My Top 10 Albums Of 2009

Narrowing down a whole musical year to only ten albums is crazy hard (that’s what she said) but I tried. I feel like a leper being the only guy in America not putting Animal Collective on my list but I just didn’t feel them like everyone else. Here are ten that I am proud to stand up for though.

#10 AFI “Crash Love” 

I hear their lyrics are deep and meaningful and stuff but I just know their songs sound great. You can hear the passion in Davey’s wail. Best played loud.

#9. The Avett Brothers  “I And Love And You” 

Acoustic rock in the folk tradition with stunning family harmony to boot. Magnificently produced by the great Rick Rubin too!

#8 Dengue Fever  “Sleepwalking Through The Mekong” 

A band that combines two of my favorite things: Asians and psychedelic music. Captivating.

#7  The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (Self-titled) 

If you weren’t around for My Bloody Valentine  in the 80s then here’s a fuzzier, poppier version of what you missed. Recommended if you like Silversun Pickups.

#6 Modest Mouse  “No One’s First And You’re Next” 

This EP from the perpetually underrated band was “just” a grab bag of b-sides and songs that didn’t make the last two albums. Wow, have they got talent to burn then because this is 33 satisfying minutes.

#5 The Antlers “Hospice” 

Beautiful, atmospheric, haunting, emotional, fragile…if that’s your style, this is for you. Trust me.

#4 Jay-Z “The Blueprint 3” 

Pick any three songs off of here and they would be the best three songs on any other’s rapper’s album this year. Still the best in the game.

#3 Muse “The Resistance” 

A sophisticated, adventurous, showstopper of a record. The only thing more astonishing about how far they’ve come in the last ten years is thinking about where they might go next.

#2 White Lies “To Lose My Life” 

Big in Europe where they’ve always appreciated indie rock music you can dance to. If you’ve ever loved a Joy Division song, buy this now. Recommended if you like Interpol or Editors.

#1 Various Artists “Dark Was The Night” 

The record I listened to easily more than any other in 2009. It’s a compilation album with proceeds benefiting the fight against AIDS. That’s just the dessert; the meat is 20 (!) songs from some of the best artists out there, like Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, Conor Oberst, Bon Iver, and Dirty Projectors. Please enjoy.

Happy New Year. Can’t wait to see what 2010 brings.