best albums of 2009
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Last year I did a list of twenty five albums, and I began to think that the rank ordering no longer meant anything once I hit a certain number. This year I thought I was going to do a top ten with a not so short list of other albums, but then I decided that would be the same thing as a top twenty five.
I feel like I settled in the middle. I was able to narrow 2009 down to fifteen albums, and no short list. These are my favorites. If you haven’t heard them check out the mp3, and if you like it buy the album…you won’t be disappointed. Cheers.
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The Great Pumpkin’s favorite albums of 2009.
15.) Screaming Females- Power Move
Hearing this record for the first time was like the first time I heard Dinosaur Jr. Power Move was released by Don Geovanni Records.
[mp3] Screaming Females- “Bell”
- buy it here.
- more on Screaming Females can be found here.
14.) Desolation Wilderness- New Universe
When I saw the cover and title of this album I hoped it would sound like it looked. And it did. A shoegaze master piece released by K Records.
[mp3] Desolation Wilderness- “Boardwalk Theme”
- buy it here.
- more on Desolation Wilderness can be found here.
13.) Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- Alex Bleeker and the Freaks
Classic Rock for my generation. This record gets more powerful with each listen. Released via the wonderful Underwater Peoples Records. Their cover of “Animal Tracks” is just as good as the original.
[mp3] Alex Bleeker & The Freaks- “Animal Tracks (Mountain Man cover)”
- buy it here.
- more on Alex Bleeker can be found here.
12.) Sonny and The Sunsets- Tomorrow is Alright
Sonny and the Sunsets made the perfect warm weather pop album that it transcends seasons. I find that even on a morning as cold as today Tomorrow is Alright can make me feel warm inside. Sonny is part of the Endless Nest Collective, and if you know what is good for you should have your eye on the nest…so many great records came out of this group in 2009. Tomorrow is Alright was released by Soft Abuse Records.
[mp3] Sonny and the Sunsets- “Too Young To Burn”
11.) Nite Jewel- Good Evening
This is an album of psychedelic dance jams and not necessarily the dance music you would hear in a club, but more what you want to chill out with at the end of the night. This record was released by Human Ear Music / Gloriette Records.
[mp3] Nite Jewel- “Weak for Me”
10.) BOAT- Setting the Paces
If there has been one album this year that can bring me out of dark times it is Setting the Paces. Released by Magic Marker Records.
[mp3] BOAT- “Prince Of Tacoma”
9.) Julie Doiron- I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
While she is known for her sad songs this album shows her lighter side, and that is something that I really enjoy…and she can totally wail on that guitar too. Released by Jagjaguwar Records.
[mp3] Julie Doiron- “Spill Yer Lungs”
- buy it here.
- more on Julie Doiron can be found here.
8.) Ducktails- Ducktails// Landscapes
As far as I’m concerned these two should have been a double album. I have a hard time thinking about them separately. Ducktails in a sense gave birth to Real Estate, and possibly this whole thing chillwave thing. Ducktails came out via Not Not Fun and Lanscapes via Olde English Spelling Bee.
[mp3] Ducktails- “Landrunners” (off of Landscapes)
7.) Karl Blau- Zebra
This man is a constant inspiration to me. This record is just one of three albums that he made this year that I fell in love with. Released by K Records.
[mp3] Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”
6.) Pains of Being Pure at Heart- Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Like a time machine to the late eighties //early nineties. Another great album from Slumberland.
[mp3] Pains of Being Pure at Heart- “Come Saturday”
- buy it here.
- more on Pains Of Being Pure at Heart can be found here.
5.) Ganglians- Monster Head Room
The first full length form this Sacramento band, and it was pretty much perfect. The LP was released by Weird Forest and CD by Woodsist (who will be repressing the LP).
[mp3] Ganglians- “Crying Smoke”
- buy it here.
- more on Ganglians can be found here.
4.) TOM: WFMU’s the Best Show’s Tribute to Paul McCartney’s RAM (various artists)
The Best Show put together the best tribute album ever. If you are unfamiliar with RAM it is the only album I have ever heard of by Paul McCartney refered to as dirty (and that is a very good thing). Released as a DJ Premium for donating to WFMU… Sad that it was so exclusive. The moral of this story is…DONATE TO WFMU!
I haven’t really listened to Danielson over the past couple albums, but this cover makes me want to rethink that…one of my favorite tracks from this album, and one of the best covers I have heard in a long time.
Danielson- “Monkberry Moon Delight”
- The Best Show// WFMU
- Oh and if you don’t already have it…buy Paul McCartney’s Ram here (or used on LP here).
3.) Mount Eerie- Wind’s Poem
I am a long time fan of Phil Elverum, and on this album he took me to a place I never imagined I’d go. Dark and beautiful…seeing it performed live gave me the best halloween I’ve had in years.
[mp3] Mount Eerie- “Between Two Mysteries”
2.) Julian Lynch- Orange You Glad
After this record I will be on the look out for anything Julian Lynch ever releases. Orange You Glad has moved me. Released on Olde English Spelling Bee.
[mp3] Julian Lynch- “Rancher”
1.) So Cow- So Cow
By far the record I listened to most this past year. The pop catches you, but the guitar and lyrics keep you. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Tic Tac Totally Records. If you didn’t catch So Cow when they were in the states last year their 2010 American Tour starts in less than two week! Tour dates can be found here.
[mp3] So Cow- “Casablanca”
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Thanks for reading my best of lists. I’m pretty sure this is the end of it…my goal was to get it up by February 1st, but I ended up one day late…I’m ok with that.
You can find more of mine, and some of my special guests, best of lists here.
