[ Best of 2009 main page ]




BY ALEC BRINEGAR

in no particular order...

Handsome Furs >> Face Control
Bruce Springsteen worshiping, insights into Russian social etiquette, jerky electronics and an epic set of press photos. These disparate parts, in no particular order, combined beautifully to form the year’s very best rock hybrid album.



Girls >> Album
Once you look beyond all the hype, R-rated videos and bizarre vocal style, there’s no reason Girls can’t be your favorite band of 2009. Nearly every track on Album was intensely fun, surprisingly thoughtful and (AND!) instantly ready for a good sing along.

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Read the Groovemine review



Atlas Sound >> Logos
Bradford Cox has cemented the fact that he’s clearly, without a doubt, one of the best artists of his generation and Logos is all the proof anyone needs.

Preview & purchase album from Other Music
Read the Groovemine review



The xx >> XX
I hate to give anyone a handicap, but when you’re this young and you’re making music this good, this well considered and this internationally successful, you’re immediately something quite special. Until the inevitable sophomore slump, let’s just enjoy the hell out of this one, OK?

Preview & purchase album from eMusic (subscribe and get 25 FREE downloads)
Read the Groovemine review



jj >> jj n° 2
When I play this album at home my wife says it sounds like Enya. Fair enough. But let’s all be honest here, Pure Moods never rolled this hard. Intended or no, jj has created what could potentially be the world’s first easy listening masterpiece. 

Preview & purchase album from eMusic (subscribe and get 25 FREE downloads)



Timber Timbre >> Timber Timbre
Taylor Kirk took his lovable little vocal warble, some organ taps and a host of other subtle little folksy sounds and paired them all together to make a beautifully creepy disc that on paper, has no business sounding this good. But it does. It really does.
 
Preview & purchase album from Other Music
Read the Groovemine review



Discovery >> LP
100% fun from start to finish. It may have just been an experiment, but it’s definitely one of the year’s most enjoyable surprises.


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Washed Out >> Life of Leisure EP
Ernest Greene made one of the best EP’s of the year in a bedroom at his parents’ rural Georgia home. This is really, really great news for music and even better news for Ernest Greene. 

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Drake >> So Far Gone
Very creative beginnings for rap’s next megastar. So Far Gone is pretty much everything to everyone – thoughtful lyricism, female exploitation, indie rock nods, beautifully curated music and lots of Lil Wayne stream of conscious. From Degrassi: The Next Generation to this? Kudos.



MORE OF THE BEST....
> Best of 2009 main page
> Lukas Clark-Memler's Top Five Albums and Top Five Album Covers of 2009
> Raymond Chalmé's Top Ten Music Moments of 2009
> Sam Houghton's Top Five Albums of 2009
> Neil Levens' Top Five Albums of the Year