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My Top Albums of 2009 By Clark Benson [84 more lists]
UPDATED in early 2011. In retrospect, 2009 was a decent year, especially compared to the rock debacle that was 2010. The Top 8 records on this list all have turned out to be more consistently strong than ANY album of 2010, though there are a few 2010 albums (Band of Horses comes to mind) that have 5 or 6 excellent songs, enough to make up for a bit of filler.
OLD NOTES: A below-average year for albums (and ditto for live shows). Only a handful of great ones.
Overall verdict? "Meh+". But there is still good music, oh yes.
A lot of my perrenials in my top 10 - the two big surprises were the YYY's (definitely the record that will most remind me of 2009), and of course Animal Collective, to some degree. The Animal Collective record wasn't at all a surprise in the sense that I had been DYING to hear these songs ever since they played a set of mostly that material at Coachella 2008, but it's certainly the first studio record of theirs that I've rated very highly. And the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were just one of those rare bands that I didn't want to like at all and over time have acquired Maximum Respect for.
I might add more to these notes when I have time - sadly I am too busy to even use my site to make lists right now.
- 1
Animal Collective2009Electronic music, Experimental rock, Indie rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental music, Dream pop, New Weird America, Psychedelic pop More“ Wow. There are a few average tracks, and it's possible that I'm overreacting a bit, having been on an Animal Collective high since they shocked me at Coachella 08 (playing mostly unreleased songs that appeared on this album). But there is no question this is the most original record that I have loved in years. Biggest leap forward of 2009. I was only a partial fan of AC below this, in fact some of their music I haven't even kept. I salivate at the thought of seeing them live again (unfortunately walked into Bonnaroo as they were finishing up their last song). „ - 2
U22009Alternative rock, Rock music“ For all I know this could even be the album of the year. I save my U2/Wilco listening for when I'm spending quality time with the wife (I can't expect her to chill with me listening to ISIS or Satyricon or Phil Lesh and Friends). And I don't listen to the radio much these days (do they play U2 on the radio? who knows anymore), so I actually haven't been overexposed to this record yet.I do know it has at least some great songs, and I think it's sad that, like Vertigo, they led off with that stupid Boots single, the worst track on the album. But every song before Boots, which i think is #6, is either really good or a stone classic, and there are some great songs later in the record as well „ - 3
Yeah Yeah Yeahs2009Alternative rock, Synthpop, Electronic music, New Wave, Alternative dance, Indie rock, Indie pop, Electronica, Dream pop, Dance-punk More“ This is the album that most feels like "2009" to me, for whatever reason. Maybe because it's so fresh and original, maybe because YYY's are a band that I really didn't want to like, and took a long time to get into, maybe it's because I saw them play this material at both Coachella and Bonnaroo. It's Blitz just grows and grows on me. There is something about the way Karen O sings on this record. And while I've always been a fan of their songwriting, there are at least 3 songs (the first 2, and the last) on this record that are just 5 star, A-list, difficult-to-get-out-of-my-head songs. „ - 4
DovesIndie rock“ Every Doves record to date has been of the highest quality, and this is no exception. Title track might well be my most-listened to song of the year. „ - 5
Lucero2009Alternative country, Punk rock -
- 6
Wavering Radiant
ISIS - 7
The Mars Volta2009Progressive rock, Experimental rock“ First 2 Volta full-lengths are stone genius. Everything after is pretty damn great as well, but I'm always a shade disappointed after the first 2-3 listens. But then it grows and grows, or I see them kill a track live, etc „ - 8
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures“ a GROWER. I love a good GROWER. "Scumbag Blues" is the only absolute A-list track, but the record still has a full-on groove, which is not surprising given the makeup of this supergroup „ - 9 Baroness2009Progressive metal, Sludge metal
- 10 Green Day2009Alternative rock, Rock music, Punk rock, Pop punk, Power pop, Rock opera More“ Not quite "American Idiot", but unquestionably a strong record „
- 11 Flaming Lips“ Very pleasantly surprised by this piece of interesting nocturnal weirdness. It’s like the polar opposite of their last record. Makes me wanna see the tour even. „
- 12 MastodonHard rock, Progressive rock, Progressive metal, Sludge metal, Groove metal More“ A fine return to form after the slight disappointment of the previous release. „
- 13
Joy
Phish“ Although I love Phish, with one exception ("Billy Breathes") I do NOT think very highly of their studio records. This, therefore, is a h**l of a nice surprise, and an apt title for a record that oozes rebirth. GREAT songs. „ - 14 Sonic Youth2009Alternative rock“ GREAT record. However, this is kinda a weird year for me in the sense that I'm not really FEELING this record like other equally good SY records of recent times. Not sure why - and I don't think it has to do with the quality of the record, which is as consistent as they come. „
- 15 Bruce Springsteen2009Rock music“ Nothing on this album sucks but the songs overall are slightly weaker than his other records since the comebabck. Nothing that I didn’t like, just a bit more slight than I’d hoped. I didn’t like the “outlaw pete” song when I first heard it but am really starting to dig it now (even tho in places it directly rips off the melody of “I was made for loving you” KISS’s attempt at disco c) 1980), and even tho some of the lyrics seem a little ridiculous. He KILLS this song live, if you get a chance find the version from Bonnaroo which was broadcast on Fuse and is somewhere viewable on the web i'm sure. But there aren’t many other really standout songs.Still - a step down for The Boss shouldn't be ignored if you are a fan. „
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- 16 Built to Spill2009Indie rock“ while a solid record by most standards,definitely a bit of a disappointment to me. BTS are one of my alltime faves, but this one is less memorable than any other of their major label releases. „
- 17 Dave Matthews Band2009Alternative rock, Rock music“ Has a couple of great songs ("Why I Am" and one other). And a bitchin' album cover. Best DMB since Crash. „
- 18 Wilco2009Alternative rock
- 19 WolfmotherHard rock, Heavy metal, Neo-Psychedelia, Stoner rock
- 20 Dan Auerbach2009Blues-rock, Gospel music, Blues, Garage rock“ Big fan of the Black Keys but I feel like this album has a bit more soul, songs a bit deeper, etc. Auerbach is only slightly less talented than Jack White, and it's good to see both of them branch out beyond the solo guitar-with-drums dimension „
- 21 Jason Lytle2009Rock music
- 22
World Painted Blood
Slayer“ Took a few listens, but I'm sold. Their best in probably a few decades. „ - 23 Fuck Buttons2009Electronic music, Post-rock, Noise music, Electronica, Drone music
- 24 Heartless Bastards2009Blues-rock
- 25 Gov't Mule2009Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock, Roots rock, Jam band, Southern rock“ Another surprisingly strong studio record by a live fave not known for great studio work. „
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My Top Albums of 2009 at 2/17/2010 3:56 PM
My Top Albums of 2009 at 3/11/2010 3:00 PM