Top 50 albums of 2009 10-1
10. Generationals - Con Law: Criminally overlooked debut from the New Orleans based indie rockers. A lot of Peter Bjorn & John plus Motown elements. Nothing particularly groundbreaking, but a front-to-back super solid collection of songs. Stream half the record (including standouts “When They Fight, They Fight” and “Nobody Could Change Your Mind”) here.
9. Maxwell - BLACKsummers’night: It’s rarely a wait as long as EIGHT FRIGGIN’ YEARS between albums is justified, but BLACKsummers’night does just that. No R&B in the ensuing time came anywhere near this album. Maxwell shows himself above any trends from recent years, making classic R&B with his own innovations. Just listen to the first single, “Pretty Wings.” The opening chimes invoke Japanese indie pop artist, Cornelius, who is about as far away from contempoprary R&B as you can get. These little touches do so much throughout the album, the first in a trilogy. Hopefully the next two come a lot quicker.
8. jj - jj n° 2: alright, tumblr didn’t save anything past this point, so the rest are getting short descriptions plus youtube links. Tropical indie pop. Probably involves The Tough Alliance. “From Africa to Malaga”
7. Tvärvägen - Sånger från Tvärvägen: More Swedes. Beautiful music that sounds like it’s going to fall apart at any moment. Kind of like múm. “September”
6. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs: A Yo La Tengo album. “Here to Fall” “More Stars Than There Are in Heaven”
5. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca: Music that tumbles around and seems like it’s constantly stopping and starting, but somehow works. Nothing like it. “Cannibal Resource” “Stillness Is the Move”
4. Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another: Two of the dudes from Mclusky make music even angrier, louder, and better than Mclusky. “Arming Eritrea” “The Hope That House Built”
3. Smith Westerns - Smith Westerns: Teenagers making lo-fi garage that’s half Nuggets and half T. Rex. “Girl in Love” “Be My Girl”
2. Montt Mardié - Skaizerkite: Swede taking all the best parts of 80s pop: Let’s Dance-era Bowie, Hall & Oates, Kate Bush, etc etc etc. “Welcome to Stalingrad” “One Kiss”
1. Japandroids - Post-Nothing: Two dudes sound like five dudes making dense, esthatic indie rock. Over the top, fun as hell. “Young Hearts Spark Fire” “Heart Sweats”
Singles on Monday
