My favorite music of 2009

Trying to build a list with such an air of superiority titled “best albums” or “best songs” of the year seems to pretentious. Not that it really stopped me last year, but I digress… It feels like a better approach to this time around is to go over my favorite albums and live performances I caught through the year. It truly has been fantastic on all fronts, so let’s just get into it…

The Antlers Hospice
My favorite album of the year was by far The Antlers’ Hospice. Such raw emotion – love, hurt, loss – is difficult to capture in a way that urges the listener to dig deeper into the music without walking away heartbroken and burned. From the opening pulse of the electric piano in Kettering to the closing strums of Epilogue, this album had me mesmerized and enthralled with its sound and story. If there is any record on this list you haven’t heard, this is the one to start with.

Adding to my deep enjoyment of their music, The Antlers put on one Hell of a live show. Their gig at The Independent in October had me absolutely floored.

Grizzly Bear Veckatimest
The four-piece indie powerhouse Grizzly Bear achieved critical acclaim this year with Veckatimest. Psychedelic, twisting four-part vocal harmonies over some of the most incredible musicianship of the year. Their live performance at the Treasure Island Music Festival was my entire reason to attend. What an impeccable recording. It’s hard for me to choose a favorite track on this album but my highlights were Southern Point and Foreground. The bonus disc released later in the with various live performances only solidified my love for Grizzly Bear. I’ll even forgive them for writing a track on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack.

Oceansize Home & Minor
A late year release, Oceansize’s Home & Minor instantly landed on my list of favorites for the year. The band itself came on recommendation of a guy who stopped me in a store while wearing an obscure band t-shirt he happened to recognize. “Go find Oceansize!” he urged me. I typically listen to a band’s latest recording first and work my way back through their catalogue. In this situation, Home & Minor helped pave the way for a new Oceansize fan. This album is a modern sounding version of 1970′s progressive cuts like Ripples and The Musical Box. It is absolutely brilliant from beginning to end.

MUSE The Resistance
There’s no way to write about the music of 2009 and not include MUSE. The truth is, while The Resistance is a powerful record and a major release for the band in the States it simply isn’t their best. It’s full of amazing production and musical prowess, but the lyrics often fall flat and leave me wanting for the days of Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. Despite my yearn for MUSE of old, it still stands out above other releases of the year and will certainly begin the reign of MUSE in the United States. Their recent performances at Not So Silent Night and Almost Acoustic Christmas were

OSI Blood
Another release on my list this year that while not a band’s strongest material is still better than most put out this year. The title track alone is worth purchase of the entire disc but when you throw in the electro-driving Terminal and Radiologue the value jumps dramatically. I can never truly get enough of Kevin Moore’s vocals. While a lot of fans consider it to be nothing more than spoken word with a bit of tone modulation, his voice is haunting and emotive. Combine Kevin’s voice and sense of thematic song writing with Jim Matheo’s amazing guitar riffs and you’ve got one damn fine record.

Other Favorites

Bear In HeavenBeast Rest Forth Mouth
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse Dark Night Of The Soul
Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Jet Shaka Rock
Mew No More Stories Are Told
The XX The XX

Mellowdrone Angry Bear
Mos Def The Ecstatic
Pearl Jam Backspacer

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live Anthology
Silversun Pickups Swoon