The List: The Top 20 Albums of 2009

Music is subjective.

The world of music was crafted for debate. It was forged to be discussed, argued and analyzed. Without lists, opinions, forums and reviews good music might cease to exist. They drive discussion and, more importantly, discovery.

With 2009 in the books, I figured it was time to add my picks to the endless lists that occupy the blogosphere. The list that awaits your reading eyes has been completed since the end of December, but due to all the craziness of the holiday season, I’m just now getting the time to sit down, write and share the albums I dug for the year of 2009.

But, before I move on, a warning: This list is going to be long. Some will have short reasons why the said album made the list, while other might have longer explanations (Top 10). For ones that may get confused by the headings they go like this: Album Name/Artist/Record Label. And for all you grammar police, I know that there should be more paragraphs, but all I can do is double space between them and I don’t want that in the individual reviews. It makes it look disjointed.

As for the “Download This” section, these are all albums I am confidently recommending to be bought as a whole. But I know (much like myself) there are people that like to buy sample songs before buying the whole album. So, I am including this section to share my opinion on the songs that I think will persuade you to buy the whole album. Using this section is also why I didn’t touch much on my favorite songs (unless I though necessary to the overall album) and rather opted to look at the album as a whole. The songs in the section are ones I feel back my opinion of the album and serve as a “favorites” section of sorts.

Without further ado, my Top 20 of 2009:

20. “Welcome to the Masquerade”- Thousand Foot Krutch/Tooth and Nail 

One of my guilty pleasures of 2009 slips in the bottom of the list. Thousand Foot Krutch (TFK) returns with an anthem fueled album that will have you pumping your fist in the air. The band reunited with producer Aaron Sprinkle and recaptured the same energy that their initial collaboration produced (2003’s “Phenomenon) and helped build the group’s loyal fan base. If you like rock anthems, TFK’s Welcome to the Masquerade is for you.

Download This: “Welcome to the Masquerade”; “Fire It Up”; “E for Extinction”; “Scream"; “Already Home”

19. “The War I Rage” EP - I Am Alpha and Omega/Come and Live!

Even tough EPs are not technically albums, most indie bands can’t afford to go into a studio and record a complete LP. I Am Alpha and  Omega is one of those bands. The War I Rage only contains 3 tracks, but those tracks are nothing short of awesome. These guys are poised to take the screamo genre to the next level as they combine the style of Underoath with the epic sound of The Devil Wears Prada, but giving the genre a fresh sound that hasn’t been heard since it’s birth.

Download This: The whole EP. It’s only three songs, you can spend the $3-$4 dollars for it.

18. “Rocks Into Rivers” – Seabird/Credential

Piano/Pop can be a dangerous genre. It has two extremes: really good or really boring. Though Rocks Into Rivers may not be as good as the band’s debut, 2008’s Til We See the Shore, their sophomore release is anything but slumping. “Rocks Into Rivers'” continue to establish the band as unique, but doesn’t take away from their Piano/Power Pop identity. The album does seem rushed in spots (released just a little over a year apart from their first), as it doesn’t seem to have as many great choruses as See the Shore contained. But the album is solid and continues to build Seabird as more than just the “new kid” in the genre.

Download This: “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful”; “Believe Me”; “Rocks Into Rivers”; “The Sound of You and I”; “Don’t Change A Thing”

17. “Monster Monster” – The Almost/Tooth and Nail

Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie’s side-project has grown into…well…a monster (pun intended). What started as a one-man band (Gillespie recorded all instruments and vocals on his first album Southern Weather) has grown into a full band embarking headlining tours and playing stints on the Warped Tour. Monster Monster still is chalk full of southern influences combined with alternative rock riffs and poppy choruses. Even though the album lacks some of the acoustic ballads that made Southern Weather a well-rounded listen, Gillespie, with the help of his new band mates, continues to push his music to the next creative level. Which is all any fan can ask.

Download This: “Monster Monster”; “Lonely Wheel”; “Summer Summer”; “Books & Books”; “Monster”

 

16. “With Roots Above and Branches Below” – The Devil Wears Prada/Ferrett

During this decade, screamo has become a prevalent genre because it was something different. Then came Underoath’s They’re Only Chasing Safety and every kid with a tight t-shirt and even tighter pants decided they wanted to be in a band that sounds EXACTLY like the boys from Florida. Now that honor goes to The Devil Wears Prada, who has reinvented the genre to an extent but still relies on the tried and true formula that Underoath perfected: Primal screams with smooth as silk vocal style in the chorus. Driving all guys with NEON tight shirts and children’s department tight jeans to, yet again, try and start a band. But TDWP has done it a bit different with their third album: A little more epic, bit more aggressive and hooks rivaled only by They’re Only Chasing Safety. The only thing keeping this album out of the Top 10 was the difficulty of distinguishing one track from the other and sometimes the screaming can come across as gibberish, though it is clearer the their sophomore release Plagues. Both problems occur frequently in the genre and something not even the top-dog can solve. 

Download This: “I Hate Buffering”; “Assistant to the General Manager”; “Danger: Wildman”; “Louder Than Thunder”

15. “Fiction Family” – Fiction Family/Credential

Some combinations are meant for each other. Peanut Butter and Jelly. Stan Lee and Marvel Comics. Sonny and Cher. The British and bad teeth. You can add Swithfoot’s John Foreman and Nickel Creek’s Sean Watkins to that list. Even though Fiction Family is technically their first official collaboration, Foreman and Watkins polished song writing, storytelling and musicianship are some of the best I’ve heard in 2009 and of the decade. A blend of both Foreman’s pop sensibility and Watkins’ organic, folk style make for some great melodies and memorable choruses dealing with everything from self-esteem to heartbreak.       

Download This: “When She’s Near”;”Betrayal";”War In My Blood”; “Throw It Away”; “Mostly Prove Me Wrong”;”Look For Me Baby”

14. “The Clearing” - Sleep for Sleepers/Dreamt

Atmosphere in music has become and   underrated attribute. Chugging guitar riffs and “PHAT” beats garner most of the attention on albums these days. But Sleep for Sleepers decided atmosphere was the foundation The Clearing was going to built upon. And that foundation lead to the freshest albums of the year. The Clearing is the best combination of alternative rock, pop and ambient sounds in 2009. Think Anberlin combined with The Send and you have Sleep for Sleepers. The Clearing is an album full of substance and hooks set to the perfect dreamscape atmosphere.

Download This: “Bravery”; “Thieves and Bones”; “Foreign”; “Keep Your Voices”; “The Fearless"; “Twilight”

13. “III” – Maylene and the Sons of Disaster/Ferrett

Some bands just define a culture. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster wears their southern pride on their dirty sleeve, tough skin and aggressive attitude. After their sophomore release, II, cemented the band as tour de force in Southern Metal, the band completed their story driven trilogy of Ma Maylene and her Sons of Disaster with III. Though not as epic as II, Maylene continues to deliver their southern roots with heavy guitar riffs and Dallas Taylor’s screaming vocals. But the band is more than just loud, their blending of guitar melodies with driving drum beats and their talent for penning catchy choruses, gives this album a step above all other releases in the genre. 

Download This: “Waiting On My Deathbed”; “Just A Shock”; “Step Up (I’m On It); “No Good Son”

12. “Momento Mori” – Flyleaf/Octane

I didn’t think Flyleaf could top its freshmen, self-titled debut. I didn’t think they could vary their sound enough for me to justify  purchasing their sophomore release, Momento Mori. As much as I would like to say that I had a last minute epiphany driving me to buy the album, I can’t. I ended up buying this album only because I was able to purchase it for $2 on Amazon. But after listening to it multiple times, I would happily have paid full price for it. The evolution the band went though on this album surprised me. For every hard rock song there was a song that displayed Lacey’s voice in a more pop style while keeping the rock sound that the group was founded on. A great achievement for a band that, with this release, shows they are not ready to be boxed in quite yet.

Download This: “Again”; “Chasm”; “Missing”; “This Close”;”The Kind”; “Tiny Heart”; “In The Dark”

11. “In Shallow Seas We Sail” – Emery/Tooth and Nail

After listening to Emery’s newest album, I came to this conclusion: These guys must have the worst romantic  relationships on planet Earth. In Shallow Seas We Sail is full of angst and bitterness over broken hearts and friendships. But the guys from Emery did it in a way that is therapeutic rather than depressing like other bands in the “emo” genre. The storytelling of each relationship is drenched in emotion that easily lets the listener picture the scenes each song paints. The contrasting singing and screaming vocals hasn’t been this good for the band since their sophomore release “The Question” put the music world on notice. Not to mention the always present musical chaos the band brings is at it’s best. Any other year and this album might have been number 1. 

Download This: “Cuttthroat Collapse”; “Curbside Goodbye”; “The Butcher’s Mouth”; “Piggy Bank Lies”

10. “Picket Fence Cartel” - Project 86/Tooth and Nail

Let me say this, without Project 86 my musical leanings would be completely different. When I picked up their 2003 release Songs to Burn Your Bridges By, my entire musical world was turned upside down, sideways and thrown faced first on the my new musical foundation. So, for me to say that Picket Fence Cartel is as good as Burn Your Bridges is really I need to say about this album. From the opening track (“Destroyer”) lead singer Andrew Schwab and the boys return to the aggressive, hook driven alternative rock that made me take notice of them the earlier part of this decade. The rawness of the album is what truly makes it stand out. Even though I say the band is Alternative, you could easily throw the words hardcore and punk into the descriptions as well. There’s time where I think they all walked into the studio and decided to record whatever was on their minds, whether it be on singular sound or a combination. Regardless, Picket Fence Cartel continues the trend of Project 86 giving the listener a unique and satisfying musical experience. Whether its the driving guitar riffs, the war-like beating drums or the truth-filled lyrics of Schwab, Picket Fence Cartel is Project 86’s declaration of war on music. 

Download This: “Destroyer”; “The Butcher”; “Dark Angel Dragnet”; “Cement Shoes”; “A John Hancock with the Safety Off”

9. “The Fear of God” – Showbread/Solid State

Showbread is a band that can’t be accused of being happy in one genre. They were straight screamo (No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical), rock (Age of Reptiles)and finally industrial (Anorexia/Nervosa). For many Showbread fans, the bands knack for providing new sounds on every album is either a blessing or a curse. As much as I enjoy the band, I too wished they would give us something combining all the albums above into the ultimate Showbread album. With The Fear of God, the band did just that by bringing together the best of the three albums to make a, dar I say, the perfect Showbread album. Incorporating screamo, rock, punk and a bit of industrial, Showbread gave their fans a love letter of all the sounds they once encompassed and in the process made their most accessible album to date.

Download This: “Nothing Else Matters Anymore”; “Lost Connection With the Head”; “Out of My Mind”; “The Great Emasculation”; “The Fear of God”

8. “Who Are You Now?” – This Providence/Fueled By Ramen

Good, quirky pop/rock music is hard to find. Sometimes it’s too sappy. Other times its too bubble gum for it’s own good. And often times downright annoying. This Providence finds a happy medium between the two with Who Are You Now? The album is full of loved found and loved loss, but takes it in different directions ranging from “the one that got away” to “what was I thinking” relationship decisions. The band has a great knack of blending good pop hooks with a rock and roll attitude that serves as something new and refreshing. The vocals  are perfect for the song subjects and the band does a good job of mixing up-tempo songs with slow-ballads. A aspect of music that has become a lost art of sorts. This Providence is a band to keep an eye out for in 2010.

Download This: “Letdown”; “Waste Myself”; “My Beautiful Rescue”; “That Girls a Trick”; “Selfish”

7. “Hello Hurricane” – Switchfoot/Lowercase People

I haven’t listen to anything by this band since Beautiful Letdown was released way back in 2003. I found myself drifting towards a diet of metal and hardcore, becoming entrenched in the elitist culture of hard music. But around 2006, I discovered that other styles of rock can be just as enjoyable and inspirational. If it wasn’t for that revelation, Hello Hurricane (among others) would never have graced this list. In this case, it would have be a great mistake on my part. This album is amazing from top to bottom. From the vocals and lyrics of Jon Foreman to the bands fun power-pop/rock sound, everything just flows. Much like The Beautiful Letdown, Hello Hurricane is a complete album that returns the band back to greatness. A greatness they deserve to have.

Download This: “Mess of Me”; “Your Love Is A Song”; “The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues); “Hello Hurricane”; “Bullet Soul”; “Sing it Out”

6. “In My Blood Again” EP – Ocean is Theory/Alliance Music Group

I know what you’re saying, “Aaron, one EP we can let slip, but an EP in  the top 10?! You’ve gone mad!” Well, I suppose I am mad then. In My Blood Again is an EP that displays a maturation, both lyrically and musically, for Ocean Is Theory and accomplishes it in four tracks. An impressive achievement. I won’t go too deep into why I like it, due to the fact I have already written a review of the album on this very blog. I will tell you this: If you like alternative rock like Thursday and Vheissu-era Thrice, you will like this album. An unbelievable achievement for a band that will garner them even more attention. 

Download This: Again, only four songs equals: Get the whole EP!

5. “Forget and Not Slow Down” – Relient K/Mono vs. Stereo

My Relient K starts with MmHmm. Even though I do like some of there pop/punk stuff from earlier in their career, MmHmm ushered in a new era for the band. An era that I have enjoyed from the get go. Forget and Not Slow Down’s theme is forgetting the past and build towards the rest of your life. Whether its a severed relationship with a past love or moving on from mistakes, Relient K has penned an album with a mature, yet still quirky, passion that continues to define this band as creative and impressive. It’s pop melodies are unmatched as Matt Thiessen continues to mature lyrically and a few of the bands friends making guest appearances don’t hurt (the song “Sahara” features House of Heroes' Tim Skipper, Aaron Gillespie from The Almost, and The Classic Crime’s Matt McDonald). Relient K has continued the trend they started with MmHmm, and continues to impress with Forget and Not Slow Down.

Download This: “Sahara”; “Savannah”; “Forget and Not Slow Down”; “I Don’t Need A Soul'”; “Over It”; “Therapy”

4. “Brand New Eyes” – Paramore/Fueled By Ramen

From the opening song,titled “Careful,” from Paramore’s latest  ,Brand New Eyes, I knew this would be an album of the year contender. The aggressiveness the band seem to lack on some tracks of their sophomore release, Riot!, was back and better than ever. Haley Williams’ voice had been unchained, allowing her to show her tremendous vocal range. And maybe more importantly the band had went through a near breakup, thus giving Williams a little more to sing about other than ex-boyfriends. Brand New Eyes is an aptly named album, as the band is looking through them and the critics are doing the same.

Download This: “Careful”; “Ignorance”; “Brick By Boring Brick”; “The Only Exception”; “Misguided Ghosts”

3. “Hell or High Water” – As Cities Burn/Tooth and Nail

Two words can describe this album: Beautiful and genius. As Cities Burn’s last album (they broke up earlier this year) might be one of the best finale’s since M.A.S.H. Any band that can have an opening track inspired by Dumb and Dumber (“‘84 Sheepdog”) and then question a creations arrogance towards its maker (“Made Too Pretty”) and make both have relevance to the listener is an amazing feat. Hell or High Water will be an album future artists will strive to emulate. Hell or High Waters’ alternative/indie rock sound creates a beautiful picture of hope, doubt, love, worship and faith.

Download This: “’84 Sheepdog”; “Into the Sea”; “Made Too Pretty”; “Daughter”; “Pirate Blues”

2. “Son of the Morning” – Oh, Sleeper/Solid State

Concept albums are a tricky feat to pull off. Some are amazing  (Showbread’s Anorexia/Nervosa) while some, though good, missed the mark they were aiming for (Thrice’s Alchemy Index ). In the case of Oh, Sleeper’s sophomore release, The Son of the Morning, it could have been a tragedy. A band releasing a concept album of the coming war between God and Satan and the interactions between the two? These guys must have been crazy, right? If these guys were crazy, it’s that good type crazy. The one that produces genius regardless of the huge task set ahead of that “crazy” person. Son of the Morning is an metalcore album like none other. It’s epic and amazing. Beautiful and brutal. Bold and approachable. Truthful and brave. A truly moving experience of good vs. evil. A spine-tingling reminder of a powerful God and a boastful Satan. There are moments of chest thumping pure metal (“The Finisher”) and heart wrenching, tear inducing melodic songs of doubt and redemption (“Reveries of Flight”, “Commissioned By Kings”). An unbelievable album that has put Oh, Sleeper at the top of metalcore genre.

Download This: “Son of the Morning”; “The New Breed”; “World Without a Sun”; “Reveries of Flight”; “The Finisher”

1. “Beggars” – Thrice/Vagrant 

Most bands that have their much-anticipated 2009 release leaked to the public might panic. Not Thrice. Instead they pushed up the digital release by a month and added bonus songs (including a great cover of The Beatles “Helter Skelter”) as incentive to wait for the physical release. I bought both. That is how great this album is. An album that examines and concludes that all of us are indeed beggars. From the poor to the wealthy and everyone in between, we are all begging for something. Whether its love and forgiveness or money and selfishness, we all are living this life in search of something. Thrice continues to amaze as a band, as lead singer Dustin Kensrue vocals are full of passion adding to the incredible musicianship that encompasses everything from straight hard rock to a more dirty, gritty rock sound. They even have songs with a touch of folk-rock. Every track on the album is unbelievable, as they touch on faith, love, disappointment, ignorance and life in general. This is what music is supposed to encompass. To move you with emotion and make you think like you never have before. Beggars does that and more

Download This: “All the World is Mad”; “In Exile”; “The Weight”; “Doublespeak”; “Wood and Wire”; “Beggars”