Published at 7:00 AM on June 24, 2009

By Nick Marino

Best Music of 2009 (So Far): Nick Marino, Managing Editor

List of the Day

Browse List of the Day

To celebrate the half-way point of 2009, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums and songs of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.

Albums

1. Major Lazer—Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do (Downtown): If you really have nothing better to do, you can argue about its reggae authenticity. But that misses the point, which is to let yourself go—like they’d do in Jamaica—and let your head get blown off.

2. Blue Roses—Blue Roses (XL): Gorgeous folk. Her songs go interesting places, and her voice sends shivers down your spine.   

3. Passion Pit—Manners (Frenchkiss): I’ve already said just about everything I have to say about these guys. They’re good. 

4. Allen Toussaint—The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch): Remember how, right after Katrina, everyone cared so much about New Orleans music? In the words of the Rebirth Brass Band, let’s do it again—starting here. 

5. Animal Collective—Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino): It’s kind of awesome and kind of annoying, kind of manic and kind of paranoid—and it never sits still— which makes it the album that best embodies the twitchy emotional state of 2009. 

6. God Help The Girl—God Help The Girl (Matador): Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch would prefer not to call this collection of songs a solo album. But they’re mostly his tunes, with his sensibilities—which means, of course, that they’re lovely.

7. Lily Allen—It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol): Sometimes people get so caught up in an artist’s story, they forget to listen to the music. That’s what’s happening to Allen. Forget what you know, and go back to the record—it’s better than her first.

8. Wild Light—Adult Nights (Almost Gold): The guys in this melodic rock quartet are simultaneously pumped-up and world-weary, like a bunch of young Springsteens crossed with Conor Oberst.

9. Elvis Perkins In Dearland—Elvis Perkins In Dearland (XL): His brassy band is a major asset. Great songwriting doesn’t hurt either. 

10. Harlem Shakes—Technicolor Health(Gigantic): Nervous energy, dancey melodies, arty sensibilities…these are a few of our favorite things. 

Songs

1. Wild Light—“California On My Mind”: We’ve got nothing against the Golden State, but this song—with its cheery “fuck California” refrain—has probably been the single most-played song around the Paste office this year. 

2. Animal Collective—“My Girls”: A slippery, shimmery dance jam that just won’t quit. 

3. Keri Hilson feat. Ne-Yo and Kanye West—“Knock You Down”: Collaboration of the year? Letterman certainly seems to think so. 

4. Vistoso Bosses—“Delirious”: Sugary teenaged R&B hasn’t sounded this good since Cherish made “Do It To It.”

5. Bon Iver—“Woods”: This could have been the moment when Auto-Tune jumped the shark. Instead it’s a little a capella triumph.

6. Cut Off Your Hands—“Happy As Can Be”: The galloping percussion would make Aaron Copland proud. And the towering melody is a primal thrill.

7. Ricky Blaze—“Cut Dem Off”: An instant-classic reggae jam. Do yourself a favor and check the YouTube fan vids.

8. M. Ward—“For Beginners”: Biblical allegory plus handclaps!

9. Mr. Hudson feat. Kanye West—“Supernova”: Mr. West meets Mr. Hudson, and a futuristic power ballad is born.

10. Anya Marina—“Vertigo”: Love the girlish vocals and the beat that sounds like it was made on a Casio. Charming outro, too.

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