The Top 20 of '09

Ahh emo...as much as you may have a love/hate relationship with the genre (or even this band) you can't deny the melodies and harmonies that come wrapped tight when it comes to the band All Time Low and their latest disc. All the teen angst, boy meets girl, and high school hi-jinks you can shake a stick at can be found on Nothing Personal. If you can get passed their snot nosed brattiness, (and this will be tough to do) you will get sucked into the melodies of tunes like "Break Your Little Heart In Two" and "Lost In Stereo". Summer vacation needed a soundtrack this past year and this was it.

19.) Death -For The Whole World To See

Possibly the best reissue this year came out of Detroit. In 1974 three African American blood brothers named themselves Death and proceeded to kick out the garage rock/proto-punk jams. Before Jack and Meg White were trying to figure out if they were brother and sister or husband and wife, Death were pumping out punk rock manifestos dealing with politics (Politicians in My Eyes), paranoia (Freakin Out) and pure rock and roll abandon (Keep On Knocking). If you want to hear the roots of punk rock in its glory, check out "For The Whole World To See" by Death.

18.) Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows

Take Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) and Taylor Hanson (Hanson), put them all together and you get Tinted Windows, a power pop supergroup with enough hooks to stock a bait n' tackle shop for years to come! While Hanson croons the melodies Iha adds the loud crunchy guitars. The band is more Cheap Trick than Pumpkins and the group as a whole isn't breaking any new ground but you'll find yourself singing along every time Hanson wails, "come on, and come on"and"whoa, whoa!!" If you miss The Knack or The Raspberries Tinted Windows, like their song implies, has "got something" for ya!

17.) Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle

Asher Roth is a hip-hop mc from the suburbs of Pennsylvania. He loves college but he also doesn't mind being introspective (Fallin', His Dream). Roth hits his stride when he raps about having a good time and partying and yes he falters a bit when he tries to get serious, but give the young mc a little time. With the right support (and if he puts down the beer bong) he could become a hip-hop heavyweight with something poignant to say.

16.) Kyp Malone - Rain Machine

With TV On The Radio Kyp Malone has already rewritten the book on modern rock. With his solo disc Rain Machine, Malone goes the extra mile in deconstructing and building back rock music. Malone uses intricate rhythms, sly vocal melodies and a unique brand of story telling to create a haunting and yet beautiful sound. Malone comes off like a modern day Dylan as he melds esoteric ideas with modern issues. Rain Machine beckons the listener to forget the conventions of rock in order to more forward and create new ones.

15.) Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 - White Lies for Dark Times

Ben Harper has always been a rocker trapped in a Jam bands um...well...band. He has a new group backing him and while he can still write the heartfelt folksy ballad (Skin Thin) and the jam band tribute tune (Why Must You Always Dress in Black) his new band powers him into heavy rock territory (Shimmer and Shine, Keep it Together, Number With No Name) with serious confidence and swagger. At times it sounds like Mr. Harper is being backed by Queens of the Stone Age! His hardcore fans were probably startled at first but after a few listens I am sure they simply concurred and said, "It's about time Ben, thank you!"

14.) Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue

Alice In Chains came back with a vengeance after a fourteen year absence. Black Gives Way to Blue is the bands first disc with new frontman William DuVall. The band still retains their eerie and effective twin harmony attack and they still deliver a powerful sound that is two parts metal and two part alternative rock. If there is any criticism of the new disc it's the fact that at times DuVall's vocals get buried in the mix. When given a chance to shine (like on "Last of My Kind) DuVall's commanding vocal abilities, pushes the band to new heights.

13.) Living Colour - The Chair In The Doorway

New York rockers Living Colour returned with possibly their most cohesive disc since 1990's "Time's Up". The band retains their signature heavy rock meets funk/punk/soul and everything else sound from Blues (Bless Those), to rock and soul (That's What You Taught Me) to even a bit of dirty disco (Behind the Sun). While the musicians in the group are still in fine form, they seemed to have taken at least two steps back to give Corey Glover room to show off his dynamic vocals. The refrain of Behind The Sun says it all about the band and disc. "Were still here, your still there". Living Colour is indeed still here and they are still light years ahead of the pack.

12.) Eyedea & Abilities - By The Throat

To call Eyedea & Abilities just a rap group is a misnomer. These representatives of the Rhymsayers label combine jazz, punk rock; techno and the kitchen sink to their brand of hip-hop. The lyrics are introspective and lead rapper Eyedea, at times sounds like he's crying and pouring his heart out to the listener. Is this emo/jazz/techno rap? Possibly not, but their disc just might be the most challenging hip-hop cd you purchased in '09.

11.) P.O.S - Never Better

If you want to hear more challenging hip-hop then POS might be just what the doctor ordered. Never Better has more of a punk rock feel than POS's last record but that makes sense since the mc also leads a hardcore band called Build Better Bombs. Make no mistake this is a dirty hip-hop/punk rock record and that's just the way POS wanted it. You have to give mad respect to any mc who can reference Fugazi, Savion Glover, the Patriot Act and AC Slater all in one tune. That, hip-hop fans is truly keeping it real! For POS challenging times deserve a challenging soundtrack and this punk rock minded hip-hop mc is more than happy to oblige.

10.) Butterfly Boucher - Scary Fragile

Butterfly Boucher is an indie rock singer/songwriter who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her songs are emotional truths with more than just a bit of wit and edge. On her second disc Boucher combines a bit of truth and vulnerability with an undeniable indie rock sound. She also brings guitars, bass, piano and drums and she plays them all!! She will make you laugh with tunes like "Tongue for a Gun" and make you weep with "Bitter Song". Boucher will disarm you with her charm and win you over with her honesty.

9.) The Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts

Afro-Punkers, The Noisettes took their brand of indie rock and tossed in a bit of techno and a ton of 60's girl group sound to produce a retro sounding disc with a new school attitude. If you dug Amy Winehouse then get your hands on this disc. It comes complete with soul, attitude and edge with none of the heroin abuse! Shingai Shoniwa's playful vocals and lyrics are infectious. When she croons "I'm sorry I'm a little late, you know the stripes on a tiger are hard to change" you can't but help but want to jump up and dance and you'll nod in agreement with her when she lets you know on track ten that cheap kicks are alright.

8.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' latest disc will make you a believer in the idea of dance punk. "Its Blitz" may be a little more dance and techno oriented than past releases but they still retain a "punky" edge to their pulsating beats. The band seems hell bent on sounding like a jacked up Eurythmics meets Gang of Four. While Karen O makes your heard spin with her intimate, intricate melodies and lyrics, Nick Zimmer and Brian Chase keep the beats pumping throughout the vibrant mix. When Karen sings "you're a zero" you won't take offense at all, you'll want to wear the label as a badge of honor.

7.) Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Green Day followed up their last disc with another concept/rock opera album. 21st Century Breakdown tells the story of two star crossed lovers in a society on the brink of both hope and despair. The band paints a rock and roll picture of where we are and where we could be headed, depending on which path we take. The disc chronicles the lives of two fictional characters, Christian and Gloria. They have been let down in our society by the church (East Jesus Nowhere) the state (21 Guns) and basically every adult they have ever known. The couple is forced to take care of each other because no one else will. While Green Day may channel Queen, Mott the Hoople and the pageantry and bombast of arena rock at the end of the day, they are still a scrappy punk band with a lot of thoughtful things to say about the society we live in.

6.) Pearl Jam - Back Spacer

Pearl Jam came roaring back with Back Spacer. The disc not only rocks with a quickness but it actually sounds like the band had fun making the record! The band hits the ground running with "Gonna See My Friend", and they hit their stride with songs like "Got Some" and "The Fixer". It's been a while since Pearl Jam has sounded this free and exciting. Back Spacer marks a return to form for Seattle's favorite sons.

5.) Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon: The End of Day

Hip-Hop found a new young up start in Kid Cudi. Those in the mixtape/internet world already knew that Cudi was the real deal and his debut disc confirms it. Cudi brings an interesting mix to the rap game. He's got the street cred to hang with Kanye West and Common. He's pop enough to chill with Lady Gaga but he is also indie enough to work with Ratatat and MGMT. On "Make Her Say" The kid has got braggadocio for days but on tracks like "Solo Dolo" and "My World" Cudi comes off like a hip-hop version of Robert Smith.

4.) Them Crooked Vultures

So take David Grhol on drums, Josh Homme on lead vocals and the mighty John Paul Jones and you get a rock record filled to the brim with psychedelic barroom boogie. Jones and Grhol are a devastating rhythm section and they give Homme enough space to let loose on guitar and to spread his gospel like lyrics all over the place. At times the jam aspect gets a bit long in the tooth but lyrics like "gums flap so here's your teeth back" and "como estas parting the seas like leppers who stroll why you afraid sweetie?" will have scratching your head and shaking and boogieing in your boots!

3.) Felt 3 - A Tribute to Rosie Perez

Atmosphere's Slug and LA rapper MURS are back again as FELT. It seems the two like to get together to pay homage to their favorite b-list celebrities. This time around they picked Rosie Perez and for this particular disc they have enlisted Aesop Rock to bring his indie production beats to the party. The rhymes are fast, intricate and just plain fun to listen to. Slug and MURS do a great job of urban meets suburban storytelling throughout the disc. You gotta love a couple of mcs who not only reference the video game Centipede but also sample a bit of the game for good measure. Who makes you want to rap and be independent? Its FELT motherf*&ker, if you want it come and get it.

2.) MUSE - The Resistance

If you need a bit of orchestral bombast in your brand of rock then pick up the latest by Muse. The Resistance seems to be a three way split between Sabbath, Queen and Depeche Mode. Muse has a huge following in Europe and US fans are finally catching on. At times the songs on Resistance sound like they should be in a James Bond film as the band proceeds to tell a story with their music, and the disc takes a symphonic turn with the last three songs strung together as a classical patchwork. Next year Muse will take their orchestral maneuvers in the dark (pun intended) on the road in the states and they will no doubt solidify their rightful place as one of the best bands in modern rock today.

1.) Silversun Pickups - Swoon

The Silversun Pickups sophomore release "Swoon" truly finds the band at the top of their game. They not only retain their sound of fuzzy guitars, haunting melodies and vocals and eerie keyboards but they have expanded on it. On tunes like "Panic Room"," The Royal We" and "Sort of" The "Pickups" prove that a heady indie rock band with a unique sound and twisted lyrics can make the masses come to them. Summer, modern rock radio got a little bit better and smarter thanks to this band. Well done Silversun Pickeups...well done indeed.