werd up! 2009 was a good one for my ears, lots of good stuff pumping through the speakers and like my esteemed colleagues the debate for 5 albums this year was long and distinguished. I’m not great with numbers so my top 5ive for this year may (or may not) be in any particular order – parenthetical blurbs at no charge.

z. Ray Barbee & The Mattson 2 – Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2 (simply amazing. A fantasctic meeting of the minds with 3 very talented musicians making magic happen without words. It’s great to see modern jazz thriving amongst surfers and skateboarders)

y. BLAKROC - (would you got to party where Mos Def, Raekwon, GZA and Pharoahe Monch were hanging out smoking blunts? Me too. Oh, and did I mention the Black Keys were playing said party? WERD. Amazing music and progressive as hell. Well done gents, very well done.)

BLAKROC – Ain’t Nothing Like You (Live) featuring Mos Def and J. Jones

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

x. Ancient Astronauts – We Are To Answer (this one came SUPER close to being my #1 but got edged out on a minor technicality of awesomeness found above. I love this album because every song is completely different and expresses a different level of the DJ duo’s talent. Hip-Hop, D&B, and ambient grooves – they’re all here and done-up proper.)

Ancient Astronauts – Everybody

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

w. Groundation – Here I Am (plain & simple – the return of roots reggae and I couldn’t be happier about it. Another close runner for #1 and if I had to judge simply on live performance it would be a no brainer. It’s almost a shame bands like Groundation have to record music instead of delivering it to you direct.)

Groundation – Everyone Could Lose

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

v. Ocote Soul Sounds – Coconut Rock Deluxe (also very simple, these guys are cooler than you (or I) will ever be and they have the tunes to prove it)

Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada – Coconut Rock

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.