The Top 15 Albums of 2009

#15. Tegan and Sara: Sainthood – Tegan and Sara’s best album is still 2007’s The Con. I doubt many people in the know would argue this point. Still, Sainthood does have its moments; like the punk rock influenced “Northshore,” or the delightfully catchy “Alligator.” I’m still not sure what “Alligator Tears” are, but I can manage without. Look, the bottom line – whether you like Tegan and Sara or not – is that Sainthood beat out a lot of great albums to make it to this list. Respect.

#14. Muse: The Resistance – Seems as if Muse peaked way back on 2003’s Absolution, because every subsequent album has been worse than the one before it. That’s not to say that The Resistance is awful; it’s just the band’s worst. Somewhere along the line the band fancied themselves a poor-man’s U2 and decided to write songs almost exclusively about conspiracy theories and government coercion. Small doses, guys. Small doses. While The Resistance does suffer much from the weight of its own bullshit, it’s still the best mainstream rock album of the year. Easily.

#13. Headlights: Wildlife – Headlight’s second album was a critical success even though I found it miles behind their debut. On their third album, Wildlife, the Champagne, Illinois trio recaptures the charm of Kill Them With Kindness while staying true to the sound that they established on Some Racing, Some Stopping. Sticking with the lo-fi, indie pop/rock mood, Wildlife is a definite improvement and shows the band maturing into their own unique sound.

#12. Julian Casablancas: Phrazes for the Young – Even though the second half of this album drops off in quality, the first half more than makes up for it. Casablancas has always been a great vocalist and songwriter, and Phrazes for the Young is the perfect outlet for his creative talents. I totally dig the heavy-handed synth stylings of this album, as well as his ability to blend that with his staple rock sound. It’s definitely not an album for everybody, but surely every will find at least one song that they can admit to liking.

#11. Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk – If there is one piece of criticism that I could level on this album, it would be that there are just too many songs on it. Most of those songs, mind you, are great, but as an album, the whole thing simply falters under the weight of its own aspirations. “Dear God,” “Say Please,” and “Man Named Truth” are all instant classics in the indie world, and whether or not these guys ever get together again is irrelevant. They did it once, and it worked. For that, they deserve a bunch of credit.

#10. Clues: Clues – Clues’ debut is a strange thing. Some songs, like “Remember Severed Head” or “Ledmonton” are instantly catchy, and accessible. And then there are other songs that seem to be purposefully difficult (“In the Dream”). It’s not the easiest thing to sit down and listen to, but I’m glad I did; because after I got over the weirdness and difficulty of songs like “Perfect Fit” I discovered that Clues is actually one hell of an album, especially for a debut! No, I’m still not sure why “Remember Severed Head’s” lyrics are recycled on “Cave Mouth,” but I also don’t care. Both songs are awesome! Just like the album, itself.

#9. Passion Pit: Manners – Passion Pit’s debut LP is a hit or miss affair, for sure. One good song, one bad, two good, one bad, etc…The great thing about Manners is that the good songs completely negate the few that are a little rough around the edges. By this point, I’ve already named “Little Secrets” as my favorite song of 2009, but there are other great tracks on here as well. “Let Your Love Grow Tall,” “Eyes as Candles,” and “The Reeling” stand out as some flat out amazing tunes. If it weren’t for the few duds, this would easily be a Top fiver.

#8. The Bird and the Bee: Ray Guns are Not Just the Future – B&B’s debut wasn’t all my friends made it out to be. With that in mind, I reluctantly checked out Ray Guns and was surprised by how awesome it is. I seriously jammed out to “Love Letter to Japan” for weeks before I decided to move on to something else. I’m a dude, people. That’s something! Beyond that though, Ray Guns is stacked full of great tunes that don’t get old, and other songs that reveal their greatness over time. If you haven’t checked this one out yet, do yourself a favor and snag a copy. You won’t regret it!

#7. Discovery: LP – LP sure has its flaws. But as difficult as it can be, it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s a quaint little record filled to the brim with relentlessly catchy songs. The only one that really doesn’t do a thing for me is “Carby,” but hey, it’s not really all that difficult to hit the skip button is it? This one got ripped pretty hard by the critics, and I can see their collective point despite my obvious affection for it. It’s a download first, buy later, for sure. Just be sure to give it a fair shot. You may be surprised.

#6. St. Vincent: Actor – Is there any denying that Annie Clark is one of music’s most-talented females? Besides the fact that she’s making some of the most inventive and awesome songs out there, she’s also doing so with a grace and style that is completely unique to her. While I still feel that her debut has more staying power than Actor, her 2009 follow-up still packs one hell of a punch. I’ve been re-listening to it for the past week now and, whoah, it’s just fantastic! St. Vincent is officially my favorite female artist at the moment, and Actor is officially the best female album of 2009!

#5. The Flaming Lips: Embryonic – When Embryonic came out, it quickly made it to the top (#1) spot on my Most Disappointing Albums list. How it made its way up to the #5 album of the year is a long, strange tale. Well, not really. Essentially it boils down to this: I kept listening to it. My first 2 times through I was completely dumfounded and upset that it didn’t sound like any of their last 3 records. I was pissed, to be honest. As I kept listening, however, I eventually set aside my preconceived ideas about what a Flaming Lips album should sound like. It was only then that Embryonic revealed itself as an amazingly complex and meaningful album. Wayne Coyne has seemingly let the darkness creep over him, and it shows in both his lyrics and the musical compositions that surround them. I can understand why people would be turned off by this album, really. But I’m glad I decided to tough it out and figure it out. It truly is one of the year’s best.

#4. Wallpaper: Doodoo Face – I got my hands on Wallpaper’s T-Rex EP in the summer of 2008. I was still listening to it in the summer of 2009, right around the time I found out that Ricky Reed was releasing a full-length album. I was pumped. I spread the word – the Gospel of Wallpaper , if you will – to all my friends, and played for them the songs I had. By the time Doodoo Face came out, I was set up for disappointment. But Wallpaper didn’t disappoint; in fact, they exceeded my expectations! I was expecting another synth-heavy, collection of short ‘n sweet pop songs. I got the heavy synths alright, but the saxophones, trumpets, female vocals, and funk influences came as a complete surprise. Doodoo Face sounds like a silly album, and at times it can be. But it’s also one of the most impressive debuts of recent-memory, and something that I’ll be listening to until the next LP drops!

#3. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca – Most albums that I listen to take time for me to get into. This is true for pretty much every album on this list, with the exception of a few. One of those exceptions is Bitte Orca. This album was my first run-in with Dirty Projectors after reading about the band for some time. I was instantly captivated by all the things going on at any given moment. Even now, I’m still amazed by some of the harmonies and guitar riffs that seem too complex to be written, but too perfect to be improvised. It is a very impressive album, and probably the one I’ve listed to with the most consistency since its release. Is it one of the best of 2009? Easily. It can also be considered for one of the best of the decade!

#2. The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love – Forget the mixed reviews and the haters! The Hazards of Love is a beautiful and affecting piece of art. If there’s any knock against it, it’s that it can’t really be listened to one song at a time. It’s something that must be digested as a whole. That’s important, because in an era when much of the music industry seems to be about the single, Colin Meloy & Co. have created the exact opposite! When it is experienced as it is meant to be, you’d be hard-pressed to find an album more poetic, more astounding, or more poignant in 2009!

#1. Loney, Dear:  Dear John – In 2007, Loney, Dear’s Emil released his U.S. debut, Loney, Noir to much acclaim. It was this blog’s #4 album of that year, and I was still listening to it when Dear John released early this year. Dear John is one hell of an album! Every song helps to create an atmosphere of doubt, regret, and depression that is both haunting and refreshing. Even the album’s more upbeat tracks are tinged with the sentiments that make the rest of the album so dark. Hopefulness, an idea that was prevalent on his last record, has largely been dismissed on Dear John, and while I’m normally a guy who is into pop music (see the rest of this list), there is something about Emil’s music that speaks to me as an individual.

Dear John is more than just the best album of 2009, it is one of the best male solo albums of the last decade; easily comparable up against Sufjan Sevens’ or Conor Oberst’s best work. Loney, Dear doesn’t get the same kind of press coverage as those two dudes, and it’s a shame, because when it comes to writing powerful, deep, meaningful songs, he blows Sufjan out of the water and gives Oberst a run for his money. Without question, Dear John is the #1 album of 2009. It is a perfect record, and one that I will never take for granted.

Best of 2009: Top 5 Pop Albums

There was a time in my life where I was consumed by the darker side of life. Now, when I did make an effort to stay away from razor blades and hair dye, I was really into music that spoke about the human condition and did so in a somewhat depressing manner. Bright Eyes…the older stuff….was like a gift from god to me. Recently though, I’ve been really into the brighter, more upbeat side of life. If it’s fun and I can sing along to it with a smile, I love it! 2009 was an okay pop music year. Not the best, but solid. With that in mind, I give you the list of the Top 5 Pop Albums of 2009.

#5. Tegan and Sara: Sainthood – The Quin sisters have been at it for years now, and despite approaching each of their new albums with a slight sense of trepidation, I always walk away pleased. It’s crazy really, because the last thing I would think I’d be into is really poppy girl rock, despite the fact that I always did have a soft spot for The Bangles. Sainthood is the Canadian duo’s latest record and it continues where their last left off – with infectious indie jams delicately paired with lighter, introspective gems. Sainthood may not be as instantly captivating as 2007’s The Con, but it surely pays off over time.

#4. Passion Pit: Manners – Why thank you iPhone. Back when I purchased my shiny new toy in July, I had never heard of Passion Pit. And then one day while coming home from work, listening to my Last.fm app, Passion Pit came on. The song was “Cuddle Fuddle” from last year’s Chunk of Change EP. I loved it. The rest is history. Manners is a surprisingly solid and unique album from such a young group of musicians; kind of like this year’s Vampire Weekend, though I don’t encourage you to make any further connections. The album has a few rough spots that are to be expected, but the good songs are wonderful. “Little Secrets” is the best song of 2009, “Sleepyhead” is bizarrely catchy, while “Let Your Love Grow Tall” is truly inspiring. This is one hell of a pop CD, and you’re stupid if you don’t at least give it a chance.

#3. The Bird and the Bee: Ray Guns are Not Just the Future – I feel bad. I had compiled this list several days ago and left this album out entirely. Then I had my iPod on random and on comes “Love Letter to Japan” and I came to the realization that I had not given this album the props it deserves. The Bird and the Bee is a very talented duo, and the music on this album is some of the finest they’ve done yet. It ranges from stadium pop anthems (“My Love”) to jazz pop (“Ray Guns”), humorous dance tracks (“Polite Dance Song”) to love confessions to 80s rock gods (“Diamond Dave”). It’s a very well-rounded, and well executed record. I wasn’t really a fan of much of their earlier stuff, but this one is very solid.

#2. Discovery: LP – What the hell is this album? A bedroom R&B, reggae, new wave pop album with members of Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot and Dirty Projectors? So it’s a joke album, right? Wrong. Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. LP wasn’t exactly the strongest-received album of the year, and I can see why it would turn some off. There are times all across the album where it sounds like synth lines are improvised and vocal effects are thrown in to hide an apparent lack of direction. But for what it’s worth, I find LP to be a truly captivating pop record with strong hooks and rather inventive compositions. I can’t get enough out of it.

#1. Wallpaper.: Doodoo Face – On any other year, it would be hard for me to imagine an album called “Doodoo Face” to make it on my, let alone anyone’s, top ten list. But Wallpaper’s debut album is more than just the best pop album of the year, it’s one of the decade’s finest as well! Pop music too often gets bogged down in the songwriting process – oh, let’s put a ballad here, or make this song instantly relatable to the heartbroken. Wallpaper ignored all that mess and made Doodoo Face an incredibly fun album in the process. You won’t hear music this light-hearted, this funny, any other place in 2009! No, not even with The Boy Least Likely To (surprising, I know). The fact that it can be those things and still be one of the best records of the year is a testament to how awesome Doodoo Face really is. It’s a difficult acquisition, sure. You won’t find it at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and hell, even Amazon is low on copies. But it’s worth it! Trust me.

Best of 2009: Top 10 Party Jams

Let’s say you’re at this party, right? Dude who’s rocking the music has to jet to pick up another case and he takes his iPod with him. This is your moment, your chance to impress every fine lady at that get-together. You take your iPod over to the stereo pick the flyest jam you have and then watch in anticipation as everyone at the party reacts to your choice of….Tone Loc?!?! Don’t worry folks. If you ever get invited to another party, I’ve got you covered with the hottest party jams of ’09! Throw some of these on, and I pretty much guarantee that it’ll go over well. At the very least, they’ll do better than “Funky Cold Medina.”

#10. “Get Yo Shit” by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, from the album, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! – A little bit of humor goes a long way, and this song has quite a bit of it. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there’s a lot of talking that people will have to hush up to understand. Still, if you’re at a party in Austin where everybody pretty much already knows the song, you’ll be fine.

#9. “Swing Tree” by Discovery, from the album, LP – “Swing Tree” has the uncanny ability to appeal to a variety of music fans; hip hop, pop, r&b, heck…maybe even reggae. I threw this on one night much to the admiration of one young lady in particular. Hey, that’s one better than I was doing up until that point.

#8. “Get it Right Now” by Del the Funky Homosapien, from the album, Funk Man – Ahh the ultimate party conundrum! People are demanding that someone put on some rap songs – because, well, they’ve been drinking and are therefore more easily susceptible to bad things – but you don’t want to insult your own intelligence by playing a selection from the 99% of rap music that blows. What to do? Throw on some D.E.L. It always goes down smooth.

#7. “A.T.C.” by Lesbian Fist, from the Lesbian Fist EP – Remember that bit about humor going a long way? Well, let’s hope your party has an open sense of humor because Lesbian Fist is going to bring the goods, wrapped up in a nice little pop package. Keep an eye on peoples’ faces as they ask themselves, “Did I really just hear that?” while simultaneously bouncing to one of the catchiest songs of 2009.

#6. “Little Secrets” by Passion Pit, from the album, Manners – Nobody had heard this song the first time I had played it for my friends at a social gathering. Since then, at least a few of them have picked up the CD because of this one. “Little Secrets” may not not pack the universal appeal of other songs on this list, but I’ll be damned if it ain’t a whole lot of fun singing to when you’re a tiny bit inebriated.

#5. “1901” by Phoenix, from the album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Okay, the car commercial pretty much ruined it for me too, but I’ll be damned if this still isn’t one of the best songs of 2009. That applies to whether you’re listening at a party or at a party of one :(. Honestly, who doesn’t love this song?

#4. “Daylight” by Matt & Kim, from the album, Grand – You would think that this song would be more off-putting to some than it actually is. Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever having to change the song due to someone disliking it. It’s a fun, poppy, piano-driven song that I have yet to tire of despite having listened to it several dozen times over the course of 2009.

#3. “ddd” by Wallpaper., from the album, Doodoo Face – Humor, again, does wonders, and “ddd” certainly packs in its share of one-liners. Sure, there may be one cowardly anonymous commenter on this blog who referred to Wallpaper. as “drivel” (most likely without ever listening to it seriously), but I have yet to introduce this song to anyone who has disliked it. Considering I tend to chill with a bunch of Ryan Adams and Regina Spektor fans, I’d say that’s quite the achievement.

#2. “I’m On a Boat” by The Lonely Island (featuring T-Pain), from the album, Incredibad – Experience, just once, a whole room of people simultaneously singing “I Fucked a Mermaid” and you’ll know why this one is awesome. ‘Nuff said.

#1. “I Got Soul, I’m So Wasted” by Wallpaper., from the album, Doodoo Face – There are few songs in the world that have complete universal appeal. Wallpaper’s first single from Doodoo Face has to come pretty close. Besides the fact that everybody (EVERYBODY) I know personally loves it, I still have yet to read a review of the album or the song that dismisses it as less than it is. Wallpaper’s music is all about letting loose and having a good time and it goes about it in a satirical manner. So even those of us who hate most mainstream pop music can enjoy it. Nobody seriously sings about “throwing up in the bathroom stall” as an achievement, but Ricky Reed does. And if you’ve ever been in that sort of situation (guilty), then you’ll be singing right along (also guilty). For me, this the unquestionable party jam of ’09.

What’s yours?

Video: Passion Pit – "Little Secrets"

Well by now you guys should all know that Passion Pit’s “Little Secrets” is my favorite song of 2009.  The real question is, does its video live up to the song?

Video Link

You’ll have to follow that link to check out the full video (embedding has been disabled), but be sure to swing back by here afterwards to let me know what you think of it.  Sure it may be a star child and black monolith away from being an exact replica of 2001:  A Space Odyssey’s final act, but the visuals and effects seem to fit farely well with the music.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Best of 2009: Top 5 Debut Albums

You know, I was just sitting here thinking about how 2009 was kind of a lame year for music. Well, that’s not entirely true because as it turns out, 2009 was a great year for new artists. Whittling down this list from the list of potentials was difficult, and some really good albums got cut in the process. The list below is made up from what I feel are the Top 5 Debut albums of 2009. Enjoy!

#5. Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk – This is one of those albums that only come around once a decade or so. You get 4 powerhouses of indie music together and hit the record button. Voila! Instant magic! Chances are, Monsters of Folk will never record an album again and if they do, it won’t be this solid. Jim James is glorious, Conor Oberst the same, M. Ward is fantastic, and Mogis…well, he’s Mogis, you know? Any doubts I had about this album were cast away in the first few seconds of “Dear God.” It’s like The New Pornographers, but more folksy. That’s the best complement I could possibly level on this album. So there.

#4. Clues: Clues – Man, I can’t begin to explain to you how upset I was when The Unicorns disbanded half a decade ago. I was still new to the whole “indie rock” thing, and that band in particular was extremely influential in my life. Enter Clues, the newest band from ex-Unicorns singer Alden Penner. While not nearly as solid as The Unicorns (it is literally nothing like the band), Clues does hold its own quite well. There are songs on here that are slow slow and methodical, others that are fast and maniacal. It is a very well-rounded record, with hints of that old, zany Unicorns flare (“Remember Severed Head”). It’s definitely worth repeat listens.

#3. Discovery: LP – LP shows many of the flaws of a debut album – the inconsistencies, the unfocused approach – but makes up for it with some crazy arrangements and catchy hooks. Today I’ve had “It’s Not My Fauly (It’s My Fault)” stuck in my head all day. Yesterday it was “Swing Tree.” There! Proof that this is a great album. Cale out.

#2. Passion Pit: Manners – Well, not just yet I guess. Passion Pit’s debut album is easily one of the top debut albums of 2009 (ok, just top, period) because it shows the musical maturity of an artist’s fourth or fifth album. I mean, think about it. Look at Metric. Fantasies was the group’s 4th album, and by almost all accounts, Manners blows it away on all fronts. Not to knock Metric because I’ve already established what a solid album Fantasies is, but Manners is pound for pound a better piece of music. So yeah, if an album THIS complete and THIS masterful comes out THIS early in a band’s career, you better believe it’s going to get a spot on this (THIS?) list.

#1. Wallpaper.: Doodoo Face – The date that I’m writing this piece is October 8th. Doodoo Face has barely been out a few weeks, but placing it at the top of this list (and the others) seems like a no-brainer for me. I just went on and on about the solidity of Passion Pit’s debut, and Wallpaper has that and more. What more, you ask? Well, character, for one; but also, the best production I’ve heard in years, a sense of humor, and honestly, a lead singer that doesn’t sound like a whiny girl. So yeah, that’s how Ricky Reed locked down the top spot on this list.

The Top 31 Songs of 2009

Why delay things with a long and drawn-out introduction that you probably won’t read anyway?  Readers, it’s been a long year here at the ol’ A/O, and I’m glad it’s coming to an end.  Let’s celebrate 2009 with a look back at the 31 songs that made it unique!

#31. “Get it Right Now” – Del the Funky Homosapien – Saying this is Del’s best song in years isn’t a difficult thing to do. Pretty much everything he’s done since Both Sides of da ‘Brain has been pretty poor. With that said, “Get It Right Now” is an awesome track, and one that was going strong on my iPod for months. It just may be the best rap track of 2009.

#30. “The Ruminant Band” – Fruit Bats – The title track to the new Fruit Bats album is a charming song, both lyrically and musically. It towers above the rest of the album and was its only song that I have listened to for more than a week.

#29. “I Belong to You” – Muse – Muse’s most-recent record is a big ol’ pile of hit or miss despite the fact that some of the band’s best songs are contained on it. “I Belong to You” happens to be one of those tracks. It’s got a danceable, “Supermassive” feel to it, plus a little bit of orchestration a-la “Butterflies & Hurricanes.” And it’s perfect. So there’s that.

#28. “Black & Blue” – Miike Snow – The catchiest song on Miike Snow’s self-titled album is also its greatest asset. The rest of the album? Meh, it can be good sometimes.

#27. “Daylight” – Matt & Kim – It’s relentless in its awesomeness, despite Matt’s sometimes grating voice. Once the drums kick in, I can’t help but break out in a slightly-embarassing groove.

#26. “El Caporal” – My Morning Jacket – The only song on Dark was the Night”s second disc that is any good, “El Caporal” is actually reeeeaaaally good, which is nice in a year without a proper MMJ record.

#25. “Swing Tree” – Discovery – In my time with this great album, there have been multiple songs that have slid in and out of my “favorite song on the album” spot. “Swing Tree” currently resides there, where it has for the last month.

#24. “Give It Up” – Datarock – I first listened to Datarock’s Red about 3 months ago. I stopped listening to it about 3 months ago as well. However, about a week ago, this song started playing on my iPod. I’ve been hooked ever since. Is a week enough time to determine whether a song deserves a spot on this list? That’s debatable. What isn’t is the greatness of “Give it Up.” It rocks.

#23. “Little Bribes” – Death Cab for Cutie – I usually stay away from EPs, opting instead for a full LP for my musical enjoyment. But “Little Bribes” is a great song, and The Open Door EP is pretty good too.

#22. “I’m On a Boat” – The Lonely Island f/ T-Pain – For as goofy and bizarre as this song is, it’s also pretty damn catchy. It’s been stuck in my head multiple times in 2009, and chances are it’ll still be getting some plays in 2010. Not bad for a bit of musical comedy.

#21. “Ray Gun” – The Bird & the Bee – The Bird & the Bee’s latest is filled with some outstanding pop gems, “Ray Gun” just happens to be the best on here. If you have yet to listen to it, you owe to yourself. Trust me. I’m Cale.

#20. “Waters of March” – Anya Marina – This is the second-best cover song of 2009. The first? Keep reading.

#19. “Young Adult Friction” – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – “Young Adult Friction” has the uncanny ability to sound like both an early 90s indie rock song and a song off of an 80s John Hughes movie. How that works is anyone’s guess, but it does, and it’s a beautiful song.

#18. “Remember Severed Head” – Clues – This song almost sounds like a Unicorns song. Almost. Sometimes almost is good enough.

#17. “Take On Me” – A.C. Newman – I was in love with A-Ha’s “Take On Me” long before Newman decided to cover it for the Sweetheart Compilation this year. It’s one of the best pop songs of all time, in my opinion. What he does to it here is slow it down and make it a bit more somber, which suits the lyrics perfectly. It’s a new spin on an old classic. I love it!

#16. “11th Dimension” – Julian Casablancas – Under the Radar magazine called this song “the best 80s jam of 2009,” which I totally agree with. Casablancas’ synth-heavy grooves can get repetitive if you focus too much on that aspect of it. I choose to focus on the coolness of it all, and “11th Dimension” is the coolest track on the album.

#15. “1901” – Phoenix – It’s a minor travesty that I did not include this song in my first draft of this list. Problem solved. This album isn’t just good, it’s fantastic. It’s the Mercedes of indie rock songs, which may or may not be a subtle reference to its use in a car commercial. Okay, it is.

#14. “Actor Out of Work” – St. Vincent – My first time through Actor, I was all but convinced that “Marrow” would be my favorite track from the album. Rip a couple months off the calendar and it’s actually “Actor Out of Work” that receives that honor. It could be the lyrics, which are a cut above, though it’s probably due to the absolutely genius music video.

#13. “The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing” – The Decemberists – Shara Worden’s work on The Decemberist’s Hazards of Love is a priceless contribution to the music world. Case in point: this brilliant song from the album that not only captures the essence of her talent, but the awesome energy and storytelling that made the album such a true work of art.

#12. “Sleepyhead” – Passion Pit – 2009 may be the year of the commercials featuring indie-music, as I just saw a Palm Pixi commercial featuring Passion Pit’s most-popular song. Personally, I don’t think it fits in the ad at all, but I still love the energy of this song.

#11. “Stillness is the Move” – Dirty Projectors – Having 3 songs from one artist in this list is in achievement in and of itself. The fact that Dirty Projectors’ first appearance here is at #11 should tell you a lot about the kind of year they had. “Stillness is the Move” is a perfect example of what made Bitte Orca such a great album: bizarre compositions and vocals mixed with pop sensibilities.

#10. “French Navy” – Camera Obscura – I’ve been singing along to this song in my vehicle for weeks now, and I’m pretty sure I look pretty ridiculous doing it. The joy captured in this song makes the embarrassment worth it, though. So if you ever see a tall ginger kid freaking out in his white Ford F-150, chances are that’s me listening to this song.

#9. “I Got Soul, I’m So Wasted” – Wallpaper. – The genius of this song will be expounded upon in future articles. For now, just listen and enjoy everything that it has to offer.

#8. “Harm/Slow” – Loney, Dear – The imagery of solitude and loneliness in this song is absolutely heartbreaking. It’s one of the most depressing songs I’ve heard in a while. Clearly, it’s also one of the best. Sometimes there is beauty in darkness.

#7. “Gimme Sympathy” – Metric – There was a time that I thought this song would end up in the #1 spot on this list. It is a perfect pop/rock song and easily one of Metric’s greatest tracks. How it slipped to #7 is anyone’s guess, but still…7 ain’t bad.

#6. “Temecula Sunrise” – Dirty Projectors – Song #2 from Bitte Orca is the album’s most-impressive track. I love singing along to songs when I’m by myself. It gives me something to do. Learning the melodies to this one was tough, but worth it. I listen to it at least a few times a week, and have been doing so for most of the year.

#5. “I Ain’t Most Dudes” – Wallpaper. – Coming up with what Wallpaper. songs would be on this list was difficult. It was even more strenuous figuring out which one would be ranked highest. In the end, “I Ain’t Most Dudes” is my favorite song from Doodoo Face because it is the most timeless of them all, and has one of the most infectious melodies of recent memory.

#4. “Everything Turns to You” – Loney, Dear – On a perfect album like Dear John, narrowing down a top song is usually a chore. Not for this one though. For as great as every song on that album is, “Everything Turns to You” is still a shoe-in for its greatest track.

#3. “Knotty Pine” – Dirty Projectors f/ David Byrne – And the award for “Song that’s been stuck in my head for pretty much all of 2009” goes to…

#2. “The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)” – The Decemberists – Some may knock the closing track to The Decemberist’s masterpiece as a sort of Titanic-esque ending, but it is one of 2009’s most beautiful and poignant songs when taken in the context of the remainder of the story. Any song that brings me close to tears has to be something worth remembering.

#1. “Little Secrets” – Passion Pit – No song has brought me more joy in 2009 than Passion Pit’s “Little Secrets,” the second track on their debut LP. Sure, it may be about doing drugs or whatever, but every time those kids sing “higher and higher” I can’t help but have the biggest smile on my face. This song is great, in almost every aspect and if someone came up to me with a Men In Black mind eraser thing and said, “Hey, I’m going to erase all of 2009’s music from your head, except for one song. What song would you like to keep?,” I wouldn’t hesitate in my response. It’d be this one. Not the live version, mind you. The real thing. The live version sucks, mainly because…well…dude can’t sing.

You can listen to this playlist on Last.fm right now.  Well…most of it.