Best of 2009
Here's a list of some of my favorite albums of 2009, like I said I'd do. There's no order to this, just some albums I liked. Instead of putting all the albums up for download, I just posted two songs from each album that I recommend. This kind of gives you a sample of the albums. If you want me to post a download link of the full album, just let me know in the replies and I'll do it.
Taking Back Sunday - New Again
Taking Back Sunday has had a lot of lineup changes and this album was the first with their third guitarist. They experimented more with their sound on this album and weren't afraid to try new things, but it still sounds like their sound.
Recommended: Swing, Everything Must Go
fun.
fun. Is the new band from Nate Ruess of The Format. It sounds like The Format to me, but it's more upbeat and theatrical. I listened to a leak of this a lot during the summer and it fit the summertime really well.
Recommended: At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be), Barlights
Dashboard Confessional - Alter the Ending
I'm a big fan of Dashboard Confessional, but I didn't like their last release as much as their older stuff. I think their new album is really good though. They released an electric and acoustic version so there's something for everyone (I'm not sure which I prefer).
Recommended: Belle of the Boulevard, Alter the Ending (acoustic)
We Shot the Moon - A Silver Lining
We Shot the Moon is a band with previous members of Waking Ashland and Sherwood. The sound on their second album is a little more mature. It takes less of a summertime feel than their first album, but it's still catchy and has hopeful lyrics.
Recommended: The Bright Side, Come Back
Mae - (m)orning and (a)fternoon EPs
Mae did a project this year where instead of releasing full length albums, they released song each month through their website. The money was donated to charities and they palnned to released 3 EPs -(m)orning, (a)fternoon and (e)vening) (an acronym of their band name) - with the songs they put on their website (along with some extra songs). Sofar, (m)orning and (a)fternoon have been released.
I love the whole idea of the project and that they're doing something no other band is doing. They're also giving back to the community and it's really inspiring. The music is great too. It's a little more experimental than their previous work (e.g. a lot of their songs are longer and it's kind of unusual to put an 8 minute song as a second track), but I think they have released some of their best songs recently.
Recommended: Communication, The Fisherman Song (We All Need Love)
Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear
Jeremy Enigk is formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, a band known as one of the first “emo” bands (though they sound different from a lot of bands of the genre today). I always sort of avoided listening to his solo albums because I didn't think I liked them as much as Sunny Day Real Estate. I started listening to some of his solo albums this year and it's just as good as Sunny Day to me. OK Bear is his latest release and it contains a lot of well written, emotional and calming music.
Recommended: Make Believe, Just a State of Mind
Say Anything - Say Anything
I downloaded this album when it first came out, but for some reason, my download didn't work and I didn't bother trying to get it again and listening to it fully until last week. I think this is a great album by Say Anything and it feels like they really found their sound. I think it goes back more to the sound of “Is.. A Real Boy” (their first release) than “In Defense of the Genre” (which I liked because it had so many guest artists on it). I should also mention Two Tongues, a project between Max Bemis of Say Anything and Chris Coley of Saves the Day came out in 2009 which I also like a lot.
Recommended: Eloise, Ahhh... Men
As Tall as Lions - You Can't Take it With You
As Tall as Lions experimented more on this album instead of sticking to the more cleanly produced sound of their last albums. Some of the songs don't even really sound like them and you can tell they were trying something different, such as in "We's Been Waitin'". I like that they had more than just the main vocalist do main vocals, even though he is a great vocalist. Other songs sound more like their older stuff, which could be compared to bands such as Radiohead or Coldplay. I'm not sure where this ranks compared to other As Tall as Lions albums yet, but I'm really liking this album.
Recommended: Go Easy (See the Love), In Case of Rapture
Between the Trees - Spain
I just relistened to this album recently and thought about how good it was. I loved their first album, but this album has some great songs on it and might be better. Their songs are catchy and inspirational.
Recommended: Scarecrow, We Can Try
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
I wasn't sure how their new album would compare to Manchester Orchestra's last album since I liked I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child so much, but this album impressed me. I like how it shifts from emotional screaming to softer parts (such as in "Shake it Out"). Definitely check out this band if you haven't already.
Recommended: Shake it Out, Mean Everything to Nothing
Also Recommended:
Metric - Fantasies
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
The Antlers - Hospice
Regina Spektor - Far
Maria Taylor - Ladyluck
Paramore - Brand New Eyes
Deas Vail - Bird and Cages
Brand New - Daisy
Gold Motel - Self Titled EP
Anchor & Braille - Felt
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Sleeping at Last - Storyboards
Mute Math - Armistice
Destry - Self Titled
By the way, I made a picspam of my favorite music, movies, TV shows and other stuff from 2009 in my journal (you can see a photo I made of some of my favorite albums). Be sure to take the polls in the previous entry on your favorite album of 2009/most anticipated of 2010 or post your top albums of 2009 in the replies.
Taking Back Sunday - New Again
Taking Back Sunday has had a lot of lineup changes and this album was the first with their third guitarist. They experimented more with their sound on this album and weren't afraid to try new things, but it still sounds like their sound.
Recommended: Swing, Everything Must Go
fun.
fun. Is the new band from Nate Ruess of The Format. It sounds like The Format to me, but it's more upbeat and theatrical. I listened to a leak of this a lot during the summer and it fit the summertime really well.
Recommended: At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used to Be), Barlights
Dashboard Confessional - Alter the Ending
I'm a big fan of Dashboard Confessional, but I didn't like their last release as much as their older stuff. I think their new album is really good though. They released an electric and acoustic version so there's something for everyone (I'm not sure which I prefer).
Recommended: Belle of the Boulevard, Alter the Ending (acoustic)
We Shot the Moon - A Silver Lining
We Shot the Moon is a band with previous members of Waking Ashland and Sherwood. The sound on their second album is a little more mature. It takes less of a summertime feel than their first album, but it's still catchy and has hopeful lyrics.
Recommended: The Bright Side, Come Back
Mae - (m)orning and (a)fternoon EPs
Mae did a project this year where instead of releasing full length albums, they released song each month through their website. The money was donated to charities and they palnned to released 3 EPs -(m)orning, (a)fternoon and (e)vening) (an acronym of their band name) - with the songs they put on their website (along with some extra songs). Sofar, (m)orning and (a)fternoon have been released.
I love the whole idea of the project and that they're doing something no other band is doing. They're also giving back to the community and it's really inspiring. The music is great too. It's a little more experimental than their previous work (e.g. a lot of their songs are longer and it's kind of unusual to put an 8 minute song as a second track), but I think they have released some of their best songs recently.
Recommended: Communication, The Fisherman Song (We All Need Love)
Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear
Jeremy Enigk is formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, a band known as one of the first “emo” bands (though they sound different from a lot of bands of the genre today). I always sort of avoided listening to his solo albums because I didn't think I liked them as much as Sunny Day Real Estate. I started listening to some of his solo albums this year and it's just as good as Sunny Day to me. OK Bear is his latest release and it contains a lot of well written, emotional and calming music.
Recommended: Make Believe, Just a State of Mind
Say Anything - Say Anything
I downloaded this album when it first came out, but for some reason, my download didn't work and I didn't bother trying to get it again and listening to it fully until last week. I think this is a great album by Say Anything and it feels like they really found their sound. I think it goes back more to the sound of “Is.. A Real Boy” (their first release) than “In Defense of the Genre” (which I liked because it had so many guest artists on it). I should also mention Two Tongues, a project between Max Bemis of Say Anything and Chris Coley of Saves the Day came out in 2009 which I also like a lot.
Recommended: Eloise, Ahhh... Men
As Tall as Lions - You Can't Take it With You
As Tall as Lions experimented more on this album instead of sticking to the more cleanly produced sound of their last albums. Some of the songs don't even really sound like them and you can tell they were trying something different, such as in "We's Been Waitin'". I like that they had more than just the main vocalist do main vocals, even though he is a great vocalist. Other songs sound more like their older stuff, which could be compared to bands such as Radiohead or Coldplay. I'm not sure where this ranks compared to other As Tall as Lions albums yet, but I'm really liking this album.
Recommended: Go Easy (See the Love), In Case of Rapture
Between the Trees - Spain
I just relistened to this album recently and thought about how good it was. I loved their first album, but this album has some great songs on it and might be better. Their songs are catchy and inspirational.
Recommended: Scarecrow, We Can Try
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
I wasn't sure how their new album would compare to Manchester Orchestra's last album since I liked I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child so much, but this album impressed me. I like how it shifts from emotional screaming to softer parts (such as in "Shake it Out"). Definitely check out this band if you haven't already.
Recommended: Shake it Out, Mean Everything to Nothing
Also Recommended:
Metric - Fantasies
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
The Antlers - Hospice
Regina Spektor - Far
Maria Taylor - Ladyluck
Paramore - Brand New Eyes
Deas Vail - Bird and Cages
Brand New - Daisy
Gold Motel - Self Titled EP
Anchor & Braille - Felt
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Sleeping at Last - Storyboards
Mute Math - Armistice
Destry - Self Titled
By the way, I made a picspam of my favorite music, movies, TV shows and other stuff from 2009 in my journal (you can see a photo I made of some of my favorite albums). Be sure to take the polls in the previous entry on your favorite album of 2009/most anticipated of 2010 or post your top albums of 2009 in the replies.