Top Albums of ’09 (75-46)

Yes, we’re just putting our Top Albums of 2009 list up right now. And yes, 2010 is already upon us. But really, now, after we’ve had some time to settle into the ’10s and get a little hindsight, feels like the proper time to take a look back. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that we were on vacation and didn’t have time to put it up…no, no it’s the hindsight thing.

75) Dam Funk, Toeachizown (Stones Throw)

The ambassador of boogie funk finally makes his official debut with this epically long 5LP 2CD release that is a synthesizer orgy you've never heard before.

74) Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Winterwood (self-released)

JFJO’s final studio recording with any semblance of an original lineup. But the partnership between Brian Haas (keys) and Reed Mathis (bass) went out on top: Winterwood is a mature and fully realized statement.

73) Q-Tip, Kamaal the Abstract (Battery)

Let’s keep it simple and say: Q-Tip at his finest.

72) Tom Waits, Glitter & Doom Live (Anti)

The veteran rock/blues singer captures highlights of his 2008 tour on this two disc live album.

71) Sonic Youth, The Eternal (Matador)

An epic band at an epic high. The Eternal assaults the ears but also manages to offer a whisper of melancholia that delivers beauty between guitar screeches.

70) Amadou & Mariam, Welcome to Mali (Nonesuch)

On opening track “Sabali,” Amadou and Mariam team up with Damon Albarn and manage to merge African culture with spacey electronics last used by the likes of ELO. The rest of the album also experiments, mixing kora with rap and marimbas with piano, heading the Malian couple in a new (and enjoyable) direction.

69) Builders & the Butchers, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well (Gigantic)

Slightly dark imagery, backed by countless instruments and a rich soundscape make this Portland band’s second album stand out against its countless regional peers.

68) Avett Brothers, I and Love and You (Sony)

A joyous and heartfelt merging of folk, alt-country, and indie with sentimental, but never cheesy, undertones and a much-appreciated ode to Brooklyn, despite the band’s Southern roots. It’s no wonder these guys are gaining notoriety up North, and everywhere else too.

67) Melanie Fiona, The Bridge (SRC/Universal Motown)

The album is a soulful experience with at least eight radio hits ready to go.

66) Propagandhi, Supporting Caste (Smallman)

Gone is the Propagandhi of olde that taught many a young ’90s skate punk things about politics that they still can't fully comprehend. This record shows Propagandhi at their full potential thus far, and stands tall among their more classic albums about dead fascists.

65) Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (Fat Possum)

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird crafted yet another record replete with indie-pop goodness — his fourth, in fact — featuring an enjoyable reliance on whistles coupled with handclaps and worthwhile thoughts on evolution and (duh) nobility.

64) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Up From Below (Vagrant)

Edward Sharpe (aka Alex Ebert) and his rag tag band look and feel like the ’60s, but manage to keep things modern. Jesus freaks unite, we’ve found your leader!

63) Swan Lake, Enemy Mine (Jagjaguwar)

Indie supergroups can be misleading or all hype, but this is not the case here. All of its members — Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes), Daniel Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers) Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) — pull their weight and bring their best talents to the table. The result is an album full of cryptic lyrics, eerie yelps, and music marked by offbeat goodness.

62) Skyzoo, The Salvation (Skyzoo)

Lyrical exercise should be the alternative title to this record.

61) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz (Interscope)

Karen O and the crew opted for a more electrorock feel this time around. The decision, best embodied by thumping, revving tunes "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll," is a testament to how the band is an expert at reinventing the relevant, and keeping what otherwise might be a common sound, as fresh as greenmarket produce.

60) Kevin Devine, Brother’s Blood (Favorite Gentleman)

On his fifth album the New York native incorporates much more than his traditional guitar to create his most complex and captivating album to date.

59) Little Dragon, Machine Dreams (Peacefrog/EMI)

Why are we so easily seduced by Yukimi Nagano's voice? And with the dance tempo instrumentals of her fellow Swedish buddies, we can't climb out of the allure.

58) M. Ward, Hold Time (Merge)

Portland based singer songwriter’s seventh album in only ten years doesn’t stray too far from the others, but still manages to be consistently captivating and enjoyable.

57) Miike Snow, Miike Snow (Domino)

Miike Snow, who are better known as the Swedes who produced Britney Spears best song ever, “Toxic,” bring us something equally as catchy with infectious pop hit “Animal.” But these guys aren’t all sugary pop, instead their debut features its fair share of melancholy piano jams. We imagine these were written in solidarity of Ms. Spears’ head shaving breakdown.

56) J. Dilla, Jay Stay Paid (Nature Sounds)

Under the direction of Pete Rock, Jay Stay Paid is a collection of 28 previously unreleased Dilla beats. Most tracks are instrumental, but there are some guest versus from a handful of emcess Dilla worked with, including Black Thought, MF Doom, Havoc, M.O.P., Raekwon, and more.

55) Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, What Have You Done, My Brother? (Daptone)

The funky folks at Daptone deliver once again with this fine set of original gospel and soul music. Shelton and company are the real deal.

54) Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Summer of Fear (Saddle Creek)

With such an extravagant name, it’s no surprise Robinson chose to go for baroque on this one. No longer alone, Robinson called upon a string section and TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone to make redemption sound pretty liberating.

53) Allen Toussaint, The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch)

Toussaint, a legendary writer, arranger, producer and pianist, is best known for his work in the trenches of rock and R&B. But, with a little help from his friends (Don Byron, Marc Ribot, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton), he knocked out one of the best jazz albums of 2009.

52) The Drums, Summertime EP (Twentyseven)

With only an EP, The Drums managed to bring unabashed pop to the masses, cueing up the sounds of summer and creating a little ditty about surfing. Of course there’s nothing wrong with any of that, but let’s see if they can work that magic again in 2010 with a full-length album.

51) Maxwell, Blacksummers’ Night (Columbia)

Maxwell makes breakups sound so sweet.

50) We Were Promised Jet Packs, These Four Walls (FatCat)

On their debut, these Scottish lads give us heavily accented anthems that manage to stay masculine while still revealing a sensitive side, thanks in large part to lead singer Adam Thompson’s vulnerable warble.

49) Passion Pit, Manners (Frenchkiss)

This was a year chock full of damn good electro-infused indie rock, and we'd be lying if we said that Passion Pit wasn't one of those bands paving the way in 2009. From start to finish, this record is inducing.

48) Atlas Sound, Logos (Kranky)

Bradford Cox has become pretty good at giving us pop songs that were created in the comfort of his bedroom. On Logos, Cox manages to step out of his comfort zone, getting a little more personal and adding a few choice special guests. The best being Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox on the sunny ’60s pop gem, “Walkabout.”

47) Drake, So Far Gone (Cash Money)

Nothing but hits, So Far Gone showcased Drake’s versatility as a rapper and hook singer, while catapulting him into superstardom.

46) J. Period & Nneka, The Madness (Onye-Ala) (Yo Mama/Decon/Epic)

Teaming up with acclaimed DJ J. Period, Nigerian artist Nneka conjures up similarities to a young Lauryn Hill, making an unabashedly political statement with the prelude to her 2010 album, Concrete Jungle. Also featuring guest appearances from Talib Kweli, M-1, Jay Electronica, and Big Boi.