2009 The Albums - Top 10

Another year over, another new beginning. Here is a look at my picks for the 10 Best Albums of 2009. In many ways this year seemed to be very lackluster in music, especially in comparison to last year where so many fantastic records came out and I didn't have enough room or spots for some of them. This year however, was a bit challenging in finding something very good, here is a look back at the year that way.

In Short Form:
10 - Portugal The Man - Satanic Satanist
9 - Editors - In This Light and On This Evening
8 - U2 - No Line on the Horizon
7 - Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe
6 - Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
5 - Pearl Jam - Backspacer
4 - Muse - The Resistance
3 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2 - As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
1 - Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Now with Explanations:



10 - Portugal The Man - Satanic Satanist

This Alaskan via Oregon band has completely blown my mind this past year. A band with a devoted following and an act so fresh they deserve as much attention as they can get. The Satanic Satanist is a record that breeds new life into the term "art rock," a psychedelic rock trip that will leave you only wanting more.

Key Tracks: People Say, Guns and Dogs

9 - Editors - In This Light and On This Evening

Dropping guitars and pianos and picking up keyboards and synthesizers, England's Editors took a risk on the sound and style that has made them popular the world over, however, still managed to bring one of the years best to the table. A fantastic record inspired by sci-fi films like Blade Runner and the city of London, singer Tom Smith is at the top of his songwriting form. Editors prove you can dance in the darkness. While it maybe a dark record, but it is damn beautiful.

Key Tracks: Bricks and Mortar, Walk the Fleet Road

8 - U2 - No Line on the Horizon

The biggest band in the world decided to prove their worth this past year with the biggest and most expensive music tour in the history of Rock N Roll. Yet they decided to it with one of their most somber sounding albums. No Line on the Horizon marks a sonic path for the legendary Irish rockers, some calling it their best since Achtung Baby, while others have trashed it. I find myself in the middle, musically it is the best they have been in over a decade, lyrically it tends to fall short, but Bono is still a master storyteller.

Key Tracks: No Line on the Horizon, Ceders of Lebanon

7- Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe

Three decade in and they still got it, in every sense of the word. Sounds of the Universe brings the classic Depeche Mode dark circus to your ears but still manages to find a way to make it sound very catchy. The fact that they are still making quality music after all these years and while their peers that emerged within the new wave sound along side them have sidelined, Depeche Mode will march on into their fourth decade triumphantly.

Key Tracks: Come back, Jezebel

6 - Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

Sometimes an artist has to go through utter devastation to provide their best work. Dave Matthews Band had to do just that to make their best record of this decade. After the passing of founding member and multi-instrumentalist Leroi Moore last summer, Dave and the boys sattled up to create a fine record in their fallen brothers name. After 2005 I had given up on this band and was just not impressed with anything they were doing, then this album came along and blew me away, certainly one to check out even if you are not one of their hard core devoted fans.

Key Tracks: Why I Am, Time Bomb

5 - Pearl Jam - Backspacer

Two back to back brilliant Pearl Jam records after the hay-day of grunge was never expected. Yet, the band rolled on to do it, Backspacer is the bands best record since Yield, even surpassing their 2006 self titled album that showed them return to form. Backspacer is part punk, part folk, all Pearl Jam. A rock and roll tour-de-force that shows the band doing what they do best, being themselves.

Key Tracks: Got Some, Unthought Known

4 - Muse - The Resistance

Muse hate politics and politicians, that is why they have always done things their way and why they will never back down to anyone. The Resistance is a sonic opera that combines the symphonic rock of Queen mixed with the emotion and experimental sounds of Radiohead. The Resistance is a record that has placed the world's loudest band into the world's stage and are ready to conquer it by storm.

Key Tracks: Undisclosed Desires, Guiding Light

3 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Their was no escaping these Frenchmen this year, not at all. This album was the soundtrack to my summer and every one's summer the world over. You would hear this being played out of car stereos, beaches, clubs, down the street and at house parties. The catchiest record of the year and an album that had you tapping your foot from start to finish. Already established in Europe and within the American indie scene, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix brought Phoenix into the mainstream, especially with a little help from the track "1901."

Key Tracks: Lisztomania, Rome

2 - As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You

What a beautiful album and what an achievement. Struggling to make this album sound as sonically perfect as they wanted to, firing two producers and they finding one in the nick of time to finish the job. As Tall As Lions have a lot to be proud of, You Can't Take It With You is one hell of a record.

Key Tracks: Duermete, In Case of Rapture

1 - Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

A pop-punk opera like their groundbreaking American Idiot, but a tad different. Instead of taking on the government and suburban life, Green Day take on the relationship of two characters and tell a story of love and loss in the modern era. Produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Garbage), he found a way to take the band out of area's and had their sound fill stadiums. 21st Century Breakdown is a very long album, but one that needs to be praised and very deserving of the top seed.

Key Tracks: Before the Lobotomy, The Static Age

So that was the year in review, now we look forward into 2010 and see what the next year and decade bring us.