01.
Frankmusik. Frankmusik, my musical crush of 2009 was always going to make it big in my charts for 2009. His debut album was my most anticipated of the year, and despite not being commercially as successful as Vincent would have liked, definitly makes my second best album of 2009. I also love how it is available in three different forms; the original, Vincent's remixes of his own songs, and a gorgeous acoustic version. If the album did dissapoint, it waas because it was put back so many times and seemed watered down from Vincent's previous work. Nonetheless, with a ridiculous amount of plays (over 700!), it looks as though Vincent will soon be toppling both Britney and The Ordinary Boys from the top of the most played ever list. Whether any new material is to be forthcoming in 2010 or beyond unfortunately seems unclear at this moment in time.
02.
Lily Allen. Lily Allen, with lots of help from Greg Kurstin, produced my personal favourite album of 2009. From the very first moment of putting the CD in the player in the car after going out at lunchtime to buy the album from Tesco, songs such as I Could Say, Chinese and Who'd Have Known jumped out as not only immediate personal favourites but as immense works of art. Lily Allen as a person acts a bit silly and says some things she probably shouldn't however as a musician she is sublime and can't be faulted. Please Lily don't let this be your last album. I need me some more Lily Allen material in my life.
03.
Britney Spears.
04.
Sugababes. Sugababes are so high on the list thanks to extensive listening after their third (!) line-up change, particularly of their back catalogue. However, new singles in the form of Get Sexy and About A Girl have enjoyed extremely heavy rotation towards the end of the year, further ensuring such a high placing for the band.
05.
The Ordinary Boys.
06.
Kylie Minogue. Kylie Minogue, despite the lack of new material from Kylie in 2009, I enjoyed purchasing her album X which certainly has it's high points, in addition to purchasing much of her back catalogue in the form of her greatest hits album. Perfect for when I'm feeling that 80's Waterman vibe. I'm much looking forward to Kylie's new material in 2010, particularly if it sounds in the direction of In My Arms and Wow.
07.
Panic at the Disco. Panic at the Disco. The exclamation mark went and then came back again after some members of the band left. However the band are still ploughing on nevertheless. Whether they return in their emo form or as the continuation of the modern reincarnation of The Beatles remains to be seen in 2010.
08.
The Saturdays. The Saturdays shouldn't have released any new material in 2009, especially as it was crap. It's their 2008 album Chasing Lights which sees them so high on my list.
09.
Lady Sovereign. Lady Sovereign has entered Celebrity Big Brother so perhaps her album Jigsaw will see much wider listenership now. I'm not sure how much I like it but she released it herself on her own (indie) label, and restyled herself so she looks slightly hot now (!) so I can't find it in myself to be too harsh on her. In addition to which she released the genius of So Human (with thanks to Dr Luke!)
10.
Freemasons. Freemasons. My love for this dance duo for Brighton increased at least tenfold during 2009. Thanks in no small part to their collaboration with Sophie Ellis-Bextor which, although just missed out on the top 10, was a club favourite of 2009 and due to merely association with the Bextor makes them great. 2010 brings a collab with Dannii Minogue, if nothing else to look forward to.
11.
Girls Aloud. Girls Aloud were officially denounced of their 'my favourite girl band' status, through the medium of my facebook status, dethroned by none other than The Saturdays. I bought Out of Control to see what all of the fuss was about and, although it's certainly a stellar albumw ith nothing on it one could honestly describe as 'bad', they are definitely a singles band. I'll forgive them anything for the epic 7 minute album (ie original) version of Untouchable though. The band look to be on hiatus for the minute; hopefully they do come back at some point however a year or two out won't harm them.
12.
Lady GaGa. This will make me sound so out of touch, but I really didn't see the fuss over Lady GaGa for a long long time. In fact, I still don't (yet) own a copy of The Fame. The GaGa's songs are good, but do owe a lot to a certain Mr RedOne. Plenty remixes of her tunes also kept her play count high. I don't exactly dislike GaGa but I don't like how she's waltzed in and seemingly somehow become an (unelected) Queen of all Pop. Anyway, I'm getting over my doubts, swallowing my pride and soon buying a copy of The Fame/Monster (if I ever get paid)
13.
MC Lars. MC Lars was one of those artists I barely really thought about before 2009. I'd seen him live but only as he was supporting a band I liked, and he had seemed good. However when I found out he'd released an album in 2009, and after reading a few reviews and listening to some previews courtesy of Amazon, I actually really warmed to the guy. One of his best has to be Hey There Ophelia, his own take on Hamlet. He seems an intelligent guy too. Oh, and he worked with James Bourne (Busted/Son of Dork) for another song on the album.
14.
Will Young. Will Young's single choices in 2009 was a little bit 'soppy' (bar Changes) and indeed I have yet to buy his fourth studio album, although I will some day due to me being COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH WILL! He released The Hits which commerically is a success but I'm not quite sure why; most people surely already have the songs. Not that I'm complaining if it secures Will a future as a recording artist, because aside from me loving him and his hotness which grows more with age, his music really is improving with each album he makes.
15.
Kanye West. Can't believe he got so much hating over the Taylor Swift incident. He's Kanye, and it was all staged.
16.
Dan Black. Is he amazing? Is he shit? I'm still really not sure, even after extensive listenings of his album. Lead single Symphonies is doubtless immense though, that's a certainty. And the artwork for his album, Un, is very cool.
17.
Bloc Party. I didn't used to 'get' Bloc Party, but now I really really do. I'm not especially into gigging but they're one of the bands I honestly would LOVE to see live. A Weekend In The City is my Bloc Party material of choice, which I realise makes me a bit weird.
18.
La Roux. My issue with La Roux is that I hate Elly Jackson!! She is so annoying. However the material is so goddam good that I'm giving in and buying her album. I think there's a strong possibility she struck it lucky with timing and her sound, and that the second album will be shit. If I was her, I'd work with big name producers now to guarantee her second record isn't shit.
19.
Black Eyed Peas. Wow. Loving that the Peas' comeback was of such epic proportions. I'm one of the few people who actually like Fergie so her breakdown in Boom Boom Pow is a treat for me. So many remixes floating about of that song, too. I love everything they're doing at the minute. I know they're not god's gifts but they do make bloody good songs that pretty much everyone loves.
20.
Katy Perry. I have such a HATE/LOVE/HATE/HATE&LOVE relationship with Katy Perry. I HATED I Kissed A Girl, LOVED Hot N Cold, HATED Thinking Of You, HATED Waking Up In Vegas whilst LOVING the remix edit (courtesy of Mr Calvin Harris!). Now however, I bought her album and do actually rate it. She's still annoying though. Especially for dating Russel Brand (REALLY?)
20. Fall Out Boy
22. Alphabeat. I am impatiently waiting for the release of your second album, Alphabeat, (already released in Denmark!!) as well as a tour to support it so I can come stalk Anders SG again and make him marry me. Took a while to 'feel' the new sound but now officially LOVE it via The Spell and DJ. SOOOO early 90's House!!! I do worry a lot though that they will be 'flop' and dropped from this record company (after their previous company dropped them) :(
23. Lo-Fi-Fnk
24. Franz Ferdinand. I never really 'got' Franz but then loved their 2009 material and subsequently bought the album. I don't play it especially often but it is quality. I may even explore their back catalogue at some point to try and find what I missed.
25. Shayne Ward is my favourite X Factor winner. After all, Blandona Lewis is so boring as she wails and shrieks her way boringly through ballad after ballad, and Alexandra Burke is to me nothing but a burke with her pathetic collaboration with Flo-Rida the only way she can obtain a hit record. Shayne is said to be recording new material but whether it will ever see the light of day, I have serious doubts over. Cowell for some reason doesn't like Shayne. He should though, for when the material is good enough, Shayne shines (see: If That's OK With You, Melt The Snow, No U Hang Up for evidence)
26. Basement Jaxx. Raindrops was immense. I am buying Scars soon. They were busy in 2009 with the release of a 'soundscape' album too.
27. Kelly Clarkson is a little boring but when she has big name producers doing her stuff for her then I am a muppet and can quite happily listen to it.\
27 MGMT. I was very late to the MGMT party and whilst I still don't think their album is brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, their singles (ESPECIALLY Kids) are.
27. Calvin Harris. Oh Calvin. You're amazing. Jam TV. AND you're Scottish. Marry me?
30. Beyoncé is boring. At least, Ballad Beyoncé is. Sasha Fierce is not so boring although, honestly, I don't think B is half as good as people make out.
30 The Thrills 80
32 Just Jack's 2009 single releases were proper mint. I'd like to get the album at some point; I imagine it shows progress from his last effort Undertones.
33. Robyn. Yet another party I was late to join but she is, as Popjustice would put it, at lkeast very good. I would LOVE some new material from you this year Robyn, as would lots of your other fans.
34. N-Dubz. MY NAME'S SHANIQUA, AND WHAT?!?!
35. Shakira spoilt us with She Wolf (the single) and a lesser extent She Wolf (the album). It's at least, not bad, which is a mega improvement from Shakira's earlier works. She Wolf (the single) is actually AMAZING AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH and Sam Endicott co wrote // produced it which makes it even more amazing in my book.
36. Wheatus
36. Sigur Rós
38. Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Loved your collaboration with The Freemasons, now get your own album out Sophie! (Will be released in 2010! YAY!)
39. Cut Copy
39. Junior Senior
41. Kid Cudi
41. Hadouken!
43. Chase & Status. I saw them live and, they dissapointed a bit in that it sounded exactly the same to the record. HOWEVER the record's not bad and I think I just needed to be a little more pissed plus not have a dickead girl who thoguht SHE was D&B/Dubstep ITSELF stood next to me to have a better time. Absolutly loving End Credits with Plan B. So much.
44. Rachel Stevens, I wish you would release more material and pronto.
45. Amy Winehouse
46. Annie. I have yet to buy Don't Stop. I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point.
46. Pink, I don't even like you that much. Although, Please (Don't Leave) was genius.
46. Goldfrapp. YAY! Yet ANOTHER band coming out with new stuff in 2010. 2010 is going to spoil us one thinks.
46. Dizzee Rascal
50. Stereophonics
Will Young
