Top 10 Albums of 2009

Sorry about getting this out after the new year. Been busy with holiday crap and other fun stuff. I hope everyone had a good holiday and rang in 2010 with plenty of fun.

Now that 2010 is here it is time to reflect on 2009 and the Top 10 Albums that defined the year in rock...



#10
Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Album: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Released: June 2nd, 2009

To be perfectly honest, I was not expecting much when this album was first released. The previous DMB albums have just been getting worse and worse because of the band’s ever-rising popularity and their record label's desire to appease the masses. Finally, the band went back to its roots a bit on this album. DMB made a huge comeback this summer and as always topped the tour money making list of 2009. While this album seemed to be influenced heavily by Dave's religious side, I think it is kind of cool to see how his music has shaped and formed to his life over the last decade. DMB went through a lot after losing former bandmate, LeRoi Moore, in 2008 and I think this album could not have been a better tribute to his legacy.

Song that defines the album: "Funny the Way It Is"



#9
Artist: Muse
Album: Resistance
Released: September 15th, 2009

I said it in September when I reviewed this album that this would be one of my top albums of the year. It is experimental at times...rocking classic on some songs, dropping beats on others, and then straight pop on others...however, I fully enjoyed this album and I think it is my second favorite Muse album to date (behind "Black Holes and Revelations"). I love the "Exogenesis Symphony" (in 3 parts) to finish the album. The whole CD utilizes a lot of grand piano which attributes to the classy sound of the album.

Song that defines the album: "Uprising"



#8
Artist: Grizzly Bear
Album: Veckatimest
Released: May 26th, 2009

While I am not a fan of some of the tracks on this album, I can't deny how much it made a statement for indie rock in 2009. Grizzly Bear brought back experimental sounds and compositions that haven't been heard in rock since the '80s. The band definitely had two hot singles this year in "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait for the Others"...I just hope that they continue to lead the indie charge into 2010, and that their follow up album will live up to its expectations.

Song that defines the album: "Two Weeks"



#7
Artist: Animal Collective
Album: Merriweather Post Pavilion
Released: January 20th, 2009

This album was voted as the top album of the year by numerous music magazines, blogs, websites, etc. Here's my take. While the album is clearly magnificent, I can't put it any higher on my list because I liked all of the following albums that much better. I agree with many of the publications' lists, but this is not an album I can listen to over and over and over again without becoming insane. Just too many sounds. I am beginning to like SOME electronic music, but one step at a time here folks. "Summertime Clothes" was the best song of the Summer of 2009 and will always remind me of trips to the beach, drunken company picnics, my second trip to Bonnaroo, and of course, my wrecked Acura.

Song that defines the album: "My Girls"



#6
Artist: Silversun Pickups
Album: Swoon
Released: April 14th, 2009

Silversun Pickups may have been one of my favorite new discoveries of 2009. While I had heard of them before (thanks to Rock Band), it wasn't until I heard the song "Panic Switch" that I decided to follow up more on them. This album continues to grow on me and in another couple months could have been in the top 3 easy. With a series of incredibly catchy songs like "Nice to Know You Work Alone", "Substitution", and "Catch and Release" it is hard to think that this band has not gotten bigger, faster. They are certainly a band that will continue to grow so keep your ears open...oh, and they're AMAZING in concert!

Song that defines the album: "Panic Switch", but that's been on here before so check out "Substitution"...


#5
Artist: Monsters of Folk
Album: Monsters of Folk
Released: September 22nd, 2009

Do I have to comment on this fusion being my favorite of the year again? Come on! You all know by now that Jim James is one of my favorite musicians out there, and that I would love nothing better than My Morning Jacket to get back together ASAP, BUT this is the best side project I could have hoped for out of Yim. I hope James, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward just part their ways now, but this album will never leave my collection. It is the perfect rainy day album! Who knew that that much acoustic guitar could not wear on you. Unbelievable.

Song that defines the album: "Say Please", but try something new, here's "Man Named Truth".



#4
Artist: Pearl Jam
Album: Backspacer
Released: November 10th, 2009

Taking a break from the sound of their previous couple studio albums was a great idea for the Seattle grungers. This album brought Eddie, Jeff, Mike and the rest of the gang back to their roots and it is definitely noticeable on songs like "Amongst the Waves" and "Force of Nature". However, what I love best about this album are how powerful Eddie's vocals are. Eddie always had one of the most powerful voices in rock and as he gets older those chords keep getting stronger. Listen to "Unthought Known" and tell me different. There is not a song on this album that I can honestly say I don't like.

Song that defines the album: "The Fixer", but check out Eddie's vocals on "Unthought Known"...



#3
Artist: Passion Pit
Album: Manners
Released: May 19th, 2009

It may have a lot of electronic sound, but I just can't get enough of this album. The songs are just fantastic...all of them. "Make Light" is the perfect "pump-up" song to open the album. "Little Secrets" was my #2 song of the year. "The Reeling" got a lot of radio airplay and climbed the charts for a while. "Sleepyhead", "Moths Wings" , "To Kingdom Come" all contribute to making this album one of the years best. This album is just full of amazing tunes from beginning to end, and on top of it all I got to see them live, and it was one of the better shows I've seen this year. Best of luck to Michael Angelakos and the rest of Passion Pit...I hope your next album kicks as much ass as this one.

Song that defines the album: "The Reeling", but since I've shown the video on here already check out "Eyes as Candles"...probably the best unknown track from this album...



#2
Artist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Album: It's Blitz
Released: March 10th, 2009

Karen O is clearly the best female voice in rock n' roll today. She shreds up on this album. I've never been one for female leads in rock, but this album has forever changed my mind. Everone knows "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll", but it's the other songs like "Runaway", "Skeleton", and "Dragon Queen" that get stuck in my head all day. I love the way the YYYs seem to just complement each others instrument styles so well. They're a very underrated band as far as individual talent is concerned, and I think that this album took all of the band members to new creative heights with their instruments. I highly suggest this album to anyone who has not heard it from beginning to end.

Song that defines the album: "Zero", but same as before...worn out a lot of these ones...check out "Skeletons"...



#1
Artist: Phoenix
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Released: May 26th, 2009

I don't know how much more praise I can give this album than I already have in previous posts. Every time I listen to this album it grows on me a little more. In fact, I was so undecided as to what order these last three albums should be in that I listened to all of them right before I wrote this. I didn't think anything could change my mind from naming Passion Pit's "Manners" as album of the year, but as I was listening to that album I found that there was just a little something was missing. It was the vocals of Karen O that pushed the YYYs over Pit, but it was Phoenix's masterful composition that pushed them to the top. In particular it was the two-part song "Love Like a Sunset" that completely changed my mind. The way this song builds in the 5:38 instrumental lead-in and then transitions into a short, yet brilliant vocal finish just blows my mind. It is such a beautiful blend of excellent instrumentation. The guitars, the drum entrance, the ambient synths, and the acoustic beginning to the vocal track all attribute to this songs awesome creativity. A creativity that can be found hidden beneath every track on this album. The way this album comes together like that is what makes this Phoenix's masterpiece. They have created not only one of the best albums of the year, but one of the best of the decade, and one of my new personal favorites.

Song that defines the album: "1901", but check out one of my personal favorites, "Lasso".