Fifteen Albums, Songs That Defined 2009 for Paste's Web Editor

OR: Certainly the End of Something or Other, One Would Sort of Have to Think

Paste has weighed in with its Best Albums of 2009, but over the holiday break, each of our editorial staffers is giving us a glimpse of his or her personal favorites from the year. Here’s web editor Austin L. Ray on 15 albums and songs that defined 2009 for him.

This was a confusing year for me. I feel like my taste is changing, morphing, but I’m not sure where it’s heading. I’m reminded of early college, when my peers (and the internet and a couple great record stores) taught me that there was so much more to music than the content of central-Illinois radio, which I was weaned on. What an eye opening experience that was. I feel like my eyes are being opened again. It’s exciting. So, since posterity is fun, below is what 2009 was like for me. Here’s to 2010 and beyond:

Albums, in order:
Phosphorescent – To Willie
Thomas Function – In the Valley of Sickness
Drake – So Far Gone
Mika Miko – We Be Xuxa
Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall
Bad Sports – Bad Sports
Girls – Album
Kylesa – Static Tensions
Health – Get Color
Cococoma – Things Are Not All Right
The Beets – Spit in the Face of People Who Don’t Want to be Cool
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II
The Dutchess and the Duke – Sunset/Sunrise
Box Elders – Alice and Friends
The Reigning Sound – Love and Curses

Songs, in no order:
Freddie Gibbs – “G.I. Pride”
GG King – “Adult Rock”
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “Beware Your Only Friend”
Cam’ron – “Never Ever”
Phoenix – “Lisztomania”
Black Lips – “Drugs”
Dirty Projectors – “Stillness is the Move”
Soulja Boy – “Turn My Swag On”
Animal Collective – “My Girls”
Yo La Tengo – “Nothing to Hide”
Gucci Mane – “Lemonade”
Ty Segall – “Standing at the Station”
Stolen Hearts – “Heart Collector”
Wale – “TV in the Radio”
Girls – “Lust for Life”