Everyone makes these lists, I know they're not special anymore. And chances are you went through 2009 listening to some really innovative new albums. I won't deny that Animal Collective, Phoenix, and other popular sorta-indie bands hit my radar this year. It was an exciting year for music, hands down.
But if you're like me at all, you know there were many other smaller bands that produced excellent albums in 2009. They deserve to be recognized, and I hope you take the time to check each of these songs out, along with their corresponding 2009 albums. It's all about expanding our knowledge of what's out there to enjoy, and giving credit to the up-and-comers.
There will be some overlap here from my songs of the summer list. That was inevitable. Anyways, here are my Top Ten Songs You Should Know from 2009:
10. Mew - Repeaterbeater
Album: "No More Stories..."
Mew is a Danish band that probably didn't know their band name would one day also be a Pokemon. Which is why I avoided them at first, it just felt a little nerdy. But then I got a taste of their contemplative, softer take on rock. "No More Stories..." is part indie, part progressive, but mostly it's just accessible. Repeaterbeater is the second single off the album, and worth every moment of its quick 2 minutes and 33 seconds.
9. Cursive - What Have I Done?
Album: "Mama, I'm Swollen"
Cursive's newest effort, "Mama, I'm Swollen," is quite disappointing compared to their discography. But the final track, What Have I Done? is a gleam of hope amidst sure mediocrity. It's impossibly pessimistic, a little laughable at times (no joke, they sing "ha ha ha" at one point), but all-in-all a solid story of regret. And possibly the most notable build-up for a song in the entire year (sorry Muse...). So don't try "Mama, I'm Swollen," instead try this song and their previous albums "The Ugly Organ" and "Domestica" which helped define alternative music.
8. The Flaming Lips - Convinced of the Hex
Album: "Embryonic"
Okay, so The Flaming Lips are pretty popular. But I've not heard anyone even mention this band to me in real life, so I've never given them a chance. Then I tried "Embryonic," and the first song Convinced of the Hex hooked me immediately. Ethereal and simple conceptually, the entire album is an electronic marvel. I've become a fan.
7. Manchester Orchestra - The River
Album: "Mean Everything to Nothing"
If you even touch the alternative arena today, you've probably heard of these Alabama boys. "Mean Everything to Nothing" is probably my favorite album of 2009, and I will take every chance I get to let you know this. The album's climax point and recent favorite for concert finale, The River, is as good as it gets. Not religious in nature, but bursting with references and emotions, The River is so intense it leaves you worn.
6. The Republic of Wolves - Cardinals
Album: "His Old Branches"
Originally thought to be a demo from Brand New's "Daisy," The Republic Of Wolves' song Cardinals was famous in the alt-rock world before the EP "His Old Branches" was released. So if you like Brand New, but don't care for the loud screaming, you need to check this out. I dare say The Republic of Wolves are a subtle alternative, unafraid to tame the melancholy pensive-rock into a manageable and substantial beast.
5. Discovery - Osaka Loop Line
Album: "LP"
Guilty pleasure of the year. Nobody gave Discovery credit, did they? Any of those top-40 lists ignored this electro-pop-dance hybrid in favor of more accessible, meaningful albums. But Osaka Loop Line should never be ignored, it can cure any bout of sadness instantly. I hope to one day hit a Discovery concert, just to dance as much as I can to these insanely catchy songs.
4. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Arts N' Economics
Album: "Old Dominion"
Despite having a horrible band name, Hotel of the Laughing Tree is a force to be reckoned with. Arts N' Economics is my top played song of December. You might think at first that their sound is a bit too generic, with lead vocals being somewhere between Thrice and the basic alt-rock voice. But each song on "Old Dominion" creatively finds ways to break out of standards, mainly because the lyrical writing is so good, and the vocal emphasis is a stand-out for the entire genre.
3. Brand New - Daisy
Album: "Daisy"
If you ignored "Daisy," you're not alone. No one should ask you to get past the rage of Vices, Gasoline, or Bought a Bride. But if you listened further, you'd find that Brand New donned a more progressive mask towards the end of the album. The title track is haunting in its layers, so much that one listen is generally never enough. It's certainly a hint of what's hopefully to come from these New York sensations.
2. Kevin Devine - All of Everything, Erased
Album: "Brother's Blood"
Kevin Devine is my favorite poet. All of Everything, Erased may go down as my most played and favorite song of this year's "Brother's Blood". He paints us a picture of the world according to his own eyes, narrating a simple story too vividly to describe with my own words. It's a subdued reflection of life, too dripping with vitality and nostalgia to ignore.
1. Fun - Be Calm
Album: "Aim and Ignite"
Please listen to Be Calm, it's like 3 songs in one. And they all rock. The old lead from The Format has returned with an album designed to stun. It's like he spent his time off finding out the secret of how to write the catchiest songs ever. Be Calm is the first song, and probably not even the best. But it has a violin build-up worth remembering and enough quirky, self-inspecting lyrics that makes it one of the best songs of this decade in my opinion.
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