Recently, we published our Official Top 15 Albums of 2009 list. This represented the combined opinions of many of our writers here. Everyone was then invited to provide an individual list of their favorite music of the year, in any category. Look for your favorite writer’s list, and if you don’t have a favorite writer, find your favorite list. That may then lead to your favorite writer. Each writer gets their own page, so be sure to read them all!
From Tony Butterworth:
Album reviews are always a bit of a challenge for me since I’m not really an album guy. Usually I will find a song I like, download the album, listen to it once then rate each song and it goes into my random playlists. This means that for an album as a whole to stand out to me is quite significant. I tend to make these lists based on two things (a) albums I remember liking, which, as mentioned just now, is quite an achievement (b) using Last.fm to figure out how things are grouped. All that said, here are my top choices, in no particular order, from the last year.
God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl
A summer album for me, one we listened to a lot on our driving holiday. Songs for all the family too like. Light hearted, bouncy and simply pleasant to listen to, definitely recommended for all.
Bad Lieutenant – Never Cry Another Tear
Same again, pop bliss. Simple songs, simple words, just sung and played wonderfully. Upbeat and positive. Just writing this makes me want to listen to it again.
The Rifles – The Great Escape
Mostly undiscovered, even in the UK. The bastard offspring of The Jam and Madness continue to make music that doesn’t always grab you first listen but always makes me want to come back and listen more.
Owl City – Ocean Eyes
This is one that I somehow don’t want to like, it’s to poppy, too glossy, too packaged, and yes it’s a peppier version of The Postal Service but I keep listening to it and that’s all you need to make this list.
Brendan Benson – My Old Familiar Friend
My initial review was not super positive but this one has stuck with me all year. There are songs on hear that I will listen to for years. It’s also perhaps the least uncool of my yearly choices.
The Noisette’s – Wild Young Hearts
Infectious, caught me by surprise after seeing them on MTV’s Subterranean, not the kind of music I should like but the indie crossed with Motown sound draws me in everytime.
Jet – Shaka Rock
I don’t even know why I like this one but I definitely do. I never choose to listen to it until a track comes on by random play and then I search out the album and listen to the whole thing over again.
The Sounds – Crossing The Rubicon
Another Subterranean discovery. Rousing, rocky, hooks galore. Perhaps not my favorite album of the year but it definitely contains a couple of my favorite songs, “Midnight Sun” is my current ringtone.
Metric – Fantasies
A late in the year discovery for me hence it does not make the top of my list on listens. A popular choice for many cool music writers on the web but even with that strike against it I still like it.
Read more at Homemade Hit Show
Click on page 2 to see Jason’s list!
You don’t need to publish this comment. Just thought you’d like to know that you’re missing a period on the last sentence after “all” for the first album review on page 1, God Help The Girl.
Like I actually spent any time editing this post? It was more like compile, tag, tag, link, link, publish!
(I added the period, though.)
I had a chance to listen to this cd and it is very good. If you like great guitar playing, synths and great melodies you will love this. There is not one bad song on this album, from start to finish this cd rocks, with great New Order style moments in it. Bernard Sumner is a musical genius who has worked with New Order, Electronic and Joy division. If you like this cd Please give New order and Electronic a listen and you will love it, also listen to the first Album By a band called MONACO called Music for Pleasure which is also very good (New Order side project). It is very sad that New Order broke up, let’s hope they patch up their differences and make another album. Give the Bad Lieutenant a chance and you will love it.