WAKEUPANDSMELLTHEMUSIC.COM: WUASTM Best Albums Of 2009: Recommended Releases

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WAKEUPANDSMELLTHEMUSIC.COM: WUASTM Best Albums Of 2009: Recommended Releases

WUASTM Best Albums Of 2009: Recommended Releases

We've seen an unprecedented year of new music in 2009. There's been enough diversity to satisfy practically anyone's music tastes. We definitely had a surge in surfer sound revivals, dreamy bedroom pop, lo-fi garage rock, and psychedelic electronica, but we also heard just about everything in between. It'll be interesting to see what trends emerge next year. Before we leave 2009 for good, we wanted to recap of our top rated album releases and close out the year with our top 100 songs.

We've listened to roughly 250 albums this year and of all those, we've narrowed it down to our top 46 broken into two categories based on our review ratings. Part one was our "Suggested Releases" (posted yesterday), which are albums that received a 7 out of 10 in our rating system. These are good albums on the "bubble" with some outstanding tracks making them worth checking out. Part two is our "Recommended Releases", our "cream of the crop" albums rated 7.5 or better. These were the most solid track-for-track album releases of 2009 and we think they should be a part of your music library.

As you scan the list below, you'll notice we've included our key tracks and a link to our album review. Most of the reviews include an album stream (or a link) where you can hear more of the album. The review also has a link where you purchase it on Amazon and support the artists you enjoy.

RECOMMENDED ALBUM RELEASES OF 2009

RATING:

Bear In Heaven

Best Rest Forth Mouth

Release Date: November 13, 2009

Label: Hometapes
WE SAID: "...It's cavernous and droning...yet bright and engaging..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Lovesick Teenagers
You Do You

Girls

Album

Release Date: September 22, 2009

Label: True Panther Sounds
WE SAID: "...its a throughly enjoyable lo-fi mix of past melodies and hooks redefined by some keen craftsmen..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Lust For Life
Hellhole Ratrace

Heartless Bastards

The Mountain

Release Date: February 3, 2009

Label: Fat Possum
WE SAID: "...There's more this time to the former Cincinnati band's arsenal than hard blues rockers..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
The Mountain
Out At Sea

Neon Indian

Psychic Chasms

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Label: Lefse Records
WE SAID: "...a whirling Wurlitzer filled world, which is both ear candy and mind expanding..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Deadbeat Summer
Terminally Chill

Tegan and Sara

Sainthood

Release Date: October 27, 2009

Label: Sire Records
WE SAID: "...Overall, this is a good balance of light poppy confections." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
The Ocean

The Cure

Thao With The Get Down Stay Down

Know Better Learn Faster

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Label: Kill Rock Stars
WE SAID: "...Break up themes can be difficult for some, but this music is playful and even buoyant at times..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
When We Swam

Cool Yourself

The Bird and the Bee

Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future

Release Date: January 27, 2009

Label: Blue Note
WE SAID: "...it reminds me of their under-appreciated debut, but Kurstin's arrangements are more understated here..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Love Letter To Japan
What's In The Middle

The Dutchess & the Duke

Sunset/Sunrise

Release Date: October 6, 2009

Label: Hardly Art
WE SAID: "...their songwriter and vocal duets are still top notch...perfect for reflection on a rainy Sunday..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Scorpio
I Don't Feel Anything

Throw Me The Statue

Creaturesque

Release Date: August 4, 2009

Label: Secretly Canadian
WE SAID: "...more musically complex (than their debut), which rewards repeated listens." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Hi-Fi Goons
Waving At The Shore

Wilco

Wilco (The Album)

Release Date: June 30, 2009

Label: Nonesuch
WE SAID: "...Tweedy's songwriting has improved...(with) more melody and hooks..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Wilco (The Song)
Bull Black Nova

RATING:

Matt & Kim

Grand

Release Date: January 20, 2009

Label: Fader
WE SAID: "...rich in atmosphere and harmonies...the bouncy and playful rhythms are still here for the fans..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Daylight
Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare

Telekinesis

Telekinesis!

Release Date: April 7, 2009

Label: Merge Records
WE SAID: "...These pop sensibilities are delivered clean and crisp with vocals that hover over the music..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Coast Of Carolina
All Of A Sudden

The Big Pink

A Brief History of Love

Release Date: September 22, 2009

Label: 4ad Records
WE SAID: "...A shoegaze rocker's delight full of hooks and MGMT can-do attitude..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Dominos
Velvet

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Release Date: February 3, 2009

Label: Slumberland
WE SAID: "...It's more shoegazy and less muscular than the Strokes debut, but hooks and melodies abound..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Young Adult Friction
Everything With You

Third Eye Blind

Ursa Major

Release Date: August 18, 2009

Label: MRI
WE SAID: "...still those patented 3eb melodies and Jenkins flowing lyrics remain the constant, both personal and innate to all of us..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:

~~Summer Town~~ (removed by request)

~~Why Can't You Be~~ (removed by request)

RATING:

Bombay Bicycle Club

I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

Release Date: July 28, 2009

Label: Island Records
WE SAID: "...Overall, a terrific compilation of old and new for the young band's debut." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Always Like This
Ghost

Handsome Furs

Face Control

Release Date: March 10, 2009

Label: Sub Pop Records
WE SAID: "...(Wolf Parade's) Dan Boeckner and wife Alexei Perry showcase their considerable talents and chemistry..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
I'm Confused
All We Want, Baby, Is Everything

Lily Allen

It's Not Me, It's You

Release Date: February 10, 2009

Label: Capitol Records
WE SAID: "...A sweeping effort from a maturing artist crossing a number of genres..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
The Fear
I Could Say

Say Hi

Oohs & Aahs

Release Date: March 3, 2009

Label: Barsuk
WE SAID: "...Here he produces an album chock full of catchy lo-fi pop nuggets..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
November Was White, December Was Grey
One, Two...One

RATING:

Harlem Shakes

Technicolar Health

Release Date: March 24, 2009

Label: Gigantic
WE SAID: "...It demands repeated listens with so much going on with style changes within song structures...(Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Strickly Game
Sunlight

Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Release Date: May 26, 2009

Label: Glass Note
WE SAID: "...Like a fine wine, France's synth rock export gets better with age..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
1901
Lisztomania

RATING:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It's Blitz

Release Date: March 10, 2009

Label: Interscope Records
WE SAID: "...You know somethings up...when you hear the opening synths pulsing and Karen O...so under control..."(Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Zero
Dull Life

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

Fruit

Release Date: October 27, 2009

Label: Small Giants
WE SAID: "...This is a shimmering batch of upbeat pop...that reminds you of a dozen glorious summers..." (Full Review)
KEY TRACKS:
Around The Bend
Hero

Enjoy, GB