Favorite Albums of 09

It's nearly the end of the year (and end of the decade), so we might as well share some of our favorite releases from 2009. In the interest of brevity, I'm going to only talk about 3.

First of all, I'm going to exclude The Lonely Island because it's comedy before music. It is brilliant at times and hilarious nearly all the way through, but it just doesn't fit into this discussion.

1. Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
Of course AIC is one of my favorite ever groups and I liked Jerry Cantrell's solo work too so this is no surprise - it's everything AIC were, albeit without the distinctive voice of a man slowly and consciously dying on top. Layne's absence is felt but Mike Inez is one of the best bassists in rock and this group has too much chemistry to be ignored, even the filler is good. Best songs - Acid Bubble, Black Gives Way to Blue.

2. Umlaut - Umlaut
Whereas Mike Patton's weird streak runs into lame trip hop these days and Secret Chiefs 3 are either walking an already cleared path in insanity or following John Zorn blindly, ex-Mr. Bungle saxophonist Bar McKinnion's Australian group Umlaut manage to infuse the fun and subtlety back into chaotic pop music. Patton makes a guest appearance, extending his streak of years appearing on my best albums list, and the tracks are varied and short. The only complaints would be too little sax soloing, and that it's over too soon. Best songs - Kitty Puppy, Atlas Face, Chill Pill

3. Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club
Okay, so this album is full of shortcomings and disappointments, but it's too much fun. If Rage Against the Machine is an angry pot smoker reading philosophy and the Coup is a down on the streets alcoholic drinking Moonshine (racism not intended, but certainly present), then SSSC is a suburban kid taking a hit of Salvia on the lawn. It's quick, it's stupid, it lacks the poetry, sophistication, and populist fury that the others contain, but hey - it's funny as hell while it lasts. The Coup's Boots Riley dumbs himself down for us retarded rock fans, and Tom Morello is treading water with riffs that sound kind of like every other decent album he's been on (everything except Nightwatchman) but the results are still fun. It's not smart - it's just hateful, hateful, hateful. With lyrics like "'Till the revolution comes, I just hope your life sucks" how can you go wrong? Best song - 100 Little Curses.

Joy. enough said

1. The Resistance - Muse
2. Joy - Phish
3. Anything else not by Alice in Chains

I'm glad AIC wasn't praised in the same post that Phish was. That would be downright humiliating.

My choices (In no particular order).

1. MIKA - The Boy Who Knew Too Much
This album is glorious. Thirteen (I got the bonus track) tracks of pure happiness. I got it on Sunday and have listened to the whole thing four times already. It's so addictive. Mika never disappoints and he does everything so whole-heartedly. I can't pick a bad track off this album. Favourites: "One Foot Boy," "Blame It On the Girls," "Touches You..." Oh, hell, the entire album is my favourite.



2. Jason Mraz - A Beautiful Mess Live On Earth
Okay, I'm biased. And I don't actually own this album yet. But I've streamed it. Honestly, Jason Mraz is meant to be heard live. It's just the way it is. He is incredible and no two performances of a song are the same. His live albums are so incredible and they really give you a taste of who he is. For example, the studio version of "Song for a Friend" on MR. A-Z? Yeah, not that impressive. I mean, I love it, but when you hear the 12-minute live version from Selections for Friends... now THAT is something incredible. He's just amazing, amazing, amazing. Okay, I'm biased. But still.

(My internets are acting up so I can't find a video to put here D': )

3. Dawn Mitschele - In the Moonlight
Okay, I got into Dawn Mitschele last year because JMraz linked to her from his blog. BUT SHE IS AMAZING. And I wish more people knew about her because she is a great acoustic-y person, sort of like Tristan Prettyman but she's got a fuller voice (I love Tristy P but she can be a bit breathy at times, which is part of her appeal -- also, she does a great acoustic cover of "Toxic," but that's not the point). Honestly, this girl is amazing and I love listening to her. Her songwriting skills are great, too.

(Once again, I can't link to video... boo...)

4. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Different sound, different direction. I like it. I would blast my CD but You-Know-Who took it. (I gave it to him and I meant for him to BORROW it, but he took it to mean that I GAVE it to him, and I have no desire to stalk it back because the music is in my computer and I don't want more problems with that boy.) It's taken a while to grow on me (the first two albums were pretty much "instant like" and this one is like "second time listen round like") but I'm glad I got it.

Honourable mention: Cambria Detkin - Simply Said
So I saw this girl on Ellen and she's like two weeks older than me and she has a really incredible voice. I want to own her album but I've settled for streaming her music via her website. It's really lovely. Writes all her own songs, too. Amazing, amazing.

Now: best albums that I have come to own this year that weren't released this year.
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better and Franz Ferdinand
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Cake - Prolonging the Magic
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit (okay, I just have a soft spot for French pop)

Also have started to listen to Ingrid Michaelson a lot as of late and I am glad I have because I enjoy her stuff quite a bit.

Them Crooked Vultures may be worth consideration. Too early to tell, but I may have to revise and include it.