SPIN's 20 Greatest Albums Of 2009 ... So Far
We're more than halfway through 2009 so, hey, why not a little list? That's what the people over at SPIN are thinking: They just put together what they consider "The 20 Best Albums of 2009 ... So Far." It isn't in any order, but each entry comes with a brief declarative writeup explaining why the record was chosen. For instance, "[BLANK] throws herself into every song as if it's all a big finale, which makes for an auspicious beginning." Or, "[BLANK] won't double as anyone's dance-party playlist. But it's an uneasy, bracingly honest soundtrack to life after fame." And, "With the economy tanking, homes being lost, and folks switching to survival mode, America may need [BLANK]'s back-to-nature fantasias more than ever." Any ideas? (Hint: That last one is not Sarah Palin.) Before we get started: Your favorite bookmarks of the such and such is > than such and such are both here. And there are a couple Mercury Prize 2009 nominees. Of course, the accompanying image ought to be helpful, too.
Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
Peter Bjorn And John - Living Thing
Blk Jks - Mystery
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Regina Spektor - Far
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Bat For Lashes - Two Sun
Mavado - Mr. Brooks... A Better Tomorrow
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Sa-Ra Creative Partners - The Age Of Love
Antony And The Johnsons - The Crying Light
See the list in its contextual photo gallery with accompanying blurbs over at SPIN.
Posted at 5:44 PM by brandon in List
notably missing from this list is st.vincents "actor". she really turns instrumentation on its head, and combined with her unusual key changes, its really a one of a kind album.
Score = 61
They appear to be mostly indie rock type music.
Score = 0
As far as the indie thing, t's interesting to note how this list didn't actually make it into the magazine, just on the website
Score = 0
Needs more Sunset Rubdown.
Score = 76
No Pigface "6"
Score = -2
No Appleseed Cast? Or are they not SPIN-ny enough?
Score = 1
future of the left is better than grizzly bear or st vincent
Score = -3
Really...giving Deceiver negative scores for giving props to Future of the Left? None of you guys like blistering vocals and face melting guitars? Really? That's a great album!
Score = 7
I'm with you. In my opinion, Future of the Left has the best album this year. I wonder why Deceiver is getting negatives.
Score = 10
Because there's no need to disparage two other great albums while being hideously, hideously wrong in the process.
Score = 21
Disparage the other albums? Really? You are the only one who is guilty of being disparaging in this mini-thread. Negative to you.
Score = -23
For real, this album needs more love.
Score = 5
Not that I'm hating on Futures...it's just not nearly as good as Grizzly Bear...that's all
Score = 3
I don't know though, seems like comparing apples and oranges. One album is atmospheric and orchestral with jazzy undertones, poppy sensibilities and beautiful choral harmonies (and suffers from some SERIOUS mid-album slump, btw.) The other has snarky biting lyrical content, harsh vocals and post-hardcore style guitar riffs. While it's certainly possible to love both types of albums, I imagine that some people into the latter would probably be bored by Veckatimest.
And I do happen to disagree with Spin's & Deceiver's assessment of the St. Vincent album. Actor's pretty amazing.
Score = 5
comparing apples and oranges is ridiculous. apples are way better.
Score = 14
actually, oranges are waaaaay better than apples.
Score = -3
Nah man, you definitely need to give apples another listen.
apples > oranges.
Score = 0
really? future of the left is good but i'd prefer grizzly bear over them by loooong shot
Score = 0
that's because you're boring
Score = 0
Dinosaur Jr-Farm, is missing fo sure.
Score = 34
Franz Ferdinand's latest really needs some love. I've been rocking that probably harder than anything else this year. NOMO's invisible cities also outplays a lot of albums on this supremely predictable list.
Score = 1
NOMO!
Michigan Love!
Score = 0
word. on both the michigan love and the nomo. great album.
Score = -1
They must have been listening to a different version of Living Thing than the rest of the world.
Score = 49
No kidding!
There are 2 great songs on Living Thing and the rest is blah...
Very predictable list although a few of these are on my "09 So Far" list, including Amadou & Mariam and Neko Case...
Score = 0
Shoot...I only have one, Fortress 'Round my Heart, which is awesome and addictive and I cannot wait to see Ida at Lollapalooza!
Score = 0
Sunset Rubdown and Asobi Seksu
Score = 8
yup, that looks like a list Spin would make. if anyone is concerned that their particular favorites are missing i would like to remind you now that this looks like a list Spin would make.
Score = 15
The Horrors?
Score = 6
I wish my album had the means to get to the masses! get it here! http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/store/dilly-dilly-of-art-and-intention-mp3-download-p-304.html
Score = -170
you'd have better luck if you didn't insist on charging $9.99 for your unheard-of band's album.
Score = 60
You really think that putting a link to a ten dollar price tag on stereogum's comment section is going to get it out there? Come on, man. I was fully intending to give it a listen too.
Score = 40
I bought it! What an album!
Na, I didn't really. Next time link to a page that will actually get your album to 'the masses' (or the three guys that were willing to give your music a chance).
Score = 22
Regina Spektor?! Really? Living Things and Further Complications also did very little for me.
But all that would've been forgiving had they included Elvis Perkins.
Score = 8
My big three (Vecka, MPP, Bitte Orca) are here. But Living Thing, really? That was my biggest disappointment of the year so far.
Score = -16
I like how you said that as if that top 3 was exclusive to you
Score = 57
Ah there be Neko, but I'm guessing Lungs was released after this issue went to print?
Score = 1
Aw. Been a few years since I let my subscription to spin run out. How cute that they haven't changed a bit.
Score = 4
Someone should fix the Jarvis album. Further Complications, not Explanations, people.
Score = 6
This list is kinda mediocre and boring. '09 went downhill after everyone blew their wads over AC and Grizzly Bear. I don't even think those two albums are deserving of the year's best either and am still struggling to find an album that has amazed me. So far, Oneida Rated O gets my pick.
Score = -9
I hate "true" indie people like you. Go listen to blank dogs.
Score = 14
I hate both of you.
Score = 22
Yeah. You are a cock gobbler. I hate people who are too "scenester" for something that's actually good. Veckatimest and MPP are two incredible albums. If you don't like it than say so. Don't act like you know balls about music and diss them.
Score = 6
Hey Mr. ASSumption, I never said I didn't "like" them but what I am saying is that they aren't the best (IMHO since music is subjective) music has ever had to offer in comparison to music as a whole and other years' best. Veckatimest is solid and good and I like it, but it's not going to be my number 1 and maybe not even in my top 10. 09's only half over and my prediction is that the new Fuck Buttons and HEALTH will win me over, and the list above also forgot Japandroids.
Score = 4
For the record, you guys are being childish.
I don't think either of those albums are "album of the year" material either. I'd give that nod to something less monotone, like maybe David Byrne's new one (or is that last year?) St. Vincent or Neko Case. Am I scenester too?
Not sure... I havent been to a concert in months.
When people react so strongly to such a minor comment its kind of embarrassing for everyone involved. Then, when kids start calling eachother hipsters and shit it just gets worse.
Stop trying so hard.
Score = 0
Why is everybody lashing out at Spin? This is a thoroughly decent list. Sure, I could complain about the absense of Sunset Rubdown, but it's pretty good for a major publication like Spin.
Score = 26
'Actor' only has one song with key changes in it.
Score = 9
Yes, quite, as well as a positively vulgar lack of the augmented sixth.
Score = 8
Neither do the following records (in my quick estimation...): Blood on the Tracks, Nevermind, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Vampire Weekend, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.
Those are 5 GREAT albums from a couple different eras, that don't have key changes in their songs. Chew on that for a while.
Score = 2
Hell, blood on the tracks is mostly in one key and its my favorite album ever.
That said, he was responding to an earlier comment that raved about Actor's key change.
He needs to use the reply button
Score = 0
missed reply button ftl
Score = 0
Florence? St. Vincent?
Score = 1
At least they didn't go Rolling Stone and put Relapse and 21st Century Breakdown on there.
Score = 21
awesome, spin is exactly what i thought, out of the loop musically; i hate how all people getting paid to write about music don't actually listen to good music
Score = -32
Like?
Score = 3
Metric's Fantasies is the album of the year.
Score = -26
Aw. Been a few years since I let my subscription to spin run out. How cute that they haven't changed a bit.
Score = 0
cymbals eat guitars " why are there mountains"....
Score = 17
Black Nasty "SHARK TANK"???
Score = 6
Yeah this list needs more Rated O by Oneida, S/T by Here We Go Magic, Bromst by Dan Deacon and No. 2 by jj. I'm surprised Spin did suck off MGMT a little more by including them on this list even though they haven't released anything this year. Please go out of business already Spin.
Score = -13
not that I expected to see it there, but the new Jerky Boys album is truly amazing. an honest, courageously original piece that gets tastefully iintrospective while keeping a curious eye on the rapidly changing world.
Score = 11
I would actually have to say that Spin's the best music magazine out there right now. They're not too far to one side of the spectrum, but fit comfortably in the middle between Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. They're not too cool but they're not putting the Jonas Brothers on the cover either.
Score = 3
The best music magazine out there? You should try Filter and/or Paste (though soon to be going under) and/or Under the Radar. It's a shame that print media is being replaced by blogs like this one, but those three do a decent job. Sure they cover buzz bands cause that's what sells, but they give some little guys the time of day too.
Spin's okay, but certainly not the best.
Score = 4
To the poor guy that believes Spin to be the only print media between Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, that's a shame. First, because you even referenced Rolling Stone as a legitimate source of actual music news/reviews and, more importantly, because you have never read a FILTER, which can be counted on for brilliant writing and phenomenal photography issue in and issue out. And though I'd love to have more issues per year, their unwillingness to sacrifice the quality of the magazine for a few extra appearances on the newsstand is what keeps it so top notch. Someone else mentioned Above The Radar which packed with band profiles. And if you're really A.D.D. and your eyes are gluttons for punishment (and can bear the high-school-yearbook-collage-style layouts on every page) then NME might strike your fancy. They're pretty tough to come by (at least in the midwest), I ended up subscribing (which will set you back about $160/yr), but it was just too much and too manic to keep up with every week. Plus I just couldn't get into the whole "creaming our pants over Pete Doherty" stories every other week. Paste, if you're into "adult rock"/alt country/folk and there's also XLR8R and FADER, if you're into... whatever they're into (I've never been able to decipher who their target audience is).
I don't mean to be professor magazines over here, but thought I'd help you out a bit. Obviously, you're here, so you already have pretty good taste.
Score = 0
Bill Callahan's new album should definitely be there. I also really love the new Fiery Furnaces'. Oh yeah, and the new Tortoise, Condo Fucks, and Boston Spaceships albums. Damn, this has been a good year . . . so far.
Score = 5
Do we really need 'best of' lists already?
Score = 29
Haha these posts always turn "wheres my favorite album, HELLO!!!??" type responses. I love it.
Spin's opinion doesn't mean much to me. I'm assuming its a pr hype booster paid by the labels to promote albums. I mean, just thing about it. Best of 2009...so far...?
Sounds more like an advertisement than a legitimate opinion.
Score = 4
YES. Or else what would we music snobs monsters have to argue about in our music blogs??
Score = 3
How about some foreign born love? Person to person is a great album. Better than some albums on that list for sure. And Spin is a magazine that just skims the surface of the music scene. I guess I always thought that was understood. They're not bad but you'd want to look elsewhere for real substance.
Score = 6
Just got tha album and fell in love with it.
Score = 0
This could be a lot worse. Besides, they put BLK JKS on there! I'm thoroughly impressed.
Score = 0
Metric and Maxwell are pretty solid. Just sayin'.
Glad Passion Pit didn't make it. Zzz...
Score = 6
Yessss, let the lists begin!
I don't know why they've included BLK JKS' Mystery EP here though, being only 4 songs in length you can't really justify including it in a best albums list. However, it's nice to see them getting a bit of love.
White Denim's 'Fits' should be on there; my favourite of the year thus far.
Score = 2
Fever Ray? St. Vincent? Those have been two of my favorite releases this year.
Score = 9
Where's ANTLERS? Where's CYMBALS EAT GUITARS?
Questions that need answering.
Score = 5
YES!! the antlers' hospice. totally mind-blowing concept album.
Score = 4
Where the fuck is Akhbar Indu? Best Banga-Jams of three decades!
Score = 4
Now i remember why i never buy SPIN. Every album on that list is an absolute snoozefest. I agree about Future of the Left and The Appleseed Cast. Criminal omissions. Not to mention the new ones from Therapy?, Grammatics, And So I Watch You From Afar, Silversun Pickups ...
Score = -15
Hmmmm, i must be getting old for i don't care for any of the bands on this list.
Best album of 2009 (so far) is easily Tragic Boogie by The Life And Times.
Score = -2
I hate Spin for those vomity blurbs. Or SPIN, whatever.
Score = 0
Welcome to Mali came out in 2008
Score = 5
C'mon, guys. We all know this list is just a warm-up for the transcendent Monsters of Folk debut.
Which means I think I can confidently say Monsters of Folk < MPP + Veckatimest + Bitte Orca < Dragonslayer
Score = -6
What a shitty year of music so far. none of these are truly great or classic record they are all just alright
Score = -15
Yeah, I hope that Tegan and Sara get a record out before the year ends. That would be a good addition to my year end list.
Score = -1
Ummm. I'm sorry I can't read past the inclusion of Ida Maria, whose every "song" is all about getting to yell out a "catchy" line: "Oh my god! Do you think I'm in control?! Oh my god!", "I like you so much better when you are naked!" and the remaining 3 minutes are just getting in the way of her big catchy and "bold" line. Give me a f'ing break.
The dudes at Spin just wanna be cooler, and "indie" is what's in, my friends.
Score = -6
Well if Spin is going indie nowadays, then here are some which they might have overlooked...
Handsome Furs, The Horrors, Isis, Japandroids, Jason Lytle, John Frusciante, M Ward, The Maccabees, Manic Street Preachers, Marmaduke Duke, MF Doom, Other Lives, TPOBPAH, Passion Pit, PJ Harvey & John Parish, Richard Swift, Royksopp, Sonic Youth, St Vincent, Sun O))), Super Furry Animals, The Veils, White Rabbits, Woods, Dinosaur Jr., Allen Toussaint, Bibio, Andrew Bird, Bill Callahan, Bob Dylan, Heartless Bastards, Junior Boys, P.O.S., Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Camera Obscura, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Dan Auerbach, Dan Deacon, The Decemberists, Department Of Eagles, Doves, Fever Ray, Frans Ferdinand and I'm surprised a magazine such as Spin didn't even mention a little band from Ireland that I'm sure has helped them sell their magazine when they've put them on the cover over the years.
Score = -12
Gotta get the word out about that Bob Dylan guy. He's all undeground and hip.
Score = 29
If you limit your list to anything less than seven digits, someone's going to bitch what you put on it and what you left on. No need for the laundry list.
Score = 2
You copy and pasted a list of bands that released albums this year, omitted those on the list, and then pasted the first half on the end so nobody would notice. Why do you do this?
Score = 0
The first list came from my iPod and the rest came from iTunes since I had not updated it recently. But either way.. why do you ask? Was I not supposed to do that dude? ? I'm sorry to have done it this way. I'll make sure to keep you in mind next time I do it.
Score = 1
I hope you're talking about flogging molly.
Score = 2
This ACTUALLY made me laugh out loud. Bravo.
Score = 0
Thank you very much Spaghett.
Score = 0
I see you went alphabetically through your iTunes. Cool list! But, Department of Eagles' record came out in 2008.
Score = 17
...the Antlers?
Score = 8
Glad nobody is putting down Wilco. They deserve it this time 'round.
Score = 5
Andrew Bird. Noble Beast. Where art thou?
Score = 16
Yeah, I feel like everyone's forgotten about this one. I really liked it; more mellow than past Bird albums but great nonetheless.
Score = 2
who would want to listen to an Andrew Bird album more mellow than his earlier ones?
he blew me away at Bonnaroo, but I could never sit through an entire album of his, let alone that double cd package
Score = 0
Missing Now We Can See, where is the Thermals love at SPIN? Also I'm kind of surprised at the lack of St. Vincent like a lot of other people have said.
Score = 3
well um. at least jeff looks good on the cover.
Score = 0
Personally I really loved Patrick Wolf's - The Bachelor but i guess people dont love glam rock like they use too. BUT im really glad to see antony and the johnsons - the crying light up there awesome album!!!!
Score = -1
I may in fact be the only one glad to see Ida Maria in here - it isn't as divisive or as memorable as a lot of the year's big stuff, but there's not a bad song on the album. "Stella" was one of my favorites last year and she delivered plenty more.
Score = 4
Well, for all you keeping tabs, looks like Anco > GB... Or, rather, PBJ>Anco+GB?
Score = -4
there is no order to it. just 20 best albums.
Score = 2
Passion Pit? Foreign Born? C'mon, both those albums are awesome!
Score = 3
st. vincent- actor!
Score = 5
Passion Pit should be on there...
Score = 0
Wavves, Ganglians, The Woods, Amen Dunes, Jeremy Jay.
All missing.
No excuses.
The editor should be tarred, feathered, and run out of town to jeering.
-Farmer Ted
Score = -12
Hey Ted,
My ship's wavves wiped out your farm last night and left only sand dunes in your woods.
Score = 2
I'm probably the only one........Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Dirty Projector's are completely LOST on me. I truly believe it's artsty for the sake of being artsty. There's no SONG there. At the end of the day it's all about the song.
Also, We Were Promised Jetpacks is friggin' great.
Score = -6
I hope I don't end up meeting you
Score = 5
mostly a decent list but where the heck is passion pit?
manners should be at the top of this list!
Score = 1
where isAkron/Family?
Score = 3
Not a bad list but leaving out Sunset Rubdown is a glaring omission.
Score = 5
Andrew Bird, Sunset Rubdown, Akron/Family and Cymbals Eat Guitars, I agree are missing, but my biggest objection(s) to this list is the absence of Bibio's Ambivalence Avenue and the Danger Mouse/Sparklehourse/David Lynch/et al collaboration Dark Night of the Soul. In my opinion, the best albums of 2009. But who cares what my opinion is anyway.
Score = 3
I expected the Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse album to be on there too. It's the only reason I checked the list!
Score = 0
A "So Far..." List is just completely unnecessary. Half of these albums are undeserving, and they will undoubtedly write up an extremely similar list at the end of the year anyways. I'm wondering if they were just sooo excited to tell the world about the staffs favorite albums, or (the more likely reason) that they didn't have anymore bullshit to dish out.
Score = -1
Phantogram deserves to make some kind of list. While they only released an EP, it's easily one of the best things I've heard this year. They forgot Fresh & Onlys, Bibio, and some others... but maybe those are too under the radar?
Speaking of which, I'm curious to see Under the Radar's end of year list.
Score = 0
see, now spin even had a feature on black joe lewis & the honeybears a couple of months ago, so i know they've heard of them , and their album. i guess the fact of the matter is tell 'em what your name is just isn't going to get any love. and that's a crying shame. definitely, definitely top twenty material.
ambivalence avenue is also quite good.
Score = 1
St. Vincent's awesome, but the list really needs the new Mew album, oh wait that hasn't come out yet. But you cant get that LP and everything else free, here:
http://twitter.com/leaktweet
You're welcome. PS--I, for one, and very happy that Passion Pit is NOT on this list.
Score = 0
Does Mr. Tweedy look more like the Mask or the Joker?
Score = 0
When did Jeff Tweedy turn into Jack Nicholson?
Score = -1
FEVER RAY!! That is all...
Score = 3
oh spook electricbixxh I read your comment just after submitting mine - great minds etc! Shame very few people seem to agree...*fume*
Score = 0
That just confirms they have no ears - I mean Jarvis Cocker album is SHIT and I am a big fan, Pulp, Jarvis solo, side projects etc - but this is dire. Yeah Yeah Yeahs was disappointing.
Fever Ray? HELLO? Best album of the year for me, no question
Score = -2
A lot of people have already mentioned sunset rubdown missing from this list. They have consistently been under rated for a couple years now. Also, no love for the pains of being pure at heart?
Score = -2
No Elvis Perkins??? Whaaaaat?
and not to mention Manchester Orchestra, Kevin Devine, and Sonic Youth!
Score = -2
I just can't avoid commenting-- why does it seem that Regina Spektor has become a critical darling?... her lyrics are pseudo sentimental pastiches of bullshit... she's stuck in 1996... and Joan Osborne is a fucking moron, so I don't think there is any reason to crip some of her lyrics.
get a fucking theramin bitch!
Score = -3
Yikes.
Score = 0
Royksopp's Junior. It's one of my favorites...but i think nobody liked it :(
Score = 0
+1 on the St. Vincent and Sunset Rubdown
Score = 5
Bunch of dickheads on autostroke...
Score = 0
Vanderslice?? Decemberists?? Bowerbirds???
Score = -2
The lack of fiery furnaces kinda invalidates the list for me.
Score = -2
Sonic Youth - The Eternal...
Score = 1
James Yuill anyone?
Score = 0
No love for RAA's Hometowns?
Score = 6
I LOVE RURAL ALBERTA!
I'll be seeing them soon...
Score = 1
yeah, White Denim's album is my favorite of the year too. Too bad it hasn't been actually released stateside yet, because it's a great summer record.
Score = 1
Well, I guess that everyone is going to ignore Clues. I wonder if that's because of Pitchfork. It's a shame, really, that people might be missing that record because of that ridiculous review.
Score = 0
Overall, this is a pretty typical list and nothing to get excited about. Though I am glad that somebody finally mentioned The Crying Light.
Also, did anyone else find it odd that the Welcome to Mali write-up was about one song?
Wait, I was the only one that cared enough to read the write-ups, wasn't I?
Score = 1
Good list if you want to find some new tunes from 2009. I agree about st Vincent and everyOne should give Andrew birds album a listen. And am I the only one that likes Peter Bjorn and John's Living Thing more than Writers Block? I love that album!
Score = 2
No love for Dan Auerbach's Keep It Hid? I like it more than Attack and Release.
Score = 3
Keep It Hid is my #1 this year, he is amazing!
Score = 1
No Jandek-Myth of the Blue Icicles? COME ON!
Score = 1
Jesus
Is this real?
It better be!
Score = 0
where is the love for Akron/Family. Once again they get no recognition. They didnt on 07 either for Love is Simple, which was my favourite album of that year. Does nobody like fucked up folk? Set 'Em Wild is fucking awesome. Come on people.
Score = 1
Oh man, I love reading comments on lists like these.
Stoked that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is on this!
Score = 3
wasn't glasvegas the best album of 2007?
and then 2008?
and now 2009?
wow
Score = 0
The "No [. . .]" posts are kind of odd given Spin's credibility. I mean, they are almost in Rolling Stone territory and I'm pretty sure they have machines churning out lists like these. Guess the generator skipped Actor, somehow.
Score = 2
Where are my White Rabbits? It's Frightening is a masterpiece, if Britt touched it, it's gold.
Score = 1
This list is like a bad nob competition -- not enough bitches.
Score = 0
I'm really shocked that more people aren't talking about Vetiver's "Tight Knit" this year. I love "Veckatimest," but, as some have already mentioned, it does suffer from a bit of a mid-album slump. I also love the Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors albums, but for my money, no album is as consistently enjoyable as "Tight Knit," and I think it's a shame that it's received so little attention. Just my two cents. Carry on!
Score = 2
where's Marilyn Manson's 'The High End Of Low'?
Score = -2
Noticeably missing from the list... Manchester Orchestra, Vetiver, Bowerbirds, Decemberists, Attack In Black, Noah And The Whale, Jason Lytle, Kevin Devine, Sonic Youth, Slow Club, Cymbals Eat Guitar
Score = 1
Gotta agree with Joey T. on this one. Not that these album aren't good. But this list is pretty expected. No curve balls, no interesting finds. Just a standard list. Spin is okay ... I got nothing against it ... but that's kinda why most rock magazines are pretty lame. Doesn't anyone actually go out and search for music? Listen for new sounds, unique artists, etc? Spin has come a long way -- but still has room to go.
Score = 1
Some picks I'm glad to see (BLK JKS, Grizzly Bear, Wilco, Phoenix), some WTF-picks (Ida Maria, Peter Bjorn & John, Antony & The Johnsons) but overall, considering this is a major print magazine, this isn't a half bad list. Akron/Family, Dinosaur Jr. and Black Lips are all up there for me as well.
Score = 0
Pet Shop Boys Yes should be on the list. They are still making great music!
Score = 0
Looks like Eskimo Snow will be in the second half; it's AMAZING!!!
Score = 0
the pains of being pure at heart???????????
Score = 3
Such shameless self-promotion!
Score = 0
control + f
"mos def"
1 match
Score = 1
list is rather fair; predictable for spin...id like to see silversun pickups and cursive up there as well
Score = 0
Ehhhhh-heeeeeeeeeeeeee. Shh'mon now where is Dragon Slayer?
Score = 0
hey where is........get a life all of you keyboard glued music posers. listen to what you like and shut up. stop trying to convince someone about which album is better with your extremely lame greater than signs. why would anyone care about someone's opinion on this? if you like an album so much, get off your damn computer and go enjoy the music. the world is a sad sad place.
Score = 2
get a job.
Score = 0
Nothing electronic? Don't people@Spin go dancing?
Score = 1
I do. Happy Up Here's still my ringtone.
Score = 0
you guys are all lame for caring
Score = 0
Yay for Bat For Lashes' "Two Suns"; what a wonderful album! Phoneix's "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" and Yeah Yeah Yeahs "It's Blitz!" are great too. I agree that St. Vincent's "Actor" should have been included on the list. I loved the album instantly upon first listen. I would have liked to see IAMX's "Kingdom of Welcome Addiction" #My personal album of the year so far --though no one else really knows who they are unfortnuately# Florence and the Machine's "Lungs", Laura Malring's "Alas I Cannot Swim", The Joy Formidable's "A Balloon Called Moaning" and The Dead Weather's "Horehound" among others. But of course, I'm not going to get worked up over the lack of inclusion of certain albums this like some, if not most of you. There's only so many albums Spin can list, and there's no way they can make EVERYONE happy!
Score = 0
I like Spin, and I like you guys, but I like Sunn O))), Kylesa, Future of the Left, and Wolves in the Throne Room more. But we can all still bro it out over a beer. I'll even let you guys listen to Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear for awhile.
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Oh and I agree with the person who mentioned Royksopp's "Junior". It's one of my top electronic albums of the year so far, after "Kingdom of Welcome Addiction". But Spin seems shun electronic music in general, so I"m not surprised it isn't included in the list either.
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No love for Camera Obscura?
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This is why my free copies of Spin sit unread in my bathroom month after month. They just play it so safe, I could have predicted this list before I even read it. I do agree with some of their picks. But Sunset Rubdown, Camera Obscura, Dinosaur Jr. and Vetiver should all be on that list; Glasvegas, Regina Spektor, and Peter Bjorn And John should not.
Also, the first list that includes both Rural Alberta Advantage and Cass McCombs is my girlfriend.
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Vetiver kinda sucks I think...
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The only one that comes to mind is Jack Penate's Everything Is New. Out in U.K. 8/18 in U.S. via XL.
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Another list ya'll: http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/indie-yuppies-unite-nprs-best-albums-songs-2009-so-far/
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i agree. i love how people can get so riled up about someone saying one album is better than the other. what personal satisfaction do these people get from:
a) claiming to be a self-professed music expert to complete strangers on the internet that they will never meet in the real world
b) wasting their precious time posting arguments on something that is purely opinionated like musical taste
c) actually increasing their mortality rate from an excess amount of cortisol entering their bodies by worrying so much about the absurdity of someone, for example, liking peter, bjorn and john more than st. vincent
these people really don't understand just how foolish they appear to people who are actually "human beings" rather than internet addicted, musical wannabes. some people i just don't understand...
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All I can say is Grizzly Bear stank up the room all 3 times i was unfortunate enough to see them in the last 12 months.
No Elvis Perkins = this list is irrelevant.
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I think this is a pretty decent list. I was surprised that Royksopp and Bill Callahan weren't on there...those records are both pretty great.
A few people seem to like Future of the Left. I haven't listened to the record but based on their Siren performance, I'm glad they're not on here. Total butt-rock. They should hook up with Daughtry. Hopefully their recordings are much better than their live act.
And Wavves?? Really, Farmer Ted? I'm shocked they've made it as far as they have. They probably had money/knew someone who knew someone working for Pitchfork.
I'll have to check out that Elvis Perkins, though. I see it mentioned here a few times and I don't think I've ever heard him before.
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Generationals CON LAW! Just out but this record is fiya SON!
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When was Spin taken over by the folks at Paste? You know, the "We rock, but in a safe, mature way" magazine.
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Agreed - more sunset rubdown!
Also: LOVE neko. but Florence's Lungs should also be on this list. It's freaking incredible. Passion Pit, as well.
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Not really a full length album but distinct last of Cymbals Eat Guitars
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they really should have just put the new built to spill record on there, even though its not out in till october. also the new flaming lips. I'm 80% sure both those albums will be my favorites of the year. Now burn me for not mentioning MPP, Bitte Orca, of Vecatimest. (though i do love those last two)
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Spin at least tries to keep up, and that Prince covers record they gave away is awesome. I thought that the YYY's record was disappointing, and I would have included the new Hayden record, as well as M.Ward, the Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Franz, and the new Dinosaur Jr. The new Lemonheads covers record is pretty fun as well.
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I'm glad so many peeps mention the lack of St. Vincent.
Brilliant album.
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Ditto on Elvis Perkins in Dearland. I've listened to that record more than any other this year.
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My choice #1 choice is still the Pains of Being Pure At Heart. I would think they could find room for Passion Pit too.
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yeah another vote for foreign born, how these guys aren't getting more writeups i never know, seriously, one of the best if not the best album of this year so far
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Telekinesis! Telekinesis! Telekinesis! Best debut album of 2009.
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hmmmm.... don't see A Woman A Man Walked By by PJ Harvey and John Parish. Boo.
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Wow! That list sucks! The only deserving bands on this list are Mastodon, Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear.
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FWIW, great read on Wilco.... Some interesting Tweedy bits regarding Jay Bennett
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I didn't think TPOBPAH are all that interesting. Just really bland music with the excuse of being "pop".
And am I the only person who actually liked the new Crystal Antlers album and the Lotus Plaza record?
Plus, does anyone else see an album development connection between Grizzly Bear and Lightning Bolt; with a strong, consistent breakthrough (Wonderful Rainbow, Yellow House) and a bit more ambitious follow-up that has some of their best work but a bit too much filler (Hypermagic Mountain, Veckatimest).
And people need to quit hating on Wavves. This is just the idiot backlash that happened to emo except it's all happening to one guy. Give him a fucking break! I'm with ya Ted. Long live Woodsist!
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Black lips' 200 million thousand absolutely smoked these albums. Yep.
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I'd have to put this list on my list, The Best of the "So Far" Lists of 2009, So Far.
I really like the indie things they're doing with it by calling it unordered (when the very nature of a list is an ordered thing. Otherwise it would be a group or a collection. (Granted that may be hair splitting)). Though I may have some minor quibbles with the choice of 20 items which seems like playing it too safe. I mean it's hardly a stretch. You know really go out on a limb with 22 or 23. (But then I deleted SPIN out of my Favorites list for just such utter predictability as having lists in multiples of 5.) But publishing it at 07.22.09 8:07 AM -- Genius!! So Random. So Indie. Especially when the first Google result of this time is the Crave or Save comparison from Emily's Cupcakes and Cashmere site, (BTW Forever 21 > Lanvin) where you can check out these choice 'brief declarative write ups': "saw BLANK ... enamored with the striking gemstones paired with a casual, grosgrain ribbon" and "BLANK packs the same dramatic punch, but with a much more manageable price."
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now, what in the fuck are you talking about?
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Some people take hipster bashing so far that no one ends up knowing what they're talking about.
Go back to hipster runoff, man.
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Magazine? You mean Grizzles and AC exist outside of the internet?
Also, where the fuck is Swan Lake!?
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Where's (insert album I like)? I think it is the best album of the year. I do not like (band/album you like), and I don't see how you could possibly like that.
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Let's not forget that Bruce Springsteen's Working on a Dream came out this year--I'm in love with the queen of the supermarket!
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Timber Timbre
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oh yeah! another list of bands that no one will care about in 5 years. Great job SPIN!!! woohoo!
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Word. Hey Nic, I know you.
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since when do people care this much about what SPIN has to say?
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Many good albums have been mentioned by the commenters here. I don't follow Spin .... do you? Maybe it's because I'm an old fart but my fav this year is the Derek Trucks Band - Already Free. It's just a bunch of truly remarkable musicians playing stunning unadultered music. I like indie too and my top 20 must include Patrick Wolf, Sunset Rubdown and Beirut. Finally, two thumbs up for the best geriatric comeback of the year ..... bravo to Leonard Cohen - Live in London.
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Very MOR. Exactly what I'd expect from a mainstream mag.
Micachu rocks!
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The Oxygen Pones 'Harmony Handgrenade' Nuff said
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I love Andrew Bird's Noble Beast. Just wonderful. (And I saw him in Amsterdam - wow!).
Hey, what about The Rest - Everyone All At Once? A beautiful album. Imagine Arcade Fire, The National and Mercury Rev went into the studio together.
Other favorites so far: Wilco, Phoenix, Doves, Harlem Shakes, M. Ward, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse, Bishop Allen.
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Totally with you on Noble Beast.
And why could I predict this list before I even clicked to read it?
Because these bands are collectively considered 'cool'. Speaking of collectively, this is the first Animal Collective album (and I've given them all a chance) that doesn't make me feel uncomfortable and anxious. But they're awful live... Just throwing that out there.
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No they're not. Just because they make you uncomfortable doesn't mean they're bad performers. MPP isn't even in my top ten and I still think you're being a dipshit.
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Glasvegas' album is an absolute dirge. It's horrible. I'm Scottish so I need no extra encouragement to get behind a Scottish band, but it's just wall-to-wall feedback and gawdy crooning. There are a thousand better Scottish bands who deserve the coverage Glasvegas get.
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TOP 5 So far
GRIZZLY BEAR_VECKATIMEST
NEON INDIAN_PSYCHIC CHASMS
ATLAS SOUND_LOGOS
THE DODO´S_TIME TO DIE
MAJOR LAZOR_GUNS DONT KILL PEOPLE....LAZORS DO
DIRTY PROJECTORS_BITTE ORCA
THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE_HOMETOWNS
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE_MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILLON
YACHT_SEE MYSTERY LIGHTS
WHO MADE WHO_THE PLOT
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What a crime to have Glasvegas up there. Seriously shoot your self.
My favourite album so far is Florence and the machine 'Lungs' There's not one bad song on that album. Sheer greatness
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where can i hear white denim
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Where's St Vincent's "Actor"? The Antlers' "Hospice"? Patrick Watson's "Wooden Arms"?
This list is far from finished!
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