Day 201 - Favourite 2009 Albums

Picking my favourite 10 albums this year was challenging due to the variety and depth of albums I heard. The following provide interesting, refreshing listening experiences in a variety of genres. I had a difficult time settling on rankings so these top 10 are in no particular order.

Pains of Being Pure at Heart – self titled. A heartfelt throwback to fuzzy shimmering 80/90s indie pop.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! The YYYs trade in guitar grit for a dose of synth glitter and dance floor. Karen OT has the charisma and cool to pull it off with ease.

Passion Pit – Manners. This year’s entry in the ‘love it or hate it’ electro-pop category is Boston-based Passion Pit’s debut. Lead singer Michael Angelakos’s falsetto voice can annoy some but the album is a warm combination of danceable electro-pop and infectious hooks.

XX: XX. South London’s XX released a strong, evocative debut album. A blend of understated, sensual gems that delights and surprises at every turn. A case of good simple pleasures always being the best.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. France’s Phoenix produces an album packed full of fun, catchy songs. A nice blend of traditional indie rock and danceable beats.

And So I Watched You from Afar – self titled. I have a soft spot for instrumental rock albums. Sometimes it is fun to turn up the volume, sit back and get lost in the music. Irelands’s And So I Watched You from Afar rock it hard on a refreshing release in the long lost post rock genre.

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest. I was a huge fan of 2006’s Yellow House so I had high hopes for Veckatimest. This album does not disappoint. The album contains sounds, lyrics and arrangements so rich and detailed that notes practically drip out of the speakers.

Atlas Sound – Logos. Bradford Cox continues to be one of the most prolific, interesting indie artists around.

The Antlers – Hospice. The Antlers Hospice has a lot going on for it that suits my ear: lofty lyrics packed full of emotional drama; tempo twists and turns; sonic indulgences at every turn. This is hardly a pop album you’d throw on at a party, but is still quite fulfilling.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca. An eccentric yet accessible album that remains fresh after many listens. Although the album has a sound that does not easily enjoy categorization, there is no doubt that this a fresh, exciting listen from a talented group of musicians.