1. Natalie Merchant Leave Your Sleep
A labor of love and a highly ambitious project. The lyrics are those of English and American poets that she set to music. It contains a wide variety of musical styles including folk, waltzes, country & bluegrass, jazz, reggae, R&B, Cajun, Celtic, Balkan & Chinese folk. She may be all over the map, but it’s a very cohesive double album. It’s like reading a book that only gets better with the turn of each page.
2. Arcade Fire The Suburbs
They have created a modern-day soundtrack about growing up in Suburbia. With its tales of suburban woes and change, the suburbs never sounded so enticing.
3. Sade Soldier Of Love
It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since Lovers Rock. She is one of those rare artists who can disappear and come back sounding fresh and new, with few changes. Timelessness never sounded so good.
4. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Mojo
Tom Petty found his mojo in the blues. He used every trick in his rock-n-roll bag and used them to his advantage.
5. Broken Bells Broken Bells
Danger Mouse + James Mercer of The Shins = melodic jams that warm the soul.
6. LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening
James Murphy knows how to get the party started. This is the smartest dance record since Talking Heads “Speaking In Tongues”.
7. Midlake The Courage Of Others
This album from the Texan band sounds like it could have been released in the 70s. Flowing melodies with subtle production, the songs have a classic soft rock sound that would have fit nicely on any Fleetwood Mac album released in that decade.
8. The National High Violet
Another great record from this downer band...bring on the gloom and doom.
9. The Black Keys Brothers
More rockin’ blues from the duo that consistently delivers. The phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind here.
10. Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid
She takes you on a futuristic, cinematic journey with her mix of R&B, jazz, and funk. By melding sounds of the past and the present, the future definitely looks bright for this young, talented musician.
11. Sufjan Stevens The Age Of Adz
Sufjan has always embraced his experimental side, but on this release, he takes it to a new level (he even uses Auto-Tune and makes it work!). At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but upon repeated listens, the melodies that were buried deep within the electronics and effects, came to life.
12. Joanna Newsom Have One On Me
It seems fitting that Joanna Newsom would release a triple album for her third release. Never one to shy away from a lengthy song, it’s the harpist, pianist, and singer-songwriters most accessible release and finds her exploring new sounds.
13. Jónsi Go
The first solo record from the lead singer of Sigur Rós. I have no idea what he is saying half the time, but with songs like these, who needs to.
14. MGMT Congratulations
The psychedelic, pop-rock duo becomes a bit more progressive than on their debut. The title of the opening track says it all: “It’s Working”
15. Cee Lo Green The Lady Killer
This album proves that “F**k You” was not the only trick that he had up his sleeve. Funky and fun.
16. Beach House Teen Dream
Dreamy and light, this duo created quite a buzz with its quiet intensity.
17. Neil Young Le Noise
Young works with producer Daniel Lanois on this one. What started out as a solo acoustic album, became much more. It’s still a solo record, but Neil creates a whole lot of noise, while Lanois creates a haunting space for the songs to float in and out of.
18. Frightened Rabbit The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
A Scottish indie rock band that I stumbled upon because I liked their album cover. The music did not disappoint either...they sound like a modern version of XTC.
19. Peter Gabriel Scratch My Back
Not your standard cover songs. Peter gives songs written by David Bowie, Bon Iver, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Regina Spektor, and Arcade Fire (to name just a few), a whole new meaning. He strips them down to gorgeous, haunting orchestral versions that are all his own.
20. Eels End Times
These songs of heartache and misery could not be more effectively conveyed. A classic break-up album.
Honorable Mentions
Patty Griffin Downtown Church
Mumford & Sons Sigh No More
Richard Thompson Dream Attic
Sia We Are Born
Tracey Thorn Love And Its Opposite
Spoon Transference
Ella Fitzgerald Twelve Nights In Hollywood
Overrated Album Of 2010
Vampire Weekend Contra
While I like some of the songs, I found them very repetitive and somewhat annoying at times.
Overlooked Albums Of 2009
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Up From Below
Monsters Of Folk Monsters Of Folk
One Eskimo One eskimO
Harper Simon Harper Simon