Here’s my list for Best Albums of 2009 … obviously I didn’t listen to every pop album, so there’s some great music left off this list. There are also some much-hyped records intentionally left off this list. Ok … here goes:
Top 10:
1. The Mary Onettes – “Islands”
2. Afternoon Naps – “Parade”
3. Cheap Red – “Cheap Red”
4. Burning Hearts – “Aboa Sleeping”
5. The Besties – “Home Free”
6. A Sunny Day In Glasgow – “Ashes Grammar”
7. Camera Obscura – “My Maudlin Career”
8. Dream Date – “Patience”
9. The Drums – “The Drums EP”
10. Summer Cats – “Songs For Tuesdays”
Honorable Mention:
11. The Lovely Eggs – “If You Were Fruit”
12. Bricolage – “Bricolage”
13. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – “The Pains of Being Pure at Heart”
14. Let’s Wrestle – “In The Court of The Wrestling Let’s”
15. Hiawata! – “These Boys and This Band is All I Know”
16. Brilliant Colors – “Introducing”
17. Cats On Fire – “Our Temperance Movement”
18. The Raveonettes – “In and Out of Control”
19. The Legends – “Over and Over”
20. Very Truly Yours – “Reminders” EP
Worth a listen:
21. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names – #4 EP
22. Bad Lieutenant – “Never Cry Another Tear”
23. Dum Dum Girls – “Dum Dum Girls”
24. The Pastels & Tenniscoats – “Two Sunsets”
25. God Help The Girl – “God Help The Girl”
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Albums I’m sure would have made the list if I’d gotten a chance to hear them:
Pants Yell! – “Received Pronunciation”
Fanfarlo – “Reservoir”
Brown Recluse – “Soft Skin”
The Ballet – “Bear Life”
Colin Clary – “Every little thing counts”
So Cow – “So Cow”
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Best local albums:
1. Steven Deal – “Radio Twelve”
2. The Cavemen Go – “New Lives”
3. The Inclined Plane – “I Am Pants”
4. Shark – “Shark”
5. Werewolf Police – “Ruin My Night”
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Band I have completely written off this year:
For the last few years I’ve been adding a little part to my end-of-year list where I show my public disappointment in a band I used to like. These are bands that I feel have lost their way, released multiple disappointing albums in a row, “jumped the shark” or just failed to live up to the bar that their past music has set for them. Past bands I have completely written off have been Wilco and The Decemberists. I’ll admit, this year’s choice is pretty “safe.” I suppose I’ve already written them off subconsciously … but let’s make it official:
Remember how good DCFC used to be? Remember “We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes”? Remember “Something About Airplanes”? I don’t care how hip and obscure you are now, don’t tell me you didn’t love these albums in 2000 and 2001. Now, I know that pretty much everything after “The Photo Album” has been a major disappointment, but when did Ben Gibbard turn into a creepster? I mean, there’s a big difference between releasing sub-par pop music and just being shady. 2008’s “The Narrow Stairs” and this year’s “The Open Door” EP are just really, really bad. I mean, “I Will Possess Your Heart” alone is reason enough to write off DCFC.
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So what do you think? Let me know what I forgot or what you think should be No. 1. Please remember that Top 10 lists are ultimately just for fun/entertainment. If you think my list is completely horrible or are upset that I didn’t rank an album where you think it should be, don’t hesitate to tell me about it. But, remember, it’s just a Top 10 list, it’s just a record album, it’s just music … really. I hope everyone had a great year in pop music. I’m looking forward to what 2010 has to offer.
