I meant to post this about 3 weeks ago…

2009 was a great year for music.  I discovered a few great breakout artists, as well as stellar albums from main staples in my library.  As always, I’m all about supporting the artists, so I would recommend purchasing their music from eMusic or Amazon.mp3, or even better, catching a live show!

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone may perhaps be the best album of her career.  It certainly did the best in sales. I’m happy to see her showing up on NPR, Amazon, Spin Magazine and others’ Top Album of the Year lists.  I cannot say this enough – Neko Case truly is the best female vocalist on the planet.  She’s just that good.

Telekinesis: Telekinesis
I saw this band open a Ra Ra Riot show at the El Rey.  I was absolutely blown away.  The lead singer is also the drummer, which made the show exciting to watch.  Subsequently, I saw the band, actually it’s a moniker for Michael Benjamin Lerner, play two more shows.  I chatted with Michael for a bit and he’s extremely modest and down to earth.  I think Telekinesis might get big within the next couple of years.  You can hear part of their song, “ Coast of Carolina” on a Ford Commercial.

Gregory Alan Isakov: This Empty Northern Hemisphere
My friend Tony introduced me to this artist, and what can I say – another guy that just blew me away.  Beautiful voice, catchy lyrics, and just overall well-crafted folk/country/indie.   Both his albums out are worth a listen.  He’s great live, too.  I saw him with about 50 people at a small club in Brooklyn.  Amazing.

Lily Allen: It’s Not Me, It’s You
What a great pop album.  Very catchy, bouncy, and most importantly she writes about what she knows best – herself. In fact, NPR’s All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen got so obsessed with her first-person lyrics, he counted 195 references to “me” and  186 to “you” over the course of the album!

Metric: Fantasies
Wow.  Emily Haines and her Toronto friends put together this album and it is incredible.  It was in my rotation for about a month.  I did not listen to anything else!!  Gimme Sympathy just might be the best single of the year for me.

Say Anything: Say Anything
Say Anything.  Oh, Max Bemis, I love you.  I was feeling a little depressed, a little down, lethargic…and then I got this album.  Don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but I have been upbeat ever since!  “You can do better!  You can do better!  You can be the greatest man in the world!”

Other Great Albums:

The Noisettes: Wild Young Hearts
Cursive: Mama, I’m Swollen
David Gray: Draw the Line
Pearl Jam: Backspacer
Sea Wolf: White Water, White Bloom
Dark Was the Night Compilation

Came out in 2008 but I discovered them this year and they are awesome:
Rural Alberta Advantage: Hometowns.

Well there ya have it, my favorite albums of 2009.  Notably missing from this list are Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear.  The rest of the ‘indie’ world is going goo-goo all over these albums, but I just don’t hear it.  Also, the most disappointing album – Davy by Coconut Records.  Couldn’t even get through it.

On the radar:  2010 is looking at some new albums from Frightened Rabbit, Alkaline Trio, Bayside/Anthony Raneri solo?, Spoon, among many others.  Not to mention SOMETHING CORPORATE’S first show in 5 years at Bamboozle Left.  See you there!

Music