The Top 10 Indie Rock Albums of 2009

OK tastemakers and fanboys, here's one fangirl's spin on the top indie rock albums of 2009. In no particular order, these were the tunes that inspired me, that kept our dance parties loud enough to annoy the neighbors, that over-filled my hard drive to its breaking point, and that we danced to at our wedding. These albums might not be obscure enough to give me my indie rock bona fides, but I'll take rockin' over obscure any day.

Avett Brothers - I And Love And You

From the title track, "I And Love and You", to the last track, "Incomplete and Insincere", brothers Scott and Seth Avett, along with bassist Bob Crawford, send up an emotional, raw set of stories as song, that will move you from tears to riotous foot stomping. The brothers bear their souls, their insecurities (as in "The Perfect Space": "I want to have friends that I can trust, that love me for the man I am, not the man I was") in such a compelling way that even the initially annoying, and eventually infecting "Kick Drum Heart" can be forgiven.

Fanfarlo - Reservoir

Fanfarlo burst on the scene of DJs and music journalists everywhere after 2009's SXSW festival in Austin, TX. By the end of the year, Fanfarlo's fan base grew in earnest, and deservedly so. The London-based band lays down lilting, toe-tapping beats on nearly every track. Even more mellow songs like "Comets" sound of something more eerie, epic, and dare I say, more soaring than many contemporary songs today. And any album that can score multiple songs on my BPM running playlist (like "Luna" and "Fire Escape") is a winner in my book.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca was a worthy successor this year to the 2008 hit album by their Brooklyn neighbors, MGMT's Oracular Spectacular. The eclectic band, sports multiple instruments, and rotating lead vocals from several of its members including Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian and Haley Dekle. Some may express consternation at concertgoers' avid fandom compared to the band's more staid performance style, but such rare dissent doesn't take away from the beautiful musical passages in "Two Doves", and intriguing combination of electronic beats in "Useful Chamber". Experimental and completely lovely.

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Upholding the proud Glaswegian-tradition, Camera Obscura do their countrymen proud with their fourth album release, My Maudlin Career. The first single from the album, "French Navy" does a wonderful job of showing up lead singer, Tracyanne Campbell's sumptuous voice. "The Sweetest Thing" is that indeed - a lovely song that has almost a Mad Men-era quality to it. The title song, "My Maudlin Career" has staying power, and will be the song from the album that gets played for years to come.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

What may sound like science fiction film, alien-ship background noise in "My Girls", turns into an uproarious song. Baltimore-born Animal Collective, may have moved to NYC, but the Merriweather Post Pavilion pays tribute to that great outdoor Maryland concert venue, where music lovers frolic in the very "Summertime Clothes" that Animal Collective sings about. Merriweather warbles, rocks and beats its way into becoming the ideal soundtrack to an initially uplifting and increasingly frustrating year in political and foreign affairs.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

"Lisztomania" may well be one of the catchiest songs of 2009, but the entire Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix album deserves a top slot. These Frenchies may have been around for an entire decade, but they're turning out some of their finest songs after ten years. "1901" is likely the most widely recognizable songs on the album, having been featured in soundtracks and movies, but "Girlfriend" and "Lasso" are strong songs in their own right.

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

The brilliantly energetic "Fitz and Dizzyspells" is just one of fifteen reasons to enjoy Andrew Bird's latest effort. Andrew Bird, a talented multi-instrumentalist, directs his talent (he's classically trained) to make a joyous folk album. Whistling, glockenspiel, violin, and what sounds to be a washboard, all have their places, such that even the slightly melancholy "Effigy" leaves you better off at the end of the song, then when you started it. Noble Beast is springtime, sunny Sunday in the park music at its finest.

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

This album was well on its way to the top list before its release earlier this year. Another Brooklyn-based band, Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest starts off with "Southern Point" harkens back to the best part of seventies' rock, and hurdles over the ocean to an almost eighties Brit-pop "Two Weeks". Simply said - Grizzly Bear rocks.

Passion Pit - Manners

Here's a not so "Little Secret", Passion Pit kills it on their first full-length studio album, Manners. While ultimately not as unique as MGMT's debut album, it's a worthy derivative. "Moth's Wings" combines a great beat, a catchy hook, and an intriguing melody. In "Let Your Love Grow Tall", a child-like chorus encourages us to do just that, in a way that isn't cloying as you might expect a song with that title.

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain

Lead singer, Erika Wennerstrom, has the blusiest voice, in a young person's body that you're likely to encounter in some time. She belts it out, backed up by strong guitar, throughout The Mountain. Befitting the blues, Erika and crew never quite seem satisfied, continually searching (case in point - "I could be so happy, if I just quit being sad" she sings in "Be So Happy"), but you'll come away enjoying this album immensely.

Honorable Mention Albums - We Can't Be Indie All The Time

Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3

I'm not going to wade too deep in the tumultuous waters where the river of Jay-Z fans meets the sea of Jay-Z haters (or maybe the tides have turned), but suffice it to say from the moment I heard Alicia Key's soaring bridge, followed by Jay-Z's reverential lyrics in "Empire State of Mind", Blueprint 3 earned a permanent place in my iTunes DJ playlist. "Run This Town" deserves the praise it gets, but Jay-Z continues to step up his game, and throw it down. I'm not sure it really is the "Death of Auto-Tune", but if anyone could make it happen, my bet is on Jay-Z.

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Known for her mellifluous voice, Neko Case doesn't disappoint on Middle Cyclone, but she also scores with her gift for lyrics and storytelling. We want Neko to be happy, to get the guy, but in the meantime, we enjoy her farm-inspired, nature loving "Fever" and "Magpie to the Morning". No one is making a fool of Neko Case.

A Compendium of Other Top 10 Lists

As of press time, many of the loudest voices in indie rock had yet to voice their opinions as to the best albums of the year, or they've only started releasing the best songs, tracks of the year - but they will not be silent for long. I, for one, will be checking to see how I fared against the shoe-gazer glitterati.

Pitchfork's Guest List

Pitchfork's Top 100 Tracks of 2009

KEXP

KCRW DJ's Top 10

NPR Music's Best of 2009

Spinner's Top Songs of 2009

SPIN's 40 Best Albums of 2009

The Onion's AV Club - Top 25 Albums of 2009