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We spent the month of November considering The Best of the Decade, from albums and TV shows to books and comedians. But lest we forget all the great music that came out in the last 12 months, here are our picks for the Best Albums of 2009.
25. Thomas Function – In the Valley of Sickness [Fat Possum]
Josh Macero’s snotty, high-pitched vocals recall halcyon-era Black Francis, filled with feral yelps and frantic questions. His polarizing voice is the first thing anyone wants to discuss about Alabama’s Thomas Function. And yet, it combines perfectly with his galloping, jangly guitar, his bandmate Zach Jeffries’ organ-aping keyboards, Travis Thompson’s excitable bass and supportive backing vocals and Philip Dougherty subtle, tasteful drumming. So when Macero brashly asks “Are you gonna buy a record or what?” on “Picking Scabs,” you’ll find yourself, perhaps surprisingly, nodding: “Yes, please.” Austin L. Ray
24. Various Artists – Dark Was the Night [Beggars Group]
For its 20th AIDS benefit release, The Red Hot Organization enlisted Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National to curate. The result is a double album featuring collaborations that include David Byrne with The Dirty Projectors, Feist with Grizzly Bear, Feist with Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch, The Books with Jose Gonzalez, and Bryce Dessner with Antony, and Aaron Dessner with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. On top of that are a parade of new songs, traditionals and covers from acts like The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine. It’s a snapshot of indie rock during the last few years, and the Dessners definitely caught its best side. Josh Jackson
23. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz! [Interscope]
Initial singles “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll” suggested that we were hearing YYY 2.0, a sleek, chrome-coated dancefloor act; Nick Zinner’s mutant guitar gives way to a synth-heavy attack, while Brian Chase’s drumming scales back to a 4/4 pulse. But the rest of It’s Blitz! turns out to be a bit more complicated. The synths are there more for window dressing, doing double duty with the guitar to flesh out the tracks, and “Dull Life” shows that the band can still dirty itself up when the songs call for it. Forget aesthetics for a moment, though, and focus on Karen O: Now an established talent, the singer has shed her early gimmicks—the screeches, the panting. She sits back, lets the tune come to her, and picks it apart with clear-eyed purpose. The trio hasn’t quite put together an album of complete heart-stoppers just yet, but Blitz charts them in the right direction. Jeremy Goldmeier
22. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE [Asthmatic Kitty]
Sufjan Stevens’ 2007 multimedia tribute to the seemingly mundane Brooklyn-Queens Expressway included an orchestra, three simultaneously projected films and live hula hoopers. Ever the perfectionist, Stevens took two years to record and edit this combination CD/DVD set which presents the project in its entirety with an essay by Stevens, a comic book and a vintage View-Master reel added for good measure. With his sweeping, swooning, swirling orchestral arrangements leading the way, it’s an utterly enchanting amalgam of Gershwin and Warhol, Copland and Brakhage, somehow weaving traffic jams, grainy cityscapes and construction sites into a rich tapestry of percolating humanity. It’s his most ambitious undertaking to date, and while it presents no obvious singles or easy entry points, he pulls it off without it feeling pretentious or ponderous. Matt Fink
21. Wilco – Wilco (The Album) [Nonesuch]
On Wilco (the album), the band evokes sounds from its entire catalog while mostly continuing in the same angst-free vein of Sky Blue Sky. Despite missing the experimentation that was Wilco’s hallmark, the album is full of thoughtful, artfully crafted lyrics wrapped in memorable hooks that should stand the test of time. Tim Regan-Porter
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Surprised to not see Joshua James, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Buddy & Julie Miller, AA Bondy, Andrew Bird, and J. Tillman.
this is a shitty list due the lack of best albums of 2009. i can see many of the staff writers now, revisiting their last.fm charts saying "oooh damn, i completely forgot about this fucking awesome record. shit." having to waste your albums list to promote lesser known, virtually unappreciated folk acts is a dirty job..and paste's gotta do it
Good list. Seems a bit "safe," though... or a bit predictable for a Paste list. But I guess that's what I like about Paste. I know why I keep coming back.
~Dan
@KAC I'm surprised that Noble Beast isn't on here, too, and I would've been pleasantly surprised if they gave a nod to The Daredevil Christopher Wright.
A mixtape is not an album. Roman Candle? .. That is an actual album..
WHERE IS PHOSPHORESCENT 'TO WILLIE' ????
and I agree AA Bondy would have been good too, though his second album pales in comparison to his first. But Phosphorescent crafted perhaps the most thoroughly done album of the year and I KNOW Paste loved it....
Notable omissions:
Andrew Bird -- Noble Beast
Other Lives -- Other Lives
Fanfarlo -- Reservoir
Port O'Brien -- Threadbare
KiD CuDi -- Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Choir of Young Believers -- This Is For the White In Your Eyes
Missing from the list:
Roman Candle - Oh Tall Tree In The Ear
Finally, a year end list with Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Thank you, Paste. And God.
so Manchester Orchestra gets reviewed higher than anything in your list except for #1-#3 and it doesn't make the top 50?
Very nice, but i see no Converge or Propagandhi, two heavier bands that released incredible albums this year. Also, hip-hop seems to have been ignored, especially since Raekwon, Brother Ali, POS, and Jay-Z all released mind-blowing proof of the life in hip-hop.
I do admit, this list could've had a bit more time spent on it. Not including the Dan Deacon album Bromst is... quite the crime.
THOMAS FUNCTION?!??!?!?!!!?!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS.
My band nearly booked that band for a show in our hometown a few months back, they had to skip out because their schedule was tight and they were low on gas but they were apologetic about it.
Really nice guys.
Otherwise, totally called MPP and I&L&Y being your #2 and #1, respectably.
I'm still surprised at how great of a move you think Rubin as a producer is/was for The Avetts and don't get everyones infatuation with MPP. I thought it was good, but a near universal #1? Not even close. Feels and Strawberry Jam were much better records.
Wonderful, wonderful surprise for your #3, though.
Still one of the nicest people I've ever met, and a severely overlooked record as well.
Kudos for placing that so high.
Appreciated.
Have to agree with a couple of earlier comments and say I was SHOCKED not to see Roman Candle on this list...Oh Tall Tree In The Ear is easily in my Top Ten of 2009...Perhaps Paste didn't want to be accused of being homers since they sponsored their tour?
good list, though i think there may be a couple missing..... daredevil christopher wright being one in particular.
Yep, would have loved to have seen A.A. Bondy on here. "When the Devil's Loose" is gorgeous and doesn't leave my player for very long.
Every year I'm always a bit interested how the team comes up with how to rank the records. And this year I kept track of every record that, in the actual published magazine, that got rated over a 90 - just to see how many actually made the year end list. So here's what should have been your short list, Paste;
Brandi Carlile - Give Up the Ghost + 90 (on list)
The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin + 90 (on list)
Moby - Wait for Me + 90
Bill Callahan - Sometime I wish We Were An Eagle + 90
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion + 91 (on list)
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing + 91
Ben Folds - Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella + 91
Sufjan Stevens - The BQE + 92 (on list)
Joshua James - Build Me This + 92
Passion Pit - Manners + 92 (on list)
Alela Diane - To Be Still + 92
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - S/T + 93 (on list)
Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do + 93
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You + 96 (on list)
just for the little facts there.
Though not yet well-known (emphasis on yet), the album that impressed me the most this year is Reed Turner's All My Running.
You should spend some time with it, Paste Magazine - I think you would love it. The strength of his song writing coupled with his amazing voice makes it an incredibly powerful and beautiful listening experience.
Somebody from Paste or Paste itself calls the new Dave Perkins Pistol City Holiness "The Best So Far" of 2009 and then it doesn't even show up on the top 25?
Well that's not right at all.
An absolutely amazing release more deserving of your consideration and rank.
Who the heck is the Avett Brothers? Sounds like one of those indie cred selections that reviewers tout because they're too afraid to praise the latest Taylor Swift album.
Finally, someone has listed 'Dark was the Night'as one of the top albums of 2009. I bought it last March and it has not left my CD player unless its in my vehicle. Great list Paste. Keep up the good work!
Someone said "predictable," others said "shitty," but me, I have to say: this list is FABULOUS. This is the first time I have ever agreed on the number one pick for the best album of the year, for any publication. The Avett Brothers are brilliant musicians, and the best live act I saw all year long, and possibly ever.
THANKS PASTE!
You put The Avett Brothers in the first place --> You're awesome! Thanks Paste, this was such a good list.
Here are 3 albums I would put on this list;
"Remembering Machine" by Secret Archives of the Vatican
"Stockholm Syndrome" by Derek Webb
"Sting like Bees and Sing" by The Violet Burning
Good list, here's my top ten
1. "Big Whiskey & The Groogrux King" - Dave Matthews Band
2. "Manners" - Passion Pit
3. "Lungs" - Florence & The Machine
4. "21st Century Breakdown" - Green Day
5. "Oohs & Aahs" - Say hi to your mom
6. "Post-Nothing" - Japandroids
7. "White Lies for Dark Times" - Ben Harper & Relentless7
8. "Around the Well" - Iron & Wine
9. "Monsters of Folk"
10. "No More Stories" - Mew
Here's a second opinion
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Albums-of-2009-so-far/lm/R192WLN6RBXA0F/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full
Roman Candle's "Oh Tall Tree easily topped my list as best album of the year......quite an omission
An okay list, a little disappointed not to see Bon Iver's debut album.
I'm surprised that, given the amount of Georgia love there is at Paste, Ernest Greene, aka Washed Out, from Perry, did not make your list for Life of Leisure. Perhaps you weren't giving EP's consideration? Regardless, his songs "New Theory" and "Feel It All Around" were definitely two of the best this year.
Brand New?
Gotta say a "decent" list but a lack of all genres, for one I really believe Kid Cudi's Man on The Moon should have been on there it really categorizes alternative hiphop and steps out side rap boundaries with songs with the likes of ratatat and MGMT and really puts soul back into music, on top of that it seems this list really avoids other genres as well and I understand with a year like this where ALOT of really good music came out its hard to make the cut but maybe a few more heads should be involved next time in the making of this
Where is The Daredevil Christopher Wright on this list? Are you kidding me? Not even an honorable meantion?
First off, a various artists comp is not an album. It might be a good collection of songs or not, but it's not an album.
That having been said, WAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! What a bunch of whining babies most of you are. There are 25 spots on the list. Deal with it.
Great job this year, Paste. Not only has it been an amazing year for you and us the readers (where else would you see so many users of a product rise up to save the very thing they love from going out of business???) but it's also been a TREMENDOUS year for music. Four of my Best Of Albums from 2009 (Sunset Rubdown, Neko Case, Animal Collective, and Avett Brothers) ALSO made my Top 10 for the Decade. We saw these groups really pull together their bests yet to end this decade with a bang.
For those interested, here is my Top 10 for 2009 as well as the Decade:
2009 Top 10
1. Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer
2. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You
3. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk
5. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
6. M. Ward: Hold Time
7. Isis: Wavering Radiant
8. Brandi Carlile: Give Up the Ghost
9. The Marked Men: Ghosts
10. David Bazan: Curse Your Branches
Decade's Top 10 Albums: 2000-2009
1. My Morning Jacket: Okonokos
2. Wilco: Kicking Television - Live In Chicago
3. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
4. Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer
5. The Strokes: Is This It?
6. Okkervil River: The Stage Names
7. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
8. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You
9. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
10. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
Happy Holidays everyone!
Interesting point about the difference between ratings and year-end rankings. Our Reckoning section is subtitled, "Encounters With Music," and while we supervise ratings, a single reviewer's opinion is weighted heavily in most of the scores we give. When we do the year-end list, we've had time to live with all of these records and some have grown on our editors, while others haven't had the same lasting impression. And some are personal favorites of one person on staff (like Roman Candle's latest with me), but didn't get enough votes to make the final cut.
The purposes of these lists are to hopefully introduce you to some artists you don't know, to celebrate with you some of the artists you already love and foster discussion about other artists that you've discovered.
You guys (well Josh did) had Roman Candle on your "Best of the Year So Far" list...should have left them on.
Easily one of the best albums of the year!
i really like this list. although it includes so many albums on EVERYone else's "top" lists, it doesn't live in the same releases that every other publications do. so, props for that. I especially love the Brandi Carlile and David Bazan write-ups. Two great albums that, while getting some credit, are not getting the attention that they deserve.
I always look forward to Paste's end of the year list. Personally, I think Joe Henry's "Blood from Stars" is a masterpiece and belongs on the list. Noah and the Whale "First days of Spring", Califone "All my friends are funeral singers," and Gregory Alan Isakov "This Empty Northern Hemisphere" are among my best of the year as well. Though I don't dislike the album, this is the first new Wilco album that I don't think is among the year's best.
Where is Tool's "Lateralus"? Where is Bon Iver's "For Emma, Forever Ago"? Where is Radiohead's "In Rainbows"? Outkast? The Roots?
This list seems a lot more well thought out than that abomination from Rolling Stone, but magazines just need to stop coming out with these lists. There's too much music out there to make a legitimate list that covers all bases. Some of the best albums I've heard this decade (Glassaw's "Worship and Tribute" and Underoath's "Define the Great Line") are in genres that would never even get consideration for something like this.
I hate to force my opinion on this but I'm really kind of bummed out that mewithoutYou's CD (It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright) isn't on this list. It was very great and I recommend it highly to anyone reading this commment!
I can't believe Curse Your Branches is #5. I enjoy Pedro quite a bit and was very disappointed by the David Bazan record.
The Church "Untitled #23" is the best album you haven't heard this year...
MIKA- The Boy Who Knew Too Much
fun.- Aim & Ignite
Great list! A lot of these guys, like The Dirty Projectors, I never actually listened to - but I suppose I have to now! You should check out our comments on the "best of the decade" lists at AudioADD.net!
seriously a good year for music
agreed postymcposterton, seems a bit safe. i've seen lists with way more surprises, like http://mog.com/features/blog/1646237
I dont know half this stuff; what is going on here? this list sucks, for the most part. I noticed many people mentioned that Roman Candle is missing. One thing i want to congratulate, though, is including Brandi Carlile. The new album is amazing.
2009 was a tad dissapointing for me, musically, until the late-in-the-year release of Lisa Bigwood's "Intrepid". Mulit-layered, it just gets richer and deeper on each listening. One of the most challenging in a genre-defying trio of three albums from an artsit who hikes her own trail.
THE ONLY two I've agreed with our #1 & #2. Everything else is a pile of crap.