Better Late Than Never....

So it's been a few months since I posted but here is the remaining top albums of 2009:

1.  Silversun Pickups  Swoon - By far, the best album of 2009.  The album was nominated for a Grammy in 2010 and has sold close to 250,000 copies.  The album is currently on it's 3rd single called The Royal We (which is my favorite song on the album).  Swoon is a perfect blend between alt rock and indie rock.  If this album didn't follow the Billy Corgan structure of 5-minute plus songs and was a tad bit more radio-friendly, this would've been a platinum album during this new music era.

2.  Paper Route  Absence - If you don't know who this band is, you soon will.  They are anthemic, original and no one really sounds like them.  I expect them to climb the rock charts and capture rock hearts with visual/audio stimulating shows like Muse, Radiohead and U2.  And don't be surprised if they actually get as big as those bands.

3.  Metric  Fantasies - This band has been on my radar since 2005.  This album is easily the darling album of 2009.  It is full of clever yet "bitchy" lyrics.  In the pre-chorus of Satellite Mind, Emily Haynes tells you that she "heard you fuck through the wall" which reminds you of the lyrics on Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill (isn't it hot when girls talk like that?).  And the music on the album is a perfect blend of guitar rock and electronic rhythm.  I'm not the biggest fan of female-led bands but this album is amazing.

4.  Brand New  Daisy - Holy shit!  Where did this album come from?  Dare I say that I was never a Brand New fan until this album??  Daisy won rave reviews from critics and made it on countless Top Album lists of 2009.  But the fans seem to have thought otherwise.  Usually, I side with the fans but not on this album.  This album rocks and it's a creative gem.

5.  Anberlin  New Surrender - Ok, so this album was released in 2008 but all the singles charted in their highest positions in mid-to-late 2009.  As a matter of fact, their first single Feel Good Drag took 27 weeks (6 months, 3 weeks) to hit #1 on the Alternative Rock charts which was a record at the time.  This album took many weeks for me to warm up to but once it did, it easily was one of my most listened to albums of the year.

6.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! - This is another critically acclaimed album on the list as NME and Spin ranked this album #2 and #3 of 2009.  The album has sold over 200,000 copies.   It's Blitz! takes the YYYs into a more electro outfit but doesn't forget it's punk rock underground roots.  And quit giving Lady Ga Ga all the fashion credit.  Karen O has been doing it for way longer than the Ms. Baby Sounds.  Karen O is the original Lady G.  This album was also nominated for a Grammy in 2010.

7.  Phoenix  Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - This French alt rock band took the U.S. by storm and continues to do so.  This album was nominated and won the Grammy for Best Alternative Album in 2010.  Their song 1901 also broke Anberlin's Feel Good Drag's record for the longest run to the #1 spot on the Alternative Rock chart.  It climbed the charts for 31 weeks (7 months, 3 weeks) to hit #1.  This album is great but one minor flaw is the flow of the album.  The song order ruins the flow.

8.  Back Ted-N-Ted  Hookie "EP" LP - This Phoenix, Arizona, man is a busy man.  He was in Chronic Future, he is apart of Imogen Heap's live band and he has DJ and production credits with Chronic Future, label mates Miniature Tigers and even The Maine.  This album wasn't really on anyone's radar but it's damn good.  Miniature Tigers is getting all the press but don't expect Ryan aka "Ted" to sit idly by.  This album is the sleeper pick of 2009.

There you have it.  Look for a re-focused Bandology with more video and interactive posts.

What did you think of the Top Album list?