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Ten albums I quite liked in 2009

In compiling a list of my so-called favorite albums of the last year, I realized that I wasn’t head-over-heels for too many of them. It seems I had a one-track mind when it came to music, I anticipated and eagerly awaited the release of four or five albums and ended up pretty much exclusively listening to those for most of 2009. Whoops? Then, turns out a bunch of other albums I listened to constantly weren’t even released last year. Doh.

This listmaking proved difficult (probably why it took me so long), but I’ve not only managed to narrow it down to 10 albums I can comfortably call my “favorites of the year” but I’ve also got 10 albums I can say I really quite liked and deserve a listen. 20 albums total, if you’re keeping count.

My 10 Favorite Albums of 2009 soon, but for now here are 10 Albums I Quite Liked in 2009 presented in alphabetical order and featuring a favorite track from each one:

Dan Deacon – Broomst
I have always been able to count on Dan Deacon to provide me with a great soundtrack for nights when I’m up till 4am trying to finish writing 10+ page papers. No one knows how to produce frantic video game-like noises and electronic cat meows from synthesizers quite like Deacon. Broomst is a nifty little package of all these crazy sounds I love so dearly that are catchy enough to enjoy but not distract while I’m typing away.

Filthy Dukes – Nonsense in the Dark
Filthy Dukes have done plenty of remixes for bands I like in the past, but I didn’t know they had morphed into a band. To tell the truth, I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to check out Nonsense in the Dark had the first single from the album not been “This Rhythm,” featuring guest vocals from Late of the Pier’s Sam Eastgate. Would I have even bothered to give it a listen at all? I can’t say, but I’m glad it didn’t pan out that way. This record is a fun listen. The first half is for the hyperactive 5 year-old in all of us who wants nothing more than to jump around and dance like a maniac. It’s good times. But by the time you reach the album’s title track “Nonsense in the Dark”, featuring guest vocals from Orlando Weeks and a bit of “William Powers,” things start to calm down a bit and the 20-something in all of us can take a breather and sway along to, dare I say it, calming synth beats and heavy bass lines. I’m not saying the album is groundbreaking or mindblowing, but it’s a fun listen. There’s a ton of djs-turned-”bands” dance, electro shit out there that I can’t stand (I’m looking at you Justice and Deadmau5), so Filthy Dukes being one of those type of bands and not annoying me is kind of a big deal. For me, at least. I can’t find a video of “Poison the Ivy” featuring frYars, so here’s one for “Nonsense in the Dark”:

Folded Light – Folded Light
A whole album of music that made me happy courtesy of Steve Damstra and Jaffe Zinn. Bonus good news: Their second album Kelly is out now!

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Four years is a really long time to wait between albums, but after the rush to release You Could Have It So Much Better it makes sense that the men of Franz Ferdinand took their time with Tonight. Admittedly, it took a few listens to really appreciate the album (four years had passed, remember?!) but in the end you just realized that Franz Ferdinand will always be Franz Ferdinand and therefore will never truly disappoint. Especially live. Wowza.

Kid Harpoon – Once
It was the long, long, long awaited debut from Kid Harpoon. I wasn’t disappointed in any way, or underwhelmed by any means, but I guess it wasn’t really what I expected. The changes in production took some getting used to, but at the end of the day you can’t deny Tom Hull’s brilliance as a songwriter and musician.

The Lovely Feathers – Fantasy of the Lot
You know how I’m always going on about how much I love happy music? Well, THIS albums is jam packed with happy music. Happy, witty, clever, awesome music. Everything you’ve come to expect from The Lovely Feathers. If you haven’t taken my advice in the past and given them a listen, change that NOW. There need to be more Lovely Feathers videos on Youtube:

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Even if what seems like half the album has been used for 297324794857945 different commercials this year, none of it takes away from the fact that Phoenix have finally caught their stride musically on Wolfgang and have made a great record. Better than It’s Never Been Like That? I don’t know, that’s still up in the air for me.

Slow Club – Yeah, So?
Slow Club’s Charles and Rebecca have squeezed in a little bit of everything into their debut album. From slow acoustic numbers to 50s surf punk influences to sweet piano ballads to, of course, folk bits and bobs. But the best part of the record has to be the rapport between Charles and Rebecca and the beautiful harmonies they create. They are melt-your-heart beautiful.

Sonic Youth – The Eternal
Many bands have tried to be the “new” Sonic Youth but you can’t be the “new” Sonic Youth when SONIC YOUTH are still around and sounding as good as ever. Sorry kids, keep dreaming. (Hey Kim, are you “thurston” for some “moore”? HAR-HAR-HAR. I swear that joke will always be funny to my brother and me. Sad, but true.)

Video Nasties – On All Fours
The album is a bit all over the place and I can see why a song like “Ides Patrol” didn’t make the cut, but when it’s good it’s really good. It’s perfect for waking up, loud and grimey and sweet and catchy. Like I said, all over the place.