According to my records, I bought 38 albums with a 2009 release date. Here are my 10 favorites.
#10: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Label: ANTI-
Between her solo career and her work with New Pornographers, singer-songwriter Neko Case was very busy in 2009. Recorded at her new home studio in Vermont, Middle Cyclone is a showcase of the alt-country artist's talent and maturity as a songwriter and as a singer. Her powerful voice retains an expressive emotional pull, and the music is haunting yet playful. This album got a lot of praise by critics, and I don't have much to add other than this is an album that I've played a lot.
#9: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Label: V2 Records
#8: Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us
Label: Graveface Records
It's hard to put a label on the sound or genre of this enigmatic band from rural Pennsylvania. I'll go with "psychedelic electro-folk." BMSR plays electronic music on classic analog electronic instruments, including Moogs, theremins, and heavy use of vocoders. Sonically complex, and frequently veering into unexpected directions, this album is mellow and laid-back, but with a distinct undercurrent of dark weirdness that's both compelling and a little creepy. The stand-out track is the opener, "Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise," the title of which says volumes about this band. Not for everyone, but it really works for me.
#7: Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
Label: In The Red Recordings
The sophomore album from this all-girl lo-fi punk band from Brooklyn. While it didn't completely floor me like their eponymous debut, this is yet another album that just does not get old. Their musicianship has improved and their sound, while not bigger, is more refined and a bit tighter. Crank up the treble and blast it!
#6: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Label: Capitol Records
I've been a big fan of The Decemberists since their debut full-length Castaways and Cutouts came out back in 2002. Their fifth album, and by far most ambitious, The Hazards of Love is a 1970's progressive rock concept album. While broken up into songs, the album is intended to be listened to from start to finish as a complete piece of music. It tells a strange story of a doomed love between a human woman and a shape-shifting forest spirit some time in 19th century Europe. Setting aside the fact that it's a concept album (a love-it-or-hate-it music form), it's hard not to admire the ambition. This band proved that it can really rock out on earlier dalliances with prog (e.g. their 2004 EP The Tain and their 18-minute suite "The Island" from 2006's The Crane Wife), but they really hit their stride here.
#5: The Dry Spells - Too Soon For Flowers
Label: Antenna Farm Records
#4: If These Trees Could Talk - Above The Earth, Below The Sky
Label: self-published through CD Baby
#3: Metric - Fantasies
Label: Metric Music International
Musically, this album really struck something in me. A female-led indie rock band from Canada, Metric's sound is high-energy with a complex chord structure and witty lyrics. Another album that found itself on high rotation on my iPod. Excellent sound.
#2: Visqueen - Message to Garcia
#1: Lightning Dust - Infinite Light
Label: Jagjaguwar
A folk-tinged indie rock band from Canada, Lightning Dust was formed by Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, who are both also members of the hard rock band Black Mountain. The lush, yet simply melodies coupled with Webber's plaintive vocals give this music a wistful and nostalgic air that is simply beautiful. My favorite album of 2009.
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