THE Lowly Peon

Albums of the Year: 2009 
21 December 2009, 2:55pm

The year is almost over, which means it's time to start thinking about all the stuff that's happened. And of the stuff that's happened, everything always has a soundtrack. And any good soundtrack means that you need to make a top five list! Here's my list of the top five albums I listened or got into in 2009 (not albums that were released in 2009. Living under a rock makes it difficult to keep that list interesting). (All links direct to the iTunes music store. A google search would probably work fine too, though.)

1. Modern Guilt - Beck

This album is fantastic. I listened to it a bit when it first came out, summer of 2008, but was unimpressed — perhaps unimpressed is the wrong word, since I'm always impressed with Beck's albums in their significant variation from each other — and stopped listening. My history with Beck goes all the way back to high school, and my love for him has come and gone ever since. One day on k13 I was listening to Mutations, which I love, when I sent wjerome an email. We chatted back and forth for a while, and he suggested I check it out again. I did, and upon hearing Volcano, I was in love. I highly recommend this album for people of all musical backgrounds. It's got enough variety that it should keep you interested from start to finish.

2. Dear Science - TV on the Radio

My roommate in college loved TV on the Radio, and made me listen to it all the time. I always enjoyed it, though it was sometimes a bit much. I had never heard Dear Science, however, which stands out in my eyes as, without a doubt, their best. This was a strong recommendation from both wjerome and simonite, so I obviously gave it a good listen. Dancin Choose stood out to me most at first, but now my favorite is probably 'Love Dog'. Worth a listen for anyone who wants a little boogy.

3. Bone Machine - Tom Waits

My dad used to play this song all the time when we were little, so I've known it for ages. For some reason, when I was in Beijing earlier this year, I got Earth Died Screaming stuck in my head, and haven't been able to get it out since. last.fm puts this album at my 13th for the year, with a mere 156 listens, but I'd rank it much higher. Check it out if you like music that's a bit off the beaten path, yet still catchy.

4. Dangerous - Michael Jackson

Those of you who know me well know that I'm a pretty big MJ fan. I started listening to this again after a long hiatus ( lizerbeam and I have been thousands of miles apart, which makes MJ dance parties slightly more complicated) while running. It was perfect at getting me in the mood and making me run a bit harder than I wanted. And then after seeing This is It with daisy twice in a week, I couldn't get enough. Though I wouldn't call it my favorite on the album, Will You be There chokes me up every time I hear him say "but I'm only human". We miss you, Michael.

5. Seal Beach EP - The Album Leaf

This one squeezes only into last place both because it is an EP and because I only got into it in October/November. For this one, to the Shuffle God I am forever grateful. I was in an exploratory mood while programming and this came on. It was perfect. It's ambient-ish, but always keeps moving (unlike so many other ambient albums). Worth a listen if you want something that lets you choose whether it's energetic or relaxing. If you want to check it out before you buy it, get Malma, the first track.

There have been lots of other good albums I've gotten into in the last year, but none of them were as mind blowingly awesome as these. Among them: Daytrotter Session and For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver, a much appreciated recommendation of hulkamaniac. Hymns for a Dark Horse by Bowerbirds. In Rainbows by Radiohead, because I simply haven't gotten sick of it since it came out years ago. And some other stuff by Beck, David Bowie, The Beatles, whom I've rediscovered (again) in the last few months, and Why should the fire die by Nickel Creek, which was without a doubt my number one last year.

Can't wait for another year!

update
[21 December 2009, 3:08pm]