25. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains
Alongside the Japandroids and Future of the Left records, this is one of the few straight up rock albums I’ve listened to a lot this year. Cymbals Eat Guitars aren’t capitalizing on any particular trends, this is just a great record that’s been noticed because it’s got great songs on it. Why There Are Mountains isn’t tied down to 2009, it sounds like it could have just as easily come from the 90’s as the 00’s, and this is to the albums credit. If Pavement were still making records, it might sound a bit like this.
MP3: Cymbals Eat Guitars – Some Trees
24. Felt – Felt 3 (A Tribute To Rosie Perez)
There have been better hip hop albums released this year, sure, but I’m not sure there are any that are this fun. Murs and Slug collaborate for the third time under the name Felt, with mutual friend Aesop Rock on production duties. This was a bold choice that paid off in a big way; while Aesop isn’t known for his production skills, with this record he’s announced himself as a genuine talent. Felt 3 contains some of the year’s best beats accompanied by classic storytelling and goofy battle raps from two now veterans of underground hip hop. I can’t help wishing Aesop rapped on this just a little though…
MP3: Felt – Protagonists
23. Owen – New Leaves
Aptly titled New Leaves, Owen’s latest album features Mike Kinsella’s best songwriting in years. While the record takes a more textured approach than we are used to from Owen, Mike’s lyrics are fantastic and struck a real chord with me. For the most part this is a record about getting into your thirties and Mike’s ambivalent attitudes towards settling down; with touching sentiments undercut by trademark Kinsella cynicism. There’s plenty of optimism to be found in New Leaves, but Mike does a great job of expressing his inner concerns; “She has saved me from the questions in my life that have plagued me, now I know who I am – a tongue biting one woman man”
MP3: Owen – Good Friends, Bad Habits
22. Oh No – Dr No’s Ethiopium
While Madlib might still be master of the beat tape, for me, his brother Oh No’s releases were the stronger of the pair this year. While I could have equally picked Oh No Vs. Now Again, it’s probably Dr No’s Ethiopium which I’ve listened to more. Oh No’s masterstroke here is not letting the ethiopian samples dominate the work, with boom bap beats making this sound like something purely hip hop. Flashes of traditional ethopian vocal or brass are used to light up the record, then on occasion given room to breath for a big impact, such as on highlight track The Pain.
MP3: Oh No – The Pain
21.Nosaj Thing – Drift
Los Angeles producer Nosaj Thing has been compared to Flying Lotus for his combination of glitchy electronics and hip hop beats. Both hailing from LA, I can see why the link has been made, but really its a convenient soundbite so journalists can say “oh boy, the LA glitch hop scene is really thriving”. Or some other bollocks. Basically, Drift rules on his own terms. It doesn’t sound like Flying Lotus, it sounds like Nosaj Thing, and it’s brillz.
MP3: Nosaj Thing – Light 1
20. Pains of Being Pure At Heart – s/t
Spent much of my summer listening to this; one of the most instant and fun records of the year. If it had been any longer it might have been repetitive, but clocking in at just over half an hour its 10 dreamy pop songs leave me gasping for more. Few records can simultaneously satisfy both my shoegaze and pop-punk needs, but this supplies both by the bucketload. Call it derivative, call it over-rated if you like, but it’s a belter of a record that is just as enjoyable now as it would be if it was released 20 years ago.
MP3: Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Young Adult Friction
19. DOOM – Born Like This
I have no doubts that this would be in the top 10 if this was DOOM’s debut. At it’s best it ranks amongst his best work; Gazillion Ear is easily one of the years best tracks, while the beat on That’s That features one of my all time favorite beats. Lyrically, too, DOOM is in good form, who when at the top of his game is pretty much unrivaled as an MC; on Ballskin he rhymes afro-trim with acronym, seriously. As a DOOM loyalist however, the record feels a little bit recycled of old beats and doesn’t sound quite ‘new’ enough. Still, Born Like This is proof that even a slightly lazy DOOM can make a record that blows the majority of MC’s out of the water.
MP3: DOOM -That’s That
18. Orphans of Cush – White Noize
This album should be doing for London what Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) did for New York. Admittedly I’m not that up on UK hip hop, but nothing I’ve heard in the last few years comes anywhere near this. It’s bleak, honest and gritty depiction of the city is both striking and eloquently expressed; so much so that I’m surprised the liberal Guardian reading elite haven’t jumped all over this. Recycling a selection of classic hip hop beats from Rza to Pharoahe Monch, amazingly in many cases the supergroup mange to out-do the originals. White Noize is basically an hour and a quarter of pure fire.
Download: Orphans of Cush – Reflections (sendspace)
17. Dinky – Anemik
There’s normally a few Techno releases that I get addicted to each year and in 2009 it was Dinky’s Anemik. This is a gorgeous record, that sounds equally organic and abrasive. A variety of natural sounds are juxtaposed (yup, I said juxtaposed) with driving synths and mechanical beats. This is an album that I’ve listened to a lot really loudly through headphones, and I always get completely immersed within it.
MP3: Dinky – Romaniks
16. Future of the Left – Travels With Myself and Another
Quite simply, Future of the Left are my favorite rock band this is predictably a fantastic record. Like many of the British records in this list, Travels With Myself and Another couldn’t have come from anywhere else. By that, I’m not referring to its sound, but the lyrical quirks which make FotL great come from a long tradition of great british humor. The last thing I’m saying is that this is a comedy album, its a tight and unrelenting musical machine, but it just wouldn’t be Future of the Left without that quick witted spark. One particular highlight is Stand By Your Manatee, with Falco at his best detailing the shame of “Emma’s mum and dad use[ing] plastic forks”.
MP3: Future of the Left – Arming Eritrea
15. Wild Beasts- Two Dancers
Since hearing their debut I knew Wild Beasts had the potential to make great music but, for me, this wasn’t fully realised until Two Dancers. While Limbo Panto had its moments, the production, arrangements and drama have all been doubled on their latest record. What’s more, Two Dancers is a record that sounds quintessentially British, through its references and style, but more importantly its quirks and nuances. Wild Beasts have a talent that is rare and distinctive, and if you let them, they could be one of Britain’s great idiosyncratic pop artists like Bowie or Bush.
MP3: Wild Beasts – All The Kings Men
14. Micachu & The Shapes – Jewellery
I’m even surprised myself that a sketchy little bedroom pop record, a debut one at that, figures so highly in this list. But despite being a mish mash of ideas and sounds, Jewellery is a stunningly cohesive record. Normally an album so crammed full of peculiar sounds will be hit and miss, but Micachu & The Shapes just seem to get it right every time. There are all sorts of frame of reference here from grime, indie and noise, but Micachu’s vision is always to make great sounding pop music and nothing inteferes with that.
MP3: Micachu – Golden Phone
13. Health – Get Color
While I still have a lot of time for Health’s self-titled debut, on In Color the LA noise outfit make exactly the progression that they needed to. This is still loud and abrasive as you might expect, but there are also tracks that sound distinctly like actual songs. Most notably the lead single Die Slow has been one of the year’s surprise ‘anthems’; but not in an Don’t Look Back in Anger kind of way, more of a “this song makes me want dance my way into the centre of Liam Gallagher’s skull and jump up and down on his brain” kind of way. I’m not an aggressive person.
MP3: Health – Die Slow
12. P.O.S – Never Better
As well as having some of the most amazing artwork of the year, which you’ll have to buy from here to get the full effect of, P.O.S has written one of the year’s most passionate, articulate, and uplifting records of the year. Purexed stands out as one of my favorite tracks, with great poetic rhymes over genuinely beautiful instrumentation, while there are also full on hip hop bangers in the form of Goodbye and Savion Glover.
MP3: P.O.S. – Goodbye
11. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close
A record loved by some and (unfairly) accused of ripping off New Order and [insert other classic 80's band] by others. Tracing Cold Cave back to their beginnings, however, it becomes very apparent that their influences aren’t completely rooted in New Wave. Their earlier effort, Cremations, also released this year, highlights the bands penchant for noise and an all together harsher sound. Returning to Love Comes Close, this influence can be found lurking under the surface, giving the record its character behind the foreground synth melodies. Oh and those melodies…to DIE for.
MP3: Cold Cave – Life Magazine
10. Zola Jesus – The Spoils
If there is one artist on this list which makes me most excited for the future, then its probably Zola Jesus. After a string of EPs and singles her debut record, The Spoils, finally arrived and it didn’t disappoint. These are dense gothic tracks that take a bit of work, but with more and more listens they reveal their beauty. I’ve listened to this a lot and I’m still discovering new things in it with every listen, as the background noises become as familiar and vital as the voice which dominates. I’m blown away by this first album, and I’m expecting huge things in the future.
MP3: Zola Jesus – Clay Bodies
9. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
After admiring Dirty Projectors for a long time from a distance, with Bitte Orca they’ve finally made a record that I’m fully engaged with. I suspect it would have been the case with Rise Above, had it not been based around a Black Flag classic that I was already invested in. Bitte Orca, however, is a complex yet instant delight from start to finish. Just as J Mascis once reminded me that guitar solos can be cool, Projectors mastermind Dave Longstreth has convinced me there is something to be said for freeform guitar wanking. The soulful “R&B inspired” vocals have been critically lauded, amusingly by the same people that would normally run a mile at the thought of actual R&B. But, oh, wait, this is indie music? Must be cool then.
MP3: Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
8. Atlas Sound – Logos
Okay, here’s where I admit I’m a bit of an embarrassingly nerdy Bradford Cox fanboy. Everything he’s been involved with over the last few years has amazed me, and I can’t put my finger makes it so special. Obviously the songs are at the heart of it; often such simple constructions but effective, and produced in a way that makes them stand out. For example, the first track from this record, The Light That Failed, based entirely around the repetition of one simple guitar line, yet delicately textured with ambience and backing vocals until you barely notice the guitars at all. I think this record is particularly great thematically, written by a scared and hysterical Cox on what he thought was his death bed, But despite the potential to be a gloomy affair, also contains the year’s best summer jam, Walkabout.
MP3: Atlas Sound feat. Noah Lennox – Walkabout
7. Mos Def – The Ecstatic
Mos Def’s return to form this year was emphatic, and from the moment the record hits the needle it delivers hit after hit. A lot of credit has to go to the producers, with Madlib, Oh No and the late J Dilla lighting up the album, and more than likely putting the fire back into Mos Def’s belly. Because it’s not just the production that makes this album special, Mos Def himself is on near enough career best form as if no time had elapsed and this was the follow up to Black on Both Sides. I love the artwork on this one too.
MP3: Mos Def – Supermagic
6. Phoenix
In my opinion this is the year’s biggest and best pop album; one that has dominated my Ipod since it got on there and is still getting regular listens. In some ways its strange that this album has blown up so big for the band, because they’re doing largely the same thing they’ve been doing for years when they were practically ignored. Still, while Phoenix have catchy potential hit songs in abundance, few of them have the impact of lead singles Lisztomania and more significantly 1901. Deservedly doing very well in the end of year lists, and anyone moaning about them doing so well should probably lighten up a little.
MP3: Phoenix – Lasso
5. The Twilight Sad – Forget the Night Ahead
Whatever The Twilight Sad did I would probably have enjoyed, but Forget the Night Ahead is the perfect record to compliment their debut. It’s another passionate vocal performance from James Graham that steals the show, but the band have upped the shoegaze with notably dominant, loud guitars this time around. On the two occasions I’ve seen them live I’ve been reminded of just how much I love this band; their songs hit me right in the gut and make me want to sing (very badly) at the top of my voice. It’s a shame every time I try writing about them it sounds like I’m advertising McCoys crisps, with their ‘real’ and ‘honest’ songwriting, but they’re definitely a very genuine band and I love what they’re doing.
MP3: The Twilight Sad – I Became a Prostitute
4. xx – xx
To put it simply, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a debut album come out of nowhere and be this polished, restrained and perfect. Stripped down like a 2009 version of Young Marble Giants, the album has its mood nailed down from the outset and revels in its aching beauty. There is fantastic vocal interplay between the two boy/girl singers, simple yet profound lyricism, and glorious bass heavy melodies drenched in reverb for good measure. XL Recordings were so proud of this record they painted it on the front of their building, and it is that special, so love it, cherish it, then go and paint it on your house.
MP3: xx – Shelter
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Probably the most widely critically acclaimed album of the year, I think its about time Animal Collective got the recognition they deserve. Some people might say this is overhyped, because it does seem to be everywhere, but AC have been one of the most consistently exciting alternative bands of this decade, and in my opinion this recognition is long overdue. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t think this is the definitive Animal Collective record, to be honest I couldn’t really separate it from Feels, Strawberry Jam, or Sung Tongs. What is has done, however, is open the band up to a much wider fanbase. I don’t want to appear down on this record because I love it, I’m just hesitant to separate it from the rest of their back catalogue. I wake up to Brothersport every morning and there’s no better way to start the day. I heart AC.
MP3: Animal Collective – Brothersport
2. Raekwon – Only Built for Cuban Linx 2
I had no idea what to expect from Raekwon’s latest, a sequel to one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, Only Built For Cuban Linx, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this. This is Raekwon and guests all on career best form, spitting rhymes that would be at home on any of the great Wu-afilliated releases. Ghostface Killah, who features prominently, lights up the record in ways only he can, and the chemistry between himself and the Chef is still strong as ever. Also surprising is the mish mash roster of producers which produce a surprisingly cohesive body of work. J Dilla’s library of beats continues to be raided to good effect, while Rza shows that he can always be relied upon by throwing up some of the records best beats. Strangely its only Dre’s beats, usually so reliable, which are decent but far too clean cut for this album. To quote a line from Coke Machine Glow’s review, “what Jay-Z is making no longer feels in any form like the breathing, mutable thing that is hip-hop. And Raekwon sounds drenched in its blood.”
MP3: Raekwon – 10 Bricks feat. Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah
1. Former Ghosts – Fleurs
Former Ghosts is an outlet for the songs of Freddy Ruppert of This Song is a Mess But So Am I, who is joined on Fleurs by Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart and Nika Roza (of Zola Jesus). It’s a painfully frank and heartbreaking account of the break up of one relationship, with a few songs about death and isolation to lighten the mood. In all seriousness, this is a dark and intense record in which Ruppert really puts himself out there, so much so that even listening to it can be emotionally draining. In saying that, by the standards of its members its by no means a ‘difficult’ listen, and in fact was intended to be the synth-pop side-project of Freddy and Jamie.
It’s synth-pop intentions come to the fore most clearly on lead single, Hold On, in which the screeching synth line is backed by electro beats that almost make this ready for the dance floor. Elsewhere, Mother is Former Ghosts at their emotional best; with lyrics about Ruppert desperately wanting to talk to and confide in his dead mother, over typically reverb drenched synth melodies. There are also the contributions of Nika Roza to consider, whose always stunning vocals are particularly special here. Initially meant to sing on just one track, her voice was so impressive that she was asked to sing over the rest; a now vital feature of the record. All of these factors come together to make a varied and cohesive record, and more importantly, one that leaks pure emotion and feeling out of its every pore.
MP3: Former Ghosts – The Bull And The Ram
I’m gonna keep this brief because I’ve probably bigged up the latest Mos Def record enough here. I listed it as my 7th favorite album of 2009 don’t you know? Anyway the latest single from The Ecstatic sees the recreation of a beautiful partnership formerly known as Black Star, as Mos Def collaborates once again with Talib Kweli on History.
