Mid-year check in: What is the Best Music of 2009... so far?

Without a doubt the best so far has been The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists.  It's the first new album I've heard this year that won't let me go.... can't get enough of it.... and actually it was a little 'by accident'... my friend, who is totally devoted to them, had an extra ticket and no one to go with him.... so i got to go.... fell instantly in love with everything about that album and it's concept.... 

come ON people... share! share! Another one that's sure to get mentioned is St. Vincent's The Actor..... 

for me, it's "merriweather post pavillion" by animal collective.  i haven't had an album hit me that hard in a long time.  six months after its release, and i'm STILL uncovering bits and pieces.  a classic!

Alison Brown, The Company You Keep

Matt & Shannon Heaton, Lover's Well

Albert & Gage, Dakota Lullaby

johnsmith, gravity of grace

I'll second "The Hazards of Love," but my pick for the BEST album of the year so far goes to "Wilco (The Album)."  I've been listening to it for a month or so in its various online-streaming incarnations (on the Wilco website and NPR.org), so I've had the benefit of sink-in time, but I think its pretty darn phenomenal.  Some top-notch songwriting from Jeff Tweedy, and Wilco may very well be the best BAND around these days, for my money - as in, when they play together, they've got a cohesion, inventiveness, and chemistry that rivals anyone else around.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/SoundscapeMN/2009_albums_tracking_and_ranking/

Current top 10 (out of about 80)

1. Soundscape - Grave New World

2. dredg - The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion

3. The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death

4. Umphrey's McGee - Mantis

5. Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia

6. Long Distance Calling - Avoid the Light

7. Kiss Kiss - The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left

8. Archive - Controlling Crowds

9. maudlin of the Well - Part the Second

10. Greg Herriges - Telluric Currents

and sadly, but not surprisingly, none of these albums have had any songs played on 89.3. I would greatly like that to change.

If I had to choose one song, it would be The Liberty of Norton Folgate, by Madness.  That's right, their new album was released yesterday in the US and I can't get enough.  I've been a fan for a long time, and as much as I love them, I must admit their slow decline over the past 30 years.  This album is easily their best in at least 25, if not taking the cake for best album of their career.  I've had this album on repeat since I got it yesterday afternoon and it's a cohesive, well constructed, masterpiece.  They've left the boisterous days of yesteryear behind and have embraced and harnessed their life experiences and created something everyone can enjoy no matter what their age.

Dunno about the best, but the catchiest so far might just be 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked' by Ida Maria or maybe 'Sugarfoot' by Black Joe Lewis.  The new Decemberists' album is wicked good but 'The Rake' is probably my favorite.  What about 'Turn Your Pretty Name Around' by Louris and Olson or 'Optimist' by POS??

"Be Healed" by Paper Route is easily my favorite song of the year,  depsite the awful band name.  I'm actually surprised it isn't in heavy rotation anyhwere.  Probably because the band somehow failed to release it as a single.    "Be Healed" is part "Bittersweet Symphony" part "Supersonic" witha little bit of a Prince vibe too. Great vocal, big drums & a haunting synth that sounds like a singing saw.  The rest of the album (Presence) is certainly worth the purchase.

Hmmm...I'm a huge fan of the Decemberists, but "Hazards of Love" is currently my LEAST favorite by them.  We all know some albums can take some time to grow on someone, and I'm hoping it "clicks" for me too.  I've listened to it a half-dozen times or so, and something about it seems a little flat.  Don't get me wrong - it's a good album, and it's got some great tracks ("The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid").  But I can't say the album as a whole is "floatin' my boat" right now as the best so far of 2009.

Another concept album (or maybe rock opera?) that's worth mentioning is Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown."  I'm a bit skeptical about it.  Some of the songs don't seem very well constructed, particularly in the first half.  But the second half of the album really gets good, starting with the song "Peacemaker."  I'm actually struck by how many "less-good" songs are getting airplay on the Current.  Maybe play "21 Guns" or "Little Girl"?  After a few listens, the album is starting to make more sense, and I'm finding Billy Joe Armstrong to be much more angry on this album - but not in that corny way where rockstars "get angry."  Besides a weak first half, this album's got some soul that sticks out so far this year.

I won't blab on about Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz!," but I'll say that it's been among my favorites.

So far this year, "Manners" by Passion Pit takes the taco.  That album is...WOW.  I'm not even sure what to say about it.  Every time I put it on, it sucks me in and carries me away.  I listen to it while doing anything - driving, cooking, laundry...anything.  In fact, all my friends would probably agree.  It's been a real hit for all of us!

If you're looking to get "The Hazards of Love" to "click," what ended up taking it from "pretty good" to "great" was to block out the time to sit down and listen to it straight through with the lyrics book in front of me.

"A Bower Scene" and the finale are the two songs that I found benefited the most from this treatment - "A Bower Scene" is an example of some really excellent and succinct lyric writing.

Ah-ha!!

Another great example of how owning an album is better than downloading it.  See, that's what I did.  Cheapo wanted $18.99 for it, and I was like "Screw you, not-so-Cheap-o."  So I downloaded it.

It's true, I really shouldn't be surprised that Colin Meloy has written another lyrical masterpiece.  I'll have to check out all the lyrics online.

i agree with you 110% on the passion pit album. W-O-W.

if you can't get that into the new Decemberists, you may want to check out the new album from The Dear Hunter instead. "The Wanting Comes in Waves" pretty much is a Dear Hunter song done by The Decemberists.

I've heard some good things about Deerhunter, but I haven't got around to checking them out.  They've got quite a few albums and EPs.  Is there a particular album you recommend I check out first?

well keep in mind, "Deerhunter" and "The Dear Hunter" are 2 completely different bands. "The Dear Hunter" have released 3 albums

"Act I: The Lake South, The River North" (2006)

"Act II: The Meaning of and all things regarding Ms.Leading" (2007)

"Act III: Life and Death" (2009)

you really can't go wrong with any of them to be honest. But I suppose checking out their newest, Act III, would make some sense, as it could be described as their most *mature* and the production work is a level-up in quality (although the other 2, the production is hardly poor).

http://www.myspace.com/thedearhunter

OOooohhh...So THAT'S why I've heard the name so often...

Thanks!

I've been digging the Doves album "Kingdom of Rust" & even more recently Jason Lytle, "Yours Truly the Commuter"...love it's very personal tone on an album that's all about starting over. 

David Wang speaks the truth.. the new Madness album is solid.  the nutty sound is back!!! the best record of the year...  also it is nice to hear sonic youth again!

Ive been listening to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart so much that I am waking up with the sings in my head.  For any junkie who likes the sound of Jesus and Mary Chain, The Smiths, and noise rock, you should quite enjoy this album.

Haven't bought any albums yet this year, but the best hooks playing on The Current these days are Heavy Cross by The Gossip and Ain't No Rest for the Wicked from Cage the Elephant.

I'd like to put in my plug for the new Akron/Family album "Set 'Em Wild Set 'Em Free", I just can't get enough of that one.  Close 2nd is the Antlers "Hospice"

I love Todd Sniders new album "The Excitement Plan", I think it's even better than his "The Devil you Know" album. And I'm totally looking forward to the new Madness disc. And guess what both of these artists have in common?. Your right ! they're both on Yep-Rock records. and Yep rock has a cool website and is home to a bunch of great artists.