When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: The last two months have been pretty disappointing for new releases, but one major exception to that rule is Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest. The album has been one of the most buzzed about of the year, and, for the most part, it lives up to the hype. It enters the Top 5 on this list as it pushes U2’s No Line On the Horizon out of the Top 20.
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
3. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
4. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
5. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
6. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
7. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
8. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
9. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
10. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
11. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
12. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
13. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
14. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
15. St. Vincent The Strangers (4AD)
16. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
17. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
18. Beast Beast (Verve Forecast)
19. Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing (Favorite Gentleman/Canvasback)
20. Bishop Allen Grrr… (Dead Oceans)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: The debut album from Electric Owls, a band that features members of The Comas, Band of Horses and The Gutter Twins, breaks into the Top 10 this week. And The Strangers, the sophomore album from Annie Clark (known better as St. Vincent), finds its way into the Top 20. Meanwhile, Cursive’s Mama, I’m Swollen and Empire of the Sun’s Walking on a Dream get nudged off the list.
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
3. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
4. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
6. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
7. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
8. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
9. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
10. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
11. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
12. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
13. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
14. St. Vincent The Strangers (4AD)
15. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
16. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
17. Beast Beast (Verve Forecast)
18. Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing (Favorite Gentleman/Canvasback)
19. Bishop Allen Grrr… (Dead Oceans)
20. U2 No Line On the Horizon (Interscope)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: These standings haven’t been updated in a month, because, frankly, the last four weeks have been pretty disappointing for new albums. Nothing’s changed in the Top 10, but there are two new additions to the Top 20: Manchester Orchestra’s Mean Everything to Nothing and Empire of the Sun’s Walking on A Dream. Meanwhile, A.C. Newman’s Get Guilty and The Bird and the Bee’s Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future have been bumped from the list.
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
3. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
4. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
6. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
7. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
8. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
9. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
10. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
11. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
12. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
13. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
14. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
15. Beast Beast (Verve Forecast)
16. Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing (Favorite Gentleman/Canvasback)
17. Bishop Allen Grrr… (Dead Oceans)
18. U2 No Line On the Horizon (Interscope)
19. Cursive Mama, I’m Swollen (Saddle Creek)
20. Empire of the Sun Walking on a Dream (Astralwerks/Virgin)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: The Decemberists narrowly missed taking over the top spot with their epic concept album The Hazards of Love. Meanwhile, albums from Handsome Furs, Peter Bjorn and John, Beast and Bishop Allen join the list to round out the first complete installment of the Top 20 Albums of 2009. The standings will be updated throughout the year, each time a new album (or albums) breaks into the Top 20.
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
3. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
4. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
6. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
7. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
8. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
9. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
10. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
11. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
12. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
13. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
14. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
15. Beast Beast (Verve Forecast)
16. Bishop Allen Grrr… (Dead Oceans)
17. U2 No Line On the Horizon (Interscope)
18. Cursive Mama, I’m Swollen (Saddle Creek)
19. A.C. Newman Get Guilty (Matador)
20. The Bird and the Bee Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future (Blue Note)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. Sure it’s only March, but it’s never too soon to start tracking the Top Albums of 2009. The list will be up 20 soon enough, but for now here are the 15 best albums I’ve heard so far this year (Note: To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009):
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
3. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
4. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
5. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
6. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
7. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
8. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
9. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
10. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
11. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
12. U2 No Line On the Horizon (Interscope)
13. Cursive Mama, I’m Swollen (Saddle Creek)
14. A.C. Newman Get Guilty (Matador)
15. The Bird and the Bee Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future (Blue Note)
