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Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been quite busy and distracted with the anticipation of my move to Colorado. Surprising enough, the drive west has given me the inspiration to compile a best albums of 09' list. I made one rule on my drive out here; albums must be listened to in full. Naturally, many of those albums that got spin were probably in the top 20 albums of 09' according to my preference of course. There is no absolute in music as much as people would like to think there is. Inspiration for this list was also a great escape from boredom considering I made the drive solo. It was compiled and written about while going through two of the top 5 worst states to drive through in the country: Nebraska and Iowa. I hope there are some albums on here that you recognize and are also new to you. It's super easy to miss out on a great album - I know I did - during the year especially with all of the crazy awesome releases that went down this year.

Top 10:

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
This is a pretty trendy pick, but there's no denying that this was probably the most complete album of 2009. The song "My Girls" alone puts this album in the top 5, but when you consider the rest of the album this is a no brainer. Honestly I didn't want to put this album at number one, but I couldn't find a reason not to.

2.The xx - xx
This album is a very close second. Another album of 09' that I can't listen to unless it's straight through. Complete album, Brand new sound, and an almost immediate impact on the scene makes this number 2.

3. Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
Newcomers and yet another awesome band off of Hometapes get number 3. Out of all the albums I listened to this year Bear In Heaven did the best at creating an album, under it's definition. Everything ties together from start to finish making this one of the most stellar releases of the year.

4.Grizzly Bear - Veckitamest
At the time this album came out I was willing to peg it as the best album of the year. Turns out I've had a change of heart. Don't get me wrong, this album was outstanding, I just thought it faded a little bit in it's conclusion. Songs like "Two Weeks" and "Ready Able" have change the perception of independent music though. They even caught some buzz from Jay-Z. Along with Animal Collective this is probably one of the most recognized and reputable band in the indie scene now, which is a very very good thing. Great ambassadors of great music.

5. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Phoenix dialed in their best record so far, but don't expect their next album to sound much like this. If you've payed attention to their previous work they are always tweaking their sound from album to album. That being said, this WAS the best pop album of the year. I want to see a grammy nomination, but I think that's a bit far fetched.

6. Megafaun - Gather, Form & Fly
I may be biased towards this band because they are from my home town, but this album was fantastic. Again, another awesome release off of Hometapes. These guys are quilckly become experimental/folk giants with their endless touring. It's great to see these guys doing well especially in the light of their ex-bandmate's (Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver) success. Like Justin, I'd expect these guys to rock the scene for years to come.

7. Real Estate - Real Estate
Just recently got into Real Estate yet another project of New Jersey dude Julian Lynch. I listened to this album back to back on the drive out to Colorado as well as a few other times on the drive, which should explain why this is in the top 10. Julian might not have gotten as much press for his other projects, but this dude was probably one of the busiest guys of 09'. His next few releases should really solidify him as a giant in the business sooner rather than later.

8. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
Yet another band that is changing the way I look at music. Neon Indian made a lot of noise this year for being one of that late releases of 09'. This album leaves me wanting more though. Thankfully we can all look forward to Alan Palomo's other project, Vega, dropping an album in 2010. Alan also did some pretty special remix's this year, especially of Grizzly Bear's "Cheerleader," a song he remixed twice.

9. Washed Out - High Times
Washed Out (aka Ernest Greene) single handedly got me into a music scene that I was relatively unaware of. Really good stuff, but to be honest, I liked the Life of Liesure EP more.

10. The Antlers - Hospice
Rapping up the top 10 is The Antlers. This album will take you for a ride. Another complete album and one of the more expressive albums of the year. Don't sleep on this one.


Honorable Mention: Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!
I'm not sure if this is a top 10 album of the year, but it certainly deserves more credit then it has gotten. I'm personally a big fan and everyone I've recommended them too have liked them. Help spread the word and make sure to go see these guys if you get the chance because their live show is pretty rad.


The Rest of these albums were all stellar, just not quite stellar enough to crack the top 10. Make sure to check them out if you haven't. (No particular order.)

 

White Denim - Fits
St. Vincent - Actor
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Fanfarlo - Reservoir 
The Dodo's - Time To Die 
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
Desolation Wilderness - New Universe
Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy
Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement 
Passion Pit - Manners 
Woods - Songs of Shame 
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains 
Memory Tapes - Seek Magic 
The Daredevil Christopher Wright - In Difference To A Broken Back 
Solange - Sol Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams 
Soap & Skin - Lovetune For Vacuum 
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 
John Vanderslice - Romanian Names 
Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic 
Girls - Album 
Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone 
Coeur de pirate - Coeur de pirate 
Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue