The Top 10 Alternative Albums of 2009

From an indie's perspective, a top 10 list of alternative rock albums that defined the year. Or at least my year.

10. 30 Seconds to Mars, This is War
This recent release from 30 Seconds to Mars is a definite departure from their 2005 album A Beautiful Lie but that is exactly why it is so awesome. When 30 Seconds to Mars first released their self-titled debut, everyone was doubting their staying-power and dubbing "Capricorn" their one hit. But they transformed their sound and grew to make A Beautiful Lie which gave us the phenomenal tracks of "A Modern Myth", "The Kill", and "From Yesterday". Now they're growing again to something quite unexpected. From the first build-up and faint strings of "Escape" to their single "Kings and Queens" and to the chaotic melody of "Closer to the Edge", this album is beautiful and unique.

9. The Mumlers, Don't Throw Me Away

Listen to their track "Tangled Up in You" and you'll wonder where this epoch and genre bending band has been all your life. The sweet serenade of their track "Don't Throw Me Away" channels blues master from another time while still remaining incredibly fresh. This San Jose band is something to look for in coming years.

8. Frightened Rabbit, The Midnight Organ Fight

To understand Frightened Rabbit probably takes being in Frightened Rabbit. I have no explanation for their quirky sound-I take the following from their myspace page to demonstrate my meaning.

You are currently reading about Frightened Rabbit. They are a band who live in Glasgow and have done for some time. They record in bedrooms, cupboards and kitchens. Anyone can be in Frightened Rabbit. They have played some live shows in this city, but want to meet people from other cities, in order that they can come and blow into tubes when they play live. Let's keep pop music alive by getting it out of that dress and into a sweater.

The Midnight Organ Fight continues the Hutchinson brothers Scott and Grant folkish melodies and feverish yet contained drumming. Scott's vocals seemed almost strained at times but it elicits quite an emotion from the listener and demands attention. "Fast Blood", "I Feel Better" and "The Twist" are all stand out tracks but make no mistake-the entire album is worth listening to. They have a recently released track on iTunes called "Swim Until You Can't See Land" which is available streaming for free via myspace, along with some excellent tracks of previous works.

7. Bear in Heaven, Bear Rest Forth Mouth

Bear in Heaven revels in the small pleasures of music stardom-being named in the top 50 album list of 2009 by Pitchfork website, being featured on iTunes' indie spotlight podcasts, and having their name in lights outside of the venues they play. That genuine freshness of spirit, combined with their psychedelic, pounding beats have made Bear Rest Forth Mouth one of my favorite albums of this year.

6. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart loudly proclaim pop as their genre but its unlike any pop music in existence. "Young Adult Friction" recounts the college-age romance of hormones and studying while "Stay Alive" is a pre-night out anthem. It is a rarely upbeat album but please don't confuse that with unimportant.

5. Metric, Fantasies

From the pounding opening anthem "Help I'm Alive", delivered by the heroine of indie music, Emily Haines, to the soaring sounds and lyrics of "Gimme Sympathy", Metric continues to shine with Fantasies. Haines and bandmate James Shaw also perform with Broken Social Scene who are currently on tour in Europe.Their website features some free streaming acoustic versions of their songs.

4. Death Cab For Cutie, The Open Door EP

The Open Door is some remains from Death Cab's 2008 Narrow Stairs release. It opens with the upbeat "Little Bribes", followed by the slightly darker "A Diamond and a Tether", "My Mirror Speaks", and "I Was Once a Loyal Lover". They even strip down to ukuleles for "Talking Bird". The other notable track from them from this year is on New Moon: The Twilight Saga soundtrack, entitled "Meet Me on the Equinox". This EP has been nominated for the 2009 Best Alternative Music Album Grammy.

3. Silversun Pickups, Swoon

Fans of Silversun Pickups will have to forgive the Grammys for nominating them under the "Best New Artist" category-we know they've been here for quite a while and this album proves they have staying power. They've been here so long, in fact, that they were one of the opening acts for Snow Patrol's Eyes Open tour, back in 2006. I've agreed not to hold it against the Grammys for their naivety in their pseudo-discovery and simply say well done for recognizing some real music.

2. Telekinesis, Telekinesis!

Telekinesis! is the first studio released album from Telekinesis, who in real life is Michael Benjamin Lerner (accompanied by others while on tour). Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla played a major part in mixing in this early April release, working together with Lerner to record one song per day during production. That sounds rushed but in reality the effect is a beautiful spontaneous and lyrically simply piece of craftsmanship. Opening with the now famous track "Coast of Carolina", the album is filled with Lerner's moods at sporadic moments in his life. "I Saw Lightning" and "All of a Sudden" are some other personal favorites of mine, but in reality the whole album is snazzy pop without the common dilemma of being vapid.

1. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I know what indie fans fear because I myself fear it. I don't fear that a secret favorite of mine will get famous and leave behind their alternative roots but rather that once their music is used for a commercial, fans will recognize the single and not take initiative to listen to a whole album. Luckily, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix has been nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album so hopefully my fears for this band will be unfounded. If you listen to "1901" and recognize it from a random car commercial from this year, I hope that in listening to the entire album the unfortunate association will be lifted away. The entire album is brilliant.