Top 20 Albums of 2009

Another banner year in the world of indie music is coming to a close, and my favorite record at the halfway point of 2009 still tops my list. I actually like 'It's Never Been Like That' a bit better than 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix', but that's just quibbling. Phoenix has had two top-notch records back to back. Amazingly, exactly half of the bands on this list were brand new to me in 2009. That just goes to show you the industry is quite healthy. And with She & Him, Vampire Weekend, Freedy Johnston, Futureheads and many more already promising new records in 2010, as usual I'm filled with anticipation as the tunes roll out in the new year. Who will be the next Girls or Balconies? I can't wait to find out.

Just Missed:
Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
Roger Joseph Manning - Catnip Dynamite
Reigning Sound - Love and Curses

20. The Clientele - Bonfires On The Heath
19. Robyn Hitchcock - Goodnight Oslo
Robyn Hitchcock - I'm Falling (mp3)
18. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
16. Islands - Vapours
Islands - Vapours (mp3)
15. The Drums - Summertime!
14. Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Under The Covers, Vol. 2
13. The Swimmers - People Are Soft
The Swimmers - What This World Is Coming To (mp3)
12. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
Yo La Tengo - If It's True (mp3)
11. The Crayon Fields - All The Pleasures Of The World
10. God Help The Girl - God Help The Girl
9. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
8. Low Miffs & Malcolm Ross - Low Miffs & Malcolm Ross
Low Miffs & Malcolm Ross - The Man Who Took On Love (And Won) (mp3)
7. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
5. The Balconies - The Balconies
The Balconies - 300 Pages (mp3)
4. Coconut Records - Davy
Coconut Records - Microphone (mp3)
3. Cats On Fire - Our Temperance Movement
Cats on Fire - Lay Down Your Arms (mp3)
2. Girls - Album
Girls - Laura (mp3)
1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Note: I decided not to include Jason Falkner's 'All Quiet On The Noise Floor'. Expect it on next year's list when it is a domestic release.