THE TOP 65 ALBUMS OF 2009 By Kevin Kilker

Well 2009 continues to be the year of bigger and better things. And while originally attempting to make a Top 50 Albums of the Year I found that there were too many good albums to fit them into just 50…so like everything else I narrowed down a list of 150 albums down to 65, making it the largest best of albums list I have ever made. The Year End Albums List is much different from my songs list in the sense that it is less extensive but focuses much more on actual critical praise and viewer feedback, so indie bands tend to dominate the list. Though there are still many mainstream albums on the list they are judged on a much more equal level than with the songs charts, which is so extensive that a variety of factors have to be weighed to determine where it is ranked. Case in point…this is MUCH easier for me to do. But like my song chart this is based solely on my amateur opinion (though I like to think that when it comes to music I am more than an amateur) and not one person will agree with it 100% …so if you don’t like something I value your opinion but it will not change my list or sway me in any way. Either way I hope you DO enjoy my list and value your opinion, so please let me know hat you think

65. Sonic Youth- The Eternal
90’s indie alternagods prove that they can still make great music

64. Japandroids- Post-Nothing
A band that invented a new genre of music entitled Noise Pop. You be the judge.

63. Flight of the Conchords- I Told You I Was Freaky
Kiwi comedy folk duo prove that their sophomore album can be just as funny as the first…well almost

62. Norah Jones- The Fall
Certainly a fall compared to her previous albums, but Jones’ worst is better than most bands’ best

61. Ida Maria- Fortress Round My Heart
Female punk rock at its rawest and most beautiful

60.Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
One of indie rock’s most promising new acts come out swinging

59. John Mayer- Battle Studies
Mayer focuses his efforts towards a more folk friendly fare and although not his best it is still great

58. Rihanna- Rated R
Rihanna turns more inward and dark on her first post-assault album…shocker there, right?

57. Eminem- Relapse
Eminem sobers up and cleans up his act again, but the album, although occasionally brilliant, was just OK

56. Owl City- Ocean Eyes
Keyboard pop artist goes from his garage to the top of the charts with his catchy, innocent pop

55. Noisettes- Wild Young Hearts
British pop rock group go from the underground to above ground success

54. Black Eyed Peas- The E.N.D.
BEP’s best album since Fergie joined is one hit song after another

53. The Big Pink- A Brief History of Love
This electro rock duo make love sound just groovy

52. Miike Snow
This Animal Collective practical spin off make much catchier tunes to lift them to attention

51. Phish- Joy
The ultimate jam band regroup and make their best album since Billy Breathes

50. Green Day- 21st Century Breakdown
Green Day take a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach and make American Idiot Volume 2

49. Tegan and Sara- Sainthood
Many of Tegan and Sara’s diehard fans would argue they already reached Sainthood. This just proved it.

48. The Mars Volta- Octahedron
The Mars Volta make their closest thing to an unplugged album, and it adds to their raw power

47. Franz Ferdinand- Tonight…Franz Ferdinand
Although past their prime Franz Ferdinand find it impossible to make a bad album

46. Ben Harper and Relentless7- White Lies for Dark Times
Fueled by a new band Harper releases his most rocked out album in years…or maybe ever!

45. Miranda Lambert- Revolution
Lambert’s success is in her unflinching ability to tell it like it is with twang and gunpowder

44. Maxwell- BLACKsummersnight
And to think Maxwell almost gave up on music! This is one of the best R&B albums of the decade!

43. Robbie Williams- Reality Killed the Video Star
Williams returned to sobriety, prominence and acclaim this year, bringing back his classic British pop style

42. Paramore- Brand New Eyes
Older, wiser, and edgier, Paramore rock out on their sophomore album, and do so with style

41. La Roux
This brand new electro dance group evoke a Annie Lennox meets robot style, and it…is…awesome

40. Atlas Sound- Logos
Deerhunter frontman finds more acclaim and success with his side project. Hint, hint

39. Jay-Z- Blueprint 3
Jay Z goes back to his roots and digs deep into the soul. Not perfect but the best since the Black Album

38. Dave Matthews Band- Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
DMB battle tragedy and controversy to make a blunt, honest effort that shows the bands rawer side

37. St. Vincent- Actor
Experimental female artist makes a melodic and controlled effort whose multilayered brilliance is beauty.

36. The xx
This new English indie rock group creates a rock psycho trip that can only be described as amazing

35. The Lonely Island- Incredibad
SNL collaborative make a comedic hip hop group and album that is hands down the decade’s funniest CD

34. Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
British rock group brings Josh Homme in and make a spacier, introspective effort that holds up well

33. Silversun Pickups- Swoon
Alternative superstars take it one step further, with brooding and moodiness ensuing throughout

32. Wolfmother- Cosmic Egg
Wolfmother frontman ditches old band for a new one, and still make Zeppelin-esque dreamscapes

31. The Dream- Love Vs. Money
R&B star polishes up his act and creates a gem of an album that shows promise for the genre

30. Monsters of Folk
A folk Supergroup make a non surprisingly awesome folk album…’nuff said

29. Antony and the Johnsons- The Crying Light
This baroque folk group create a supremely personal environmentalist album that is sure to linger

28. Pearl Jam- Backspacer
Grunge turned rock veterans make their most mainstream and optimistic effort yet, and it’s great

27. The Dead Weather- Horehound
Jack Whites newest spin off has him on drums, a female front woman and its great. Like it’s surprising

26. The Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
This experimental group make a brilliant album that filters their sound to more conventional platforms

25. Girls- Album
Indie rock artist walks away from experimental to create a stripped, honest album that is perfect

24. Rodrigo y Gabriela- 11:11
A tribute album of sorts, this flamenco style guitar instrumental duo don’t need words to shine

23. Florence and the Machines- Lungs
A much more expansive piano driven effort by this British indie pop group fuels genius

22. Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young
The Strokes’ frontman takes the solo stage in a grand, 80’s new wave beat friendly style.

21. Various Artists- The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack
Proving there can be good out of the Twilight series this soundtrack is absolute moody perfection

20. The Flaming Lips- Embryonic
Already experimental, the Flaming Lips go further into psychedelic diversity, growing more and more

19. The Avett Brothers- I and Love and You
This Rick Rubin produced folk album is emotional and heartfelt, and gets you at your core

18. Dizzee Rascall- Tongue N Cheek
Grime rapper Rascall goes to a more beat friendly techno style and becomes that much better for it

17. Amadou and Mariam- Welcome to Mali
This blind, Mali blues duo embrace beats and transform their heartfelt sound to the next level.

16. Wilco- Wilco (The Album)
Wilco covered all bases this time, creating an album that pushes boundaries while staying catchy and unique

15. Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Experimental hip hopper becomes this generation’s Outkast, with trippy and amazing tracks

14. Drake- So Far Gone EP
From Degrassi to hip hop greatness, Drake exploded on the scene with compelling beats and great rhymes

13. Mos Def- The Ecstatic
Mos Def returns to hip hop in explosive fashion, with plenty of fuel to burn his legendary up front raps

12. Mastodon- Crack the Skye
Mastodon focuses their metal sound into a more orchestrated effort that is groundbreaking work

11. MUSE- The Resistance
MUSE embraces their orchestrated epic sound to make a transitional album that evokes brilliance

10. Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II
Everything about Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II demands worship and solidifies Raekwon as one of history’s best with a continuation that exceeds his original debut in every way imaginable. This is a more mature and intelligent Wu Tang and proves that one truly does improve their verbal skills with age

9. Them Crooked Vultures
Simply put, this is the best Supergroup since Audioslave’s first CD, Composed of QOTSA’s Josh Homme, Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, this is a perfectly blended combination of all groups, creating a rock album that stands heads and shoulders above the rest

8. Neko Case- Middle Cyclone

Neko Case is indie music at its finest. She has often been described as a force of nature, kind of a vocal tornado. So this increased mix of playfulness, delicacy and orchestral effects strikes you as the kind of variation that artists, and species for that matter, make in order to survive and thrive

7. Bat for Lashes- Two Suns
This album is a record of modern day fables exploring dualities on a number of levels…two lovers, two planets, two sides of a personality that bring philosophy of self and duality, examining the need for both chaos and balance, love and pain, etc in addition to touching on metaphysical ideas concerning the connections between all existence. Simply put, a breakthrough album of pure brilliance

6. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
When French rock outfit Phoenix was faced with the decision of either staying the same or changing their style up they chose the latter, and it resulted in their best effort yet, reaching an worldwide following and acclaim that not only brought them to international success but also making one of the most innovative rock albums in the last decade

5. Lily Allen- It’s Not Me, It’s You
Lily Allen’s sophomore album is one of absolute genius. Embracing her inner pop star she takes to the world with infectious beats and cheeky sarcastic quips that are as hit worthy as they are brilliant. She tackles all the issues with her dry wit and by doing so became an ironically loveable artist. Who would’ve thought?

4. Lady Gaga- The Fame/Fame Monster

There was just no stopping Lady Gaga this year. What makes her so unique is that she is…well, so unique. Her style and background evoke comparisons to Madonna, and she is certainly proving her worth so far. Interesting and original beats with Gaga’s peculiar writing and singing styles she puts herself in a category of greatness that keeps her from being put with all the other generic female pop singers

3. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
A triumph of craftsmanship, the 12 tracks of Veckatimest click and whirr at a deliberate tempo. Even the slightest of vocal snippets gets shaped and sanded down with care. And like those triumphant timepieces, it’s the dozen variations on a scene, with instruments and effects rearranging themselves seamlessly, that make this album not only one of this year’s best but the decade’s best as well

2. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Experimental group Animal Collective recorded their most accessible album yet here, all the while keeping their avant garde style intact, if not evolved. With a style that can be described as a Beach Boys acid trip, the album is striking in its immediacy while coming across as friendly and inviting. It is in essence an expansion on their sound, with a sharper focus on melody and more emboldened vocals that drive the songs, while making them all the while appealing to all groups. In the end, they stumbled on a classic

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It’s Blitz!
Who knew that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs would make not one but two of the best alternative albums of the decade? And who knew that this CD, their third, would become far and away their best album so far? The trick is their ability to add a certain emotional depth and finesse to every track, while truly embracing their transcendent Dancefloor sound…and still saving room for explosive, catchy rock riffs and epic choruses that make them one of the most exciting bands of their era. But we have had plenty of albums of the sort from plenty of bands in the past year. What sets them apart from the rest of the pack is the fact that despite their obvious growth and fascination with expanding their sound they still maintain the same flame that drove them at the beginning, keeping true to their selves and their sound. Karen O really settles into her role as the current female front woman to beat in terms of talent and explosive energy. She has made a name for herself and become confident in her sound…which then cements this album to instant classic status, and will likely in time become a more mainstream success as well.