Top 10 Albums of 2009
Yeah, I'm not buying anymore music this year.
10. Plastiscines -- About Love
Four hot French chicks who play garage rock with a bit of a 60's edge and worship Nancy Sinatra. How could you go wrong? I'm a fan of that sort of rock and this album is so fun. I just love it.
Favorite tracks: Barcelona, Bitch, Camera, Pas Avec Toi, I Could Rob You
9. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse -- Dark Night of the Soul
Part of me is probably liking this album more due to the concept of this album, but as I'm so culturally-minded I cannot separate it from how I feel about it. Anyway, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse did an album with many collaborators to accompany David Lynch's photography book. There was a legal dispute with EMI, so it wasn't officially released. Since they couldn't release it, at the end of the limited edition book released by David Lynch is a blank CD, not endorsing the illegal download. However, it was leaked illegally and it's the only way to get this album. I do really like it as the Julian Casablancas track is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Favorite tracks: Little Girl (feat. Julian Casablancas), Just War (feat Gruff Rhys), Daddy's Gone (feat. Nina Persson), Every Time With You (feat. Jason Lytle), Angel's Harp (feat. Black Francis)
8. Peaches -- I Feel Cream
I really like this Peaches album. Much better than her last. She's great, yeah? I wish I could say more, but I'm not sure how to elaborate. I just dig this album and think Peaches is awesome.
Favorite tracks: Lose You, Talk to Me, Billionaire, Serpentine, Mud
7. Little Boots -- Hands
Paul picked up one of her singles on vinyl when I was feeling homesick for London as he read an article about her being hyped up in the British press. It ended up being my thing, and I love it. Definitely makes me want to dance. A good electropop album.
Favorite tracks: Stuck on Repeat, Remedy, Ghost, Symmetry (with Philip Oakey), Meddle
6. Adam Lambert -- For Your Entertainment
Okay, I absolutely love Adam Lambert. I think he is fantastic and my favorite artist of the year. Yeah, I love someone from American Idol, but for a change they are good and musically relevant. Adam has an amazing voice and one of the best I've heard live. Having said that, he made an album quickly while he was touring, so I wasn't sure how that would turn out. However, he ended up making an album that is really, really interesting considering all the genres, styles and eras it recalls (seriously, there is a lot going on here and it works very well) and there isn't a track on there I hate. It's good, you guys! I'm amazed he was able to get such an album out in such a short time. It makes me really, really, really want a second album. Everyone should really check this one out.
Favorite tracks: Strut, Pick U Up, For Your Entertainment, Broken Open, Fever
5. Julian Casablancas -- Phrazes for the Young
I'm not a fan of The Strokes. I don't dislike them necessarily, but I just never got into them. I remember seeing the hype and their rise, but just didn't care. Having said that, I love this album. I was impressed with Julian Casablancas's contribution to the Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse album, and was really looking forward to this. I like it, especially how varied it is. Some songs lean synthpop, and one has a slightly alt-country feel. None if it sounds like The Strokes, so that makes me happy.
Favorite tracks: Old Hollywood, Ludlow St., 4 Chords of the Apocalypse, Left & Right In the Dark, Tourist
4. The Raveonettes -- In and Out of Control
I love their 60's rock, dreampop/shoegaze sound. I wasn't that into their last album, but I really love this one. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only fan of this band among my friends, but hey--they haven't had issues releasing albums. That's more than I can say for a lot of artists I follow, sadly. I hope Gossip Girl gives them a boost.
Favorite tracks: Bang!; Oh, I Buried You Today; Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed), Last Dance, Wine
3. Bat for Lashes -- Two Suns
I liked her debut album, but I didn't enjoy any of the tracks as much as "What's a Girl to Do?" However, I absolutely love this album, which I feel is much stronger overall. I adore the vibe and her voice. Plus, she has a duet with one of my all-time favorite singers, Scott Walker.
Favorite tracks: Daniel, The Big Sleep (feat. Scott Walker), Glass, Two Planets, Travelling Woman
2. Patrick Wolf -- The Bachelor
Patrick Wolf. I adore him. I did like Magic Position, but not as much overall as Wind in the Wires. Apparently every other album is my one true love with Patrick, or something, because I adore this. It's beautiful, and he goes even more Celtic on many of the tracks, but it really works. Cannot wait for The Conqueror.
Favorite tracks: Damaris (my track of the year), Oblivion, Blackdown, Vulture, The Bachelor
1. Basement Jaxx -- Scars
I've been a fan of Basement Jaxx since I first heard Red Alert. I've bought and loved every album they've done. In fact, they are the only artist who I've followed since the start of their career where I have absolutely adored every album. This is no exception as I absolutely love Scars, every track.
Favorite tracks: Raindrops, Days of Sunflowers (We March On) [feat. Yoko Ono], Twerk [feat. Yo Majesty], Wheel N Stop (B-Side) [feat. Serocee], Feelings Gone [feat. Sam Sparro]
Favorite song of the Year: Damaris by Patrick Wolf
Favorite artist of the Year: Adam Lambert
Honorable mentions: Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- It's Blitz!, IAMX -- Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, Zoot Woman -- Things Are What They Used to Be, Florence + Machine -- Lungs, Muse -- The Resistance
10. Plastiscines -- About Love
Four hot French chicks who play garage rock with a bit of a 60's edge and worship Nancy Sinatra. How could you go wrong? I'm a fan of that sort of rock and this album is so fun. I just love it.
Favorite tracks: Barcelona, Bitch, Camera, Pas Avec Toi, I Could Rob You
9. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse -- Dark Night of the Soul
Part of me is probably liking this album more due to the concept of this album, but as I'm so culturally-minded I cannot separate it from how I feel about it. Anyway, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse did an album with many collaborators to accompany David Lynch's photography book. There was a legal dispute with EMI, so it wasn't officially released. Since they couldn't release it, at the end of the limited edition book released by David Lynch is a blank CD, not endorsing the illegal download. However, it was leaked illegally and it's the only way to get this album. I do really like it as the Julian Casablancas track is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Favorite tracks: Little Girl (feat. Julian Casablancas), Just War (feat Gruff Rhys), Daddy's Gone (feat. Nina Persson), Every Time With You (feat. Jason Lytle), Angel's Harp (feat. Black Francis)
8. Peaches -- I Feel Cream
I really like this Peaches album. Much better than her last. She's great, yeah? I wish I could say more, but I'm not sure how to elaborate. I just dig this album and think Peaches is awesome.
Favorite tracks: Lose You, Talk to Me, Billionaire, Serpentine, Mud
7. Little Boots -- Hands
Paul picked up one of her singles on vinyl when I was feeling homesick for London as he read an article about her being hyped up in the British press. It ended up being my thing, and I love it. Definitely makes me want to dance. A good electropop album.
Favorite tracks: Stuck on Repeat, Remedy, Ghost, Symmetry (with Philip Oakey), Meddle
6. Adam Lambert -- For Your Entertainment
Okay, I absolutely love Adam Lambert. I think he is fantastic and my favorite artist of the year. Yeah, I love someone from American Idol, but for a change they are good and musically relevant. Adam has an amazing voice and one of the best I've heard live. Having said that, he made an album quickly while he was touring, so I wasn't sure how that would turn out. However, he ended up making an album that is really, really interesting considering all the genres, styles and eras it recalls (seriously, there is a lot going on here and it works very well) and there isn't a track on there I hate. It's good, you guys! I'm amazed he was able to get such an album out in such a short time. It makes me really, really, really want a second album. Everyone should really check this one out.
Favorite tracks: Strut, Pick U Up, For Your Entertainment, Broken Open, Fever
5. Julian Casablancas -- Phrazes for the Young
I'm not a fan of The Strokes. I don't dislike them necessarily, but I just never got into them. I remember seeing the hype and their rise, but just didn't care. Having said that, I love this album. I was impressed with Julian Casablancas's contribution to the Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse album, and was really looking forward to this. I like it, especially how varied it is. Some songs lean synthpop, and one has a slightly alt-country feel. None if it sounds like The Strokes, so that makes me happy.
Favorite tracks: Old Hollywood, Ludlow St., 4 Chords of the Apocalypse, Left & Right In the Dark, Tourist
4. The Raveonettes -- In and Out of Control
I love their 60's rock, dreampop/shoegaze sound. I wasn't that into their last album, but I really love this one. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only fan of this band among my friends, but hey--they haven't had issues releasing albums. That's more than I can say for a lot of artists I follow, sadly. I hope Gossip Girl gives them a boost.
Favorite tracks: Bang!; Oh, I Buried You Today; Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed), Last Dance, Wine
3. Bat for Lashes -- Two Suns
I liked her debut album, but I didn't enjoy any of the tracks as much as "What's a Girl to Do?" However, I absolutely love this album, which I feel is much stronger overall. I adore the vibe and her voice. Plus, she has a duet with one of my all-time favorite singers, Scott Walker.
Favorite tracks: Daniel, The Big Sleep (feat. Scott Walker), Glass, Two Planets, Travelling Woman
2. Patrick Wolf -- The Bachelor
Patrick Wolf. I adore him. I did like Magic Position, but not as much overall as Wind in the Wires. Apparently every other album is my one true love with Patrick, or something, because I adore this. It's beautiful, and he goes even more Celtic on many of the tracks, but it really works. Cannot wait for The Conqueror.
Favorite tracks: Damaris (my track of the year), Oblivion, Blackdown, Vulture, The Bachelor
1. Basement Jaxx -- Scars
I've been a fan of Basement Jaxx since I first heard Red Alert. I've bought and loved every album they've done. In fact, they are the only artist who I've followed since the start of their career where I have absolutely adored every album. This is no exception as I absolutely love Scars, every track.
Favorite tracks: Raindrops, Days of Sunflowers (We March On) [feat. Yoko Ono], Twerk [feat. Yo Majesty], Wheel N Stop (B-Side) [feat. Serocee], Feelings Gone [feat. Sam Sparro]
Favorite song of the Year: Damaris by Patrick Wolf
Favorite artist of the Year: Adam Lambert
Honorable mentions: Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- It's Blitz!, IAMX -- Kingdom of Welcome Addiction, Zoot Woman -- Things Are What They Used to Be, Florence + Machine -- Lungs, Muse -- The Resistance