The best CDs and music from the past year.
You’re going to start seeing a ton of Top Album lists over the next couple of weeks; some you think are right on the money and others you feel are the result of too much Nog and maybe a touch of glue sniffing. Clearly not having the ego to attack this grandiose assignment on my own, I went out and spoke to some bonifide music snobs and nerds. The mission for my bespectacled, skinny jean wearing comrades? A list of the best albums of 2009. It’s a big task to only choose 10 but between myself and a gaggle of American Apparel wearing music snobs, here are Ellecanada.com’s top 10 albums of 2009.
#10 Franz Ferdinand
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
They made us wait long enough for their third album so it’s a pretty good thing it’s so damn good. They kind of lost me a bit with their 2005 studio album You Could Have It So Much Better but won me back with this year’s release, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. You’ll probably see this one pop up on a lot of Top 10 lists this New Year, no surprise as the entire album is a danceable melange of pop and rock at its best. The boys from Ferdinand went back to what they know best; making quirky music with the ability to get even the staunchest of Prime Ministers to shake their pasty booties. “No You Girls” made it to the radio, and it’s a great song, but there are others on the album worthy of a bit of mainstream attention. Great album from beginning to end. Someone slip it in Stephen Harper’s stocking would ya?
#9.Grizzly Bear
Vekatimest
There’s definitely something in the water in Brooklyn, New York. Some of the best music has come out of the cool New York borough as of late. Grizzly Bear tore a strip of the music scene this spring/summer with Veckatimest. Not their debut album by any means, but certainly their best; good enough to get the notice of none other than Radiohead. Opening for one of the biggest bands in the world in Toronto this past summer, Grizzly Bear cemented their relationship in the pseudo mainstream and will hopefully continue to thrive. The album itself is an exciting compilation of chamber-pop melodies, the entire record well-deserving of the hype.
#8. Matt and Kim
Grand
This do-it-yourself duo (another Brooklyn creation) put out their second album this past January and it’s still playing on heavy rotation in my household. “Grand” brought real-life couple Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals) a lot of local recognition, a VMA(“Lessons Learned”) and sold out shows across North America in 2009. I’m sure if you asked them, they would easily chalk this year up as one of their best. To see them live is a treat with Kim killing it on the drums and Matt infusing the crowd with his frenetic energy. Another reason to see the duo? Covers of Dead Prez, Europe and Brittney. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Tegan and Sarah, Passion Pit and Lily Allen on the next page ...
