K’s Top Albums of 2009

Posted December 31st, 2009 by k

Here are my Top 10 albums of 2010. This year’s list seems decidedly “mainstream” compared to the other lists I’ve seen. Nothing particularly surprising if you’ve been reading Drawer B over the course of 2009. I clearly missed out on a lot of great records this year. Looks like I’ll be spending the beginning of 2010 catching up. That Dirty Projectors record is at the top of the list, having made almost everyone’s list this year.

  • The XX – XX
    This is far and away my favorite record of 2009. At first blush I wasn’t particularly keen on the similarity between The XX and Young Marble Giants but after multiple listens I simply fell under their spell and never looked back. I’d been waiting for a new Colossal Youth and The XX delivered in spades.
  • Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
    I don’t care if every track of this album ends up in a horrible commercial, I will always love it unconditionally.
  • Amanda Blank – I Love You
    Better than Santigold? Who cares! Amanda Blank rocks my world.
  • The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
    This album transports me back to a twee adolescence that is far more entertaining than I remembered.
  • Metric – Fantasies
    Metric’s stadium ready record that reminded me why I fell in love with them back when they were featured in that Polaroid commercial at the start of this decade.
  • Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
    Natasha Khan’s voice is haunting and chilling and I can’t get enough.
  • Fanfarlo – Reservoir
    A London-based Swede crafts a pop record that combines a dollop of Beirut and a touch of Arcade Fire with a dash of Neutral Milk Hotel, and flavored with Swedish pop sensibilities. What’s not to love?
  • Julian Plenti – Julian Plenti is Skyscraper
    A little something to whet our appetites for the new Interpol album? I wasn’t sure what to make of this record when I first listened, but over time I found myself returning to it often. Something about Paul Banks’ vocals and lyrics gets under your skin.
  • The Joy Formidable – A Balloon Called Moaning
    An epic record from a welsh band? Indeed. I thought for sure they’d be all over the place in 2009, but alas perhaps 2010 will be their year.
  • Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers do.
    I *heart* diplo. This record is so much fun it hurts.
  • Tags: link · lists

    1 response so far ↓

    • 1 fak3r // Feb 19, 2010 at 11:03 am

      While our lists don’t totally overlap, I’m seeing some things I probably need to hear, and have caught a lot of bands I’m really into in your other posts. Plus I am in complete agreement with your comment here about the Phoenix effort; what a fun one! My list of my 2009 favs here:
      http://fak3r.com/2010/02/05/best-music-of-2009/

      …thanks.