It's awfully hard to put out a "best of" list but pretty easy to list my favorites of 2009. Here are the 13 artists and albums I've been listening to the most this past year.
1. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart "The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart". Fresh trembly melancholy pop music that provides a great listen over and over.
2. Silversun Pickups "Swoon". Up for someone's best new artist award, we all know this album rocks as much as any "modern" rock and is a great follow-up to "Carnavas". Also a band that places like Pitchfork love to hate, but why?
3. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix". Now on there fourth album I'm sure they'll be up for some best new artist award too? Call it 80's sounding French eclectic and I'll agree in a big way.
4. The Big Pink "A Brief History Of Love. Droning soundscapes plus lush electronics.
5. The Thermals "Now We Can See". Economical punk-inspired power-pop.
6. Passion Pit "Manners". This year's best indie-friendly electro-pop.
7. Girls "Album". D.I.Y. California pop.
8. Sunset Rubdown "Dragonslayer". Adventurous and tightly woven.
9. Telekinesis "Telekinesis!". 31 minutes of easy-going power-pop.
10. Japandroids "Post-Nothing". Sounds like two dudes jammin' in their basement and keeping it simple.
11. Hotels - "Where Hearts Go Broke". Surf-inspired garage-rock that combines both coasts.
12. The xx "The xx". Captivating and cool songs mostly about sex.
13. Bell X1 "Blue Lights On The Runway". Sedate Irish electronica mixed with clever pop lyrics and hooks of all sorts.
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