2010年 01月 12日 火曜日 13:08

Best of 2009
This is a little later then what I was aiming at, but I wasn’t expecting both my laptop and desktop computers to die within a month of each other. I lost a lot of files, so it’s very possible I’m forgetting someone important. In any case here is my personal list of the best of 2009!

Top 20 Albums of 2009
1. Middle Cyclone by Neko Case
Overall I’m a person who came in pretty late for Neko Case. It’s only really been these last couple of years that I’ve discovered her. I bought this album a few weeks after it came out at a suggestion of a friend at work, and it quickly became one of my favorite albums of the year. It’s the album that really led me to discover her, and led me to buy earlier albums of both her as a soloist and the New Pornographers.
Check out: People Got a Lotta Nerve
2. Wild Young Hearts by Noisettes
When the Noisettes first came out a few years ago, I wasn’t that impressed. They were a decent band, but I never understood all the attention they were getting. This album changed all of that for me. It’s a fantastic album from beginning to end. It’s one of the few albums I can honestly say that I love every song on it. It’s really the best dance record to come out this year.
Check out: Never Forget You
3. Bible Belt by Diane Birch
I first discovered her through Rolling Stone. I don’t remember the exact article, but there was a mention of her as an up and coming artist. Something about the article intrigued me enough to actually inspire me to go and look for her album. It turned out that it wasn’t actually going to be released for a couple months, but I bought it the day it was released. Of course, when you are actually looking forward to something the way I was with this one, you almost expect to be disappointed by the reality. This was a definite exception to that rule. It’s a terrific piece of southern soul that really brings to mind Bobbie Gentry and Dusty in Memphis era Dusty Springfield.
Check out: Fools
4. Turn It Up by Pixie Lott
I discovered her about 4 or 5 months before the release of her first album. I can’t honestly remember how it happened, but it was a long wait. She’s obviously coming from the same camp as Duffy, Adele and Amy Winehouse when it comes to style, but she still somehow manages to sound fresh. This has truly been my most played album this year (mostly due to Mama Do). It’s probably not the best pop record in history, and I not really sure what it is about it that I love, but I truly do love it.[
Check out: Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)
5. La Roux by La Roux
To me La Roux sounds like a blast from the past. From the New Wave style synthesizers, to the crazy hair style of the lead singer, they both look and sound like something that could have come out in the 80s. There has been a lot of great woman to come out of the UK in the last few years, and La Roux is one of the best additions to the list.
Check out: In For The Kill
6. Revolution by Miranda Lambert
I’ve always loved Miranda Lambert. From the day I saw her on Nashville Star years ago to now what has been one of my favorite country singers. Saying this, Revolution is probably the best album she’s ever come out with. She’s always been more of a single artist in the past. There are a few great songs, and the rest are all good songs, but nothing phenomenal. This album is really an album, not just a collection of songs. Great job Miranda!
Check out: White Liar
7. The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga
I absolutely love Lady Gaga. I discovered her in late 2008, right before her career exploded here in the US. She immediately became my new favorite pop star. Since then she has obviously become a huge international success. The Fame Monster is an extension on her earlier release The Fame, and adds even more great songs to her repertoire. What a lot of people miss with all of her videos and performances, is that she is actually a fantastic song writer. She sounds and looks different than anything out there, and she has enough talent to write all of her songs. Not many of today’s pop stars can say that.
Check out: Bad Romance
8. Heartbreak on Vinyl by Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis was one of the first American Idols that I remember being really different. He arranged his own songs, and took chances that know one else was doing. His first album, was pretty good, but overall something of a disappointment. With this album, he finally came up with something that’s totally his own. Every song on it is totally Blake. If you were a fan of his on the show, but were disappointed with his debut, check this one out. You won’t regret it.
Check out: Sad Song
9. Give Up The Ghost by Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile was an artist that was first discovered by my mom. She loved her first album, and gave me a copy. I liked her, but probably not as much as my mom. With this album that changed. I think this album is better than the first. It’s more polished. I definitely recommend giving it a listen.
Check out: Dreams
10. Wilco (The Album) by Wilco
Wilco are one of the few groups out there, who are truly consisitently good. They have yet to have a clunker album. This album follows that trend. If you are an old fan of Wilco or have never even heard of them, I think you’ll love this album. It’s there first album in awhile, and it is far from a disappointment.
Check out: Wilco (The Song)
11. 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day
Check out: 21 Guns
12. Don’t Stop by Annie
Check out: Songs Remind Me of You
13. Colonia by A Camp
Check out: Stronger than jesus
14. The List by Rosanne Cash
Check out: Heartaches By the Number (feat. Elvis Costello)
15. Ray Guns Are Not The Future by The Bird and the Bee
Check out: Love Letter to Japan
16. Hands by Little Boots
Check out: Remedy
17. In and Out of Control by The Raveonettes
Check out: D.R.U.G.S.
18. High Hopes & Hearbreak by Brooke White
Check out: Radio Radio
19. Under the Covers, Vol. 2 by Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
Check out: Second Hand News
20. The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists
Check out: The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid

Top 40 Other Singles of 2009
1. Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas
2. I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week by Mandy Moore
3. I Told You So by Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis
4. Had It All by Katharine McPhee
5. Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson
6. You've Got The Love by Florence + The Machine
7. Paparazzi by Lady Gaga
8. Consider Me Gone by Reba McEntire
9. Fire On The Mountain by Asa
10. Slowly (oh so slowly) by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
11. My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
12. Wait It Out by Imogen Heap
13. Two Weeks by Grizzy Bear
14. Don't Stop Believin' (Glee Cast Version) by Glee Cast
15. Sober by Pink
16. Anthonio by Annie
17. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
18. Hard by Rihanna
19. Friday I’ll Be Over U by Allison Iraheta
20. Video Phone (Extended Remix) by Beyonce
21. Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
22. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
23. Highs and Lows by Mindy Smith
24. Pick up the phone by Dragonette
25. 1901 by Phoenix
26. She Wolf by Shakira
27. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
28. Waking Up In Vegas by Katy Perry
29. Happy by Leona Lewis
30. Forever Is Over by The Saturdays
31. Battlefield by Jordin Sparks
32. Halo by Beyonce
33. You Found Me by The Fray
34. Fight For This Love by Cheryl Cole
35. The Show by Lenka
36. Pony (It's OK) by Erin McCarley
37. Wrong by Depeche Mode
38. The Fear by Lily Allen
39. Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus
40. Get Sexy by Sugababes