The Ten Best Albums of 2009

In trying to decide which albums released this year were truly the best of 2009, I ran into a huge problem: music was amazing this year in general. Picking ten albums to highlight seemed a monumental task. I managed to narrow down the field quite a bit, though. So, after about a week of ordering and re-ordering my list, here are the best albums of 2009 based on my (occasionally biased) opinion and a little bit of critical consensus.

10. A.C. Newman - Get Guilty

Few artists can be said to be as adept at creating incredible pop songs as A.C. Newman. Better known as one of the driving forces behind the Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers, Newman has definite knack for catchy hooks and inscrutable (yet lovely) lyrics. Get Guilty is definitely no exception.

Stand-out tracks: "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve..." and "Prophets"

9. Vetiver - Tight Knit

There couldn't be a more apt name for Vetiver's 2009 release. Tight Knit sums up what really works in this album. Every song feels essential, and every chord fits in perfectly with the one before it. What is truly amazing about this album is the way songs seemingly from different genres coexist in one very cohesive record.

Stand-out tracks: "Another Reason to Go" and "Rolling Sea"

8. White Rabbits - It's Frightening

It's Frightening is, simply put, just a great rock album. There is a high energy throughout that propels every song all the way to the end. This is a short album, and it sticks to the point; there is absolutely no filler to be found here. The two drum kits create a unique and energetic album that is definitely one of 2009's best.

Stand-out tracks: "Rudie Fails," "Percussion Gun," and "They Done Wrong/We Done Wrong"

7. The Thermals - Now We Can See

One of the things I enjoy most about The Thermals is how every album they release is distinctively them. There is never any doubt when listening to Now We Can See just who made it. And, yes, most Thermals albums do have a similar sound, but that isn't a bad thing at all. This album sounds a little cleaner and crisper than their previous releases, but it maintains the band's incredible energy.

Stand-out tracks: "Now We Can See" and "How We Fade"

6. Ha Ha Tonka - Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South

Sure, I may be a bit biased here, as Ha Ha Tonka hail from my part of the country (Springfield, Missouri) and are named after my favorite state park, but that doesn't diminish this amazing album. Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South is a more mature record than their first (2007's Buckle in the Bible Belt), and a more confident one. The lyrics are both hyper-literate and understated, and the arrangements are definitely unique. Plus, the sound of Ha Ha Tonka is unlike almost anything you've probably heard, combining gospel harmonies and straight-up rock. Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South is both distinctly Ozarkian and completely universal.

Stand-out tracks: "Hold My Feet to the Fire" and "Walking on the Devil's Backbone"

5. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

I'll admit it: I've never really gotten the love that Animal Collective seems to get, at least before their latest release. Maybe I'm just hopelessly uncool, but I've always found their music to be far too experimental for my taste. That changed with Merriweather Post Pavilion. This has been called their most accessible album, and if I'm any indication, it really is. Though the experimental elements are still there, something about their sound just gels better on this album than their previous ones. Merriweather Post Pavilion is full of big, bombastic music and gentle melodies, and the combination just works.

Stand-out tracks: "My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes"

4. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Bitte Orca is one of those albums that grow on you slowly, until you eventually find yourself completely won over. At first the songs may seem messy and a little disorganized, but ultimately they have their own logic that is entirely infectious. Bitte Orca sneaks up on you in an unexpected way, and leaves you feeling somewhat in awe, and for that reason alone it deserves a spot on almost any list of the best albums of 2009.

Stand-out tracks: "Cannibal Resource" and "Temecula Sunrise"

3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

There's not much to say about Grizzly Bear's gorgeous Veckatimest that hasn't already been said ad nauseum, so I'll make this one short and sweet: Veckatimest is absolutely beautiful. That's all that can be said, really. Everything just works on this album, and the end result is simply lovely and sophisticated.

Stand-out tracks: "Cheerleader" and "Two Weeks"

2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't love Phoenix's 2009 release Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. I mean, what's not to love? The songs are absolutely infectious and full of joy. The ten songs on this album rush by breathlessly, leaving listeners just a little happier in the process. That's not to say that every song is full of pop hooks; some of the best tracks slow down just enough to punctuate the rest of the album. Though Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is meticulously arranged, it never once feels self-conscious.

Stand-out tracks: "1901" and "Lasso"

1. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

This choice will come as no surprise to those who know me, as I am completely in love with everything Neko Case has done. Middle Cyclone is no exception. Though it has been compared endlessly to her last album (Fox Confessor Brings the Flood), Middle Cyclone is incredibly different both thematically and musically. The song structures are a bit more traditional than those on Fox Confessor, but the arrangements are bolder and, seemingly, more confident. Pair that with Case's much-lauded voice (it's honestly almost otherworldly) and her gorgeous, intelligent lyrics, and you've got the best album of 2009.

Stand-out tracks: "This Tornado Loves You," "I'm an Animal," and "Middle Cyclone"