Favourite Albums of 2009

Top 30 albums of 2009

1. The Maccabees – Wall Of Arms (Fiction)
2. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (Fortuna Pop!)
3. The Big Pink – A Brief History Of Love (4AD)
4. Noah And The Whale – The First Days Of Spring (Vertigo)
5. Bombay Bicycle Club – I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (Island)
6. Girls – Album (Fantasy Trashcan)
7. Wild Beasts – Two Dancers (Domino)
8. The Drums – Summertime! (Moshi Moshi)
9. White Lies – To Lose My Life (Fiction)
10. Pull Tiger Tail – PAWS. (New Art, Please)
11. Passion Pit – Manners (Columbia/Frenchkiss)
12. A Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head (Mute)
13. The XX – The XX (Young Turks)
14. Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (Paradise)
15. The Horrors – Primary Colours (XL)
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! (Dress Up/Polydor)
17. Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers (Columbia)
18. The Cribs – Ignore The Ignorant (Wichita)
19. Red Light Company – Fine Fascination (Lavolta)
20. The Rumble Strips – Welcome To The Walk Alone (Fallout)
21. It Hugs Back – Inside Your Guitar (4AD)
22. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
23. Cornershop – Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast (Ample Play)
24. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (Warp)
25. Jarvis Cocker – Further Complications (Rough Trade)
26. 1990s – Kicks (Rough Trade)
27. Super Furry Animals – Dark Nights/Light Years (Rough Trade)
28. Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young (Rough Trade)
29. Golden Silvers – True Romance (XL)
30. British Sea Power – Man Of Aran (Rough Trade)

#09119 Stellastarr

Stellastarr – Civilized
US: 7th Jul – Bloated Wife

Third album from NYC’s New Wave retro band Stellastarr aka Stellastarr*. Civilized, the first to be released on their own label, after deprated with RCA. Which results the change of musical direction directly, faster and heavier while less in using of keyboards.

Outstanding track: ‘Tokyo Sky’.

Back catalogue:
Harmonies For The Haunted (RCA, 2005)
Stellastarr (RCA, 2003)

#09118 Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
UK: 5th Oct – Island

The debut album from London Folk four piece, Mumford & Sons, whose are close friends of Noah & The Whale. The band two bands share a same style, Sigh No More is as great as First Days Of Spring.

Outstanding track: ‘Winter Winds’.

#09117 The Drums

The Drums – Summertime!
US: 11th Sep – Pop Frenzy
UK: 12th Oct – Moshi Moshi

The debut mini album or EP (depends on which format you regard it as) from The Drums. The band is formed by former lead vocal of short-lived Electro-rock band Elkland and earlier member of former Elkland called Goat Explosion. The Drums is different from Elkland, they are less Electro and play some instrumental music instead. Summertime! consists of six tracks writing about summer.

Outstanding track: ‘Let’s Go Surfing’.

Back catalogue: Golden by Elkland (Columbia, 2005)

#09116 Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
UK: 9th Nov – 14th Floor

Fifth album from Scottish trio Biffy Clyro, who have completely turned from Post-Grunge to Indie-Prog, it’s Only Revolutions. Highlight for the artwork by Storm Thorgerson, who did most of the artworks for Pink Floyd.

Outstanding tracks: ‘The Captain’ & ‘That Golden Rule’.

Back catalogue:
Singles 2001-2005 (Beggars Banquet, 2008)
Puzzle (14th Floor, 2007)
Infinity Land (Beggars Banquet, 2004)
The Vertigo Of Bliss (Beggars Banquet, 2003)
Blackened Sky (Beggars Banquet, 2002)

#09115 Girls

Girls – Album
US: 22nd Sep – True Panther
UK: 28th Sep – Fantasy Trashcan

Debut album from San Francisco’s all male Indie Rock collective, simply titled Girls. Like all other legendary Californian Psychedelica bands, Girls have created a druggy album, can be compared with The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Outstanding tracks: ‘Laura’ & ‘Hellhole Ratrace’.

#09114 Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth – The Eternal
US: 9th Jun – Matador
UK: 8th Jun – Matador

The return of Indie Gods, Sonic Youth back with their first album for Matador. The Eternal is a fine collection of Indie-Pop, landmark sound of alternative guitar turning, while they have moved all experimental elements to SYR series.

Outstanding track: ‘Antenna’.

Back catalogue: (not including SYR)
Hits Are For Squares (Starbucks, 2008)
The Destroyed Room: B-sides And Rarities (Geffen, 2006)
Rather Ripped (Geffen, 2006)
Sonic Nurse (Geffen, 2004)
Murray Street (Geffen, 2002)
NYC Ghosts & Flowers (Geffen, 2000)
A Thousand Leaves (Geffen, 1998)
Washing Machine (Geffen, 1995)
Screaming Fields Of Sonic Love (Geffen, 1995)
Made In USA OST (Rhino, 1995)
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (Geffen, 1994)
Dirty (Geffen, 1992)
Goo (Geffen, 1990)
The Whitey Album [as Ciccone Youth] (Enigma, 1989)
Daydream Nation (Enigma, 1988)
Sister (SST, 1987)
EVOL (SST, 1986)
Bad Moon Rising (Homestead, 1985)
Sonic Death (Ecstatic Peace, 1984)
Confusion Is Sex (Neutral, 1983)

#09113 Health

Health – Get Color
US: 8th Sep – Lovepump United
EU: 14th Sep – City Slang

Get Color is the second album from American Electronic-Noise band Health (sometimes as HEALTH). This album is less in digital comparing to their debut, but still with a noisy tendency.

Outstanding track: ‘Die Slow’.

Back catalogue:
Health//Disco – Remix Album (Lovepump United, 2008)
Health (Lovepump United, 2007)

#09112 Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
UK: 25th May – Warp
US: 26th May – Warp

Grizzly Bear is one of few Non-Electronica bands Warp signed. Whose third album is named after an island, Veckatimest is believed to be their best work to date, a masterpiece in its Psychedelica Pop gerne.

Outstanding tracks: ‘Two Weeks’ & ‘Cheerleader’.

Back catalogue:
Yellow House (Warp, 2006)
Horn Of Plenty (Kanine, 2004)

#09111 Fuck Buttons

Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport
UK: 5th Oct – ATP

Second full length from Bristol’s Electronica duo, memebers of Fuck Buttons were influenced by Aphex Twin and Mogwai separately. Tarot Sport is what it means to be.

Outstanding track: ‘Olympians’.

Back catalogue: Street Horrrsing (ATP, 2007)