411's Best Albums of 2009: Part 3, #15-1

Posted by Brian Berry on 12.23.2009

411 staff unveils their top 15 albums of the year today. See if Mastodon's Crack the Skye, Eminem's Relapse, Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion or another top contender takes the #1 spot for 2009!

Twenty-five writer's year end lists containing literally hundreds of albums are now pared down to the final top 15 of 2009. Thirteen staffers included our pick for #1 album on their personal list while our pick for #2 appeared on nine lists. The democracy has spoken so here are our picks for our Best Albums of 2009.

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#15	Megadeth Endgame
		Chart History: Released September 15 #9 Billboard 200 #24 UK
"2007's United Abominations was a step in the right direction for Dave Mustaine and company. Endgame is Megadeth's most thrash-centric album since the early 90s. This could have to do with new guitarist Chris Broderick, who replaced Glen Drover. Broderick and Mustaine trade off solos like the good-old days in opening instrumental "Dialectic Chaos" and completely shred off some sick riffage in "Head Crusher." The songwriting is strong, and while Mustaine's vocals are still the weak point, they don't distract from the guitar clinic he puts on. There are even a few surprises along the way, including the acoustic-driven ballad "The Hardest Part Of Letting Go.... Sealed With A Kiss." " - Dan Mariscano "As far as metal albums in 2009 go, this one is right at the top of the stack. As far as Megadeth albums go, this one isn't that far off either, surprisingly considering some of the absolute classics the band has in its back catalogue. Packed with blistering mile-a-minute solos, intense and powerful drumming, grinding vocals and an all round insane level of musicianship, technically, this is as close to an instant classic as you'll get from this genre in 2009. Endgame is an easy recommendation. " - Daniel Wilcox

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#14	Pearl Jam Backspacer
		Chart History: Released September 20 #1 Billboard 200 #9 UK Singles "The Fixer" (#56 Hot 100, #3 Alternative, #10 Rock, #93 UK) "Just Breathe" (#14 Alternative)
"With a huge weight seemingly lifted off of their shoulders, Pearl Jam sound re-energized on Backspacer. The Bush Era is over and PJ are no longer bogged down by mediocre political detours (hello, "Bushleaguer!"); this doesn't mean Backspacer is a party album by any means, but it does reveal a Pearl Jam unafraid of hooks and melodies. The band has at least temporarily put aside their desire to be the Ramones and instead have embraced new wave and the difference is immediate. Backspacer's opening four tracks, from "Gonna See My Friend" to "Johnny Guitar" rock as hard and as well as any songs in their catalog and show that the band is willing to relax a little and have some fun. It's also clear that Eddie Vedder was heavily influenced by his work on the Into the Wild soundtrack, evident by moving songs like "Just Breathe" and "The End," which offset the rockers perfectly. By delivering their best album since 1998's Yield, Pearl Jam show off a renewed vigor that makes Backspacer such an exciting listen. " - Andrew Moll "Nirvana's Reading set came to DVD, STP started a new album, Alice In Chains roared back and Pearl Jam sounded good again - I guess the 9 in 2009 stood for 90's. Backspacer is the most vital Pearl Jam has sounded in over a decade. No one would say that their '06 self-titled set was bad by any means, but it lacked a certain raw passion that made Eddie Vedder and friends one of the front-runners of early 90's rock. Thankfully, they've found that lost passion here at the end of the decade. Maybe it was the big Ten reissue, the new label and exclusive deal with Target, the return of producer Brendan O'Brien or the end of a Presidential administration, but somehow Pearl Jam started having fun again. Let's hope they keep it up. " - Mitch Michaels

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#13	Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion
		Chart History: Released January 6 #13 Billboard 200 #26 UK Singles "My Girls" "Summertime Clothes" "Brother Sport"
"In my opinion there's not an album this year, and few this decade, that can compare with Merriweather Post Pavilion, an album of almost unmatched brilliance. While nobody will ever accuse Animal Collective of being a mainstream act, there's no doubt that Merriweather is the band's most accessible work to date, although the term "accessible" is relative to the rest of their output. The abstract and unconventional song structures are still there, but instead the songs themselves are welcoming, inviting listeners into the Collective's idiosyncratic world of music. Expertly constructed, Merriweather plays like a journey full of pulsating beats and soaring harmonies, all of it borrowing from different genres (pop, dance, rock) but belonging to none of them. This is the album Animal Collective have been building towards for years and they finally made an expansive work that not only details the great ascent into maturity, but the development of a good band into a classic band. " - Andrew Moll "Animal Collective is a band that has put out a hell of a lot of music over the last few years, but arguably Merriweather Post Pavilion is their most accomplished record to date. It sees the band demonstrating a new found maturity that puts their songs over the top – they were great before, now they're exquisite. The band has an unique and unorthodox sound no one else dare try to replicate and while their music is blissfully complex, at the same time the songs are soothingly simple and energetic, making for a bizarre and harrowing record that is a must-have for fans of the band, the genre, or music in general. " - Daniel Wilcox

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#12	Sonic Youth The Eternal
		Chart History: Released June 9 #18 Billboard 200 #42 UK
"Formula. Despite what you've been told about Kim switching around her instruments and the addition of Mark Ibold on bass, there's nothing new about the latest Sonic Youth album. No, it doesn't sound quite like Rather Ripped or Sonic Nurse, but that's because they weren't formula. This is. Great way to start out a number 12 write up, right? Well, it turns out that Sonic Youth have one of the greatest formulas in rock music. As soon as "Sacred Trickster" reveals its riff, you know this is going to be just another rocking affair for Sonic Youth. Though they've done this a good 15 times before and they don't bring anything particularly groundbreaking to the table, that's okay. After all, they broke the ground in the first place, who cares if they're still riding the aftershocks all these years later. As long as the music is as strong as this, we have no right to complain. " - Lucas Wesley "For a band that has been around forever, SY still sound as hungry, angry and charged as ever. Every tune on this record feeds itself into the next, and every Kim Gordon howl is echoed by an overdriven guitar in the hands of Thurston Moore or Lee Ranaldo, until the curtain comes floating down on closer "Massage The History." In this age of ringtones and ala carte iTunes, whole albums are a dying art form, but a few bands still believe in the ideal of an album, and no album released this year realized that ideal more fully than The Eternal. " -Paul Hollingsworth

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#11	Kid Cudi Man On the Moon: The End of the Day
		Chart History: Released September 15 #4 Billboard 200 Singles "Day 'n' Nite" (#3 Hot 100, #5 R&B/Hip-Hop, #2 UK) "Make Her Say" feat. Kanye West & Common (#43 Hot 100, #39 R&B/Hip-Hop, #11 Rap, #67 UK) "Pursuit Of Happiness" feat. MGMT & Ratatat (#59 Hot 100)
"This is one of the moodiest albums of the year and that's what I love about it. Kid Cudi really knows how to set the mood with his Man on the Moon tale and the themes of loneliness, despair, pain, and life really come across well. There's not much more to say than that. In an age where MCs have so much macho bravado and seem fearful of baring their soul, Kid Cudi does it with grace and passion. But he's no pussy! He punched a dude in the face at a concert recently after all. " - Aaron Titan "When I first listened to this album, I was fully expecting tracks in a similar vein to "Day N Nite" – slower production with focused rhymes. What we ultimately got instead though was an intense trip into the mind of Kid Cudi. From tales of solitude and loneliness to the confidence from within to continue on his dreams of becoming a rapper, Kid Cudi's rhymes were often backed by his own singing, which he also certainly did well too. Production ranged from spaced-out funk to upbeat guitar licks, all which allowed Kid Cudi to take us on a journey through what easily could be a ‘Day in the Life Of…' Definitely one of the most engaging listening experiences you could have this year and certainly not an album to overlook. " - Patrick Robinson

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#10	Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II
		Chart History: Released September 8 #4 Billboard 200 Singles "New Wu" feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man "House Of Flying Daggers"feat. GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck & Ghostface Killah "Catalina" feat. Lyfe Jennings
"The Wu-Tang Clan have been regarded as a group that "could have been" something special - only they still are. Even separated, the Clan still produce some of the best hip-hop on the planet. With the original being a hallmark of the genre, Raekwon had a tall mountain to climb with an album titled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. With the help of some friends (like Inspektah Deck, Ghostface, and Method Man on "House Of Flying Daggers") and his own street-level deft skill, Raekwon still released one of the best hip-hop albums of 2009. With near-unparalleled storytelling ability (one of his few peers is fellow Clan member Ghostface) and an ear for scratchy funk handed down from Clan mentor the RZA, Raekwon brought together every element that made the Clan a force to be reckoned with and brought it all to the table himself, producing a hip-hop classic that sounded much hungrier and sharper than anything Jay-Z or Eminem turned out this year." -Michael Melchor "Everyone was skeptical of whether or not Raekwon could pull off an album that comes remotely close to the majesty of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. After all, he has spent several years trying and failing over and over with IMMOBILARITY and THE LEX DIAMONDS STORY, and various below the radar mixtapes. The news that OB4CL2 was originally supposed to be produced entirely by Dr. Dre (which would've been a good idea in the early 90's, but his current sound has grown too POP-ish to do any good here) didn't help. The fact that Raekwon, after all these years, had finally pulled off a proper follow-up to his classic debut serves as one of the biggest surprises of 2009. " -Phil Watts Jr. "The original Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is indeed a Classic hip-hop album and is considered to be one of the best Wu-Tang releases and in fact, one of the best hip-hop releases of the 90s. When Raekwon originally announced a sequel to his Classic debut, many fans, myself included, were skeptical given the quality of his more recent work. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II certainly delivered on all aspects of its predecessor. Combining grittier production and Mafioso-influenced tales of drug kingpins, Raekwon gave us an album that will hopefully show some of these new rappers exactly how crack-rap should be done. Raekwon's album is one of the best albums this year and will most certainly make a lot of Top 10 lists." - Patrick Robinson

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#9	Mos Def The Ecstatic
		Chart History: Released June 9 #9 Billboard 200 Singles "Life In Marvelous Times" "Quiet Dog" "Casa Bey" "Supermagic"
"Coming off the catastrophe that was True Magic, Mos Def may have felt he had something to prove as a rapper, and delivered full-scale with The Ecstatic. Working with beats from Madlib, J Dilla and Ed Banger Recrods' own Mr. Flash, the album doesn't have the sound of a rap great reaching back to past successes; instead, Mos has made a vibrant and relevant album that goes in a number of different directions. The album feels loose at times, like none of the tracks have any relationship to the others, but Mos manages to keep everything connected by sounding both important and playful on each track. Whether he's singing in Spanish on "No Hay Nada Mas," or joining up with Talib Kweli for a Black Star reunion over a Dilla beat on "History," Mos Def sounds like he's enjoying making music and being a rapper, not just an actor/rapper. " - Andrew Moll "Over ten years ago, during the height of the Rawkus Records explosion, Mos Def was seen as the FUTURE of Hip-Hop. After albums like Mos Def & Talib Kweli are BLACK STAR and Black on Both Sides, there was no disputing it. However, as Mos Def's movie career blew up, his career in Hip-Hop plummeted, with two miserable, half-assed offerings like New Danger and True Magic (the latter which LOOKED as half-assed as it sounded, being released with no liner notes or cover and put in a cheap plastic container!) This time around, he got a hold of some Madlib, Oh-No and J-Dilla beat-CD's and tried to rebuild his rep in the Hip-Hop stage. While this is easily his best album in years, Mos could still stand to lighten up some (you're a MOVIE STAR for Christ's sake!) " - Phil Watts Jr. "This is one of the best "illin' out" albums of the last several years, and I will stand by that statement. I can just throw on this Mos album and chill/nod my head like I just quite couldn't with his last two efforts - True Magic and The New Danger - though I'm not complaining about them. With The Ecstatic, Mos Def provides positive messages in dark times with some soul and edge, painting a message of hope despite all the problems we face in the world. "Life In Marvelous Times" should have been a smash hit, but for whatever reason, people didn't seem to catch on to or find out about it. "Quiet Dog" is also a dope song with ape-shit hip-hop percussion, which Mos actually plays when he does it live (saw it on Letterman). Above all, the album remains suave and I feel cooler having listened to it (see "No Hay Nada Mas"). Peep this shit now and feed it through your headphones, computer, or car speakers, as it sounds dope on all fronts." - Aaron Titan

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#8	Muse The Resistance
		Chart History: Released September 15 #3 Billboard 200 #1 UK Singles "Uprising" (#9 UK, #37 Hot 100, #1 Alternative) "Undisclosed Desires" (#49 UK)
"Way back when I first heard this record I gave it a pretty negative review. I had high expectations and they just were not met…not even close. Three months on and my opinion has changed somewhat, as I am now a pretty big fan of this record, even if it still doesn't come close to the likes of Absolution and Origin of Symmetry. That said, The Resistance still makes for an enthralling and often bizarre listen, as Muse's level of experimentation ranges from bold and brave to completely batshit crazy. The three-part symphony is still the highlight of the record, but the other tracks are mostly all worthy of their place too. This probably doesn't further Muse's legacy, but it probably cements it." -Daniel Wilcox "This record is Muse's self-indulgent homage to the seventies, and while it takes a little getting into, there is a lot to love. The most conventionally interesting songs are at the start of the record with "Uprising", "the Resistance" and "Undisclosed Desires" coming closest to what you might expect from Muse, before the record takes a turn for the strange in "United States of Eurasia" – that's a song you'll either love or hate. The second part of the album is the really indulgent seventies bit with the likes of "Unnatural Selection" and "I Belong To You" owing more than a little to the likes of Abba and Labelle, and the three-part "Exogenesis Symphony" doing it's best to out-prog the likes of Yes. While I was initially unimpressed by this album, because it lacks the uber-tune like "New Born" or "Hysteria", it has grown on me a lot and at the end of the day, this is the sound of Muse doing whatever they feel like doing because they have managed to achieve a level of fame and popularity where they can indulge their most idiosyncratic ideas without apparent commercial penalty, and there is something awesome and beautiful that arguably the biggest current rock band in the world still want to mess with their sound and can be successful doing so. Recommended Songs: "Resistance", "Undisclosed Desires", "Unnatural Selection"" -Chris Crowing "This album has been getting a lot of mixed responses from Muse's dedicated fan base. The criticism is understandable; the band toned down the rock elements and brought more of an orchestral/electronic presence to the forefront. However, this new direction churned out some future Muse classics, including the Queen-inspired "United States Of Eurasia / Collateral Damage" and the three-part "Exogenesis: Symphony," which was entirely composed by frontman Matt Bellamy after years of work. Sure, another "Knights Of Cydonia" or "New Born" would have been nice, but The Resistance showcases a mature, unapologetic and ambitious side of Muse that has never been seen before. " - Dan Mariscano

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#7	Slayer World Painted Blood
		Chart History: Released November 3 #12 Billboard 200 #41 UK Singles "Psycopathy Red" "Hate Worldwide"
"Two of the "Four Horsemen" of pioneering metal released new albums in 2009. And while Megadeth certainly made a case for keeping metal alive this year, Slayer flat-out steamrolled everything in their path in making the best metal album of the year, hands-down. A throwback to the way they started out, Slayer played it swift and violent while unloading some of the most evil riffs this side of South Of Heaven. Others like Megadeth and God Forbid, as well as the previously discussed Lamb of God and Dethklok, made metal records worth listening to for a long time to come. Slayer, however, made a loud, clear, and decisive statement - that, after 25+ years and counting, they're a legend in this genre for a very distinct reason. All hail the metal gods - now get the hell out of their way. " - Michael Melchor "2008 belonged to Metallica and they're return to blissful destruction with Death Magnetic. How apropos that Slayer would follow the next year with World Painted Blood. Long time metal fans will often argue which is the ultimate thrash album - Master Of Puppets or Reign In Blood. New metal fans can now argue which was the metal album of the decade - Magnetic or Blood. Slayer dipped their hands back into hell for more badass riffs on this one - something they've been doing for 25 years now. But they also returned to the more melodic sound of their early years and turned the drums WAY the fuck up - reminding fans how key the return of Dave Lombardo behind the kit was. The result is an album that should come with a warning sticker for inevitable brain damage." - Mitch Michaels "FUCKIN SLAYER!!! So Slayer have been doing what they do for about a quarter century and can still rock harder than most of the 20-somethings in thrash or metal bands these days. While 2006's Christ Illusion, which marked the return of staple drummer Dave Lombardo, had a good smattering of songs, I sincerely dig every song on World Painted Blood from the opening title track to the closing track, "Not Of This God." This is definitely the best thing they've put out in quite some time, and they've still got it live too. I caught them on this past summer's Rockstar Mayhem Tour. They made Marilyn Manson look tired and unworthy to follow them on the main stage. Slayer played two tracks off of the new album, "Psycopathy Red" and "Hate Worldwide," both of which came off quite well, as I expect any track off of this album would. " - Aaron Titan

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#6	Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures
		Chart History: Released November 16 #12 Billboard 200 #13 UK Singles "New Fang" (#12 Alternative, #17 Rock, #156 UK) "Mind Eraser, No Chaser"
"I think this formation scared and shocked people when it was first announced that the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, and more were joining forces. It didn't really shock me as it was inevitable for Homme and Grohl to continue the chemistry that they had from Songs for the Deaf. Them Crooked Vultures is an album that isn't going to destroy your ear drums or to mosh to; it's mellow; it's chill; it's edgy; it's cool. And, for the most part, it's well rounded and brings the best talents of each of the members to light. As a debut album, it's solid, and the band says they're already working on their sophomore release. I say bring it on because I can't get enough of this one." - Ben Czakjowski "You take a few of the best rock bands of all time, put them in a blender and mix with any higher proof alcohol you can find and you have Them Crooked Vultures. I'm not quite sure it's fair to call this album a debut album when you have Dave Grohl on backup vocals, Josh Homme on guitar and vocals, and the legendary John Paul Jones on bass. None the less, this freshly formed band has given us a new twist on the classic stoner rock they've provided for the duration of each of their respected careers. This self titled piece of art contains monstrous journeys like in "Elephants", grooves out in "Scumbag Blues", and can completely put you in a daze of a trance with "Interlude with Ludes". This is my pick for album of the year, but for an album that's about six weeks old now one can't complain too much." - Mikey Migo "I have no doubt that most people would have realized this going in, but this is an easy recommendation. I'll be the first to admit that this is not the best possible outcome when it comes to the potential of a Zeppelin/Foos/Queens collaboration, but it is three ridiculously talented individuals branching out a little bit and having a ton of fun. It just so happens that in the process they've managed to make one of the most entertaining albums of the year. Even if it doesn't match up to very best of each members' other works, I don't think there'd be too many people complaining if Grohl, Homme and Jones wanted to make Them Crooked Vultures a more permanent venture. " - Daniel Wilcox

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#5	Jay-Z The Blueprint 3
		Chart History: Released September 8 #1 Billboard 200 #4 UK Singles "D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-tune)" (#24 Hot 100, #43 R&B/Hip-Hop, #15 Rap, #79 UK) "Run This Town" feat. Kanye West & Rihanna (#2 Hot 100, #3 R&B/Hip-Hop, #1 Rap, #1 UK) "Empire State of Mind" feat. Alicia Keys (#1 Hot 100, #1 R&B/Hip-Hop, #1 Rap, #2 UK) "On To The Next One" feat. Swizz Beatz "Young Forever" feat. Mr Hudson (#41 Hot 100, #32 UK)
"As with most everything Jay-Z has done since Kingdom Come, haters came out hard against Blueprint 3, complaining that the album's subject matter is largely superficial. And they may be right. But it doesn't matter. The sounds are innovative and Jay-Z proves yet again that he is a master of his own flow, with an ability to change it entirely from one track to the next. You say Jay's not saying anything on Blueprint 3, I say there's nobody close to saying nothing this creatively: "Danger approaches we're like what who's this?/Let us save you some trouble son, what size suit you is?/This way after the Ruger shoots through a few clips/You can lay in your casket just as you is/We appreciate the target practices/We'll be sure to send flower baskets kid." Blueprint 3 has already spawned three massive hits, "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)"; "Run This Town" and Jay's first Number One hit, the ubiquitous "Empire State of Mind." One of the album's best tracks, "Venus v. Mars" hasn't even been released yet and several other tracks scream for radio and club play. Blueprint 3 may not be the earnest serious work of an artisté, but I didn't have more fun with an album this year. " - Michael James "Jay-Z continues to remind us why he has the accolades as one of the all-time greats on Blueprint III. This is definitely more in the vein of flossin' and less heartfelt than The Black Album, but still, he manages to pull rhymes like that off with style and wittiness. It's still a likable Jay-Z to me and catchy enough to receive multiple rotations for this listener. "On to the Next One" is by far the best beat of any hip-hop song (courtesy of Swizz Beatz) this year that I heard. Kanye West did one hell of a job producing his workload of tracks on this album too though. Usually I burn out on the lead single of hip-hop albums as they tend to be created for such purposes and get played out quickly, but hell, "D.O.A." and "Run This Town" both still sound as good to me now as they did twenty listens ago." - Aaron Titan "Jay-Z's original Blueprint album is considered to be a classic my many hip-hop fans, with its sequel a solid album worthy of the Blueprint title. What makes The Blueprint 3 standout this year in my opinion is the fact that Jay ultimately experimented with the sounds and styles as well as guest appearances on this album, crafting what may well be the basis, or blueprint, of his future albums and perhaps other albums in hip-hop. Whether or not this album can be considered a classic is a debate some years from now, but as it stands, Jay's choice of production mirrored by his confident lyricism makes this one of the best releases this year." -Patrick Robinson

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#4	Mastodon Crack the Skye
		Chart History: Released March 24 #11 Billboard 200 #32 UK Singles "Divinations" "Oblivion" (#30 Rock)
"For their fourth album, Mastodon went completely out of their comfort zone, showcasing more of their progressive roots. The songs are layered with keyboard flourishes, wicked leads, and clean harmonic vocal work. "Oblivion" is the best opener Mastodon has ever composed and "The Czar" is a multi-park epic that is wildly unpredictable. Drummer Brann Dailor is a phenomenal musician, toning down his chaotic playing to fit the more sprawling musical compositions. The fact that the band has been playing the entire album live for the past six months or so attests to not only the significance of Crack The Skye, but the skill level of each musician. " - Dan Mariscano "A year ago, I never would have guessed or even acknowledged anyone saying, "Mastodon will put out one of the best albums of the year" let alone saying it would rank within the top 5 of our list (and the tops of many others). Everything about this album works: the lyrics are powerful and haunting, and the seamless transition between tracks (or in the tracks themselves) tie this one together start to finish. The instrumentals are so bad ass, textured and layered perfectly to build on the story that the band put together. And what's even better about this album is the accompanying movie that goes along with the live show. This one will become a timeless classic among metal heads and leaves huge expectations on the band. If you have not checked out any of this album, you need to do so ASAP. It will grow on you and stick in your brain." - Ben Czajkowski "My personal pick for best album of '09, Mastodon truly eclipsed anything in their career up to this point with Crack the Skye. The album just takes me on a journey every single time and makes heavy music sound truly beautiful and eclectic in a way. There's just a focus and determination on this album that Mastodon hadn't ever quite had so tangibly in the past. My track of choice on this album is definitely the opener, "Oblivion," because it's the one that gets stuck in my head the most. Check out the ‘making of' documentary DVD from the Special Edition if you get the chance, as it's a true insight into the band and how this masterpiece was created." - Aaron Titan

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#3	The Dead Weather Horehound
		Chart History: Released July 14 #6 Billboard 200 #14 UK "Hang Me From Your Heavens" (#8 Singles Sales) "Treat Me Like Your Mother" (#40 Alternative, #168 UK) "I Cut Like A Buffalo"
"I'm convinced at this point that Jack White shits gold and vomits silver. Everything the man has ever done has amounted to straight up greatness. This is an album that sounds like it was recorded raw and fast while chain-smoking and pulling off of a bottle of cheap whiskey. Hell, this is a go-to whiskey-drinkin' record for me most definitely! Alison Mosshart really shines on the moodier songs ("60 Feet Tall," "No Hassle Night") but can still hang with Jack when it comes to the rockin' ("Treat Me Like Your Mother"). Hats off to The Dead Weather for making a stand-out album this year. Let's hope they repeat with their sophomore joint that they're already about finished with from what I hear. " - Aaron Titan "Jack White obviously has no idea what the phrase "free time" means. Not satisifed with his other two bands, he formed a new band featuring The Kills' lead singer Alison Mosshart and promptly released another kick ass collection of tunes. I'm not sure if he has more hours in the day than the rest of us, but his output in this decade has been staggering and the quality hasn't dropped. "I Cut Like A Buffalo" and "Treat Me Like Your Mother" are some of the best tunes he's ever written, to say nothing of the Mosshart penned "Hang You From The Heavens." White has, once again, done nothing less than make a great, maybe even classic, record. " - Paul Hollingsworth "No one kicks it old school like Jack White. The man has held on to the falling collar of rock and has arguably single handedly kept the genre afloat for this past decade. His track record is pretty impressive when you take into account his work with "The Raconteurs", but then bringing up a little band called "The White Stripes" seems really unfair to the rest. Take his indie blues rock superpowers and combine those forces with Alison Mosshart of "The Kills" on vocals, Dean Ferita of "Queens of the Stone Age", and fellow Raconteur in Jack Lawrence and we have a very understated super group. The couple of singles, "Hang You from the Heavens" and "Treat Me Like Your Mother" bring your ears into their world but the grit-filled sensory assassination that is "I Cut Like a Buffalo" is reason enough to purchase this album. In a world of sick ears, this is the only medicine." - Mikey Migo

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#2	Eminem Relapse
		Chart History: Released May 15 #1 Billboard 200 #1 UK Singles "Crack A Bottle" feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent (#1 Hot 100, #60 R&B/Hip-Hop, #4 Rap, #4 UK) "We Made You" (#9 Hot 100, #108 R&B/Hip-Hop, #19 Rap, #4 UK) "3 a.m." (#32 Hot 100, #56 UK) "Old Time's Sake" feat. Dr. Dre(#29 Hot 100, #115 R&B/Hip-Hop, #61 UK) "Beautiful" (#17 Hot 100, #12 UK)
"Four years of absence and the result is one of the most insane albums I put through my headphones this year. Eminem clearly had a drug problem, though the way he relates it makes it come across so vividly. This is about as close to a concept album as we'll probably ever get from Marshall, as he flows about both the fun ("Crack A Bottle," "Must Be The Ganja") and despair ("Déjà Vu," "My Mom") of drugs, both in humorous and vulnerable ways. Really, that's what I've always liked about Eminem in the end. He can spit absolutely crazy, funny, diabolical shit but he can get serious and raw too. I would say that Encore, this album's predecessor, had a bit too much of the humor shit, but Relapse is much more balanced, which is kind of indicative of Eminem's state as a sober person now. This album really makes me wonder how a completely clean and now-focused and comfortable Eminem will mastermind the sequel, as he's said Relapse 2 will be even better because his head's straight and used to the life of sobriety. " - Aaron Titan "In 1999, Eminem dropped my jaw off a 50-foot cliff. After a harsh breakup and a suicide attempt, the rapper hit rock bottom and created an alter-ego named Slim Shady that could say anything, no matter how brutally offensive, and turn it into a sick joke that left half of the planet awestruck and the other half protesting. His album Slim Shady LP was the product of his creation. Over time, most of Em's raps became less controversial and more personal. He began to complain a lot about his life ("The Way I Am"/"Cleaning Out My Closet"). And when he wasn't doing that, he usually rapping juvenile fart and dick jokes, ones better suited for a junior high school playground ("Ass Like That"/"My 1st Single"). After hearing "Crack A Bottle" and "We Made You," two singles released prior to Relapse, I began to lose faith in Em. Would he ever again come anywhere close to greatness that he achieved with the Slim Shady LP? What I didn't know was that before making Relapse, Em had asked his producer, Dr. Dre, if he should continue to focus his writing as "hot-headed rapper Eminem," who speaks from the heart, or re-assume the controversial persona of "Slim Shady." Dre consulted with his son, who in turn consulted with his peers, and it became clear what the people wanted: "Slim Shady." Relapse is Em's full return to glory as a top-shelf, outrageous MC. With Relapse, Em just didn't drop my jaw off of a cliff - he strapped it to an excavator drill and buried it deep within the Earth's crust. Songs like "3AM," "My Mom," "Insane," "Bagpipes from Baghdad," and "Medicine Ball" revive the Slim Shady persona in full force. Em pulls no punches and takes no prisoners as he verbally lambastes everyone from his mother to Mariah Carey to (long-dead) Christopher Reeve with a brutal lack of remorse. It's not all shock and horror though. For those who prefer Em's more emotional side, the track "Beautiful" is an emotional, introspective monologue written before he sobered up that is both haunting and... well, beautiful. If you aren't easily offended and can handle Em's outrageous rhymes, this is a must-own album. " -Mark Ingoldsby "I would say that this was easily one of the most anticipated releases of the past twelve months and yet by my reckoning, it met expectations and probably exceeded them as well, as this is of similar quality to Em's past classics The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP. There are a lot of tracks here yet not a bad one among them, and the likes of "3AM," "Stay Wide Awake," "Beautiful" and "Underground" represents some of Shady's absolute best work. Exploring disturbingly macabre themes, Eminem's Relapse probably surpasses the controversy of previous records, but we're used to it by now, and perhaps that makes it easier to appreciate the method behind the madness, the genius behind the thoughts of one of hip hop's all-time greats. Relapse, for my money, is not just one of the best records of the year, but of the decade." -Daniel Wilcox

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#1	Alice In Chains Black Gives Way To Blue
		Chart History: Released September 29 #5 Billboard 200 Singles "A Looking In View" (#38 Alternative, #12 Rock) "Check My Brain" (#92 Hot 100, #1 Alternative, #1 Rock) "Your Decision" (#22 Alternative, #14 Rock)
"That this album didn't even make many of the year's best lists (including MTV - which should come as no surprise, although even the AP left this off as well) is not only a shock, but outright criminal. Do critics and those that think they're so important really believe that people are so wanting to not think and feel that this was ignored? If so, it's time to realize that Black Gives Way To Blue was chosen by me (I can't speak for the rest of my fellow writers) for precisely that reason. It's an album of catharsis, release, healing, and soldiering on - in other words, many of the themes that rock and roll is known for dealing with in the first place. And Alice In Chains - with new vocalist William DuVall, who earns high marks for bringing his own voice and sound to the table while being able to compliment the band so well - deals with all of those themes in exceptional form. Ringleader Jerry Cantrell pours out seven years of despair and repair in each guitar line, and the rest of the band follows suit, resulting in raw emotion, powerful, driving rock, and the best album of 2009." -Michael Melchor "Seven years after Layne Staley's tragic death and more than a decade since their last album, the big questions surrounding Alice in Chains' comeback record were 'can the new singer step up?' and 'is it any good?' The answer on both counts is an emphatic YES. Black Gives Way To Blue shows everything which us good about alternative rock, from crushingly heavy riffs and evocative songs ("A Looking in View", "Last of My Kind"), anthemic radio rock singles ("Check My Brain", "Your Decision") and beautiful yet hauntingly tragic and most importantly HONEST ballads ("Private Hell", "Black Gives Way To Blue".) This record is a triumph, proof positive that life experience and a love for your craft delivers much more evocative music than all the scene-hopping and fashionable trends in the world. We always knew that Jerry Cantrell still had chops, but with his old running buddies Inez & Kinney in tow and the successful addition of the impressive William Duvall, (adding as much weigh on guitar as he does exuberance to the vocals) the reborn Alice in Chains is a force to be reckoned with and perhaps the BEST thing about this album is the sense that this is not one last gasp, but the first issue of a glorious new chapter in their career...Recommended Songs: "A Looking in View", "Last of My Kind", "Private Hell", "Black Gives Way To Blue". " -Chris Crowing "Like many Alice In Chains fans, I was hesitant when I first heard that they were reforming, with vocalist William DuVall of Comes With The Fall fame taking the place of the late, great Layne Staley. When I heard that they were actually going to work on an album of new material, I didn't give it much of a chance. However, my fears dissipated once I heard single "Check My Brain." It had all the classic elements of their old sound – vocal harmonies, Jerry Cantrell's wailing guitar riffs, and a steady rhythm section – with a modern production touch. Black Gives Way To Blue is arguably up there with Dirt as AIC's best album. DuVall fits perfectly, eerily sounding like Staley at times, and Cantrell is a riff machine, especially on "A Looking In View" and "Last of My Kind." There's something for everyone; acoustic ditties, melancholy epics, hard rockers, and a haunting closing ballad." - Dan Mariscano

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That concludes 411's Best Albums of 2009 list. Check back tomorrow for a list of our runner-up albums and each staffer's individual Top 30 list!

Special thanks to 411 Music Editor Mitch Michaels for help with this feature.

Voting panel: Brian Berry, Chris Crowing, Ben Czajkoswki, Dan Haggerty, Paul Hollingswoth, Mark Ingoldsby, Michael James, Dan Mariscano, Aaron Mayagoitia, Alistair McGeorge, Michael Melchor, Mitch Michaels, Mikey Migo, Jeff Modzelewski, Andrew Moll, Fred Richani, Patrick Robinson, Mac Scarle, Paul Schofield, Marshall Slayton, Aaron Titan, Phil Watts Jr., Lucas Wesley, Daniel Wilcox, and Ian Wright.