My Top Ten Albums of 2009

As I’m a huge nerd, one of the most exciting things about this time of year is that every publication feels the need to list their favourite things of the year, and now that I’m writing this blog I figured I’d do the same. Feel free to have a look at what’s here and then debate all of the glaring omissions I’ve made in the comments section below, after all, I’d be happy to argue about all this until the new year and I might even discover some new favourites out of it too. Lists of my top ten songs and films should be forthcoming.

1. Fever Ray – Fever Ray

Anyone who read my review of the album on this site probably figured that I was a huge fan of it. Having listened to the album solidly since its original release in March, I’ve found it to be the most rewarding listen in a long time, and its far more subtle, and consistent than any of Karin Andersson’s previous albums with The Knife (although they’re all worth a listen too). It manages to be strange, dark, amusing and ultimately uplifting and despite the abundance of synth backed female singer-songwriters in 2009, sounds completely unique.

2. Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport

An album so good it transcends their juvenile name, and the formulaic noise of their first record (although that was by no means bad). Taking the best bits of 90’s dance and post-rock Fuck Buttons come up with a noisy, aggressive record that you can also dance to. It also makes for an excellent soundtrack for trips to the gym.

3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion

Which has probably featured on every album of the year list this year. Although there’s no way that it couldn’t be overhyped at this stage, and it must be said that it trails off a bit too much in the middle, Merriweather Post Pavillion is never less than listenable, and has the greatest start and end of any album I’ve heard this year.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

Upping their game once again, Karen O and her bandmates are another established act that got in on this year’s 80’s synth pop trend. From the exclamatory title and inspired cover art, to the music contained within it, everything about this album screams fun.

5. Passion Pit – Manners

Like with their romantic indie-electronica predecessors the Postal Service there’s a good chance we’ll all be sick of them in a couple of years thanks to overuse in soundtracks, but that doesn’t stop it being enjoyed for now as a sweet, interesting collection of songs, well delivered by Michael Angelakos’ gorgeous voice.

6. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

The idea of creating a rock opera seems laughable these days, but that hasn’t stopped Colin Melloy from doing so. Starting out somewhat ridiculous yet ending up surprisingly moving, it sounds kind of like the Arcade Fire performing a Victorian melodrama.

7. Le Loup – Family

Doesn’t quite match up to their beguilingly strange debut (which really needs to be heard by more people), as it swaps that album’s almost religious sense of hushed awe with energetic Yeasayer inspired drumming, fortunately they realised that the USP of their first record were the lush vocal harmonies and frequent use of banjo and wisely hung onto them.

8. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns

Natasha Khan gets to indulge her more new age-y and outrageous side than in her debut on this loose concept album, as well as let loose with a fantastic array of electronics and beats.

9. Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light

As if responding to his last album being overplayed on the soundtracks of TV shows and at dinner parties (much like Portishead’s situation a decade previously), Antony Hegarty took four years to follow it up, and when doing so turned in something much harsher and colder, but ultimately much wider in scope and more rewarding.

10. Sonic Youth – The Eternal

Following on from the same template as Sonic Nurse and Rather Ripped, the now middle-aged No-Wavers turn in another album of chaotic rock music that once again simultaneously sticks to their well-worn sound, and manages to sound new and exciting.

So those are mine, now tell me yours…