My 15 Favorite Albums of 2009

Just like my 50 favorite tracks, this selection wasn't a scientific process, but rather the selection of the albums from 2009 that I listened to the most - front-to-back, back-to-front, on shuffle, or perhaps on repeat my entire journey home for Thanksgiving.

The positioning is also loosely justified (although my #1 choice was indeed my favorite album of 2009). Why 15, you might ask? Because many of the other albums I had in heavy rotation this year were actually released in 2008 (a list for another time, perhaps). When I started pondering this list, it just so happened that 15 was the closest round-number that resembled a suitable and bona fide list (like I said, it's not a scientific process).

I invite you to leave your favorite albums of 2009 in the comment section, because sharing new and favorite music is what this blog is all about.

(15) Bowerbirds - "Upper Air"

Northern Lights





(14) Modest Mouse - "No One's First and You're Next"

Autumn Beds




(13) The xx - "xx"

Basic Space





(12) Bear In Heaven - "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"

Lovesick Teenagers




(11) Monsters of Folk - "Monsters of Folk"

Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)





(10) The Decemberists - "The Hazards of Love"

The Hazards of Love 4




(9) Dan Auerbach - "Keep It Hid"

When the Night Comes





(8) Matt & Kim - "Grand"

Daylight





(7) Cymbals Eat Guitars - "Why There Are Mountains"

...And the Hazy Sea




(6) The Low Anthem - "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin"

To Ohio




(5) Grizzly Bear - "Veckatimest"

Two Weeks





(4) Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"

Lisztomania





(3) Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - "Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros"

Home




(2) Dirty Projectors - "Bitte Orca"

No Intention





(1) Animal Collective - "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

Lion In A Coma

My 50 Favorite Tracks of 2009

I decided to bring some closure to the first year of Me. My World. by posting my 50 favorite tracks from 2009. This was, by no means, a scientific process and the positioning, 1-50, is loosely justified. The most difficult part of this process was having to leave many great tracks off of the list.

To add this playlist to your profile, click here.

Steve Mason - "All Come Down"

Song of the Day: Or, The Whale - "Rusty Gold"

Woodsman - "Sunglass"

Song of the Day: Tape Deck Mountain - "A Cool Thing"

The Maneken - "Magic Force"

Just a little electro-pop from the Ukraine. More from the Kieviens (is this what people from Kiev are called?) here.

Song of the Day: Quail Lungs - "Dumb Dadadum"
... makes me want to restart me side-project: Albatross Kidney.

Foreign Born - "Early Warnings"

Song of the Day: The Soft Pack - "C'mon"

I'm not a betting man ...

Ok, well, I'm not usually a betting man, but I couldn't turn down the wager made over Twitter on Sunday. Scott Hale aka @sjhalestorm offered up a blog post to a Vikings' fan if the Vikings beat his Bengals. And if the Vikings lost, I risked having to blog about the Bengals on my day off. I was feeling pretty confident that after last weeks' debockle in the desert that my Vikings would rebound at home against the AFC-North leading Bengals, so I took him up on his offer.

Jared Allen talks about the Vikings' victory over the Bengals.

Since a 30-10 Vikings' win put me on the right end of this bet, head over to Social Storm and see how Scott determined that your brand should be like my Vikings.

Munich - "Into the Rain"

Song of the Day: Firekites - "Same Suburb, Different Park"

Clavius Crates ft. Silas Green - "Classically Trained"

You don't need millions to make a music video. Simple, entertaining and effective.

Song of the Day: Seasick Steve - "My Home (Blue Eyes)"
Interesting write-up from Songs to Save.

'mas music, please

If you're thinking about giving your loved ones a shiny new album for Christmas, check out some of these recommendations from former NBA player and ESPN.com's Paul Shirley (@paulthenshirtley).

Girl With the Gun - "Steamboy"

Song of the Day: Harlem - "Friendly Ghost"

Numba Five

Casual Friday.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Drain the Blood"

Thoughts on TRAA from the Rock Garden Tour are right here.

Song of the Day: Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps - "Closing the Doors"
Here's a little ditty from CS & TGS's appearance on Daytrotter. If you would like to hear more from this Minneapolis ensemble, you can bee-bop over to their MySpace. Caroline is also a phat rapper.

Phoenix - "Long Distance Call"

... more from their appearance on La Blogotheque here.

Song of the Day: Liars - "Scissor"

Sharon Van Etten - "For You"

Thank you Jonk Music for posting this.

Song of the Day: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - "Even Heroes Have to Die"

Lightspeed Champion - "Marlene"

Song of the Day: Will Stratton - "Who Will"

The Fiery Furnaces - "Even in the Rain"

Song of the Day: The Builders & The Butchers - "Barcelona"

Shout Out Louds - "Walls"

Song of the Day: CocoRosie - "Happy Eyez"

The Swell Season - "Low Rising"

If you enjoyed this, hopefully you caught these Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova in Once.

Song of the Day: Spoon - "Written In Reverse"
From the forthcoming Transference.

November Playlist for Song of the Day!

11/2 - Surfer Blood - "Take It Easy"
11/3 - The Mary Onettes - "Puzzles"
11/4 - The Crayon Fields - "Impossible Things"
11/5 - Elizabeth and the Catapult - "Race You"
11/6 - Jay Z - "Empire State of Mind"
11/9 - Bear In Heaven - "Lovesick Teenagers"
11/10 - Hot Chip - "Take It In"
11/11 - Pants Yell! - "Someone Loves You"
11/12 - Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension"
11/13 - The Wedding Present - "Always the Quiet One"
11/16 - Tindersticks - "Black Smoke"
11/17 - Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"
11/18 - Boy & Bear - "Mexican Mavis"
11/19 - Beck - "Harry Partch"
11/20 - Sia - "Breathe Me"
11/23 - Animal Collective - "What Would I Want? Sky"
11/24 - Tim & Jean - "Come Around"
11/25 - James Yuill - "This Sweet Love"
11/27 - First Aid Kit - "You're Not Coming Home Tonight"
11/30 - Beach House - "Norway"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - "Kisses Over Babylon"

Kisses Over Babylon is the second installment of SALVO!, a 12-part music video series from Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Part I is available here.

Song of the Day: Beach House - "Norway"

Why? - "These Hands/January Twenty Something

Song of the Day: First Aid Kit - "You're Not Coming Home Tonight"

Peter Broderick - "Below It"

Song of the Day: James Yuill - "This Sweet Love"

Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp"

... and now with the video.

Song of the Day: Tim & Jean - "Come Around"
This song has the ability to lift one's spirits.

The Avett Brothers - "Slight Figure Of Speech"

Song of the Day: Animal Collective - "What Would I Want? Sky"
"'Sky' is probably one of the more legible, straightforward pieces of music the band has released, and is also among the most immediately appealing: three minutes of lightly overdriven drum breaks and vocal lines dissolve into three minutes of high-gloss folk-pop. The guitars are audible, the percussion is recognizable. They probably could've made it easier to bob your head to; instead, they put it in a tricky time signature that feels like the meter infants learn to walk in."

- Mike Powell (P4K)

James P. Honey & Roma - "Nice Clean White"

"This music video is an abstract journey in our everyday surroundings, illustrating moments of life in a continuous way.

A trip into 4500 still photographs, a travel where urban landscapes meet pastoral scenes to create a whirlpool around the theme of the video: the subjective point of view and urban life.

This video was created with a stop motion technique, it was conceived with a very simple Nikon Coolpix E4600. There is no video in it, but not less than 4500 still photos taken in the streets of Nancy and Epinal (France)." - DaBrainkilla


Song of the Day: Sia - "Breathe Me"
Not really new ... I've just always enjoyed this song.

Danielson - "Moment Soakers"

I have the urge to check out esurance.

Song of the Day: Beck - "Harry Partch"
Ten minutes with your guest, Beck. Beck yesterday, Beck today ... why not?

Charlotte Gainsbourg (feat. Beck) - "Heaven Can Wait"

I feel like this video is a collection of my childhood memories.

Song of the Day: Boy & Bear - "Mexican Mavis"
Straight outta Sydney yo!

Kasper Bjork - "Young Again"

Glitter!

Song of the Day: Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"
What is about all of their music that makes me want to go to the beach?

Animal Collective - "In the Flowers"

mad props to @codylbrown

Song of the Day: Tindersticks - "Black Smoke"

Monsters of Folk - "Say Please"

Is it weird that this is exactly what was going through my head the first time I heard this song?

Song of the Day: The Wedding Present - "Always the Quiet One"

OK Go - "WTF"

mad props to @lucyrae

Song of the Day: Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension"

The Most Serene Republic - "Heavens to Purgatory"

Song of the Day: Pants Yell! - "Someone Loves You"

The Manvils - "Turpentine"

Redrum.

Song of the Day: Hot Chip - "Take It In"
New album, One Life Stand, out February 8.

Jarvis Cocker - "Further Complications"

Song of the Day: Bear In Heaven - "Lovesick Teenagers"

Kinetic Stereokids - "Twisted Thoughts"

I'm a sucker for a video featuring an eye-patch.

Song of the Day: Jay Z - "Empire State of Mind"
I used to listen to The Black Album before my swimming meets my sophomore year of high school. I changed clothes and swam.

Kings of Convenience - "Boat Behind"

Song of the Day: Elizabeth and the Catapult - "Race You"
(via Daytrotter)

Dead Man's Bones - "Name In Stone"

In case you've wondered what Ryan Gosling has been up to, he's mostly just been hanging out in cemeteries making music. Check out more music by Dead Man's Bones here.

Song of the Day: The Crayon Fields - "Impossible Things"

J. Tillman - "Though I Have Wronged You"

Song of the Day: The Mary Onettes - "Puzzles"

October Playlist for Song of the Day!

10/1 - Devendra Banhart - "Angelika"
10/2 - Malcom Holcombe - "You Don't Come See Me Anymore"
10/5 - Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"
10/6 - Lift to Experience - "Waiting to Hit"
10/7 - Frankie Rose and the Outs - "The Only One"
10/8 - Secondstar - "Tied to the Mast"
10/9 - The Mountain Goats - "Genesis 3:23"
10/12 - Michael Jackson - "This Is It"
10/13 - Wiretree - "Back In Town"
10/14 - Thom York - "Hearing Damage"
10/15 - Bon Iver & St. Vincent - "Rosyln"
10/16 - Grizzly Bear (Feat Victoria Legrand) - "Slow Life"
10/19 - Tegan and Sara - "Hell"
10/20 - Cloud Control - "Gold Canary"
10/21 - Hurray for the Riff Raff - "Junebug Waltz"
10/22 - Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring"
10/23 - Ha Ha Tonka - "Hold My Feet to the Fire"
10/26 - Mumford and Sons - "Little Lion Man"
10/27 - Headlights - "Get Going"
10/28 - Field Music - "Measure"
10/29 - Two Door Cinema Club - "I Can Talk"
10/30 - Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp"

Dominique A - "Le Bruit Blanc De L'été"

Le Bruit Blanc De L'été = The White Noise of the Summer

Song of the Day: Surfer Blood - "Take It Easy"

Tigercity - "Fake Gold"

Song of the Day: Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp"
Mad Props to @codylbrown

me. my world. my blog. featured on The Post

"The Post is an online alternative newspaper that launched in Sept. 1, 2009, and covers culture, entertainment and the great people of Eastern South Dakota. Fresh content and information is updated on the site daily.

Content for The Post is produced by a small staff and volunteer contributors. The Post contributors, which hail from various parts of Eastern South Dakota, are high school and college students as well as working professionals." - The Post SD

Check out the article here. While you're there, make sure to check out all of the great content and writers.

The Airplane Boys - "Catalogue Girl"

Bow tie rap.
Website.

Song of the Day: Two Door Cinema Club - "I Can Talk"
Website.

Brakes - "Why Tell the Truth (When It's Easier To Lie)"

Because it makes me feel better inside.

Song of the Day: Field Music - "Measure"

Norah Jones - "Chasing Pirates"

(via VH1)

Song of the Day: Headlights - "Get Going"

The Burning of Rome - "Cowboy Death Pop Star"

Intense! Love the cinematography.

Song of the Day: Mumford and Sons - "Little Lion Man"

Low Anthem - "Charlie Darwin"

Simply. Gorgeous.

Song of the Day: Ha Ha Tonka - "Hold My Feet to the Fire"

Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights"

Live on Cemetery Gates at P4K.

Song of the Day: Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring"
Erotic ...

Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone"

No need for fancy music video gimmicks. Although I do get the slight sense that he is looking right into my eyes.

Song of the Day: Hurray for the Riff Raff - "Junebug Waltz"

The Bird and the Bee - "Polite Dance Song"

Song of the Day: Cloud Control - "Gold Canary"
Very catchy. This has been circulating through my thoughts all day.

Dragonette - "Fixin' To Thrill"

I don't know how Martina Sorbara got a hold of my morning routine.

Song of the Day: Tegan and Sara - "Hell"
From their forthcoming album, Sainthood.

Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land"

I posted an unofficial video of this back on June 1. But this video is very much official.

Song of the Day: Grizzly Bear (Feat Victoria Legrand) - "Slow Life"
From the New Moon soundtrack.

We Were Promised Jetpacks - "Roll Up Your Sleeves"

Song of the Day: Bon Iver & St. Vincent - "Rosyln"
From the New Moon soundtrack.

Sprial Stairs - "Stolen Pills"

Song of the Day: Thom York - "Hearing Damage"
From the New Moon soundtrack.

Portugal. The Man - "Do You"

Song of the Day: Wiretree - "Back In Town"

Camera Obscura - "The Sweetest Thing"

Song of the Day: Michael Jackson - "This Is It"

Modest Mouse - "Whale Song"

Song of the Day: The Mountain Goats - "Genesis 3:23"

White Rabbits - "Percussion Gun"

Song of the Day: Secondstar - "Tied to the Mast"

Grizzly Bear - "Fix It"

Live on P4K's "Cemetery Gates"

Song of the Day: Frankie Rose and the Outs - "The Only One"

Alien Robots Orchestra - "Indigo Moon"

Song of the Day: Lift to Experience - "Waiting to Hit"

Los Campesinos! - "These Are Listed Buildings"

Song of the Day: Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"

Piers Faccini - "Your Name No More/The Wind That Blows"

Song of the Day: Malcom Holcombe - "You Don't Come See Me Anymore"
via Daytrotter Sessions

September Playlist for Song of the Day!

9/1 - The Foghorns - "Old Bachelors In Cleveland"
9/2 - The Horse's Ha - "The Piss Choir"
9/3 - Adam Arcuragi - "She Comes To Me"
9/4 - Radiohead - "These Are My Twisted Words"
9/7 - The Nightgowns - "Buoy"
9/8 - Bag Raiders - "Shooting Stars"
9/9 - The Clientele - "Harvest Time"
9/10 - The Teenage Prayers - "I Like It"
9/11 - Jump (Little Children) - "Cathedrals"
9/14 - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - "Higher Than the Stars"
9/15 - Washed Out - "Belong"
9/16 - Sufjan Stevens - "The Transfiguration"
9/17 - Vampire Weekend - "Ottoman"
9/18 - Rodrigo Y Gabriela - "Hanuman"
9/21 - The Bicycles - "Can I Keep Calling You?"
9/22 - Midnight Juggernauts - "This New Technology"
9/23 - The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
9/24 - Volcano Choir - "Island, IS"
9/25 - The Twilight Sad - "Modern Romance"
9/28 - Islands - "Switched On"
9/29 - Hollands - "Lungs of Steel"
9/30 - Air - "Air Conditioned Heart"

Tahiti 80 - "All Around"

Song of the Day: Devendra Banhart - "Angelika"

To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - "The Needle"

Song of the Day: Air - "Air Conditioned Heart"

Monsters of Folk - "The Right Place"

Song of the Day: Hollands - "Lungs of Steel"

The most legitimate comment I've seen this season from a Packers fan.

I was reading a recap from NFL Sunday yesterday and I happened upon this comment after the story from a Packers fan:

Packerlandfan: I am a long time Packers fan and was always a huge Favre fan, but that has changed. I will not cheer for Favre on Sundays. I won't boo him either. I don't wish anything bad on him. But, he is not a Packer any longer. I think the blame for that lies equally with Packers management and Brett Favre. I will always respect what he did in Green Bay, both on the field and for what he and Deanna contributed to the community. I miss cheering Brett on, but I honestly believe that Aaron Rodgers was our future and by keeping Favre, we would have lost him. Enjoy him Vikings. He's fun to watch.

This is a real fan. He loves his team and he loves his players, but if they move beyond his stadium, he doesn't worry about them. I think every thought in that comment is spot on - kudos. Everyone needs to end their vendetta against Favre or their worship of him and just cheer their team on, regardless of whether or not their QB waffled, or ate too many waffles (JaMarcus Russel).

Taken By Trees - "My Boys"

Interesting take on My Girls.

Song of the Day: Islands - "Switched On"

Ceri Frost - "Dead All Along"

Song of the Day: The Twilight Sad - "Modern Romance"

Soldout - "The Cut"

Song of the Day: Volcano Choir - "Island, IS"
Yes ... that voice does sound familiar.

Cursive - "Let Me Up"

More about the video at Stereogum.

Song (album) of the Day! The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You" (entire album, streaming on NPR until September 29)

Slaraffenland - "Part 1"

via La Blogotheque

Song of the Day: Midnight Juggernauts - "This New Technology"

Lusine - "Two Dots"

channeling their inner Sesame Street montage ...

Song of the Day: The Bicycles - "Can I Keep Calling You?"

Led Zeppelin - "Going To California"

My favorite Led Zeppelin song.

Song of the Day: Rodrigo Y Gabriela - "Hanuman"
This made my toe tap ... hardcore ... I got blisters on me toes!

Vivian Girls - "When I'm Gone"

Song of the Day: Vampire Weekend - "Ottoman"

Banjo or Freakout - "Upside Down"

via @jonkmusic

Song of the Day: Sufjan Stevens - "The Transfiguration"