My top 10 albums of 2009....
It's not often there are enough albums in a year that impress me sufficiently to warrant a top-ten, but 2009 has been an absolute goldmine for good music.
So here it is....
1.
Junius - The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist
The best way to desribe this is EPIC. It's lush, dark, majestic, atmospheric and a great progression from the sound of their debut album, which is also amazing but not as complex or melodic as this.
* Two stand out tracks - Birth Rites By Torchlight, Stargazers And Gravediggers
* Clunker of the album - None, all the tracks are excellent.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. With an audience of about 10 people and they blew me away! I think they'll become very popular this year.
2.
Therapy? - Crooked Timber
This was only pipped to No1 by a ball hair by Junius. This album is some of Therapy?'s finest material since Nurse. High praise indeed since Nurse is one of my favourite albums of all time. As energetic & raucous as expected!
* Two stand out tracks - Somnambulist, Exiles
* Clunker of the album - None. There are some tracks that are weaker, but they're still good.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes (twice), fantastic! Small venues both times with loads of energy and audience interaction.
3.
A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding Head
Not as raw, harsh and noisy as the debut album. A progression into a more mature & melodic sound but still keeping the unmistakeable comparison to The Jesus And Mary Chain.
* Two stand out tracks - Dead Beat, Exploding Head
* Clunker of the album - None really. There are some tracks that are weaker or take a while to get going, but they're still good.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes (twice), the second gig was slightly disappointing as it was crammed full and the sound wasn't good
4.
The Bravery - Stir The Blood
Pure 80's sounding electro-sleaze. A return to the sound of their debut album. Catchy melodies with 80's Robert Smith like vocals. It's even more retro sounding than the debut album!
* Two stand out tracks - Song For Jacob, Hatefuck
* Clunker of the album - Sugar Pill (they should be ashamed of themselves, it's terrible)
* Saw live in 2009? - No. They didn't tour the UK in 2009 but I absolutely love them live (saw them in 2006 & 2007) and hope they tour again soon.
5.
The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
I was surprised how much I liked this album considering I disowned the Prodigy back when the cringeworthy 'Baby's Got a Temper' came out. I was a huge fan throughout the 90's though. *Almost* a return to form on this album. I wish someone would take the microphone away from Keith Flint though.
* Two stand out tracks - Omen, Warrior's Dance
* Clunker of the album - Should be 'Take Me To The Hospital' because the lyrics & Keith's 'singing' ruin it completely but the biggest clunker is 'Run With The Wolves'. Absolutely terrible.
* Saw live in 2009? - Hell no, I haven't had the urge to see them live since the mid-90's. I haven't even had the urge to listen to their later stuff until I heard Omen. I saw them twice in the early 90's and they were amazing.
6.
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Best female performer/artist since 80's Madonna. Flawless. Amazing voice and the campest, catchiest electro-pop since Erasure.
* Two stand out tracks - Bad Romance, Dance In The Dark
* Clunker of the album - None really. They're all good fun but it's a bit crap that this was released with a repackaged version of the debut album instead of some live tracks.
* Saw live in 2009? - No. Tickets sold out in about 3 minutes flat!
7.
The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead
Post-rock, post-punk, noise-rock, indie? However you want to pigeonhole it, it's refreshing to hear such an amazing singer using his own Scottish accent and not sound like The Proclaimers. Low-fi, raw and noisy one minute and beautifully melodic the next.
* Two stand out tracks - I Became A Prostitute, The Neighbours Can't Breathe
* Clunker of the album - Floorboards Under The Bed (a bit too drony for me and it's weak compared to the rest of the tracks)
* Saw live in 2009? - Nope. They're touring in April 2010 though and we have tickets.
8.
War Tapes - The Continental Divide
A happier American alternarock version of Joy Division. Catchy tunes, great melodies and some lovely male/female vocal harmonies in places.
* Two stand out tracks - Mind Is Ugly, She Lied
* Clunker of the album - All The World's A Stage. What were they thinking?!
* Saw live in 2009? - No. They haven't toured the UK since 2007. I did see them then though and they were fantastic.
9.
Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball
If grunge, blues and shoegaze had a love child, it would sound like this. Vocals bear more than a passing resemblance to Kurt Cobain & Thom Yorke and there's a distinctive flavour of the Deep South in the more bluesy tracks.
* Two stand out tracks - The Rat, All The Angels
* Clunker of the album - Flesh Coloured Canvas. It's far too long and it becomes tedious.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. Twice. Better the 2nd time by far.
10.
Ultravox - The Very Best of
One of the best synthpop/electronic acts out there. It's a bit of a cheek listing in my albums of 2009 because most of these tracks were written 20+ years ago. This only makes my No.10 because of how many times I've played it in 2009 and the fact it was released in that year. Utter perfection!
* Two stand out tracks - Passing Strangers, One Small Day
* Clunker of the Album - All In One day (why this is on a 'Best Of' album I have no idea)
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. Awesome. I was really astounded with how good they were.
So here it is....
1.
Junius - The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist
The best way to desribe this is EPIC. It's lush, dark, majestic, atmospheric and a great progression from the sound of their debut album, which is also amazing but not as complex or melodic as this.
* Two stand out tracks - Birth Rites By Torchlight, Stargazers And Gravediggers
* Clunker of the album - None, all the tracks are excellent.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. With an audience of about 10 people and they blew me away! I think they'll become very popular this year.
2.
Therapy? - Crooked Timber
This was only pipped to No1 by a ball hair by Junius. This album is some of Therapy?'s finest material since Nurse. High praise indeed since Nurse is one of my favourite albums of all time. As energetic & raucous as expected!
* Two stand out tracks - Somnambulist, Exiles
* Clunker of the album - None. There are some tracks that are weaker, but they're still good.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes (twice), fantastic! Small venues both times with loads of energy and audience interaction.
3.
A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding Head
Not as raw, harsh and noisy as the debut album. A progression into a more mature & melodic sound but still keeping the unmistakeable comparison to The Jesus And Mary Chain.
* Two stand out tracks - Dead Beat, Exploding Head
* Clunker of the album - None really. There are some tracks that are weaker or take a while to get going, but they're still good.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes (twice), the second gig was slightly disappointing as it was crammed full and the sound wasn't good
4.
The Bravery - Stir The Blood
Pure 80's sounding electro-sleaze. A return to the sound of their debut album. Catchy melodies with 80's Robert Smith like vocals. It's even more retro sounding than the debut album!
* Two stand out tracks - Song For Jacob, Hatefuck
* Clunker of the album - Sugar Pill (they should be ashamed of themselves, it's terrible)
* Saw live in 2009? - No. They didn't tour the UK in 2009 but I absolutely love them live (saw them in 2006 & 2007) and hope they tour again soon.
5.
The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
I was surprised how much I liked this album considering I disowned the Prodigy back when the cringeworthy 'Baby's Got a Temper' came out. I was a huge fan throughout the 90's though. *Almost* a return to form on this album. I wish someone would take the microphone away from Keith Flint though.
* Two stand out tracks - Omen, Warrior's Dance
* Clunker of the album - Should be 'Take Me To The Hospital' because the lyrics & Keith's 'singing' ruin it completely but the biggest clunker is 'Run With The Wolves'. Absolutely terrible.
* Saw live in 2009? - Hell no, I haven't had the urge to see them live since the mid-90's. I haven't even had the urge to listen to their later stuff until I heard Omen. I saw them twice in the early 90's and they were amazing.
6.
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Best female performer/artist since 80's Madonna. Flawless. Amazing voice and the campest, catchiest electro-pop since Erasure.
* Two stand out tracks - Bad Romance, Dance In The Dark
* Clunker of the album - None really. They're all good fun but it's a bit crap that this was released with a repackaged version of the debut album instead of some live tracks.
* Saw live in 2009? - No. Tickets sold out in about 3 minutes flat!
7.
The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead
Post-rock, post-punk, noise-rock, indie? However you want to pigeonhole it, it's refreshing to hear such an amazing singer using his own Scottish accent and not sound like The Proclaimers. Low-fi, raw and noisy one minute and beautifully melodic the next.
* Two stand out tracks - I Became A Prostitute, The Neighbours Can't Breathe
* Clunker of the album - Floorboards Under The Bed (a bit too drony for me and it's weak compared to the rest of the tracks)
* Saw live in 2009? - Nope. They're touring in April 2010 though and we have tickets.
8.
War Tapes - The Continental Divide
A happier American alternarock version of Joy Division. Catchy tunes, great melodies and some lovely male/female vocal harmonies in places.
* Two stand out tracks - Mind Is Ugly, She Lied
* Clunker of the album - All The World's A Stage. What were they thinking?!
* Saw live in 2009? - No. They haven't toured the UK since 2007. I did see them then though and they were fantastic.
9.
Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball
If grunge, blues and shoegaze had a love child, it would sound like this. Vocals bear more than a passing resemblance to Kurt Cobain & Thom Yorke and there's a distinctive flavour of the Deep South in the more bluesy tracks.
* Two stand out tracks - The Rat, All The Angels
* Clunker of the album - Flesh Coloured Canvas. It's far too long and it becomes tedious.
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. Twice. Better the 2nd time by far.
10.
Ultravox - The Very Best of
One of the best synthpop/electronic acts out there. It's a bit of a cheek listing in my albums of 2009 because most of these tracks were written 20+ years ago. This only makes my No.10 because of how many times I've played it in 2009 and the fact it was released in that year. Utter perfection!
* Two stand out tracks - Passing Strangers, One Small Day
* Clunker of the Album - All In One day (why this is on a 'Best Of' album I have no idea)
* Saw live in 2009? - Yes. Awesome. I was really astounded with how good they were.