Yes, we’re just putting our Top Albums of 2009 list up right now. And yes, 2010 is already upon us. But really, now, after we’ve had some time to settle into the ’10s and get a little hindsight, feels like the proper time to take a look back. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that we were on vacation and didn’t have time to put it up…no, no it’s the hindsight thing.

 

45) The Very Best, Warm Heart of Africa (Green Owl)

After a much buzzed about mixtape featuring samples from Vampire Weekend and M.I.A., The Very Best decided to get the real thing for Warm Heart of Africa. While guest stars like M.I.A and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koening might get your attention, it’s the combination of Esau Mwamwaya’s vocals and Radioclit’s genre bending beats that will keep you coming back for more.

44) Reign Supreme, Testing the Limits of Infinite (Deathwish)

Reign Supreme's debut full-length, strongly rooted in classic NYHC, is easily the Age of Quarrel for this day and age. The truth is supposed to hurt, and every gut-wrenching word on this record rivals its accompanying, skull-splitting riff.

 

43) Dinosaur Jr., Farm (Jagjaguwar)

An organic manifestation of Dinosaur Jr.’s sludgy grunge. Noisemaster J Mascis offers as much feedback and as many guitar solos as one would anticipate.

 

42) Kurt Vile, Childish Prodigy (Matador)

The rough named but melodic lo-fi indie-singer/ songwriter fills his album with lush tunes.

 

 

41) Mayer Hawthorne, A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw)

A joke turned retro-soul experiment has become this year's cult treasure. Mayer Hawthorne, aka DJ Haircut, from the Ann Arbour group No On is the teen heartthrob of ’09.

 

40) Blakroc, Blakroc (Blackroc Project)

Perhaps Damon Dash's most admirable accomplishment—bringing the likes of Mos Def, Q-Tip and living and dead members of the Wu-Tang Clan into the studio with the Black Keys to create a blues/hip-hop hybrid that will forever raise the bar for anybody looking to mix roots with rhymes.

 

39) Love Language, Love Language (Bladen County)

Keeping things as lo-fi as they come (using old school equipment and playing every instrument himself), Stuart Lamb manages to make breakups and alcoholism sound like a day at the park.

 

38) The Big Pink, A Brief History of Love (4AD)

On their debut, the London noise-pop duo, consisting of Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze, play gritty, synth-heavy tunes alongside lyrics lamenting relationships gone awry. Here, trippy raves and industrial brawn make for a good backdrop to a love story.

 

 

37) Ida Maria, Fortress Around My Heart (SonyBMG)

Sounding like she’s been smoking a pack of cigarettes and then chasing it with a bottle of Jack for the last twenty years, Ida Maria manages to at one moment eviscerate you (“I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”) and in the next softly reveal her doubts in God (“See Me Through”). Plus with stage antics like head butting men who get out of line, she’s the girl we want on our side in a bar fight.

 

36) Brother Ali, Us (Rhymesayers)

Probably one of the most articulate emcees alive, Brother Ali's somewhat dismal topics are always relatable, accessible, and make us want to do something.

 

35) Thomas Function, In The Valley of Sickness (Fat Possum)

Nasally is usually not a good way to describe someone’s singing, but somehow lead singer, Josh Macero makes it work on this collection of schizophrenic garage rock songs.

 

 

34) Marco Benevento, Me Not Me (Royal Potato Family)

A true musical visionary, Me Not Me finds Benevento experimenting with compositions from Leonard Cohen, My Morning Jacket, and Beck.

 

33) V/A, Dark Was the Night (4AD)

A ton of indie rock's best got together and did a two-disc special for the Red Hot Organization, a charity that raises funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS all around the world. So basically: previously unreleased tracks by Grizzly Bear, Feist, The National, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver + a good cause = Win.

 

32) Sunset Rubdown, Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)

Spencer Krug has always been the brooding type, but on Dragonslayer he tries to make things accessible, inviting you into his fantasy world of black swans, paper lace and yes, at least one dragon.

 

 

31) Bat For Lashes, Two Suns (Astralwerks)

With the split personality of Pearl in toe, Natasha Khan (aka Bat for Lashes) gave us the fragile, new agey “Glass,” the ’80s electro-inspired “Daniel” and “The Big Sleep,” the Queen-esque duet with Scott Walker. But looking past all the ever ranging influences and feathers, Khan proved she’s in a category all her own.

 

30) Tortoise, Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey)

Forbearers of the modern minimalist indie rock sound still impress on their sixth studio release.

 

 

29) Blitz the Ambassador, Stereotype (Embassy MVMT)

Blitz comes correct, representing Ghana of all places—knowledge and skill leaking straight from his brain, through his nasal cavity, and gushing out his mouth. Incorporating everything from brass to vinyl, Stereotype is like a periodic table of hip-hop innovation.

 

 

28) Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Crack the Skye)

Crack The Skye was a different approach for Mastodon. They went from bashing your head in to just plain fucking with it, prompting your 1000-mile-an-hour metalhead friends to simply stop and listen. The tempo is more brooding, the riffs more magical, and the subject matter more ridiculous than the Book of Revelation.

 

27) JEFF The Brotherhood, Heavy Days (Infinity Cat)

Yes, they’re brothers. No, neither one’s name is Jeff. But that doesn’t really matter because once these kids (they’re 21 and 23) start playing, you’re gonna swear that they’re the ones who will save rock ’n’ roll.

 

 

26) Mos Def, The Ecstatic (Downtown)

Mos returned to form in ’09 with his best album since Black on Both Sides.

 

25) The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart (Slumberland)

You might be asking yourself, “Who needs another twee indie pop band with new wave sentiments and obnoxiously long and cutesy song titles?” Well the answer is nobody, but we like Pains of Being Pure At Heart anyway.

 

 

24) Lee Fields & The Expressions, Up From Below (Truth & Soul)

A true throwback, Lee Fields is living proof that real soul music still exists.

 

 

23) Fashawn, Boy Meets World (One)

A stellar debut from the 21-year old Fresno rapper. Exhibiting maturity far beyond his years, Fashawn provides the listener with descriptive story-teller raps about coming up in a tough environment.

 

22)Akron / Family, Set ’Em Wild, Set ’Em Free (Secretly Canadian)

With their tie-dyed flag hung high, these guys bridge the gap between the hippies and the hipsters with influences ranging from afro-pop to soul to psychedelia. It seems on their 4th album, this trio has included everything but the kitchen sink, though if you check close enough, that might be in there somewhere too.

 

21) Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest (Warp)

Hipsters doing multi-instrumental euphoria and heavenly harmonies have been all the rage lately, but with beautiful tracks like "Ready, Able," this album has not only put the musical movement on the map but also has helped set the standard.

20) Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Radiolarians III (Indirecto)

MMW combine all things good in this world: jazz, funk, the blues, “world music” and fearless experimentalism. And you can check out where their heads were at circa 2009 on Radiolarians III.

 

 

19) Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)

Despite the fact that it's their most accessible effort to date, it still maintains a perfect balance of the band's trademark quirk and frivolity. And by "perfect balance," we mean it kind of "blew our faces off."

 

18) A Place to Bury Strangers, Exploding Head (Mute)

A truly apt title for this eruption of distortion, heavily steeped vocals, and true rock ’n’ roll ethics. On their second album, the band becomes more melodic, but still turns every melody on its head to expand a song into noisy aftermath. Such is the slow building “Ego Death,” which just about borders on demonic.

 

17) Girls, Album (True Panther Sounds/XL)

All it took was a childhood spent in a religious cult to craft authentic ’70s style pop songs that are perfect for the nostalgia seeking listeners of 2009.

 

 

16) The Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Phenomenal Handclap Band (Friendly Fire)

This band is a spacey dose of electro- psychedelia with a little disco snuck in for good measure. These New York multi-instrumentalists will have you dancing all night long and there’s definitely no shame in that.

 

Yes, we’re just putting our Top Albums of 2009 list up right now. And yes, 2010 is already upon us. But really, now, after we’ve had some time to settle into the ’10s and get a little hindsight, feels like the proper time to take a look back. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that we were on vacation and didn’t have time to put it up…no, no it’s the hindsight thing.

 

75) Dam Funk, Toeachizown (Stones Throw)

The ambassador of boogie funk finally makes his official debut with this epically long 5LP 2CD release that is a synthesizer orgy you've never heard before.

 

74) Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Winterwood (self-released)

JFJO’s final studio recording with any semblance of an original lineup. But the partnership between Brian Haas (keys) and Reed Mathis (bass) went out on top: Winterwood is a mature and fully realized statement.

 

73) Q-Tip, Kamaal the Abstract (Battery)

Let’s keep it simple and say: Q-Tip at his finest.

 

 

72) Tom Waits, Glitter & Doom Live (Anti)

The veteran rock/blues singer captures highlights of his 2008 tour on this two disc live album.

 

 

71) Sonic Youth, The Eternal (Matador)

An epic band at an epic high. The Eternal assaults the ears but also manages to offer a whisper of melancholia that delivers beauty between guitar screeches.

 

70) Amadou & Mariam, Welcome to Mali (Nonesuch)

On opening track “Sabali,” Amadou and Mariam team up with Damon Albarn and manage to merge African culture with spacey electronics last used by the likes of ELO. The rest of the album also experiments, mixing kora with rap and marimbas with piano, heading the Malian couple in a new (and enjoyable) direction.

 

69) Builders & the Butchers, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well (Gigantic)

Slightly dark imagery, backed by countless instruments and a rich soundscape make this Portland band’s second album stand out against its countless regional peers.

 

68) Avett Brothers, I and Love and You (Sony)

A joyous and heartfelt merging of folk, alt-country, and indie with sentimental, but never cheesy, undertones and a much-appreciated ode to Brooklyn, despite the band’s Southern roots. It’s no wonder these guys are gaining notoriety up North, and everywhere else too.

 

67) Melanie Fiona, The Bridge (SRC/Universal Motown)

The album is a soulful experience with at least eight radio hits ready to go.

 

 

66) Propagandhi, Supporting Caste (Smallman)

Gone is the Propagandhi of olde that taught many a young ’90s skate punk things about politics that they still can't fully comprehend. This record shows Propagandhi at their full potential thus far, and stands tall among their more classic albums about dead fascists.

 

65) Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (Fat Possum)

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird crafted yet another record replete with indie-pop goodness — his fourth, in fact — featuring an enjoyable reliance on whistles coupled with handclaps and worthwhile thoughts on evolution and (duh) nobility.

 

64) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Up From Below (Vagrant)

Edward Sharpe (aka Alex Ebert) and his rag tag band look and feel like the ’60s, but manage to keep things modern. Jesus freaks unite, we’ve found your leader!

 

63) Swan Lake, Enemy Mine (Jagjaguwar)

Indie supergroups can be misleading or all hype, but this is not the case here. All of its members — Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes), Daniel Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers) Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) — pull their weight and bring their best talents to the table. The result is an album full of cryptic lyrics, eerie yelps, and music marked by offbeat goodness.

62) Skyzoo, The Salvation (Skyzoo)

Lyrical exercise should be the alternative title to this record.

 

 

61) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz (Interscope)

Karen O and the crew opted for a more electrorock feel this time around. The decision, best embodied by thumping, revving tunes "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll," is a testament to how the band is an expert at reinventing the relevant, and keeping what otherwise might be a common sound, as fresh as greenmarket produce.

 

60) Kevin Devine, Brother’s Blood (Favorite Gentleman)

On his fifth album the New York native incorporates much more than his traditional guitar to create his most complex and captivating album to date.

 

59) Little Dragon, Machine Dreams (Peacefrog/EMI)

Why are we so easily seduced by Yukimi Nagano's voice? And with the dance tempo instrumentals of her fellow Swedish buddies, we can't climb out of the allure.

 

58) M. Ward, Hold Time (Merge)

Portland based singer songwriter’s seventh album in only ten years doesn’t stray too far from the others, but still manages to be consistently captivating and enjoyable.

 

57) Miike Snow, Miike Snow (Domino)

Miike Snow, who are better known as the Swedes who produced Britney Spears best song ever, “Toxic,” bring us something equally as catchy with infectious pop hit “Animal.” But these guys aren’t all sugary pop, instead their debut features its fair share of melancholy piano jams. We imagine these were written in solidarity of Ms. Spears’ head shaving breakdown.

 

56) J. Dilla, Jay Stay Paid (Nature Sounds)

Under the direction of Pete Rock, Jay Stay Paid is a collection of 28 previously unreleased Dilla beats. Most tracks are instrumental, but there are some guest versus from a handful of emcess Dilla worked with, including Black Thought, MF Doom, Havoc, M.O.P., Raekwon, and more.

 

55) Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, What Have You Done, My Brother? (Daptone)

The funky folks at Daptone deliver once again with this fine set of original gospel and soul music. Shelton and company are the real deal.

 

54) Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Summer of Fear (Saddle Creek)

With such an extravagant name, it’s no surprise Robinson chose to go for baroque on this one. No longer alone, Robinson called upon a string section and TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone to make redemption sound pretty liberating.

 

53) Allen Toussaint, The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch)

Toussaint, a legendary writer, arranger, producer and pianist, is best known for his work in the trenches of rock and R&B. But, with a little help from his friends (Don Byron, Marc Ribot, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton), he knocked out one of the best jazz albums of 2009.

 

52) The Drums, Summertime EP (Twentyseven)

With only an EP, The Drums managed to bring unabashed pop to the masses, cueing up the sounds of summer and creating a little ditty about surfing. Of course there’s nothing wrong with any of that, but let’s see if they can work that magic again in 2010 with a full-length album.

 

51) Maxwell, Blacksummers’ Night (Columbia)

Maxwell makes breakups sound so sweet.

 

 

50) We Were Promised Jet Packs, These Four Walls (FatCat)

On their debut, these Scottish lads give us heavily accented anthems that manage to stay masculine while still revealing a sensitive side, thanks in large part to lead singer Adam Thompson’s vulnerable warble.

 

49) Passion Pit, Manners (Frenchkiss)

This was a year chock full of damn good electro-infused indie rock, and we'd be lying if we said that Passion Pit wasn't one of those bands paving the way in 2009. From start to finish, this record is inducing.

 

48) Atlas Sound, Logos (Kranky)

Bradford Cox has become pretty good at giving us pop songs that were created in the comfort of his bedroom. On Logos, Cox manages to step out of his comfort zone, getting a little more personal and adding a few choice special guests. The best being Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox on the sunny ’60s pop gem, “Walkabout.”

 

47) Drake, So Far Gone (Cash Money)

Nothing but hits, So Far Gone showcased Drake’s versatility as a rapper and hook singer, while catapulting him into superstardom.

 

 

46) J. Period & Nneka, The Madness (Onye-Ala) (Yo Mama/Decon/Epic)

Teaming up with acclaimed DJ J. Period, Nigerian artist Nneka conjures up similarities to a young Lauryn Hill, making an unabashedly political statement with the prelude to her 2010 album, Concrete Jungle. Also featuring guest appearances from Talib Kweli, M-1, Jay Electronica, and Big Boi.

Yes, we’re just putting our Top Albums of 2009 list up right now. And yes, 2010 is already upon us. But really, now, after we’ve had some time to settle into the ’10s and get a little hindsight, feels like the proper time to take a look back. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that we were on vacation and didn’t have time to put it up…no, no it’s the hindsight thing.

105) Islands , Vapours (Anti)

With their 3rd album, the Montreal band, led by Nick Diamonds, return to the sweet and sunny synth-pop of their debut, just like we hoped they would.

104) Manchester Orchestra, Mean Everything to Nothing (Favorite Gentleman)

This Atlanta rock band left behind the tender and soft-spokenness of their previous release I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child, and instead "upped the ante," taking an entirely new direction for Mean Everything to Nothing. In 2009, they are relentless, aggressive and dynamic; turns out trading in wails for catchy outbursts makes for a perfect exchange.

 

103) Narrows, New Distances (Deathwish)

Comprised of members/alumni of bands like Botch, Some Girls and These Arms Are Snakes, Narrows' debut continues a tradition of whacked-out, expressionist post-hardcore. This record's more pummeling moments are easy to slam around to, while the atmospheric vibe makes it something you can also trip out on.

 

102)Breakestra, Dusk Till Dawn (Strut)

Breakestra bring their classic soul/jazz and party funk sound back with their first record in four years. The band has called the album a tribute to DJ Dusk, who was Breakestra founder Miles Tackett’s Root Down DJ partner, who tragically lost his life in a road accident a few years ago.

 

101) Emilio Rojas, DJ Green Lantern Presents The Natural

Proving he’s a lyrical force to be reckoned with, Rojas continues to evolve his rhymes with diverse content, while managing to keep his swag way up. Presented by DJ Green Lantern, who along with 6th Senses and M-Phases, lend quality production skills to the The Natural.

 

100) V/A, Daptone Gold (Daptone)

Featuring seven songs from Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Daptone Records gets their “Soul” up with 23 tracks of hits, out-of-print obscurities, and unheard exclusives.

 

 

99) 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, Bush Rock (ROIR)

The band’s name says it all. Chilled out dub reggae that’s perfect for, well you know… spending quality chill time with your favorite plant.

 

 

98) Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Know Better Learn Faster (Kill Rock Stars)

After a particularly bad breakup one might want to cower underneath the covers and hide from the rest of the world, but not Thao. She put her heartache to good use making charming little heartbreak anthems like “Easy,” which boasts the insightful (and very true) statement, “Sad people dance too.”

 

97) Temper Trap, Conditions (Glassnote)

Although this Australian band got their big break when their infectious song "Disposition" was featured in (500) Days of Summer, all of the attention was rightfully so. The whole album is sweet and soaring, rife with pulsing and ambient rhythms and catchy, rolling choruses.

 

96) Polar Bear Club, Chasing Hamburg (Bridge Nine)

On their second album this formerly straight ahead punk band goes outside the formula with astounding results.

 

 

95) Michael Olatuja, Speak (Backdrop/ObliqSound)

With Speak, the Nigerian-British bass player speaks words of wisdom to the listener with a mix of gospel, neo-soul, jazz and African music.

 

 

94) Anti-Pop Consortium, Fluorescent Black (Big Dada)

Not only is this far from pop, it’s anti-pop. Fluorescent Black is more like the tar stuck to the bottom of your shoe than the bubble gum that you chew, but we like it rough.

 

 

93) Hockey, Mind Chaos (Capitol)

This indie rock quartet likes to dance — and they've got the soul-laden tunes to prove it. Almost all of the tracks, especially the singles "Too Fake" and "Learn to Lose," are autobiographical accounts of the band's past and present.

 

 

92) Broadway Calls, Good Views, Bad News (Side One Dummy)

Simple, hook-laden and addictive pop punk brings listeners back to the genre’s early days.

 

 

91) Casey Shea, In Search of Seas (Family Records)

Casey Shea compiled all the A and B sides from his singles collection (ABCs Volume 1-6) and added a bonus track. He offered this all for free through 100000Fans.com, creating a nice and neat package of twangy, bluesy rock.

 

 

90) BK-One, Radio Do Canibal (Rhymesayers)

Prolific deejay BK-One gets down with producer Benzilla and a wealth of the game's best emcees from Minneapolis and beyond—creating a feel-good, no-bullshit record carved from Brazilian crate digging and contacts with a seriously talented crew.

 

 

89) Chuck Ragan, Gold Country (Side One Dummy)

Former Hot Water Music’s front man’s newest studio album features his trademark folk-infused raspy vocals with poignant, heartfelt lyrics.

 

 

88) DJ Spooky, The Secret Song (Thirsty Ear)

Spooky shows off his diverse range of influences mixing dub, reggae, rock, classical, world, and electronic to make a classic album from start to finish.

 

 

87) Eternia, Where I’m At (UrbNet)

The hardest female spitter in the game, Eternia picks up where Jean Grae left off, as a dope emcee who can hold court with any of her male counterparts when it comes to braggadocio lyrics, while maintaining her integrity with honest, intelligent, and heartfelt rhymes.

 

86) Shafiq Husayn, Shafiq En A-Free-Ka (Plug Research)

Metaphysical, avant-garde, and beautifully arranged, Husyn's debut solo album reminds us of why artists like Erykah Badu and Bilal repeatedly work with him.

 

 

85) Dr. Lonnie Smith, Rise Up! (Palmetto)

On Rise Up!, the veteran organist Dr. Lonnie Smith does exactly what he's been doing for nearly five decades: he makes funky, funky jazz music in a small group setting (this time with the saxophonist Donald Harrison, drummer Herlin Riley and guitarist Peter Bernstein). But one never tires of Smith. His energy and grooves are one of a kind.

 

84) The Bomb, Speed is Everything (No Idea)

Jeff Pezzati, of the legendary Big Black and Naked Raygun, gets back in the game with this post-hardcore powerhouse—giving the kids a run for their money, and the older heads something to make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

83) Karen O And The Kids, Where the Wild Things Are Sdtk (DGC/Interscope)

In Karen O’s trusted hands this soundtrack is a treat for both children and adults who grew up with the classic bedtime story. She not only made a soundtrack that can be enjoyed without ever seeing the movie but she takes hold of two spots on this year’s list. (See # 59)

82) Wale, Back to the Future (Interscope)

Teaming up with 9th Wonder, Wale drops attention deficit grabbing one-liners with his trademark self-conscious swagger.

 

 

81) The Alchemist, Chemical Warfare (ALC/E1)

One of the illest producers in the game, Alchemist comes correct with his newest offering, featuring a wide array of quality emcees, including Prodigy, Jadakiss, Eminem, Three 6 Mafia, and Juvenile.

 

 

80) Alec Ounsworth, Mo Beauty (Anti)

Ounsworth, the singer-songwriter and frontman of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, has yet again expanded on his knack for creatively quirky side-projects. Mo Beauty sees him moody, pensive, and eerie, and using a variety of instruments — strings, piano, horns —to mourn New Orleans' ghostliness.

 

79) Handsome Furs, Face Control (Sub Pop)

With some synthiness and a snappy drum machine, the Handsome Furs throw away a lot of the dreariness from their debut to make a dance pop album for all the paranoid weirdos and Russian enthusiasts out there.

 

 

78) Isis, Wavering Radiant (Ipecac Recordings)

Isis merges the heavier roots of  the Celestial days with the contemplative fluidity of In The Absence Of Truth; “Ghost Key” is, at times, somewhat jazzy and controlled, until Aaron Turner intermittently lets his vocal chords loose. As always, Isis’ long tracks boast an impressive and beautiful array of moods and musical landscapes (such as in “Hand of the Host”) that always surprise with their sudden turns.

 

77) Sharon Van Etten, Because I Was in Love (Language of Stone)

Van Etten's voice is tender, fragile, and highly captivating all the way through. Coupled with her gentle, yet intricate acoustic guitar-pickings and melancholy lyrics, the whole album is a precious and haunting masterpiece.

 

 

76) Mavado, Mr. Brooks… A Better Tomorrow (VP)

On his second full length album, Mavado manages to walk the fine line between making commercially accessible dancehall reggae music and maintaining his street cred.

As we enter into a new decade, the image of the budding hip-hop star has changed from the days when you could only get a deal if you never made it past the 10th grade, sold narcotics in mass quantities, and had been shot multiple times. Jermaine Cole, better known as J. Cole, is among a new breed of emcees that are emerging because of what they have to say instead of a gangsta persona.