Post by MIKEB on Dec 28, 2009 20:03:10 GMT -5
Second up, the list of my 30 favourite records of the year. This chart was much more fun to make as I felt it was a particularly strong year for full albums compared to individual songs and singles. This chart is generally more important to me anyway every year so the real accomplishments come here.
This year I bought 66 CDs, which ties 2003 for the most albums I got in one year (I got 79 in 2004) but back then I bought more used CDs whereas almost all of the ones I got this year were new. I got 22 on the day they were released. So judging by those numbers, it was a competitive year too.
Here goes:
This year was probably the best year of the decade as far as full-length albums go. People say the "album" is becoming a thing of the past. I can see that happening but if I judge by what I listened to this year, maybe it's more of a personal interpretation. Comparing my Top 30 list this year to last year's, I would say that my #20ish from this year would be equal to my #10ish from last year's list. Ordering the Top 10 itself was a challange as the records in there I listened to and really liked a lot.
Keeping in mind that this list is made up of what I listened to the most and liked the most and not what I think was the best that music had to offer this year.
30 Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown [[ 2009 Reprise ]]
21st Century Breakdown finishes off where American Idiot left off. A highly anticipated followup to one of the greater rock albums of the decade. While it didn't disappoint per se, it didn't exactly show a lot of new ground. The running time went about 15 minutes over the previous record but the tracklisting was a significantly higher number so it felt like this record as a whole was much longer. A problem with making an album like American Idiot is the comparisons the next record will make. This album's Jesus of Suburbia might be the title track, American Idiot would be to that album what Know Your Enemy is here and Boulevard of Broken Dreams would be to AI what 21 Guns is here... approximately, and in each case, the original stands above the newer. I think on its own, this record is a decent listen that deserve more attention than I've given it but if I want a fix of new Green Day, I'll probably be more likely to put on American Idiot.
29 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [[2008 Sub Pop]]
Seeing the Fleet Foxes get so much praise over the last year convinced me to get the album myself. It's an interesting folk rock record that I think fans of old country, old fashioned folk and indie music in general would enjoy. With that said, it didn't strike my fancy as much as I would have expected but I think this is an album that might grow an attachment over a longer period of time with its timeless sound.
28 Missy Higgins - On A Clear Night [[ 2007 Reprise ]]
I first heard Missy Higgins in 2006 with her hit Scar. She's Australian so she hasn't quite picked up a lot of attention this side of the hemisphere but she has a nice acoustic pop sound that fits in well next to the Michelle Branch's and Anna Nalick's of the music spectrum except Missy's sound is slightly less made to suit a mainstream pop sound and more toward an indie fanbase.
27 Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted To Sin [[ 2009 Universal Republic ]]
Tori's fifth album this decade was probably the largest step away from her musical norm as far as I'm familiar with her. She brings in some electronic sounds to mix with her usual blend of piano pop and and alternative sounds. Her 2007 record American Doll Posse was more rock influenced than anything she'd recorded before so in comparison to that, this new album has more of a pop-friendly sound, definitely much more than the two records before Posse. However, like those three albums, this one suffers from its numerous tracks which once again makes it difficult to fully get into the entire recording with so much to deal with. I attempted to ease myself into The Beekeeper (2005) by taking the songs in chunks and while successful, I still only enjoyed less than half the record, although in that sense at least it gives the listener more options in songs to choose and like but it seems more trouble than it's worth...
26 Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things [[ 2008 Atlantic ]]
Originally appeared on my Best of 2008 Album list but I was initially disappointed with this record as a whole. I still consider it to be a major step down from Jason's first two but in time I came around to be able to enjoy most of this album to some degree. Jason seems to have stepped away from his clever, tongue-in-cheek writing and rhyming that made his first album so enjoyable while this album does seem to be more all over the page rather than following some sort of order that came with his second record. There are ups and downs but We Sing... is no longer a disappointment.
25 Norah Jones - The Fall [[ 2009 Blue Note ]]
This is the newest album in my entire list having only just gotten it in the middle of December but it was enough time for me to listen and conclude that I do and will enjoy this album. Norah expands her musical horizons and comfort zone from her home of jazz into a world of alternative and a lighter rock sound. The album's first single Chasing Pirates has a dominate drum beat that plays a great support system for the bass and electric guitars while Norah sounds at her best. Her voice always sounded sweet but sometimes you need a complete overhaul to realize just how sweet it is.
24 Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger [[ 2008 Sire ]]
Another holdover from 2008, The Glass Passenger continued to get some minor attention on my iPod this year. Mostly in the form of individual songs but I still adhere to the thought that the record is a great pop/rock album.
23 The Art of Time Ensemble featuring Sarah Slean - Black Flowers [[ 2009 ]]
Sarah Slean leant her vocals to a recording project of classical covers of songs by Canadian writers and artists. Being a Sarah Slean fan, it was a must-have. Much of the songs have a similar feel to some of Sarah's earlier recordings from her first EP, such as Black Flowers, which I consider to be one of the album's highlights. Another highlight comes with Dandelion Wine, originally by Ron Sexsmith, the Art of Time Ensemble and Sarah do a wonderful job in recreating this in a new classical form. Of course the song I most anticipated was the cover of Lodestar, originally by Sarah Harmer. A song that I think is perfection in its original form, I thought this new version took it to a whole new area. Not making it better but just simply making it very different but still very enjoyable.
22 Polly Scattergood - I Hate The Way [[ 2009 Mute ]]
I've discovered a few artists thru iTunes Song of the Week. Polly Scattergood was one of this year's discoveries thanks to her song I Hate The Way making an appearance in May. I enjoyed that track so much that I figured her album must be great. I would peg her as being an experimental pop version of Tori Amos with a slight touch of electronica blended together. She might not find herself on the forefront of piano pop music for the next decade but I think her music fits in well next to the Regina's and Sarah's of music.
21 Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn [[ 2009 Coalition ]]
My favourite OLP record is probably Spiritual Machines but the first three are all pretty close to it as well. I never really cared for most of their stuff after 2000 but their 7th recording seems to change that a bit. While not reaching the level that Clumsy or Naveed achieved earlier in their recording career, they've lessened the political themes that the last record was drowned in (as was Raine's solo record) and show some signs of allowing their 90s sound to return slightly to their music. All in all, I'd probably compare the sound of Burn Burn most to Gravity but the songs themselves being more enjoyable.
20 Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers [[ 2008 Potty Mouth ]]
Asking For Flowers was my third favourite album of last year. I included it on my list again this year as well because I felt it still received too much airtime for me to put it behind me right now. I think this record will go down with Kathleen's other two as great Canadian classics so perhaps it will be on my list again next year as well?
19 Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day [[ 2009 Six Shooter ]]
Melissa continues the venture taken on her last record by going further into the sound of twangy old-styled country that gives this album a mid 1900s feel compared to the more modern but reminiscent sound of Thumbelina's One Night Stand (2006). The 1-2 combo of track 5 and 6, both titled Victoria Day (but differentiate on the subtitles, April Showers and May Flowers) provides a highlight of the album where the latter has an early 1900s New Orlean's dixieland sound.
18 Tegan And Sara - Sainthood [[ 2009 Sire ]]
Whenever Tegan and Sara announces an upcoming album, they always have my complete attention as the anticipation is higher than any other artist. Both So Jealous (2004) and The Con (2007) were my favourite albums in their respective years of release so it's a no-brainer that Sainthood would follow suit. Upon hearing it though, I became greatly disappointed. Production-wise, it's similar to that of The Con but the songs themselves seem to lack the heart that made their other five albums as amazing as I've always thought them to me. Typically their songs don't need any time to grow on me but I've given this album a number of listens and still have yet to find anything on here that I would find even comparible to any of their previous material. With all of that said, the album as a whole isn't that bad. Simply in comparison it feels like a major step downward but when taken as its own individual album, it has potential. A key track might be the album's closer Someday.
17 Owl City - Ocean Eyes [[ 2009 Universal Republic ]]
One of the year's new success stories comes in the form of electro-pop artist Owl City. I think the comparisons to the Postal Service are warranted and while some may be shocked and offended at such a comparison, I think it's silly. Sure, Owl City has a mainstream hit where the Postal Service never got significant radio airplay but just because one gets played on the radio, it doesn't suddenly mean the music automatically sucks. Of course Ocean Eyes isn't a duplication of the wonder that was Give Up but it's a nice nod to that 2000s classic. Owl City provides more of a pop perspective to the genre while writing songs that aren't so much deep in lyrical depth but it still makes a fun album.
16 Imogen Heap - Ellipse [[ 2009 Megaphonic ]]
I think while I waited for the third record from Imogen Heap to come out, I expected her to follow in the footsteps she created with Speak For Yourself. Lots of wonderful production and mixing and effects and everything that made that album so magical and fascinating to listen to. The overall result isn't quite what I hoped for. There isn't a song on here that matches the incredible musical and stereo landscape and production that made up Headlock. And it almost feels as if Imogen tried to recreate parts of Hide And Seek on a number of tracks on here including the introduction of Wait It Out and the organic and vocal relience in Earth reminds me partially of it as well. There aren't a lot of low moments on here but I think the lack of higher moments will be what ultimately seperates Ellipse from Speak For Yourself.
15 Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio [[ 2009 Rounder ]]
Ever since discovering Sondre Lerche in 2003, I became entranced by his interesting musical arrangements that made up his first album Faces Down. It was easily apparent that he had yet to be tainted by the influences of American mainstream pop and British rock. His second album was even more pleasant to listen to. He took a break away from his own sound to record an album of standards with 2006's Duper Sessions, which was fine but upon his return to the originals came 2007's rock record Phantom Punch. I felt he lost the sound that made him stand out from the rest but much to my surprise I welcomed back the sound with his new record Heartbeat Radio. In comes the crazy stringed arrangements, the suspicious lyrics and odd backing vocals and production that made brief appearances on Faces Down (2001).
14 Regina Spektor - Far [[ 2009 Sire ]]
Regina's 2009 album overall is more upbeat than Begin To Hope, which was my introduction to her back in 2007. I would even suspect that this record would have been a better introduction than BtH. Personally, I do prefer it. It has some quirky songs like Folding Chair and Dance Anthem of the 80s, thought provoking in Laughing With and generally ear-catching songs in The Calculation. I think if you know and like Regina already, you'll like this. I did.
13 Catherine MacLellan - Water In The Ground/Dark Dream Midnight [[ 2009 True North ]]
Sometimes you just need a good folk record to put on as background music or to sing along to or just because you want something lighter on a relaxing day. Being a guy of modern music, I like modern folk. And this year, I've discovered Catherine MacLellan. Much to my surprise, the album I bought came with a version of her first record from 2004. It's pretty standard fare but when I'm in the mood for something familiar, warm and friendly, these CDs are exactly what I'm looking for.
12 Pink - Funhouse [[ 2008 LaFace ]]
I think Pink is an artist that does get better with each album. I didn't particularly care for her aside from a few songs until her 2006 record I'm Not Dead. Her followup Funhouse isn't quite as "fun" as the title would suggest. I expected a much more upbeat album with more songs like the lead single So What. Much to my satisfaction, So What is likely the least appetizing track on the album. Please Don't Leave Me might better represent the collection of songs but even then, there's a lot of ground covered with some of Pink's signature pop/rock songs like Sober and the highlight It's All Your Fault, some lighter tracks like I Don't Believe You and Crystal Ball and everything in between. Mean is a great rocker and Pink's voice is definitely most suited for more rock-based songs.
11 Madonna - Celebration [[ 2009 Warner Bros. ]]
Madonna's last release with her longtime label Warner Bros. was, of course, a career-wide compilation of some of her best known songs. Normally greatest hits compilations aren't a big deal but sometimes they're made with just the right tracklisting that they tickle your fancy. I thought Celebration covered just the right ground for Madonna's career and definitely makes it the must-have Madonna disc for anyone with any desire for her music. The single-disc version has the typical Madonna hits. The biggest of the biggest so I opted for the two-disc version as my favourite songs from Madonna tend to be her minor major hits such as Secret, Live To Tell, Crazy For You and Don't Tell Me. All of which are on the two-disc version but not the single-disc. One major thing about both versions is the complete lack of I'll Remember, which is one of my favourite songs by her. But with the compilation also came a double-DVD set of her videos, which does include I'll Remember as well as other favourites Human Nature and Bedtime Story. A fine way to end off a record contract if I do say so myself.
10 Chantal Kreviazuk - Plain Jane [[ 2009 MapleMusic ]]
Chantal's fifth studio album was her first without Sony Music as her label. Whether or not that had any effect on her music remains to be seen as Plain Jane seems to have much more crisp production than any previous record ever did. The mixing for the more pop-sounding tracks was done by rock mixer Andrew Scheps while husband Raine Maida did the rest and there is a definite difference in sound between the two groups of songs with Scheps' being heavier on the low and high end of things. I don't think this record will go down has housing as many classics as either of the previous but there are still some pretty good songs on here including This Way, Ordinary People, Say The Word and Chantal's wonderful attempt at a smooth jazz song with Plain Jane.
9 Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster [[ 2009 Steamline/Interscope ]]
I did get the original version of The Fame back in April but I also got the rereleased version with an additional 11 songs that were either new recordings (the 8 tracks that make up The Fame Monster) or previously unreleased in Canada. Lady GaGa offers up a lot of pop culture, either in referencing or in the creation of through nonsense phrases or things like "disco stick".
All in all I think Lady GaGa is a very welcome breath of fresh air in today's pop music. I think as much as her music, she is her own image. She knows she's a product and instead of trying to act humble and "real" like most of today's pop singers, she's taking her image and basing her entire being around that. I've personally heard a lot of criticism on that and I find it surprising that people say she's trying too hard or the whole image thing is stupid yet may praise someone like David Bowie, Queen or other glam-rock and image-heavy artists for being original or innovative. It almost seems hypocritical. The main differences of course being that Lady GaGa is a woman and she's doing pop music, not rock, which somehow makes everything she does or will ever do null and void. Personally, I think she's single-handedly bringing back the rock-star persona that seemed so evident of the 70s and 80s but has been nearly absent for most of the decade.
8 Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & The Groo Grux King [[ 2009 Sony Music/RCA ]]
This record starts and ends with instrumental recordings of Leroi Moore playing the saxophone. Moore died as a result of pneumonia before this album was completed so he does have writing credits and is on the record itself. The album is much better than I anticipated since I was never a fan of DMB before this, despite enjoying their songs a bit. I think the song most reminiscent of DMB for me is the quirkiness of Shake It Like A Monkey but my favourite tracks on here are the outstanding first single Funny The Way It Is and the rocker Time Bomb. The instrumentation on this is nothing short of fascinating and fantastic, not unlike previous recordings with the mixture of rock, jazz and other New Orleans influences.
7 Brandi Carlile - Give Up The Ghost [[ 2009 Columbia ]]
Brandi Carlile's third record follows very much in the same vain as The Story. Mixing alternative folk, country and pop together in a wonderful blend that showcases her incredible vocals. She can definitely give Melissa Etheridge a run for her money. The album starts off strong with the rocker Looking Out, which can probably be compared with The Story or Losing Heart from her last album. The lighter songs on here I think are stronger than the lighter offerings from The Story (2007) which automatically makes this album much more consistant in its delivery, however, on the flipside there aren't any songs that strike me quite as hard as The Story's title track or Again Today did which is a slight downside. I can confidently say though that this album will be a classic in my collection.
6 Serena Ryder - Is It Ok [[ 2008 Serenader/EMI ]]
This is the last holdover from last year's list. I couldn't not include it in my favourites of 2009 since I still absolutely love this record and play it probably about once a week. Since last year, I've seen Serena twice in concert and both times she was phenomenal. The second time made me appreciate this album that much more as it also made me appreciate just how incredible her voice is. I've seen a lot of concerts and many of them by great vocalists but I think Serena might be the most impressive vocalist I've witnessed live. She doesn't typically show it in her recordings but there are times when she lets loose and drives it home. Not so much the notes she hits and the power in which she hits them. These songs are a perfect collection for an incredible album.
5 Blue October - Approaching Normal [[ 2009 Universal Motown ]]
This album both starts and ends on a heavy note, both in musical and lyrical tone. Starting off with a suicide attempt after the perception that everything has gone wrong. The conclusion is the very chilling narrative of a double murder suicide of an ex-wife and her new lover. In between is a very bipolar mix of songs dealing with rejection and since moving on, depression and self-strength. The songs are lyrically heavy however most of which are cloaked in a musically light sound. Near the end of the record it feels as if the darkness has passed with the uplifting Jump Rope and the next song Blue Skies reveals the desire and expectation that everything will get better. Blue Does is the answer to that hope with appreciative lyrics but everything comes crashing down in the album closer The End.
4 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular [[ 2008 Sony BMG ]]
I got this album knowing little about the band and barely knowing what kind of music they did. I picked it out on purpose because when I got it, I was craving something new and different to my music collection in which I was feeling fatigued from. The result came a month-long obsession with the entire album that was psychedelically delicious with wonderful eletronica rock and production. This album single-handedly opened my mind up to the distance that music production can go, something which I've realized I should have been more open-minded to discover before.
3 Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night [[ 2008 RCA ]]
This record I got the same time as Oracular Spectacular. I wasn't willing to settle for just one new album in my feeling-stale period. It took slightly longer for me to warm up to this album but in the end, I definitely consider it to be one of my favourite rock records. Only By The Night starts off on a strong point with a wonderful introduction with Closer before going full-force with Crawl. Things stay pretty high-paced until the Springsteen-sounding Revelry which will likely remain a hidden gem on here and I love the crisp sound of the symbols in 17. I think this album will end up being one of those records where every track is recognizable as being a Kings of Leon song, not just by the distinct vocals of singer Caleb Followill but just because each song will be recognizable as being from this album.
2 Dragonette - Fixin' To Thrill [[ 2009 Universal ]]
I was surprised to see this CD released in stores before I actually knew it was supposed to be. Galore surprised me by popping up on record store stands as well so it seems like release dates seem to be pretty sporadic in nature.
When I listened to the album in full for the first time I immediately knew that I would like it more than Galore. As an album, the songs seem to follow each other much better than Galore did. I always felt that Galore seemed more like a collection of songs put together on one CD rather than feeling like a complete album. The songs on Fixin' To Thrill also feel as if they fit into the sound that Dragonette as a whole are going for while Galore seemed to lack a central sound and confidence and seemed to be more of a molding or testing field. As well, listening to Fixin' To Thrill doesn't make me wish Martina hadn't abandoned her previous sound as a folk/pop piano/guitar artist the way I always thought when listening to Galore. Martina's album The Cure For Bad Deeds (2002) remains one of my favourite CDs ever so being able to make me forget about it is definitely a huge accomplishment for Fixin' To Thrill and that was enough for me to say that I think this is a great and fun album.
1 Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life [[ 2007 Melodramatic ]]
My choice for the best album I got this year was somewhat of an easy one. On one hand, I've found a lot of great CDs this year; which has been a particularly good year for music in general for me so in that sense, choosing a single favourite was a bit of a challange but judging by the number of times I listened to This Is The Life, it did seem obvious.
Whenever I was going for a walk and couldn't decide on something to listen to, or was in a rush (ie. late for work) and wanted to put something on quickly, my choice would always be This Is The Life. It's an album that's familiar, ear-friendly for my tastes in music and not overwelming but definitely not boring either. The entire album has a Scottish and slightly haunting feel that lurks in the foreground while on the surface is sweet acoustic pop-flavoured perfection. It's pretty rare to have an album where I not only love every single track but I anticipate the next one while the current song is playing.
This year I bought 66 CDs, which ties 2003 for the most albums I got in one year (I got 79 in 2004) but back then I bought more used CDs whereas almost all of the ones I got this year were new. I got 22 on the day they were released. So judging by those numbers, it was a competitive year too.
Here goes:
This year was probably the best year of the decade as far as full-length albums go. People say the "album" is becoming a thing of the past. I can see that happening but if I judge by what I listened to this year, maybe it's more of a personal interpretation. Comparing my Top 30 list this year to last year's, I would say that my #20ish from this year would be equal to my #10ish from last year's list. Ordering the Top 10 itself was a challange as the records in there I listened to and really liked a lot.
Keeping in mind that this list is made up of what I listened to the most and liked the most and not what I think was the best that music had to offer this year.
30 Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown [[ 2009 Reprise ]]
21st Century Breakdown finishes off where American Idiot left off. A highly anticipated followup to one of the greater rock albums of the decade. While it didn't disappoint per se, it didn't exactly show a lot of new ground. The running time went about 15 minutes over the previous record but the tracklisting was a significantly higher number so it felt like this record as a whole was much longer. A problem with making an album like American Idiot is the comparisons the next record will make. This album's Jesus of Suburbia might be the title track, American Idiot would be to that album what Know Your Enemy is here and Boulevard of Broken Dreams would be to AI what 21 Guns is here... approximately, and in each case, the original stands above the newer. I think on its own, this record is a decent listen that deserve more attention than I've given it but if I want a fix of new Green Day, I'll probably be more likely to put on American Idiot.
29 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [[2008 Sub Pop]]
Seeing the Fleet Foxes get so much praise over the last year convinced me to get the album myself. It's an interesting folk rock record that I think fans of old country, old fashioned folk and indie music in general would enjoy. With that said, it didn't strike my fancy as much as I would have expected but I think this is an album that might grow an attachment over a longer period of time with its timeless sound.
28 Missy Higgins - On A Clear Night [[ 2007 Reprise ]]
I first heard Missy Higgins in 2006 with her hit Scar. She's Australian so she hasn't quite picked up a lot of attention this side of the hemisphere but she has a nice acoustic pop sound that fits in well next to the Michelle Branch's and Anna Nalick's of the music spectrum except Missy's sound is slightly less made to suit a mainstream pop sound and more toward an indie fanbase.
27 Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted To Sin [[ 2009 Universal Republic ]]
Tori's fifth album this decade was probably the largest step away from her musical norm as far as I'm familiar with her. She brings in some electronic sounds to mix with her usual blend of piano pop and and alternative sounds. Her 2007 record American Doll Posse was more rock influenced than anything she'd recorded before so in comparison to that, this new album has more of a pop-friendly sound, definitely much more than the two records before Posse. However, like those three albums, this one suffers from its numerous tracks which once again makes it difficult to fully get into the entire recording with so much to deal with. I attempted to ease myself into The Beekeeper (2005) by taking the songs in chunks and while successful, I still only enjoyed less than half the record, although in that sense at least it gives the listener more options in songs to choose and like but it seems more trouble than it's worth...
26 Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things [[ 2008 Atlantic ]]
Originally appeared on my Best of 2008 Album list but I was initially disappointed with this record as a whole. I still consider it to be a major step down from Jason's first two but in time I came around to be able to enjoy most of this album to some degree. Jason seems to have stepped away from his clever, tongue-in-cheek writing and rhyming that made his first album so enjoyable while this album does seem to be more all over the page rather than following some sort of order that came with his second record. There are ups and downs but We Sing... is no longer a disappointment.
25 Norah Jones - The Fall [[ 2009 Blue Note ]]
This is the newest album in my entire list having only just gotten it in the middle of December but it was enough time for me to listen and conclude that I do and will enjoy this album. Norah expands her musical horizons and comfort zone from her home of jazz into a world of alternative and a lighter rock sound. The album's first single Chasing Pirates has a dominate drum beat that plays a great support system for the bass and electric guitars while Norah sounds at her best. Her voice always sounded sweet but sometimes you need a complete overhaul to realize just how sweet it is.
24 Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger [[ 2008 Sire ]]
Another holdover from 2008, The Glass Passenger continued to get some minor attention on my iPod this year. Mostly in the form of individual songs but I still adhere to the thought that the record is a great pop/rock album.
23 The Art of Time Ensemble featuring Sarah Slean - Black Flowers [[ 2009 ]]
Sarah Slean leant her vocals to a recording project of classical covers of songs by Canadian writers and artists. Being a Sarah Slean fan, it was a must-have. Much of the songs have a similar feel to some of Sarah's earlier recordings from her first EP, such as Black Flowers, which I consider to be one of the album's highlights. Another highlight comes with Dandelion Wine, originally by Ron Sexsmith, the Art of Time Ensemble and Sarah do a wonderful job in recreating this in a new classical form. Of course the song I most anticipated was the cover of Lodestar, originally by Sarah Harmer. A song that I think is perfection in its original form, I thought this new version took it to a whole new area. Not making it better but just simply making it very different but still very enjoyable.
22 Polly Scattergood - I Hate The Way [[ 2009 Mute ]]
I've discovered a few artists thru iTunes Song of the Week. Polly Scattergood was one of this year's discoveries thanks to her song I Hate The Way making an appearance in May. I enjoyed that track so much that I figured her album must be great. I would peg her as being an experimental pop version of Tori Amos with a slight touch of electronica blended together. She might not find herself on the forefront of piano pop music for the next decade but I think her music fits in well next to the Regina's and Sarah's of music.
21 Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn [[ 2009 Coalition ]]
My favourite OLP record is probably Spiritual Machines but the first three are all pretty close to it as well. I never really cared for most of their stuff after 2000 but their 7th recording seems to change that a bit. While not reaching the level that Clumsy or Naveed achieved earlier in their recording career, they've lessened the political themes that the last record was drowned in (as was Raine's solo record) and show some signs of allowing their 90s sound to return slightly to their music. All in all, I'd probably compare the sound of Burn Burn most to Gravity but the songs themselves being more enjoyable.
20 Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers [[ 2008 Potty Mouth ]]
Asking For Flowers was my third favourite album of last year. I included it on my list again this year as well because I felt it still received too much airtime for me to put it behind me right now. I think this record will go down with Kathleen's other two as great Canadian classics so perhaps it will be on my list again next year as well?
19 Melissa McClelland - Victoria Day [[ 2009 Six Shooter ]]
Melissa continues the venture taken on her last record by going further into the sound of twangy old-styled country that gives this album a mid 1900s feel compared to the more modern but reminiscent sound of Thumbelina's One Night Stand (2006). The 1-2 combo of track 5 and 6, both titled Victoria Day (but differentiate on the subtitles, April Showers and May Flowers) provides a highlight of the album where the latter has an early 1900s New Orlean's dixieland sound.
18 Tegan And Sara - Sainthood [[ 2009 Sire ]]
Whenever Tegan and Sara announces an upcoming album, they always have my complete attention as the anticipation is higher than any other artist. Both So Jealous (2004) and The Con (2007) were my favourite albums in their respective years of release so it's a no-brainer that Sainthood would follow suit. Upon hearing it though, I became greatly disappointed. Production-wise, it's similar to that of The Con but the songs themselves seem to lack the heart that made their other five albums as amazing as I've always thought them to me. Typically their songs don't need any time to grow on me but I've given this album a number of listens and still have yet to find anything on here that I would find even comparible to any of their previous material. With all of that said, the album as a whole isn't that bad. Simply in comparison it feels like a major step downward but when taken as its own individual album, it has potential. A key track might be the album's closer Someday.
17 Owl City - Ocean Eyes [[ 2009 Universal Republic ]]
One of the year's new success stories comes in the form of electro-pop artist Owl City. I think the comparisons to the Postal Service are warranted and while some may be shocked and offended at such a comparison, I think it's silly. Sure, Owl City has a mainstream hit where the Postal Service never got significant radio airplay but just because one gets played on the radio, it doesn't suddenly mean the music automatically sucks. Of course Ocean Eyes isn't a duplication of the wonder that was Give Up but it's a nice nod to that 2000s classic. Owl City provides more of a pop perspective to the genre while writing songs that aren't so much deep in lyrical depth but it still makes a fun album.
16 Imogen Heap - Ellipse [[ 2009 Megaphonic ]]
I think while I waited for the third record from Imogen Heap to come out, I expected her to follow in the footsteps she created with Speak For Yourself. Lots of wonderful production and mixing and effects and everything that made that album so magical and fascinating to listen to. The overall result isn't quite what I hoped for. There isn't a song on here that matches the incredible musical and stereo landscape and production that made up Headlock. And it almost feels as if Imogen tried to recreate parts of Hide And Seek on a number of tracks on here including the introduction of Wait It Out and the organic and vocal relience in Earth reminds me partially of it as well. There aren't a lot of low moments on here but I think the lack of higher moments will be what ultimately seperates Ellipse from Speak For Yourself.
15 Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio [[ 2009 Rounder ]]
Ever since discovering Sondre Lerche in 2003, I became entranced by his interesting musical arrangements that made up his first album Faces Down. It was easily apparent that he had yet to be tainted by the influences of American mainstream pop and British rock. His second album was even more pleasant to listen to. He took a break away from his own sound to record an album of standards with 2006's Duper Sessions, which was fine but upon his return to the originals came 2007's rock record Phantom Punch. I felt he lost the sound that made him stand out from the rest but much to my surprise I welcomed back the sound with his new record Heartbeat Radio. In comes the crazy stringed arrangements, the suspicious lyrics and odd backing vocals and production that made brief appearances on Faces Down (2001).
14 Regina Spektor - Far [[ 2009 Sire ]]
Regina's 2009 album overall is more upbeat than Begin To Hope, which was my introduction to her back in 2007. I would even suspect that this record would have been a better introduction than BtH. Personally, I do prefer it. It has some quirky songs like Folding Chair and Dance Anthem of the 80s, thought provoking in Laughing With and generally ear-catching songs in The Calculation. I think if you know and like Regina already, you'll like this. I did.
13 Catherine MacLellan - Water In The Ground/Dark Dream Midnight [[ 2009 True North ]]
Sometimes you just need a good folk record to put on as background music or to sing along to or just because you want something lighter on a relaxing day. Being a guy of modern music, I like modern folk. And this year, I've discovered Catherine MacLellan. Much to my surprise, the album I bought came with a version of her first record from 2004. It's pretty standard fare but when I'm in the mood for something familiar, warm and friendly, these CDs are exactly what I'm looking for.
12 Pink - Funhouse [[ 2008 LaFace ]]
I think Pink is an artist that does get better with each album. I didn't particularly care for her aside from a few songs until her 2006 record I'm Not Dead. Her followup Funhouse isn't quite as "fun" as the title would suggest. I expected a much more upbeat album with more songs like the lead single So What. Much to my satisfaction, So What is likely the least appetizing track on the album. Please Don't Leave Me might better represent the collection of songs but even then, there's a lot of ground covered with some of Pink's signature pop/rock songs like Sober and the highlight It's All Your Fault, some lighter tracks like I Don't Believe You and Crystal Ball and everything in between. Mean is a great rocker and Pink's voice is definitely most suited for more rock-based songs.
11 Madonna - Celebration [[ 2009 Warner Bros. ]]
Madonna's last release with her longtime label Warner Bros. was, of course, a career-wide compilation of some of her best known songs. Normally greatest hits compilations aren't a big deal but sometimes they're made with just the right tracklisting that they tickle your fancy. I thought Celebration covered just the right ground for Madonna's career and definitely makes it the must-have Madonna disc for anyone with any desire for her music. The single-disc version has the typical Madonna hits. The biggest of the biggest so I opted for the two-disc version as my favourite songs from Madonna tend to be her minor major hits such as Secret, Live To Tell, Crazy For You and Don't Tell Me. All of which are on the two-disc version but not the single-disc. One major thing about both versions is the complete lack of I'll Remember, which is one of my favourite songs by her. But with the compilation also came a double-DVD set of her videos, which does include I'll Remember as well as other favourites Human Nature and Bedtime Story. A fine way to end off a record contract if I do say so myself.
10 Chantal Kreviazuk - Plain Jane [[ 2009 MapleMusic ]]
Chantal's fifth studio album was her first without Sony Music as her label. Whether or not that had any effect on her music remains to be seen as Plain Jane seems to have much more crisp production than any previous record ever did. The mixing for the more pop-sounding tracks was done by rock mixer Andrew Scheps while husband Raine Maida did the rest and there is a definite difference in sound between the two groups of songs with Scheps' being heavier on the low and high end of things. I don't think this record will go down has housing as many classics as either of the previous but there are still some pretty good songs on here including This Way, Ordinary People, Say The Word and Chantal's wonderful attempt at a smooth jazz song with Plain Jane.
9 Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster [[ 2009 Steamline/Interscope ]]
I did get the original version of The Fame back in April but I also got the rereleased version with an additional 11 songs that were either new recordings (the 8 tracks that make up The Fame Monster) or previously unreleased in Canada. Lady GaGa offers up a lot of pop culture, either in referencing or in the creation of through nonsense phrases or things like "disco stick".
All in all I think Lady GaGa is a very welcome breath of fresh air in today's pop music. I think as much as her music, she is her own image. She knows she's a product and instead of trying to act humble and "real" like most of today's pop singers, she's taking her image and basing her entire being around that. I've personally heard a lot of criticism on that and I find it surprising that people say she's trying too hard or the whole image thing is stupid yet may praise someone like David Bowie, Queen or other glam-rock and image-heavy artists for being original or innovative. It almost seems hypocritical. The main differences of course being that Lady GaGa is a woman and she's doing pop music, not rock, which somehow makes everything she does or will ever do null and void. Personally, I think she's single-handedly bringing back the rock-star persona that seemed so evident of the 70s and 80s but has been nearly absent for most of the decade.
8 Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & The Groo Grux King [[ 2009 Sony Music/RCA ]]
This record starts and ends with instrumental recordings of Leroi Moore playing the saxophone. Moore died as a result of pneumonia before this album was completed so he does have writing credits and is on the record itself. The album is much better than I anticipated since I was never a fan of DMB before this, despite enjoying their songs a bit. I think the song most reminiscent of DMB for me is the quirkiness of Shake It Like A Monkey but my favourite tracks on here are the outstanding first single Funny The Way It Is and the rocker Time Bomb. The instrumentation on this is nothing short of fascinating and fantastic, not unlike previous recordings with the mixture of rock, jazz and other New Orleans influences.
7 Brandi Carlile - Give Up The Ghost [[ 2009 Columbia ]]
Brandi Carlile's third record follows very much in the same vain as The Story. Mixing alternative folk, country and pop together in a wonderful blend that showcases her incredible vocals. She can definitely give Melissa Etheridge a run for her money. The album starts off strong with the rocker Looking Out, which can probably be compared with The Story or Losing Heart from her last album. The lighter songs on here I think are stronger than the lighter offerings from The Story (2007) which automatically makes this album much more consistant in its delivery, however, on the flipside there aren't any songs that strike me quite as hard as The Story's title track or Again Today did which is a slight downside. I can confidently say though that this album will be a classic in my collection.
6 Serena Ryder - Is It Ok [[ 2008 Serenader/EMI ]]
This is the last holdover from last year's list. I couldn't not include it in my favourites of 2009 since I still absolutely love this record and play it probably about once a week. Since last year, I've seen Serena twice in concert and both times she was phenomenal. The second time made me appreciate this album that much more as it also made me appreciate just how incredible her voice is. I've seen a lot of concerts and many of them by great vocalists but I think Serena might be the most impressive vocalist I've witnessed live. She doesn't typically show it in her recordings but there are times when she lets loose and drives it home. Not so much the notes she hits and the power in which she hits them. These songs are a perfect collection for an incredible album.
5 Blue October - Approaching Normal [[ 2009 Universal Motown ]]
This album both starts and ends on a heavy note, both in musical and lyrical tone. Starting off with a suicide attempt after the perception that everything has gone wrong. The conclusion is the very chilling narrative of a double murder suicide of an ex-wife and her new lover. In between is a very bipolar mix of songs dealing with rejection and since moving on, depression and self-strength. The songs are lyrically heavy however most of which are cloaked in a musically light sound. Near the end of the record it feels as if the darkness has passed with the uplifting Jump Rope and the next song Blue Skies reveals the desire and expectation that everything will get better. Blue Does is the answer to that hope with appreciative lyrics but everything comes crashing down in the album closer The End.
4 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular [[ 2008 Sony BMG ]]
I got this album knowing little about the band and barely knowing what kind of music they did. I picked it out on purpose because when I got it, I was craving something new and different to my music collection in which I was feeling fatigued from. The result came a month-long obsession with the entire album that was psychedelically delicious with wonderful eletronica rock and production. This album single-handedly opened my mind up to the distance that music production can go, something which I've realized I should have been more open-minded to discover before.
3 Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night [[ 2008 RCA ]]
This record I got the same time as Oracular Spectacular. I wasn't willing to settle for just one new album in my feeling-stale period. It took slightly longer for me to warm up to this album but in the end, I definitely consider it to be one of my favourite rock records. Only By The Night starts off on a strong point with a wonderful introduction with Closer before going full-force with Crawl. Things stay pretty high-paced until the Springsteen-sounding Revelry which will likely remain a hidden gem on here and I love the crisp sound of the symbols in 17. I think this album will end up being one of those records where every track is recognizable as being a Kings of Leon song, not just by the distinct vocals of singer Caleb Followill but just because each song will be recognizable as being from this album.
2 Dragonette - Fixin' To Thrill [[ 2009 Universal ]]
I was surprised to see this CD released in stores before I actually knew it was supposed to be. Galore surprised me by popping up on record store stands as well so it seems like release dates seem to be pretty sporadic in nature.
When I listened to the album in full for the first time I immediately knew that I would like it more than Galore. As an album, the songs seem to follow each other much better than Galore did. I always felt that Galore seemed more like a collection of songs put together on one CD rather than feeling like a complete album. The songs on Fixin' To Thrill also feel as if they fit into the sound that Dragonette as a whole are going for while Galore seemed to lack a central sound and confidence and seemed to be more of a molding or testing field. As well, listening to Fixin' To Thrill doesn't make me wish Martina hadn't abandoned her previous sound as a folk/pop piano/guitar artist the way I always thought when listening to Galore. Martina's album The Cure For Bad Deeds (2002) remains one of my favourite CDs ever so being able to make me forget about it is definitely a huge accomplishment for Fixin' To Thrill and that was enough for me to say that I think this is a great and fun album.
1 Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life [[ 2007 Melodramatic ]]
My choice for the best album I got this year was somewhat of an easy one. On one hand, I've found a lot of great CDs this year; which has been a particularly good year for music in general for me so in that sense, choosing a single favourite was a bit of a challange but judging by the number of times I listened to This Is The Life, it did seem obvious.
Whenever I was going for a walk and couldn't decide on something to listen to, or was in a rush (ie. late for work) and wanted to put something on quickly, my choice would always be This Is The Life. It's an album that's familiar, ear-friendly for my tastes in music and not overwelming but definitely not boring either. The entire album has a Scottish and slightly haunting feel that lurks in the foreground while on the surface is sweet acoustic pop-flavoured perfection. It's pretty rare to have an album where I not only love every single track but I anticipate the next one while the current song is playing.