In my book, or my iPod, 2009 wasn't a great year for music. A lot of my favourite bands (Spoon, Nada Surf, Ryan Adams, et al.) didn't release an album this year. And some artists (Depeche Mode, Bon Iver, Muse, Weezer) put out stuff that was less than inspring. While I've had a chance to sample a lot of new music, there wasn't much that was worth downloading and keeping on my iPod. The ten below are iPod-worthy, but I didn't buy many more albums this year. If it is bad, I listen (for free) once and move on. If it is good, I buy it on iTunes, so that the good artists (in my opinion) get my money.
By know you know my taste in music, so this list won't wander into rap or country, and won't include Lady Ga Ga. But anything else is fair game. For me, my ears weren't hungry for jazz this year, so this list is primarily pop and rock, and sounds on the edges of these genres; maybe a bit more a country and folk tinge this year.
13. Mark Olson and Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood. Not their best stuff, but better than nothing. These guys are the Jayhawks. A mainly acoustic album so it doesn't rock, but it rolls.
12. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm. There isn't much lo-fi 90's rock being made these days. Dinosaur Jr. is one of the few bands doing it. Not the best Dinosaur Jr. album and not as good as other lo-fi albums made back in the day, but for this year, it will have to do.
11. Sarah Jarosz - Song Up In Her Head. Stumbled upon her on iTunes, gave it a listen, and I like it. Simple and sweet, but a nice debut from the seventeen year old singer-songwriter.
10. Son Volt - American Central Dust. Rock and country, Jar Farrar is one my favourites. A solid album, nothing too different from the last few albums, and that's just fine.
9. Jeremy Larson - Salvation Club. Romantic, sparse. It is winter music, and I got hooked on this last winter. The cold is back, so this album is getting more and more play in my iPod.
8. Duncan Sheik - Whisper House. Call me an old man, someone with a tendency to sometimes listen to bland old-people's music, but while your ears may not like Duncan Sheik, I enjoy his songwriting and his musicianship. If you only know him from the one or two pop songs that hit the airwaves ten or fifteen years ago, give this album a try. It is well-crafted. Easy to listen to, and that may not make it hip, but it is a good album.
7. The xx - XX. I like these kids. The album has a good, dark and mellow sound to it. Perfect for an urban winter.
6. U2 - No Line on the Horizon. The first half is highly addictive; the second half is good, but doesn't hold me the same way the first 5-6 tracks do. 'Magnificent' would be my vote for Song of the Year at the Grammys -- not in terms of the absolute best song of the year, but the one that could possibly win the approval of Grammy voters.
5. Mason Jennings - Blood of Man. While he's been around a while, I got switched on to him this year, and I really dig this album. Johnny Cash meets Bruce Springsteen -- a nice combination.
4. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches. The best songwriter around. The variety of sounds on the album hurt the album's continuity, but it is still candy for your ears, while the words are lemon juice for your soul.
3. Doves - Kingdom of Rust. Urban and hip, it sounds similar to past Doves albums, but that is a good thing. I want some bands to branch into new sounds, but the Doves' sound is unique and the musicianship is first-rate. No need to change anything.
2. Wilco - Wilco (The Album). Jeff Tweedy can't put out a bad album. One of the most under-appreciated songwriters of our time.
1b. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You. This album hit me the first time I listened to it, and it keeps getting better. Bittersweet, introspective, loving -- it brings out a lot of emotions.
1a. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast. After the first listen, was disappointed that 'Beast' didn't match Andrew's previous release, 'Armchair Apochrypha', but it didn't take long for me to appreicate that while this album is different, it is every bit as good.
