It was another great year for indie music and from the sounds of it, we can look forward to some big releases in 2010 as well. Coming up with only five albums was tougher than watching Tiger Woods crash and burn, C’mon Son! I hate to let great albums like Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca and Joe Purdy’s Last Clock on the Wall fall by the wayside, but when truth be told, only cinco could make the cut and the ones that did are muuuuyyy good.
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest > In my mind, this was a no-brainer and I like it when I don’t have to overuse my brain. This band is so complete, their sound undefinable, their live presence is mesmorizing and their talent is virtually unparalleled in 2009. From song one, “Southern Point” – you know this album is going to blow you away. Such a great follow up from Yellow House (2006) and such a bar-setter going forward. This is the best album 2009 has to offer your ears.
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2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus > Probably the more electrifying band of the year, Phoenix finally took out their big French hammer and hit it on the head…I think that this album was a ling-time-coming, but better late than never and now everyone is like, who is Phoenix? The album is sure to get some playtime at your NYE party and will probably want to make you slam a drink and dance uncontrollably. From someone who learned the hard way, just let it happen.
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3. Miike Snow – Miike Snow > What can you say about Miike Snow (that was not already said in my post entitled Purple Jacket Manifesto?) This album is ridiculous and you have to be so stoked that these guys decided to record their own album instead of making everyone else’s album sound better. Many more good tunes to come from ole’ Miike. Guaranteed I will be popping bottles to “Silvia” and making a fool of myself in a couple weeks.
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4. Calvin Harris – Ready For The Weekend > Fourth best album of the year, number one dance album of the year. This Scottish Electro-wiz kid did release an album called I Created Disco back in ‘07, but this one will put him on the map. Love the song, “Dance Wiv Me” featuring Dizzee Rascal and all in all, this is 14 tracks of electro-ecstasy. “Rain” is also my ringtone, don’t laugh.
Calvin Harris – Dance Wiv Me (feat. Dizzee Rascal)
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5. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You > The Avett Brothers seemed to have mastered their sound with this album without moving away from the raw emotional feel to their music which so many people have grown so fond of over the years. This album, as are all my Top Five, is stellar from head to toe. The perfect blend of country, folk and indie rock to get your toes tapping.
The Avett Brothersr – Ill With Want
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I was telling D Rock yesterday that you were gonna go with G Bear. Excellent list!
Wow.. B!
yeah.. Thank you very much for that Calvin Harris introduction this year too! One of my favorites that you posted. Great choices!
Took me a long, long time to get into the Grizzly Bear album, but I’m glad I stuck it out b/c that is def one of my top albums of ‘09 too….
Got The Avett Brothers brothers album based off some of the tracks heard on the muffin.. so far, so good
Keep up the good work, guys!