My Favorite Music of 2009
So here goes folks: my favorite music of the year. There’s a ton of fantastic stuff in here. I hope you enjoy.
Top 10 Albums of 2009
1. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
MPP is an album in every sense of the word. It is not for the faint of heart, and it is not for every occasion. But give it a listen from start to finish and prepare to have your mind blown. Animal Collective is one of the few bands pushing music forward in fantastically new and interesting ways.
2. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
This was my go-to album of the year. Whether a dinner party, afternoon cocktails or any other cause for celebration, you can be sure you’d hear Phoenix. A great poppy record from an incredibly fun band.
3. Xx, Xx
A chill sexy listen the whole way through. This was one of three albums I played endlessly while I worked, read or just chilled this past year.
4. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2
Raekwon gave us a throwback record this year, reminding me again why I will always love hip-hop. I could almost sense the Wu Tang Clan back in action. A great hip-hop record in every way. If only there were more like this.
5. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca
A gorgeous record that pulls you in and pushes you off at the same time. Love the female edge to this band. I’m eager to see where they go from here.
Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimist brought two of my favorite songs of the year in Two Weeks and While We Wait For The Others and a cozy, warm record the whole way through.
7. Girls, Album
A surprising, textured album that I can’t pin down other than to simply say: great.
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz
Karen O and crew at the top of their game. Let’s hope they last.
Another great record from Sweden. Miike Snow churns out hits that make you want to groove.
I listened to this album as much as any this year. It reminds me of the beach and sandalwood…and I love it for that.
Honorable Mention:
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Harlem Shakes, Technicolor Health
Top 10* Tracks of 2009
* I made it 11 so I could get my boy J in here. While it’s hard to objectively call it the best track of the year, it certainly spoke to me personally as a die-hard New Yorker more than any other. ”I’ma up at Brooklyn, now I’m down in Tribeca.”
1. Jay Z, Empire State of Mind
2. Animal Collective, My Girls
6. Empire of The Sun, Walking on a Dream
7. Florence + The Machine, Dog Days Are Over
8. Dirty Projectors, Stillness is The Move
Honorable Mention:
