I didn't take a look at their new album due to the fact that my gf said it didn't sound anything like Mew.
Literally THE worst reason to not listen to an album.
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On December 21 2009 03:56 tree.hugger wrote:Show nested quote +On December 20 2009 21:02 Waxangel wrote:
it's easily: I am.. Sasha Fierce by Beyonce ;o I'm not sure whether you're serious or not, but that album was a excellent one, imo. But 2008. Show nested quote +On December 20 2009 12:16 Mickey wrote:
I'm a big Mew fan. I have their prior albums, but I didn't take a look at their new album due to the fact that my gf said it didn't sound anything like Mew. Literally THE worst reason to not listen to an album.
What is that supposed to mean? My gf has a good ear and we usually have the same taste.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.sweetslyrics.com/poze/ayrton-senna-200.jpeg)
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![[image loading]](http://www.inthenews.co.uk/photo/girls-album-$7044398$300.jpg)
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