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Below, are my top ten albums of 2009. It was a brilliant year for music with some really excellent Lps coming out. By far the best debut album was by american indie outfit The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, which if it wasnt for a masterpiece by Manchester's finest (Doves) ,would have easliy topped my list. Yeah yeah yeahs produced their best album yet in my opinion, with the brilliant glam'd up "Its Blitz". Possibly the most addictive album for me was Eels Hombre Lobo, 12 songs of desire, about wanting to be with someone who just doesn't quite feel the same way. The Rifles second Effort in the shape of The Great Escape is just so good, its like being back at the heart of the brit pop scene, With Toerag actually being my fave tune of the whole year.

The second half of my list includes 5 very different albums, The Cribs Ignore The Ignorant is uplifting as anything Oasis ever did, while one of my favourite bands Super Furry Animals took on a more grove based feel to their latest record Dark Days/ Light Years. While The Horrors second album Primary Colours totally surprised me and millions of others, it was an absolute shock they could ever produce something so good after their first record was so shit but they did. It was critically acclaimed and number one on nme's 2009 list and you can see why given its originality. Kasabians Third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum definatley wins the maddest named album prize, its also brilliant musically, with some great tunes like Fire and Underdog. Lastly at number 10 on my list are Brakes with their third album Touchdown, a brilliantly crafted journey of short pop songs with witty lyrics, another great record, they never let you down!

This is a work in progress.........


10) Brakes - Touchdown


9) Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum


8) The Horrors - Primary Colours


7) Super Furry Animals - Dark days/ Light years


6) The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant


5) Eels - Hombre Lobo : 12 songs of desire


4) The Rifles - The Great Escape


3) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Its Blitz


2) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart


1) Doves - Kingdom Of Rust


Doves forth studio album Kingdom of Rust totally pisses on anything else this year. It totally captures the mood of the country under recession yet subtly lifts your mood whilst doing so. How this band arn't the biggest in England is a mystery, all four of Doves albums have been quite simply outstanding. It all kicks off with Jetstream a Jez Williams sung track which starts at what seems like nothing and ends in pounding soaring guitars and drums (a perfect opener). Lead single Kingdom Of Rust is next with its Folky guitar rift with a hint of darkness, this builds into a Doves trademark euphoric chorus behind beautiful folky melody. Lead singer Jimmi Goodwin sings "My God, It Takes An Ocean Of Trust, In The Kingdom Of Rust". The Outsiders pounding distorted bassline Steams Through before second single Winter Hill provides the records most poppy moment. 10.03 is Doves at their brilliant best. A beautiful ballad about returning home, that turns into something so big you cant explain, which swoops quite brilliantly into The Greatest Denier which is said to be about the racial divides this country is too scared to speak of. Birds Flew Backwards provides the listener with a little rest, Jimmi sings soulful vocals along with choirs and strings before quite magestically flowing into my favourite track on the record Spellbound. The drums on this are very similar to those on "sea songs" off "Lost souls", but the melody, backing vocals and guitar work soon make you realise this is even better than that!
Doves never do anything simple its like they go the long way round on purpose because they know it will be better in the long run. Compulsion returns doves to as close to their Sub Sub days as could be possible, one of the greatest and most original basslines ive heard for years plays throughout. This fades quite brilliantly into the albums stomper, House Of Mirrors which makes you just wanna have it! Massive tune! And to top it all off.......Lifelines, an absolute masterpiece of a song, Jimmi sings "Sometimes its hard to see things straight..Trying to make sense of a single day" then " Sometimes you seem to spend yer life trying, well im just looking for my lifelines"


Below I have comipled 2 cd's worth of tracks that for me, are the best of the year, check back for download links:

CD1 Alternative Side

1) Arctic Monkeys - Pretty Visitors
2) Kasabian - Underdog
3) Omen - The Prodigy
4) Into The Chaos - Howling Bells
5) Toerag - The Rifles
6) We Were Aborted - The Cribs
7) Inconvienience - Super Furry Animals
8) The Tenure Itch - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
9) Dull Life - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
10) Fire - Kasabian
11) Kingdom Of Rust - Doves
12) Worry About It Later - Brakes
13) Romeo And Julie - The Rifles
14) Scheme Eugene - Red Light Company
15) Lifelines - Doves

Pop Side

1) The Fear - Lily Allen
2) Bulletproof - La Roux
3) Holiday - Dizzie Rascal
4) I'm Not Alone - Calvin Harris
5) We Made You - Eminem
6) Never Forget You - Noisettes
7) No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand
8) Chaka Demus - Jamie T
9) Stone Cold Sober - Paloma Faith
10) Encouraging Signs - The Twang
11) Winter Calls - The Rifles
12) The Last Of The Melting Snow - The Leisure Society
13) Wild Young Hearts - Noisettes
14) Hysteric - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
15) Lille - Lisa Hannigan

1. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close

Compendio del synth pop tutto, in un pratico unico album. Dal pop al dark, dalle linee di basso new wave alle drum machines in 4/4, dal punk sintetico alla dance nichilista, bellissima voce baritonale e testi che sono poesie. E' lui il disco dell'anno. Singoli: "Love Comes Close", "The Laurels Of Erotomania", "Youth And Lust".

2. Wild Beasts- Two Dancers

Scoperti da pochissimo, questo gruppo inglese fa un indie rock molto melodico con influenze new wave e atmosfere romantiche che contrastano nettamente con dei testi allucinanti. Il falsetto del cantante mi manda fuori di testa, altro che Antony. Capolavoro. Singoli: "The Fun Powder Plot", "Hooting & Howling", "This Is Our Lot".

3. Desire - II

L'anno scorso i Chromatics, quest'anno i Desire che sono un gruppo praticamente gemello, con la differenza che questo album è pure più bello. Siamo su di un synth pop onirico, minimale, voci femminili e acidità sintetiche da brividi sulla schiena. "Don't Call" e "Under Your Spell" imperdibili.

4. Brakes - Touchdown

Altro gruppo inglese che mi ha lentamente conquistato... disco meravigliosamente variegato, dal punk rock all'indie rock inglese classico con grande talento ed un'energia infinita. Non sentivo niente del genere dal mitico "Me. Me. Me." degli Air Miami (capolavoro). Strapieno di singoli, tra cui scelgo: "Worry About It Later", "Crush On You", "Hey Hey" e "Two Shocks".

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Questo si commenta abbastanza da solo. C'è da dire che a me loro non sono mai piaciuti molto, e il fatto che questo album sia per me fantastico la dice lunga sul cambio di suoni. Canzoni bellissime, con il suono più moderno che c'è, un marchio del decennio proprio. Singolo dell'anno "Zero", ma anche "Soft Shock" e "heads Will Roll" sono delle bombe.

6. The xx - XX

Poco più che teenagers inglesi ripescano un suono dimenticato, un post-wave minimale, intimo ed insieme veloce, quasi shogaze senza riverbero (no-gaze?). L'album scorre via che è una meraviglia, ho consumato la "Intro" e il singolo "Crystalised"

7. Coconut Records - Davy

E' da gennaio che mi cooclo questo indie-boy dal talento melodico pazzesco. Un disco estivo e romantico, pieno di perle quali "Drummer", "Saint Jerome" e la commovente "Is This Sound Okay?"

8. Major Lazer– Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do

Black power del nuovo millennio, il tuo re è Major Lazer. Un album estremo ed irresistibile, che frulla e rifrulla i suoni trasformandoli in qualcosa di unico ed esilarante.

9. Dente - L'amore non è bello

Non mi innamoravo così di un disco italiano da "La moda del lento", forse perché Dente ha dentro tutti gli italiani che mi piacciono, forse perché i testi sono troppo belli, o forse perché mi sono rincoglionita del tutto. Cieco amore per questo pop mica-poi-tanto-sgangherato con la "r" debole. Conzoni: "La presunta santità di Irene", "Buon Appetito" e "Beato Me" (anche se è solo nel vinile bianco)

10. Metric - Fantasies

Storicamente il decimo posto è riservato a quell'album che non ho mai stimato più di tanto, ma che ridendo e scherzando ho ascoltato 3000 volte. Il 2009 vede gli insospettabili Metric, in particolare le loro "Help, I'm Alive", "Gold Gun Girls" e "Blindness". Penso che piacerebbero anche a mia nonna.

Si continua, in breve:

11. Gus Gus - 24/7
il più bel disco di elettronica dell'anno

12. Uoki Toki - Libro Audio
avant-hiphop italiano con testi e basi pazesche

13. Nite Jewel - Good Evening
Sound originalissimo, sporchissimo, e rimane poppissimo.

14. Basement Jaxx - Scars
Non gli davo due lire e invece è il più bel disco dai tempi di "Remedy".

15. Souvenir - Drums, Sex and Dance
Mi sono scivolati un po' in basso, ma è l'album che i Vive La Fete cercano di fare da anni.

16. Maisie - Balera Metropolitana
Impossibile ascoltarlo tutto di fila, ma rimane geniale.

17. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
Bravissima lei, bravissima la band, Kate Bush del 2009.

18. The Juan Maclean - The Future Will Come
Un sound diversissimo da quello vecchio, una specie di tributo agli Human League.

19. Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul
Disomogeno, ma ad avercene di pezzi così fighi. Cast stellare.

20. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic
Lo chiamano glo-fi, ma per me è semplicemente pop, con uno stile molto particolare e un paio di pezzi veramente da sogno.

in ordine quasi alfabetico, comunque piaciuti per qualche ragione:

*Laurent Garnier - Tales of a Kleptomaniac (interessantissimo l'uso dei fiati live applicato alla techno)
*Moderat - Moderat (mostri)
*Wavves - Wavvves (noise-surf)
*Bad Lieutenant - Never Cry Another Tear (sono i New order senza tastiere, non riesce a non piacermi)
*Broadcast and The Focus Group - Broadcast and the Focus Group Investigate
*Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend (molto anni '90, ma 2-3 singoli sono meravigliosi)
*Dan Melchior Und Das Menace - Thankyou Very Much (meravigliosi passatismi weird-garage)
*Datarock - Red (sempre carini e danzerecci q.b.)
*Editors - In This Light and on This Evening (decisamente superiore alle vecchie cose)
*Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky (non solo fa ridere, ma è anche bella musica)
*Golden Silvers - True Romance (funky-glam inglese da tenere d'occhio)
*Graham Coxon - The Spinning Top (finalmente un disco decente, fingerpicking e via)
*HEALTH - Get Color (preferivo quello dell'anno scorso, ma loro sono una conferma)
*Jeffrey Novak - After The Ball (Queen of Moods best canzone garage ever)
*Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster (la produzione di questa roba è pazzesca)
*Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (idem come sopra, sebbene con risultati opposti)
*Mew - No more stories Are told today... (forse l'album più originale dell'anno)
*Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms (psych-pop bello sporcato)
*Niobe - Blackbird's Echo (bellissimi gli arrangiamenti avant-pop e i cambi di ritmo)
*Peaking Lights - Imaginary Falcons (psych e basta. Un trip totale)
*Robyn Hitchcock - Goodnight Oslo (pari ai migliori REM)
*Röyksopp - Junior (dejà vu, ma sempre validi)
*Sufjan Stevens - Run Rabbit Run (spettacolare versione da camera delle musiche di SS)
*Telepathe - Dance Mother (i due singoli valgono per tutto il disco)
*The-Dream - Love vs. Money (produttore di mezza classifica USA, è di fatto un genio)
*The Drums - Summertime EP (surf revival)
*The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Duckworth Lewis Method (non molto Divine Comedy, ma decisamente valido lo stesso)
*Vive la Fête - Disque d'or (quel paio di pezzi buoni ce li mettono sempre, anche se il giocattolo è vecchio)
*Washed Out - Life of Leisure (il disco dell'estate)
*White Lies - To Lose My Life... (dove lasciarono gli Interpol)
*JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound - Beat Of Our Own Drum (un disco degli anni 70)

20. The Bishops - For Now

Released 2/3/2009
Played 77 times


19. The Scare - Oozevoodoo
Released 4/9/2009
Played 78 times


18. Red Light Company - Fine Fascination

Released 1/3/2009
Played 78 times


17. Metric - Fantasies

Released 7/4/2009
Played 81 times


16. Brakes - Touchdown

Released 21/4/2009
Played 81 times


15. The Brute Chorus - The Brute Chorus

Released 19/10/2009
Played 82 times


14. Peter Doherty - Grace/Wastelands

Released 13/3/2009
Played 85 times


13. Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe

Released 21/4/2009
Played 89 times


12. Gliss - Devotion Implosion

Released 7/4/2009
Played 89 times


11. The Boxer Rebellion - Union

Released 14/9/2009
Played 89 times


10. Obits - I Blame You

Released 24/3/2009
Played 93 times


9. White Lies - To Lose My Life

Released 12/1/2009
Played 97 times


8. Official Secrets Act - Understanding Electricity

Released 30/3/2009
Played 102 times


7. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight Franz Ferdinand

Released 27/1/2009
Played 109 times


6. Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

Released 6/7/2009
Played 110 times

5. Handsome Furs - Face Control

Released 10/3/2009
Played 111 times


4. Burn The Negative - In The Atmosphere

Released 4/5/2009
Played 114 times


3. Ghinzu - Mirror Mirror

Released 30/4/2009
Played 117 times


2. Mando Diao - Give Me Fire

Released 13/2/2009
Played 118 times


1. The Prostitutes - Hometown Zombies

Released 3/3/2009
Played 138 times


Created using OnDistantShores's Album Of The Year journal generator.

100. The Horrors - Primary Colours
99. Weezer - Raditude
98. Johnny Foreigner - Grace And The Bigger Picture
97. Euros Childs - Son Of Euro Child
96. Kings of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence
95. Golden Silvers - True Romance
94. Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
93. Volcano Choir - Unmap
92. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
91. Brakes - Touchdown
90. PJ Harvey & John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By
89. Telepathe - Dance Mother
88. Titus Andronicus - The Airing Of Grievances
87. Oh, Atoms - You Can't See The Stars From Here
86. The Mountain Goats - Life of the World to Come
85. Datarock - Red
84. JJ - JJ No2
83. Muse - The Resistance
82. Malajube - Labyrinthes
81. Jason Lytle - Yours Truly The Commuter
80. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
79. The Bird and the Bee - Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future
78. Woods - Songs of Shame
77. Charlotte Hatherley - New Worlds
76. Noah and the Whale - First Days Of Spring
75. M. Ward - Hold Time
74. The Cribs - Ignore The Ignorant
73. Sweet Baboo - Hello Wave
72. Real Estate - Real Estate
71. An Horse - Rearrange Beds
70. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
69. Karen O and the Kids - Where The Wild Things Are
68. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away
67. The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms
66. The Twilight Sad - Forget The Night Ahead
65. Passion Pit - Manners
64. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Beware
63. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
62. Howling Bells - Radio Wars
61. The Dodos - Time To Die
60. Islands - Vapours
59. It Hugs Back - Inside Your Guitar
58. Cerys Matthews - Don't Look Down
57. Japandroids - Post Nothing
56. Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love
55. Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth
54. A.C. Newman - Get Guilty
53. Theoretical Girl - Divided
52. Florence + The Machine - Lungs
51. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

50. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
49. Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
48. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
47. Asobi Seksu - Hush
46. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There are Mountains
45. YACHT - See Mystery Lights
44. Why? - Eskimo Snow
43. The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control
42. Future of the Left - Travels With Myself And Another
41. Sibrydion - Campfire Classics
40. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
39. Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy
38. múm - Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know
37. Matt & Kim - Grand
36. Atlas Sound - Logos
35. Cate Le Bon - Me Oh My
34. Lightning Dust - Infinite Light
33. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic
32. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine
31. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
30. stellastarr* - Civilized
29. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
28. The xx - The xx
27. Girls - Album
26. Graham Coxon - The Spinning Top
25. The Boy Least Likely To - The Law of the Playground
24. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
23. Emmy the Great - First Love
22. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
21. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

20. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
19. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
18. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
17. St. Vincent - Actor
16. Regina Spektor - Far
15. Slow Club - Yeah So
14. Alec Ounsworth - Mo Beauty
13. Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
12. Metric - Fantasies
11. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

10. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

9. The Fiery Furnaces - I'm Going Away

8. Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years

7. The Antlers - Hospice

6. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

5. The Voluntary Butler Scheme - At Breakfast, Dinner, Tea



4. Fever Ray - Fever Ray



3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz


2. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer


1. Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard - Em Are I

The following artists appear in my Top 50 Tracks of 2009. For more information please go to Keep Pop Loud

Lily Allen
The Answering Machine
Arctic Monkeys
Art Brut
Ash
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
The Big Pink
Brakes
Burial & Four Tet
Camera Obscura
Jarvis Cocker
Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
Editors
Flight of the Conchords
Florence & The Machine
Franz Ferdinand
Friendly Fires
Future of the Left
The Gaslight Anthem
Girls Aloud
Grammatics
Richard Hawley
The Horrors
Jay-Z
Johnny Foreigner
The Joy Formidable
The Killers
La Roux
Little Boots
Los Campesinos!
The Maccabees
Manic Street Preachers
Mastodon
Maxïmo Park
Muse
My Chemical Romance
The National
Noah and the Whale
Official Secrets Act
Jack Peñate
Pull Tiger Tail
Phoenix
Sky Larkin
Super Furry Animals
Taken By Trees
The Temper Trap
The Von Bondies
The Walkmen
White Lies
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Your Twenties

Listed alphabetically. For order and commentary visit Keep Pop Loud

The Answering Machine - Another City, Another Sorry

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

Art Brut - Art Brut VS Satan

Brakes - Touchdown

Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand & Blood

Future of the Left - Travels With Myself And Another

Grammatics - Grammatics

MJ Hibbett & the Validators - Regardez, Ecoutez Et Repetez

The Horrors - Primary Colours

Johnny Foreigner - Grace And The Bigger Picture

Little Boots - Hands

The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms

Mastodon Crack The Skye

Maxïmo Park - Quicken the Heart

Muse - The Resistance

Noah and the Whale - The First Days Of Spring

Jack Peñate - Everything is new

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Sky Larkin - The Golden Spike

Super Furry Animals - Dark Days / Light Years

A LIST
Air - So Light Is Her Footfall
Arctic Monkeys - My Propeller
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around The Bend
Atlas Sound feat. Noah Lennox - Walkabout
Bad Lieutenant - Sink Or Swim
The Cribs - We Share The Same Skies
Dead Man’s Bones - Pa Pa Power
The Dead Weather - I Cut Like a Buffalo
Echo & The Bunnymen - do you know who i am
Fenech-Soler - Lies
Gliss - Beauty
Groove Armada - I Won’t Kneel
Groove Armada - Warsaw
The Horrors - Whole New Way
Ian Brown - Marathon Man
Miike Snow - Black And Blue
Muse - Undisclosed Desires
Peaches - I Feel Cream
White Belt Yellow Tag - Remains
Wolfmother - California Queen
The xx - Islands

B LIST
A Place to Bury Strangers - Keep Slipping Away
Alberta Cross - Taking Control
Chapel Club - Surfacing
Colour Music - Yes
Darwin Deez - Constellations
Devendra Banhart - Baby
The Drums - Let’s Go Surfing
Girls - Laura
Girls - Lust For Life
Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
Mirrors - Into The Heart
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher Than The Stars
Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang
Vampire Weekend - Horchata
The Very Best - Julia

NME RADIO SPOT PLAYS
Baby Monster - Ultra Violence and Beethoven
Band Of Skulls - Friends
Brakes - Why Tell The Truth (When It’s Easier To Lie)
Calvin Harris - Flashback
Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing
Crookers feat Miike Snow - In Search Of A Remedy
Datarock - The Pretender
Editors - Bricks And Mortar
Findlay Brown - Nobody Cared (Lynchmob Version)
Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can’t See Land
The Golden Filter - THUNDERBIRD
The High wire - Odds & Evens
Jamie T - The Man’s Machine
Muchuu - Somebody Tell Me
North Atlantic Oscillation - Cell Count
Passion Pit - Little Secrets
The Postmarks - Go Jet Setter
Richard Hawley - Open Up Your Door
Silverclub - Answers
The Soft Pack - Answer To Yourself
We Fell to Earth - Deaf
Wilco feat. Fiest - You And I

EVENING SPOT PLAYS
Alice in Chains - Your Decision
Animal Collective - Brother Sport
Atlas Sound feat. Laetita Sadier - Quick Canal
Boy of Girl - Hot Chocolate Boy
The Drums - I Felt Stupid
Eels - The Look You Give That Guy
Egyptian Hip Hop - rad pitt
Engineers - What Pushed Us Together
Get Back Guinozzi - Carpet Madness
Holly Miranda - Forest Green Oh Forest Green
Internet Forever - Cover the Walls
Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Juliette Lewis - Romeo
Pony Pony Run Run - Hey You
The Rakes - Light From Your Mac
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - One Night Stand
Soulsavers - Unbalanced pieces
The Rifle Volunteer - End Season
Thom Yorke - Hearing Damage
Tom Hickox - Moonage Daydream
Turbo Fruits - Naked With You
Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk
Wild Palms - Over Time
The xx - You Got The Love (remix of Florence And The Machine)

Worst Album of the year: Kasabian
Worst Band of the year: Kings of Leon
Band Of The Year: Phoenix
Women Of The Year: Beyoncé
Man Of The Year: Justin Vernon
DJ/Remixer Of The Year: Aeroplane & Mr. Oizo
Song Of The Year:What Would I Want? Sky - Animal Collective
http://www.last.fm/user/nalwor/journal/2009/10/18/33dcf0_listomania:_best_of_2009

Album Of The Year:..................

Still debating over: Atlas Sound, The Avett Brothers, Coconut Records, DatA,The Drums, Editors, The Flaming Lips, Gallows, Riceboy Sleeps, Krazy Baldhead

Average albums: Golden Silvers, Cribs, Biffy Clyro, The Big Pink, Little Boots, Röyksopp, Speech Debelle, Tegan and Sara, The Temper Trap, A A Bondy, U2, Weezer, Prodigy, Andrew W.K., Dan Deacon, The Dead Weather, Discovery, Rain Machine, Sparklehorse, Wavves, Arctic Monkeys, Au Revoir Simone, Fever Ray, Brendan Benson

Overrated poop or just poop: The BPA, Dan Black,Dizzee Rascal, The Enemy, Esser, Frankmusik, Girls, Green Day, La Roux, White Lies, Florence & The Machine, Jack Penate, Kasabian

Nice but instantly forgetable: Clem Snide, David Gray, Calvin Harris, Brakes, Imogen Heap, Islands, Jeremy Jay,Jesse Rose, The Juan Maclean, Magic Arm, Patrick Wolf

Great film, soundtrack worth a mention: Clint Mansell - Moon

Great few singles but pretty average album: Futureheads,Jay-Z, Major Lazer,Miike Snow, Mika, Phonat, Paolo Nutini, Pete Doherty, Tiga, Wave Machines

Expected better from: Air, Basement Jaxx, Doves,Bob Dylan,Franz Ferdinand, Kid Cudi, Maps,Kings of Convenience, YACHT

Most disappointing: Simian Mobile Disco

Close but no banana: De La Soul, Andrew Bird, Animal Hospital,Antlers, Bell Orchestre, Black Lips, Blue Roses, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Delorean, HEALTH, Here We Go Magic, Neon Indian, Horrors, It Hugs Back, James Blackshaw, Julian Plenti, Junior Boys, Laura Gibson, Lily Allen, Maccabees,MSTRKRFT, Noah & The Whale, Regina Specktor, Reigns, White Denim, Maximo Park, Moby

36 - Manners - Passion Pit 7/10

Its hard not to like this album. Full of infectious vocals hooks, stomping pop rhythms and danceable synth grooves. Its just a little too much like Scissor Sisters than MGMT for me, and I always confuse the names of their songs because they all kinda sound the same.

Standout Track: To Kingdom Come

35 - Phrazes For The Young - Julian Casablancas 7/10

Short but packed with some killer hooks and choruses. What 'First Impressions Of Earth' should've sounded like.

Standout Track: Glass

34 - Fall Be Kind [EP] - Animal Collective 8/10

This e.p. makes the list just for 'What Would I Want? Sky'. Song is even better than 'My Girls'.

Standout Track: What Would I Want? Sky

33 - Journal For Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers 7/10

A pretty solid return from the only good band from Wales.

Standout Track: Jackie Collins Existential Question Time

32 - Dark Was The Night - Various Artists 8/10

A great collections of new and covered songs by some of the finest indie bands around.

Standout Track: Brackett, WI - Bon Iver

31 - Klang - The Rakes 7/10

"I just had a revolution, we've been f**ked by the institution, so we ain't got nothing to lose man"

Can't believe they've split up. One of the best Brit indie-rock bands.

Standout Track: The Final Hill

30 - The Resistance - Muse 7/10

Isn't the classic album i was hoping it would be but still, its Muse. hugely enjoyable as always.

Standout Track: Exogenesis: Symphony Pt 3: Redemption

29 - xx - The xx 7/10

One of the years best debut albums. Be interesting to see where they go next.

Standout Track: VCR

28 - The Kinks Choral Collection - Ray Davies 7/10

The legendary Ray Davies backed by a choir. Bliss!

Standout Track: Picture Book

27 - Live At The Hollywood Bowl - Van Morrison 7/10

Van Morrison plays Astral Weeks in all its full glory. The original album was music perfection and live it sounds just as wonderful. just wish i was there.

Standout Track: Sweet Thing

26 - Wilco (The Album) - Wilco 7/10

A few standout tracks but overall its a bit disappointing. Still, not including Wilco in a best of list would be like making a best of the 60s and not including The Beatles or the Stones. yeah, they're the 00s equivalent.

Standout Track: Solitaire

25 - Live in London - Leonard Cohen 8/10

Fantasmical! I've only listened to this a few times all the way through but each time i've enjoyed it so much. The sound is amazing and his interaction with the audience is so warm and intimate. Such a legend.

Standout Track: Who By Fire

24 - No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry, They Washed Away - Mew 8/10

Mew have always been one of those bands you have to keep an eye on cos you know they have the protential to make some amazing, and with this album i think they've finally done just that. Pretty stunning effort. Their strongest album by far.

Standout Track: Introducing Palace Players

23 - The Crying Light - Antony and the Johnsons 7/10

Beautiful melodies and the voice is as haunting as ever but overall, a little dull. Disappointing follow up to 'I Am A Bird Now'.

Standout Track: Aeon

22 - Unmap - Volcano Choir 7/10

Some of the songs and ideas seem a bit unfinished, but its Justin Vernon and the guys a genius.

Standout Track: Island, Is

21 - Two Suns - Bat for Lashes 7/10

A beautiful and bewitching album. I love how she writes from the heart and pours herself in to every song.

Standout Track: Daniel

20 - March of the Zapotec - Beirut 7/10

A short but pleasant listen.

Standout Track: Venice

19 - A New Tide - Gomez 8/10

Comeback of the year for me. Gomez have always been consistent in making beautiful, catchy pop songs but not since 'Bring It On' have they brought together such a strong collection of songs in one album. This deserves more attention.

Standout Track: Little Pieces

18 - The Invisible - The Invisible 8/10

Maybe a little high but this is a great British debut. Definitely worthy of the TVotR comparison and should of won the Mercury Prize this year.

Standout Track: Ok

17 - The Ecstatic - Mos Def 8/10

The finest Hip-hop album of the year.

Standout Track: Quiet Dog Bite Hard

16 - Pourriture - Mr. Oizo 8/10

Mr. Oizo remixes some of his best songs from 'Lambs Anger'. Sound better than the originals.

Standout Track: Steroids (Mr. Oizo Remix)

15 - Kings & Queens - Jamie T 8/10

The boy from Wimbledon has done it again creating another polished album of modern pop brilliance.

Standout Track: The Man's Machine

14 - The Uninvited Guest - Siriusmo 9/10

This is serious dance music. I'm sure this guy will soon be recognized as one of the biggest names in the genre. Incredible stuff!

Standout Track: High Together

13 - Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Elvis Perkins 8/10

Folk album of the year.

Standout Track: Doomsday

12 - Jewellery - Micachu 9/10

Produced by the brilliant Matthew Herbert, this is one of the most exciting and fresh albums of the year. So many clever ideas and arrangements. Micachu is a real talent. Like Kate Bush and PJ Harvey she has that star quality. A future British music icon.

Standout Track: Ship

11 - Resevoir - Fanfarlo 8/10

Standout Track: I'm A Pilot

When i first heard this i was overly critical thinking it was a poor British attempt at doing a Beirut but the more i listen to it the more i love it.

10 - Tarot Sport - Fuck Buttons 9/10

" A clusterfuck of noise and emotion".

Standout Track: olympians

09 - Actor - St. Vincent 9/10

I was quickly dismissive of this album when i first heard it, but now I've come to love it! Even better than her first! Marrow, The Strangers, The Party... so many great tracks!

Standout Track: The Strangers

08 - Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors 8/10

Songs like Stillness Is The Move and Two Doves are so beautifully crafted. The whole album is just breathtaking.

Standout Track: Stillness Is the Move

07 - Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear 8/10

It's not 'Yellow House' but still a very polished album. Keeps you coming back for more.

Standout Track: Two Weeks

06 - It's Blitz - Yeah Yeah Yeahs 9/10

Every song is a gem.

Standout Track: Hysteric

05 - Flashmob - Vitalic 9/10

Its been over 4 years since 'OK Cowboy' but this was so worth the wait! Monster electronic future anthems. French music rules the dancefloor.

Standout Track: Terminateur Benelux

04 - Two Dancers - Wild Beasts 9/10

I was expecting something good after their promising debut but never thought it would be this good. Beautiful falsetto vocals, glittering guitars and shifting rhythms. Its an astounding piece of work. Best British album of the year.

Standout Track: All The King's Men

03 - Power - Boys Noize 9/10

Listening to this album, and' Jeffer' especially, i finally realise why so many people in the dance blogosphere hold them in such high regard. These guys are incredible.

Standout Track: Jeffer

02 - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective 10/10

For most of the year it's been my favourite album of '09 but after seeing them twice headlining this year and both times leaving disappointed ive kinda lost a bit of love for AC. Still, theyre one of the most exciting and creative bands out there and this album is already a classic.

Standout Track: My Girls

01 - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix 10/10



Been a massive fan since hearing Too Young off the Lost In Translation soundtrack back in 2002. One of the songs of the decade. They've made some great songs since - If I Ever Feel Better, Long Distance Call to name a few, but their albums haven't really been that strong and have left them under the radar... up till now. theyve finally made their standout album and one that is worthy of critical acclaim.

this is an awesome indie-pop album, from start to finish i can listen to this album over and over again and never get bored. full of catchy melodies, inventive pop hooks and infectious grooves. This is their 'Is This It', their 'OK Computer', 'Hunky Dory', 'Sgt Peppers'. This is a pop masterpiece.

Standout track: Love Like a Sunset