The Top Albums of 2009 (so far)...and what to look forward to in the next 5 months...

2009 has been a great year for music so far. We've seen some great new indie bands surprise the rock genre (Grizzly Bear, White Rabbits), some artists took some time off to pursue a solo album (Yim Yames, Dan Auerbach), some long time rockers finally created their masterpieces (Wilco, Phoenix), and the electronic rock scene has gotten bigger than ever thanks to some huge innovators (Animal Collective, Passion Pit).

So what are these albums and why haven't you heard them yet? Because there is so much music out there today that it's hard for us to narrow down the great from all the good. I'm going to educate you on what I think have been some of the best albums to come out this year so far and why you should download them. Also...I'm going to give you a preview of what else is coming out in the fall/winter of 09'...thats right dudes...summer is almost over...at least for those of us in the Northeastern United States.

Here's the list (in no particular order):

• Passion Pit - Manners

Why you should download...because "The Reeling" and "Little Secrets" may be the Boston bands catchiest songs.

• Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

Why you should download...because Wilco is finally back to their original song writing style and no longer trying to appease the masses. Jeff Tweedy's vocals have never sounded better.

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Its Blitz

Why you should download...because this is my early front runner for Album of the Year. Great album from beginning to end and showcases a few songs that sound simple, but are very complex in style. Karen O's voice rings on the song "Runaway"...it'll get stuck in your head all day.

• Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Why you should download...because you've never heard so many different styles of music on one album. If that doesn't sell you right away just listen to the song "Two Weeks".

• Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Why you should download...because of the song "Why I Am"....a great tribute to the legendary LeRoi Moore.

• Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Why you should download...because this may be the most talked about album of the year by music critics across the country...check out their performance of "Summertime Clothes" on Letterman.

• Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Why you should download...because for months I thought that Nikki Monniger was a great vocalist...until I learned it was Brian Aubert doing the singing. Dude has one awesome voice. Plus...their performance on MTV Unplugged was phenomenal.

• Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (and other love songs)

Why you should download...because the Drive-By Truckers leader began writing this album 15 years ago when his life was a disaster and finished it last year...updating some of the old songs and creating sequel songs.

• Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Why you should download...because the song "The Shattered Fortress" contains the last three parts of Mike Portnoy's Twelve-step Suite...a series of songs dedicated to his battle with alcoholism. Also...because Dream Theater is the most talented band in the world and this album helps prove it again.

So that's the best of the year so far (in my opinion at least). Here's a look at some albums coming out later this year...some awesome ones in here...look carefully...

• Vampire Weekend - (TBD) - September
• Pearl Jam - Backspacer - September 20th
• Stone Temple Pilots - (TBD) - December
• Collective Soul - Rabbit - August 25th
• The Black Crowes - Before the Frost... - September 1st
• Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johannson - The Break Up Album - September 8th
• Jay Z - Blueprint - September 11th
• Muse - The Resistance - September 14th
• The Flaming Lips - Embryonic - September
• Phish - Joy - September 8th
• Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg - October 13th

Pretty sweet eh? Lots of humongous releases coming out next month. Anyway...that's it for now...I'll be back this weekend with a review of the O.A.R. show.