The Best Albums of 2009

Here is the moment we have all been waiting for: the very best albums of 2009! I sat stressing over the nuances of this list for a really long time before coming to the conclusion that all 49 of these albums are really great in their own way. If they made the list, they should make your itunes library for sure. The numbers really just represent the impact they had on me personally. Please feel free to discuss, comment, and share your own!

49. Atlas Sounds- Logos (Kranky/4AD)
48. My Heart to Joy- Seasons in Verse (Topshelf)
47. Fuck Buttons- Tarot Sport (ATP Recordings)
46. Sonic Youth- The Eternal (Matador)
45. Transit- Stay Home (Run for Cover)
44. The Lawrence Arms: Buttsweat and Tears (Fat Wreck Chords)
43. Bomb the Music Industry- Scrambles (Quote Unquote/ Asian Man Records)
42. Real Estate- S/T (Woodsist)
41. The Clean- Mister Pop (Merge/ Arch Hill)
40. The Drums- The Summertime EP (Moshi Moshi/Popfrenzy)
39. The Thermals- Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
38. The Loved Ones- Distractions (Fat Wreck Chords)
37. The Sidekicks: Weight of Air (Red Scare)
36. NoFX- Coaster (Fat Wreck Chords)
35. NoFX- Cokie the Clown (Fat Wreck Chords)
34. Nothington-Roads, Bridges and Ruins (BYO/Left off the Dial)
33. The Mountain Goats- The Life of the World to Come (4AD)
32. A Wilhelm Scream- S/T EP (Paper + Plastick)
31. Small Brown Bike- Composite, Volume One (No Idea Records)
30. Brand New- Daisy (Interscope)
29. No Age- Losing Feeling (Subpop)
28. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (V2)
27. Sufjan Stevens- The BQE (Asthmatic Kitty)
26. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- S/T (Slumberland)
25. Volcano Choir- Unmap (Jagjaguwar)
24. Title Fight- The Last Thing You Forget (Run for Cover)
23. Animal Collective- Fall Be Kind EP (Domino Records)
22.Do Make Say Think- Other Truths (Constillation)
21.Charles Spearin- The Happiness Project (Arts and Crafts)
20. Make Do and Mend- Bodies of Water EP (Panic Records)
19. Andrew Jackson Jihad- Can’t Maintain (Asian Man)
18. Polar Bear Club- Chasing Hamburg (Bridge Nine Records)
17. The Appleseed Cast- Sagramatha (The Militia Group)
16. Short Fuse Burning- Scream When You Burn (Self-Released)
15. Coalmine Canary- The Company we Keep (Polk-Records)
14. Lucero- 1372 Overton Park (Universal)
13. Algernon Cadwallader- Hot Green/Fun EP (Be Happy)
12. Matt and Kim- Grand (Fader Label)
11. Vacations- I was Bikini/Rain Afraid (Record Label)
10. Bon Iver- Blood Bank EP (Jagjaguwar)
9. Chuck Ragan- Gold Country (Side One Dummy)
8. Propaghandi- Supporting Caste (Welcoming Comittee Records)
7. Cymbals Eat Guitars- Why There are Mountains (Self-Released)
6. Old Canes- Feral Harmonic (Saddle Creek)

#1-5 Category Winners

The Twilight Sad- Forget the Night Ahead (Fat Cat)

Saddest Album
Reasons to love this album: Emotive, beautiful, indie-rock. Plus, singing in scottish accents could not sound cooler. I couldn't turn this one off for an entire month. Favorite tracks: I Became a Prostitute, 7 Years of Letters, and That Room.

Merriweather Post Pavilion- Animal Collective (Domino Records)

Best Hair
Animal Collective really came into their own with Merriweather Post Pavilion. This album combines their experimental electronic component with upbeat and catchy melodies. A must have for every collection (plus, the cover is a stereogram. Look Closely). Favorite tracks: Summertime Clothes, My Girls, and Brother Sport.

Japandroids- Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl)

Best Debut
This album is hands down incredible. Its simplistic, lo-fi, and melodic. Everyone song has 2 lines of lyrics tops, and those homey chord progressions that bring you back to simpler times. This is a scream-out-loud on a long car ride kind of album. Favorite tracks: Young Hearts Spark Fire, Wet Hair, Rockers East Vancouver

Owen- New Leaves (Polyvinyl)

Best Followup Album
New Leaves is Owen's (Mike Kinsella) first release since the critically acclaimed "At Home With.." (2006). I have to say, it does not disappoint. Although it is more heavily orchestrated then his works in the past, you can still here his twinkly guitar riffs. Its as innocent and pretty as ever. Favorite tracks: Good Friends, Bad Habits, Amnesia and Me, a Trenchant's Critique

Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans (Subpop)

Most Brutal
This is my go to album when I've had a bad day. Seriously its perfect: heavy, but artfully. Not drop-D-chug-a-lugging, but just some dudes who kind of sound like Jesus Lizard. This album rocks. Favorite Tracks: False Jessi pt 2, She is Science Fiction, Half Idiot.

WUML CMJ Day 5

Saturday's pretty slow, as there are no panels. After getting some pizza and smashing through happy hour at Iggy's we headed out to the last of the showcases, most of which were 21+. The Motorcycle Industry played early in the night. John and MichaelWiessthePrideofConn killed it...and probably played the best out of their whole bill.

The Sub Pop party was stocked and lasted until 2:30AM. We got their just as Pissed Jeans was finishing up. Tom liked the pit...we both liked the pigfuck. Finally...a band that harnesses the intensity of Jesus Lizard and the heaviest, drivingest drums; as if Steve Albini himself was running the soundboard.

Obits...whom are signed to Sub Pop put on a decent show. They seemed like a watered down Replacements or Husker Du, but never broke out of playing bar rock. Thier music seemed to sound the same and guitarist usually took a solo. However, as a perfect ender for CMJ we got to see Male Bonding. The trio out of Dalston England took the stage, far from the moldy speakers of the Silent Barn and asked "reverb...lots of reverb." Then they blasted into a non-stop string of songs with fluid basslines, screechy guitar, and frantic drumming. As I said earlier watch out for these guys. This intense alt-rock-twee pop-surf drive by is to beautiful to pass up...and you better not blink. Here's a video of them from '08.