411 Music Presents…2009 Year In Review: Part 1.2 - Staff Picks, Vol. 2

Posted by Mitch Michaels on 12.29.2009

The staff looks back one last time at 2009, as Eminem, Alice In Chains, Jay-Z and more make our Top Albums, Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift broke out to annoy us, Raekwon returned, Chris Brown did a bad, bad thing and, oh yeah, a guy from the Jackson 5 died...



Make sure to check out PART ONE if you haven't already!

PART 1.2: STAFF PICKS, VOL. 2
Well, folks, it's that time of year when every good music lover is making his or her lists and reflecting on the past 365 days of rock ‘n‘ roll. The esteemed staff here at 411 Music is no different. We've assembled all the 411 brothers and cousins for one last family holiday gathering. Put down your DJ Hero turntable for a moment and peep what really rocked our individual socks off this year.

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ALISTAIR McGEORGE

(Reviewer, Teacher of A Lesson In…)

Top Nine Albums of 2009:

1. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown: I could write for pages about this album, about its composition and why I love it, but I'm sure it'd be heavily edited down before it was allowed to be included here. Listening to this, it's hard to believe that this is the same band writing songs with titles like "Dominated Love Slave" nearly 20 years ago. It's amazing to think how far Green Day has come, specifically Billie Joe Armstong's songwriting. Albums with no real direction made up of songs about drugs and girls (as fantastic as those albums were - I love everything Green Day's made) have been replaced by albums like this - a 70-minute masterpiece with a thought-provoking subject throughout, which still has a personal touch. It's my album of the year, of the decade and it's up there with albums like A Day At The Races as one of my favorites of all-time.

2. Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plagued Lovers: The lyrics on this album were written by the missing (I refuse to say "dead", whether he's been legally declared it or not) Richie Edwards, and his influence couldn't be more obvious. Similarly, the opening audio clip saying "You know so little about me" couldn't be any more apt. What follows is one of the most emotional (not in that sense) albums of the year, if not the decade. The music, I'll concede, is your typical Manic Street Preachers' album at times, which of course is no bad thing. Songs like "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" and "Virginia State Epileptic Colony" are Manics at their absolute best, showing why they are still a huge force to be reckoned with in the modern music scene.

3. Bowling For Soup - Sorry For Partyin': There are albums that use more talent, are more ambitious and probably feature better songwriting...but they'll struggle to beat this record for just sheer hilarity and fun. I can't think of any more to say on the subject. Listening to it for the first time was possibly the most fun I've had listening to an album this year, and it's still just as good on repeat listens. Ten albums after their debut, and BFS are still able to make a career out of making everyone else feel that little bit happier.

4. Paramore - Brand New Eyes: Personal, raw and full of energy- everything you'd want from a rock album. Despite being very overplayed, Paramore are quickly turning into a damn fine pop-rock act, and this album suggests they're here to stay. People will hate on them for the focus on Hayley Williams, but her lyrics here are exceptional and personal, giving a great insight into the band. From pop-punk to acoustic ballad, Paramore do the lot on this album, and based on Brand New Eyes, it's surely a matter of time before they become one of the biggest bands in the world.

5. The Used - Artwork: When I first heard bits of this album on Spotify, I was immediately impressed, and it affirmed my opinion that The Used are emo. I don't mean that they fit into the genre, I just really think they embody it. Forget bands like 30 Seconds To Mars and My Chemical Romance, The Used are one of the only true emo bands close to the mainstream at the moment. This album was brilliantly crafted, and full of the emotion we've come to expect from the band. As much as I hated Artwork.

6. New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight: As fantastic as NOFX's effort this year was, New Found Glory managed to top it with Not Without A Fight. From tracks like "Right Where We Left Off" and "Listen To Your Friends", there's hardly a bad song on here. The music isn't anything substantial in terms of composition, but its simplicity is its appeal. It's catchy, to-the-point, pop-rock, and it's hard to find someone who does that better than New Found Glory.

7. Muse – The Resistance: It didn't get the ratings on 411Mania that it really deserved, and it's been shunned by some fans of the band who say it doesn't match their earlier work. However...listen to "United States of Eurasia", to the swooping solos, well-constructed piano parts and fantastic vocal work...on the strength of that track alone, The Resistance is an album that will - or at least should - be regarded as one of the best of 2009.

8. Hot Leg - Red Light Fever: This one will have slipped under most people's radars, maybe more so in the U.S., but even here in the UK they're not known outside of being Justin Hawkins' (from The Darkness) new band. They're a great band in their own right, and their debut is full of all the huge riffs and falsetto vocals that turned Justin Hawkins into a superstar towards the middle of the decade. From ballads like "Kissing in the Wind" to high-energy classic rock with "Whichever Way You Wanna Give It", there isn't really a bad track on it. It's was rock music was in the ‘80s, and what it should also be - loud, epic and fun.

9. NOFX - Coaster: Despite only hearing this recently, it's quickly become one of my favorite albums of the year, and one of my favorite pop-punk albums in recent memory. NOFX are one of the leaders of pop-punk today, and this album is a clear reason why that's not changing any time soon.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Jonas Brothers - Lines, Vines & Trying Times. This is a tough one, because I've largely avoided listening to anything I don't really like…wait. No, scratch that - there definitely is one album that's annoyed me more than any other, because of the amount of times I've heard my sister playing it when I've been home from university. Lines, Vines and Trying Times gave me yet another reason to hate the Jonas Brothers, from their irritating, whiny vocals to their tired, clichéd lyrics. Here's to hoping they stick to "acting" on the Disney Channel rather than releasing a poor imitation of what some of us still hold on to- real music.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Michael Jackson Dies. I'm going to limit what I say on this subject, because I may offend a lot of people. I can't deny that Michael Jackson passing away was the biggest news of the year, although I don't like having to type that. I respect him as an entertainer, but to me, he was nothing more than that. However, I can't deny that it was the biggest story of the year, so I'll admit it and move on.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Funeral For A Friend – Manchester / Green Day – Manchester Evening News Arena. It's almost impossible for me to pick just one. Within a year, gigs I've been to go from Reel Big Fish, Bowling For Soup, The Gaslight Anthem and Lostprophets to Stone Gods, The Prodigy, Rise Against and New Found Glory. Add in all the festival bands I've seen, plus around 2 gigs a month for the entire year (some months were more crowded than that), this is an incredibly hard decision. I could write a month's worth of weekly columns and still not adequately cover the list of bands I've seen in the last year or so. I'm having to cheat and choose two for this. The first is Funeral For A Friend, here in Manchester in October. The set-list was virtually perfect (voted for by the fans), throwing up some unexpected b-sides and tracks that haven't been played live in years. In addition to that, the atmosphere was one of the best of any gigs I've been to, and the sound was just glorious. I couldn't find a fault with the gig, and I didn't get bored at all seeing them for the fifth time. My second choice is Green Day, again in Manchester, and also in October (definitely a good month for concerts). Whereas the FFAF gig was in a room holding maybe 400 people, Green Day played the Manchester Evening News Area, and put on a spectacle. The set-list was, as with FFAF, incredible, although two omissions kinda dampened my opinion on the evening. The night still showed to me that Green Day are possibly THE best live act today, and I can't wait to see them again, this time at an outdoor concert in June.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Fightstar. This is almost the opposite of the "Best Concert of the Year" for me. I saw Fightstar twice this year (once taking a mate for her birthday, the second at a festival), and both times left me less than impressed. I've heard great things about them live, but both times left me feeling like I must've missed something. It was decent, but nowhere near as fantastic as they were built up to be.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Rage Against The Machine Defeats "The X Factor". I'm writing this just half an hour after it has been announced that Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" is the Christmas #1 here in the UK. For me, it's a huge surprise. For years, our music scene around this time of year has been dominated by "X Factor" winners, promoted by Simon Cowell in an attempt to make stars. Instead, a campaign started to beat the system so to speak, and get RATM to Christmas #1. Well, for once music fans grouping together actually made a difference, and showed the corporations that we don't HAVE to like what they're feeding us. It may be a small thing, but it's a start, and I was definitely shocked that the campaign (which I joined) made a difference.

Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Tim Minchin. It all depends how you define this, but I'm going to cheat and go with Tim Minchin. No one in the U.S. will have heard of him, but he's becoming very big in the UK. He's technically a comedian, but describes himself as a musician who happens to write funny songs. For that reason, I'm letting myself include him here. I first saw him in 2007 at a festival, when hardly anyone had heard of them. This year, people have been asking me if I've "heard of this great new comedian, Tim Minchin! He plays funny songs!" He's almost a household name here, which is great to see. Like I said, I'm cheating a bit, but I'm sticking with this choice.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Robbie Williams. I've not been a fan of any comebacks this year, but I'm giving this to Robbie Williams. Reality Killed The Video Star is a return to form for the singer, and it's got some great songs there. It may not be the best he's done, but he's fought through rehab, reconciled with his old songwriting partner and released an album no one saw coming.

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MICHAEL JAMES
(Reviewer )

Top Nine Albums of 2009:

1. Joe Budden - Escape Route: 2009 truly announced Joe Budden's comeback, as he stood out on the critically praised Slaughterhouse project and released two solo albums, Padded Room and Escape Route. On Escape Route Budden spits aggro-rap like a man possessed. "Never Again" is a standout an on album full of them, as it features a breathtaking sample of Radiohead's "Street Spirit".

2. Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts: Singer Shingai Shoniwa has a weathered rasp which resembles a more restrained Amy Winehouse. However, where Winehouse sticks to retro soul, the Noisettes traffic in a variety of styles from the acoustic pop of "Sometimes" to the disco-inflected dance track "Don't Upset the Rhythm". Nearly every song has an infectious hook which is simultaneously familiar and fresh.

3. Skyzoo - The Salvation: The Salvation is a throwback album of straight no frills hip-hop (in the best possible sense). Skyzoo's flow is tight and spits believable and relatable lyrics from a variety of perspectives. The album's best tracks include the foreboding "The Shooter's Soundtrack" and "The Beautiful Decay."

4. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career: Tracyanne Campbell's vocals have an innocent quality which makes tracks like "The Sweetest Thing" feel like ambitious outtakes from a 50's pop starlet. Another highlight is the album opening "French Navy," a broad pop song which features a layered and complex instrumental featuring horns and a string section.

5. The Veils - Sun Gangs: The Veils are an underrated British rock group. Lead singer Finn Andrews' vocals gives songs like "The Letter" and the brooding "It Hits Deep" a dramatic and epic feel. Another highlight is the punky, White Stripes-esque "Killed by the Boom".

6. Ghostface Killah - Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in the Emerald City: Throughout his career, Ghostface Killah has shown a rare ability to make relatable and cheese-free tracks about romance and relationships. Ghostdini, his self-proclaimed R&B album, continues this trend by touching on all aspects of love and sex, as he caters to his pregnant girl on "Baby (feat. Raheem DeVaughn)" and spins a vivid narrative of barging in on a cheater in "Guest House (feat. Fabolous)." It's a testament to Ghost's formidable mic skills that even the most trite topics on the album sound completely fresh.

7. Zee Avi - Zee Avi: I'm usually a sucker for female singer-songwriters, so when compiling my top albums of the year, I made sure to listen Zee Avi's debut multiple times. As a result, I can confirm that the album is a perfectly simple pop album and promising debut.

8. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3: 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.

9. Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be: More often than not Banhart's freak-folk albums are weighed down by the "freak" half of the equation. While Banhart still retains the sense of whimsy which distinguishes him as an artist, his songs on What Will We Be are my fully realized, and it's much better for it.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Bob Dylan - Christmas in the Heart. I listened to a lot of good albums and a lot of bad albums, but this is the only one that made me angry at having my time wasted. I don't know what was worse, listening to the album multiple times to write my review for 411, or reading the countless rhapsodizing reviews of Dylan apologists.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Michael Jackson Dies. Personal failings and idiosyncrasies aside, Jackson was an icon. His death impacted the sales charts, movie box office and every music program that aired afterwards. It even gave his brothers another chance to cash in on his name.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Ray LaMontagne. This has actually been a really slow year for me, as I've only been to three shows. Of the three, the best was definitely Ray LaMontagne, beating out John Legend and Jenny Lewis/Conor Oberst. LaMontagne's voice is as amazing live as it is recorded, and I was charmed by his unassuming stage banter. If you get a chance, check out his stripped down version of "You Are the Best Thing" on YouTube.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Major Releases. I was really disappointed by a lot of high profile releases this year. To name a few - U2, Bruce Springsteen, India.Arie, Busta Rhymes, Green Day, Pitbull, David Gray, Timbaland and Snoop Dogg all put out albums I had high expectations for that proved to be huge disappointments.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Susan Boyle. Her rise as YouTube folk hero after appearing on "Britain's Got Talent" last spring was a pleasant and heartwarming story. The fact that by the end of the year people still cared enough to scoop up her album by the million is mind-boggling.

Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift. Not sure if she's the best breakthrough artist, but I think Swift's breakthrough was certainly the biggest. Kanye-gate may have obscured the fact that this year her career exploded from "sell out the mall" to "sell out Madison Square Garden." It will be interesting to see where she goes from here.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Raekwon / Maxwell. The top two contenders are easy, but deciding between them is hard, so I'm splitting this between Raekwon and Maxwell. Their stories are as similar as their music is dissimilar. After years of flying below or even off the radar, they both returned with albums in 2009. Both Only Built for Cuban Linx II and BLACKsummer'snight were artistic triumphs which return them to their creative heights.

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PHIL WATTS, JR.

(Raw Addict )

Top Nine Albums of 2009:

1. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx 2
2. Blaq Poet - Blaqprint
3. Madlib - Beat Kunducta, Vol. 5 & 6
4. J-Dilla - Jay Stay Paid
5. M.O.P.- Foundation
6. Alchemist - Chemical Warfare
7. Souls Of Mischief - Montezuma's Revenge
8. Redman & Method Man - Black Out! 2

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Trey Songz - Ready / R. Kelly - Untitled. R&B has been pure shit for over 25 years. Yes, there have been some unsung heroes in the R&B world that have tried to bring some semblance of musicianship to R&B, but for the most part, they wind up being overshadowed by the pure unadulterated trash that people have been conditioned into thinking is R&B. To tell you the truth, I felt like putting every single R&B album of 2009 as "ANNOYING ALBUM OF THE YEAR", but since 411 wants specifics, I chose hometown boy Trey Songz and his musical father R. Kelly's 2009 offerings. These two albums symbolize everything that I absolutely HATE about today's R&B. Lots of shitty, mechanical beats, autotune, having too much Canned SWAGGA while confusing it with Charisma, and more shitty lyrics, mostly involving SEX. Seriously: "LOL Smiley Face" and "I INVENTED SEX"? And R. Kelly's "ECHO" may just be the single DUMBEST song ever recorded, as it feature the R yodeling in the hook like he's in the Swiss alps, while we're supposed to think it's CLEVER. It says something about the brainwashing of today's youth when stuff like this is considered 'musical genius'.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Rakim - The 7th Seal. "[Rakim] made hit records with Eric B. and [then] dropped all this bullshit afterwards. [1999's] The Master and all that fuckin' garbage he dropped, that shit was all trash! But nobody ever said that to his face! All that shit was garbage. No classic shit on them albums – even the stuff he got from Pete Rock and [DJ] Premier, without them beats bein' what they was, it just another Rakim bullshit, tiring, sleepy-ass flow doin' that same ole' bullshit. As an individual, throughout the years, without a major figure behind me, [I] still kept my name poppin' in the street. Now [Rakim] is in my position, and he ain't poppin'! He doin' old school shit that he did with Eric, ‘cause that's where his legacy lies. But his new shit is bullshit – all bullshit, everybody know that shit is garbage. And anybody who say otherwise is fuckin' dick-riding."

That above paragraph was from a Freddie Foxxx interview from AllHipHop.com in 2006. I was hoping that this would motivate Rakim to prove him wrong by making the album of his career. I was hoping that he'd pull out all the stops and give us something that shows everyone that he's still got it as an MC, something that is worthy of his legacy. Unfortunately, he didn't. Rakim sounds as unmotivated as ever, most of the songs were ruined by horrible chorus singers, and he picks some of the most mediocre beats ever. What he gave us was one mediocre album that made older fans say, "Uh--we waited 10 years for THIS?!", made younger fans say, "Uh--this is supposed to be the GOD MC? He ain't so special.", and made Freddie Foxxx roll on the floor laughing.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Raekwon / Souls Of Mischief. Both Raekwon and the Souls of Mischief were part of a conglomeration of MC's (Statin Island's Wu Tang Clan and Oakland's Hieroglyphics crew). Both have dropped debut albums that helped define the early-to-mid 90's hip-hop scene. Since then, both of them have had lots of trouble trying to live up to those era-defining debuts, and it seemed as if they would never be able to come out with an album that comes remotely close...UNTIL NOW. After years of delays and label switches (this was supposed to be on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records) Raekwon finally delivered the follow-up that many Wu-fans were fiending for. After all, Ghost shouldn't be doing it all by himself. Meanwhile the Souls got some help from the legendary Prince Paul in making sure Revenge stayed as close to the old Hiero sound as possible. Hopefully they'll all keep that momentum and in turn, revitalize both groups.

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MIKEY MIGO

(Tamer of the Savage Animal)

Top Nine Albums of 2009:

1. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures: 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.

2. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand: Tonight has easily been the album I've listened to the most of all of 2009 new and old. The opening track "Ulysses" is absolutely my favorite track of the album, but the album itself is what we're talking about. The flow, variety, and work on this album is pretty much flawless in my tastes. More mellow and spacey tracks like "Twilight Omens", the closer "Katherine Kiss Me", and especially "Dream Again" show a side of the band that I've never been exposed to before. I really enjoyed my first impression of this album, but as time went on I found myself listening to it more and more. If you'd of asked me six months ago if I thought I'd like the upcoming Franz Ferdinand album I'd say "maybe". If you'd of asked if it'd be my FAVORITE album of the half year in 2009 I'd say "shut the fuck up". Well, folks… "shut the fuck up" and get your hands on this album. Hopefully, like me, you'll be in for a huge surprise and a new musical addiction.

3. Fashion Bomb – Visions of the Lifted Veil: This one might be a bit under the radar for many, but it's easily one of the best albums I've heard this year. Chicago's Fashion Bomb has grown leaps and bounds over the past year. I was a huge fan of their debut release "Devils to Some, Angels to Others", but after hooking up with Fear Factory's Ray Herrera and going out to LA to record their sophomore effort Visions of the Lifted Veil completely overshadow that. Songs like "The Vow", "Veil of Meggido", and "Detritivore" show the growing lyrical maturity as "Sick One", "Press Delete", and especially "Technological Singularity" show they've not lightened up their tone one bit. In my honest opinion, it's the best metal album of the year. It's not a "trash and burn" type of growl-metal CD. There are beautiful arrangements to accompany some great "kill ‘em in the pit" jams. There are lyrics that pull into your psyche, guitar solos that you can't help but hold your breath during, bass lines that groove, and drumming that only a well trained robot would attempt. I am very bias though. I suggest if this is your sort of thing then give it a go.

4. U2 – No Line On The Horizon: I always go into a new U2 album with really high expectations. Sometimes it pays off and I'm treated to one of the best albums of ALL TIME (See: U2 catalog, most). So yeah, I'm a huge fan. I am bias to seeing U2 succeed, but not deaf. I didn't care much for How to Dismantle except for "Love and Peace or Else". You can shit on Bono for doing more for humanity than most countries, but when you get past that horrendous fact you still have one of the best voices of rock and roll history. That's right, I said "history". A band doesn't stay around that long without making their claim to a legacy. Okay, off the soap box and on to the album. I was weary of the first single "Get On Your Boots". It didn't hook with me and it faded my expectations for the album a lot. So maybe with the faded expectations, I went into the album with a clearer and more open mind. What happened was me rediscovering my love for U2's music. No Line On The Horizon is my favorite U2 album in quite some time. The title track has been stuck in my head more days than not since its release. But catchiness aside, you have tracks like "Magnificent", "White As Snow", and "Cedars Of Lebanon" that are a lot more stripped down in vein of classics like "One", "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and others. The album has a contrast though, as "Stand Up Comedy", "Breathe", and even the single "Get On Your Boots" in small doses are all pretty good foot tappers. This album is what most U2 fans have waited for. It's the next evolutionary step in the epic career of U2. Great listen!

5. Marilyn Manson – The High End of Low: I did a review for this album about a week or so ago. In the review I had stated that "The High End of Low" is the best Manson album to come out in over ten years. Since then, I've listened to this album at least another dozen times. Despite not liking "Arma-Goddamn-Motherfucking-Gedden" or "Pretty As A Swastika" much at all, I really don't skip them when listening. To me there are two or three tracks that come off like "Disposable Teens/Mobscene" Take 19. By that I mean that they sound like the same recycled singles that Manson has disguised as new over the past 10 years. There are songs on it like "Four Rusted Horses", "Running to the Edge of the World", and "Leave A Scar" that have invaded my thought process. So much that I go back to the album just to hear these songs again. What happened every single time is me ending up listening to the entire album again and again. Since "Mechanical Animals", I've been a very passive Manson fan. Nothing has connected with me or hooked me to the point where I listen to the album more than the singles or live. This album has grown on my like a rash after sex with a hot woman. You're still glad you had the experience and the itching will make it that much harder to forget it.

6. Prince – LotusFlow3r: As a double album, this album is pretty good. When you selectively trim out some of the overly religious stuff, you're left with a great album. The opening track "From The Lotus…" is a really different track. I played it for a not too expecting friend and he was shocked to find out it was Prince. The cover of "Crimson & Clover" is really slept on by most people out there. I really do think this is one of those situations where an artist could get away with releasing a cover as a single. I should verify that a little more. It's a situation where an artist could release a cover as a single and not completely suck ass and ruin it for people (See: Bizkit, Limp). There's "Colonized Mind". Yes, that's the title of the track. It's so weird and distinct to Prince's style that it somewhat feels like a satire of his own work. We get some bad ass funky Prince in "Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful", but it DOES sneak in some religious undertones. There's nothing wrong with religion in music, but it just doesn't feel right from the guy who gave us "Pussy Patrol". The R&B dirty funk hits hard in "Dreamer", but for some reason Prince's vocals seemed to be turned down too low. "(There'll Never B) Another Like Me" is the single of the album and it definitely has the feeling to it. This is the Prince who used to kick The Time's ass in Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge. The video should have just been of random people lip syncing the words and then Prince appearing out of nowhere and bitch slapping each and everyone one of them. "Chocolate Box" has that old school Prince vibe to it too and is really enjoyable. Pretty much half of the second half of the album feels like a "NPG" era work. You can't be mad at that. I can listen to this album all day on a loop. It's great background music to doing something productive. It's not the Prince album we're all wanting, but there are some gems in there and you have to remember that Prince is like "The Simpsons". Even the bad episodes are good.

7. The Lonely Island – Incredibad: I've been a fan of Andy Samberg since pretty much everyone else. It was that witty and too catchy for its own good "Lazy Sunday" that did it. I was already an avid SNL fan, but another reason to watch after the Fallon/Fey era is always welcomed. Since then, we've had "Natalie Portman's Rap", "Dick In A Box", "Jizz In My Pants", and other musical sketches that have pretty much egged the house of pop culture relevance. All four of the songs I mentioned are on the debut album Incredibad by The Lonely Island crew and then "some" (by "some", I mean "like fifteen"). "I'm On a Boat", "Like A Boss", "We Like Sportz", "Ras Trent", "Space Olympics", and so many other fun tracks make this really easy to keep listening to. Most of the time a comedy album like this is purely novelty, but in this case it's pretty damn good. The music is pretty good, but the wit of the album is within the lyrics. I've heard this album at least two dozen times since it's February release and I still keep managing to find new jokes and lines that I probably missed by laughing over them the times before. I've not enjoyed a musical comedy album this much since Adam Sandlar's old classics like "Piece of Shit Car" and "Hanukah Song". With "Mother Lover" and other new Digital Shorts on the horizon, one can only hope this is the first of many albums by the Lonely Island trio.

8. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns: It hasn't taken long for this English-Pakistani solo artist to really take off. Yes, Natasha Khan IS "Bat For Lashes". Up until recently I just assumed it was the name for a band. I heard "Daniel" in passing and it caught my ears. BFL has a beautiful voice that could sing you to sleep, but is haunting enough to give you uncomfortable dreams. Any dark electro song about Daniel from The Karate Kid is cool in my book, but her voice stabs at your core in "Sleep Alone". This album has proven to be pretty successful via sales and reviews. It's only a matter of time before Bat For Lashes drones her way into the hearts of everyone. Well, at least everyone who shops at Hot Topic.

9. Tech N9ne – Sickology 101: In the first of a few bounce backs, Tech N9ne hits on all cylinders on this one. I wasn't that big on the Midwest Choppers or The Killer albums, but have been a fan since around ‘01 or ‘02. Sickology has a really good flow to it for what's mainly a collaboration album. The stand out tracks to me are "Sickology 101", "Poh Me Anutha"(with my dudes in Potluck), "Dysfunctional", and the first single "Red Nose". This is a really good step in the right direction for Tech. His recent stuff hasn't seemed as raw or experimental as his older stuff. Sadly, his recent stuff has blended in with sounding like KmK and related groups. Those old crazy beats and samples seem to be a thing of the past, but lyrically Tech has matured leaps and bounds with this release. If we can somehow get those old beats back on top of these lyrical skills then Tech N9ne will sell another million albums (As he already has…On his own!) in no time.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Lady GaGa - The Fame. I don't like GaGa at all. She's getting more attention and praise than she's worth and there's no one to blame but the media and us for biting the bait and pretending to care. Amy Winehouse got mad praise and attention, but quickly rode off into the heroine sun. I don't wish harm on Ga, but I'd like to see her just go away.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Michael Jackson Dies. When the biggest music superstar of all time dies at 50, it's the biggest news of the year. There's no doubt that there are those who aren't a fan and stick to their guns about the accusations, but that's not what we're discussing here. It's not about if the man is good or bad, but rather how big of a news item this was. The news shut down the music world for over a week and this was one universal discussion that still rings loudly in many people's ears and fore thought.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Nine Inch Nails – Aragon Ballroom, Chicago: This was the end of this specific chapter in my life and it ended with an explosion. What occurred was a 30 song assault on my being. Songs I've not heard in many shows like "Ruiner" and "I Do Not Want This" shocked me as staples like "Head Like a Hole" and "Wish" rocked my core. From the opener of the "With Teeth" rarity (I guess it is to some), "Home" to the very last note of "Hurt", the gloves were off and 4500 fans were exposed for the creatures they really were. We were also treated to a special appearance of Peter Murphy of Bauhaus fame. If you've never seen this man live, then you're missing out. The stage presence and vocals of Murphy are hauntingly comfortable. He makes you feel at home, but at the same time you're weary that he's going to swarm you and drain you of your blood. If I had to pick one human being to put my money on to be a real vampire, it would be Peter Murphy. He joined in for a few songs and rocked. People have complained that Murphy messed up the lyrics and a few cues during "Reptile", but oh well. I don't think anyone is going to correct the man any time soon and nor should they. I read that Trent was sick this night and the show was almost canceled, but you couldn't tell. I mean, I've been to a show where Trent literally vomited during an instrumental… he seemed fine. At least he didn't show any problems. Trent Reznor, while sick and all, huffed and puffed and blew the fucking roof off the Aragon. There's very few moments where you can literally put a picture to the reason you love music. This was my night. It's a show that'll be with me forever and I thank Trent Reznor, the band, Peter Murphy, and the awesome crowd for sharing the experience. Trent tells us that he will go on as a musician and still release music, but not tour anymore. I know he believes it and it's his right to do so, but deep down I have trouble accepting it's "over". The twenty year anniversary of The Downward Spiral is in a couple years. Something is bound to come up…

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3. The Blueprint 3 sucked really badly. I was down on my "Hova-love" after Black Album, but for some reason he seemed adamant about how good BP3 was going to be. Besides "DOA" being kind of catchy, the album just lacked to me. It lacked beats. It lacked lyrics. It lacked what made Jay-Z who he is. He's a fading artist and rising tycoon. It's a trade off that I'm not really fond of, but more power to him.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Michael Jackson Dies. It came out of nowhere. Granted it affected people differently, no one really had "Michael Jackson" in their office's death pool.

Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift. This one is all Kanye West's fault. I, like many well tuned ears, have had the pleasure of ignoring and avoiding Swift's music since the award show "controversy". But now, I know who she is and have been force fed her hype. She seems really nice, but even for a pop star she lacks substance. That doesn't change the fact that she's "broken through" the biggest of the year.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Whitney Houston. I racked my brain trying to think of a valid "comeback of the year". In this day and age, someone's fame might dwell a little but the internet feeds us constant updates of everyone's "status". She was always known as one of the best pop voices of all time but had her horrible drug and crazy spell that made her a punch line to many. When her seventh album, "I Look to You", came out this past year it was not only a success, but provided her biggest first week sales of her entire career. There might have been other comebacks this past year, but this one stands out to me as the most impressive of ‘09.

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ANDREW MOLL
(Goes Ten Deep)

Top Nine Albums of 2009:

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion: I'm finding it harder to find things to say about this album, so I'll just implore you to listen to it if you haven't already. And if you have already heard it, then you know the absolute brilliance of the fifty-five minutes that Animal Collective have delivered. Albums like this don't come around very often, ones that challenge your conceptions and turns bands into legends, so take the time and appreciate just what the band was able to accomplish.

2. Japandroids - Post-Nothing: There's always something enjoyable about the thought of two guys with a couple instruments writing some catchy songs together and ending up with a great album. So it is with Japandroids and their eight awesome rock tracks that make up Post-Nothing, a delightful slice of timeless rock that has a urgency that could only belong to these modern times. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" perfectly captures the worries of the post-college world for many; the catch is, it'll still be a great song years after those worries are gone.

3. Pearl Jam - Backspacer: Written off long ago by some as grunge has-beens, Pearl Jam came roaring back with Backspacer, their best album in at least a decade and evidence that they can continue for at least another decade. The album is packed with both furious rockers and tender ballads, par for the course of most Pearl Jam albums, but this time it's all streamlined, with everything kept tight. The result is a brisk, effective album that hits you with plenty of riffs and hooks and gets out just as you're ready for a lot more.

4. Wavves - Wavvves: Lo-fi rarely sounds as good as it does on Wavves' second album, where it doubles as both a necessity and an aesthetic. The group's catchy surf-punk probably would've been good had it been recorded in a professional studio, but the album's claustrophobic and muddy sound gave the songs a quality that no amount of tinkering could possibly do. Wavvves is an album for California kids who'd rather spend some time indoors making a racket with their guitars.

5. Morrissey - Years of Refusal: One of the decade's great comeback stories very likely had its high point at the end of the decade as Morrissey released Years of Refusal, which immediately joined the ranks of Morrissey's best albums. Sounding defiant and unwavering, Moz delivers songs after songs of crooning muscular rock as only he can.

6. Mos Def - The Ecstatic: The best hip-hop album of the year came from at first an unlikely source, but more listens to The Ecstatic reveal that maybe we shouldn't have doubted that Mos Def could deliver an album like this one. Backed by bears from some of the best in the business, Mos sounds laid-back and in control, a man confident in his impressive abilities.

7. The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come: Faith has really always been a part of the Mountain Goats music, but never as explicitly as on this album, where Bible verses are used as starting points for songs about the lessons the Good Book can teach us, and the lessons we learn ourselves each day.

8. The Antlers - Hospice: An expansive meditation on death through the story of love in a cancer ward, Hospice is an incredibly moving album that isn't afraid to go for the dramatic. The large sound is balanced by the raw and personal songs that leave the impression that the songwriter has too much knowledge on the subject and by the end of the album you're left heartbroken yourself by the story.

9. Dan Deacon - Bromst: This album was a major step forward for Dan Deacon from his impressive earlier efforts; Bromst has a clean, direct sound that's immediate and appealing. That new approach to production was perfect for the better batch of songs Deacon had to work with, with tracks like "Snookered" and "Build Voice" being amongst Deacon's best and some of the most enjoyable songs released this year.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle. Internet hype can be a good thing when the artist getting the hype is deserving of it; it can be a terrible thing when the artist is in no way deserving of it. Such was the case with Asher Roth, the newest Great White Hope of hip-hop who arrived on the scene with a thoroughly mediocre at best debut album that contained the God-awful single "I Love College," a simplistic song that catered to people not keen enough to know better than jump on the bandwagon. The internet can be good for a lot of things, but shoving people like Asher Roth down our throats proves that even the internet has its flaws.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Michael Jackson Dies. The way Michael Jackson died isn't particularly interesting. (The clock is likely to run out on someone taking that many drugs sooner rather than later.) But just like his actions eventually overshadowed his music eventually, the reactions to Jackson's death overshadowed what actually happened. A man that had been so publicly chastised and reviled all of a sudden became an icon again, just because he died. All of a sudden we forgot all the jokes and snide remarks and embraced Michael Jackson again, long after it might have done him any good. Additionally, it made for a good discussion about the culture of celebrity and what famous people mean to us; but sometimes lost in all of this was the fact that a father had died before his kids grew up, which is the biggest shame of all.

Favorite Concert of the Year: The Hold Steady – Valentines, Albany, NY, 3/31/09: The term "Best Bar Band in America" is much too simplistic when it comes to the Hold Steady, but after seeing them live this past March, well, I have to say, they really are America's best bar band. The group's crowd friendly rock is perfect for that type of setting, and for the entire show you remain transfixed by Craig Finn's nerdy stage presence that seems like a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Joe Cocker. More than anything the concert, just like the band's music itself, was fun with the band members working hard onstage to make it so.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures. When you throw a Foo Fighter, a Queen of the Stone Age, and a member of Led Zeppelin together, it's fair to expect something pretty remarkable. So I was sad to discover that the supergroup's debut was merely alright. That first listen, I expected to be blown away by the sheer monolithic power that the band would create. And while the album was far from bad, it just didn't hit me the way I hoped it would. This is probably a case of expectations being too high, but at the same time, I had those expectations for a reason.


Biggest Surprise of the Year: Nine Inch Nails Done Touring. This could have also been my disappointment of the year as well. Trent Reznor has been on a roll the last few years, releasing music at a rate that seemed unimaginable for him just a decade ago, and also fronted one of the best live bands on the planet. So it was a huge shock that Reznor announced earlier this year that Nine Inch Nails wouldn't play any more shows for the foreseeable future. For a band this good at what they do to not do it anymore is beyond surprising, but at least the band will still be making music and hopefully will find their way on stage again.

Best Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Phoenix. No song this year could match the infectiousness of "1901," the kind of song that instantly propels a band from critical darlings to the stage of SNL and the centerpiece of car commercials. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix will be a tough album to match in the future, but for the time being Phoenix are at the top of the mountain thanks to a song that was impossible to deny.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Mos Def. Mos Def released his debut album in 1999, then followed it up with a neo-soul album, which was followed by an album so meaningless neither he nor his record label cared much about it. At the same time he embarked on a successful acting career, so we should be thankful that Mos returned with one of the best albums of the year and sounding as good as he ever did. Hopefully next time it won't take him as long to release another great record, but we'll wait if we have to.

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Hey, you're still not done! Make sure to check out PART THREE of the 2009 Year In Review Staff Picks!