THE finest INDEPENDENT albums OF THE YEAR

Back in June, I published the top 10 albums of 2009 . . . So Far. It’s always fascinating to me to see if these albums continue to stand proud at the end of the year. Some do, some don’t. Actually, more of them stuck around this year than usual–and more of the ones on that listing continue to thrill me than my July pix for the very best mixtapes of the year so far. (Recession Music? What was I thinking!)

And after publishing the very best indie rock as well as indie rap albums of the decade, I’m a bit list-heavy this season. however this is a blog tradition, so right here goes nothing. I’m not separating by genre or mixtapes, etc., this year. However, there’s a listing of EPs coming out tomorrow–there were rather a few great ones this year, as well as it truly isn’t fair to stack an EP against full records.

THE top 15 INDEPENDENT albums OF 2009

15. different Artists-Guilt By association Vol. 2 (review). OodlesOfOs. Let’s be honest, most compilations and/or soundtracks suck. They take a couple intriguing propositions, which may or may not succeed, as well as then fill the rest of the album with trash that wouldn’t even make an EP. however this is an exception. The album combines mega-hits like “Tainted Love” as well as “In the Air Tonight” with lesser-known, lesser-hits like N-Trance’s “Set you Free” as well as My Chemical Romance’s, “I’m Not Okay.” then it brings some relatively widely known indie bands like Robbers On High Street, Frightened Rabbit, as well as My Brightest Diamond, as well as fills the album out with some should-be-well-known people like Takka Takka as well as Cassettes Won’t Listen. A perfect balance between bands you understand as well as bands you should know. preferred cuts: The Bloodsugars’ handle Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” (I’m embarrassed to state that I like this tune), Robbers on High street doing awesome It now (original by new Edition) for the kitch factor, as well as Takka Takka’s fresh, unironic handle In the Air Tonight.

Video for I believe She understands (Justin Timberlake cover)-Kaki King.

14. DOOM-Born such as this (review). SuperheroRap. This is not Dumile at his best. In fact, this is by far his worst studio album. a number of tunes noise unfinished. Nevertheless, it’s MF DOOM as well as my personal biases are, at bottom, the basis for this list. Plus, it’s far from sucky. Cuts like “Supervillainz,”featuring De La Soul’s Posdnuos ridiculing T-Pain, together with prince Paul as well as Slug, as well as DOOM’s J-Dilla partnerships (“Gazillion Ear” as well as “Lightworks”) are much better than just about anything else that came out this year. as well as if you’ve got a hankering for typical DOOM strangeness, you’ll discover a sample of Charles Bukowski on “Cellz.” Yeah, even DOOM’s worst work is among the biggest of the year.

13. Those Darlins-Those Darlins (review). CountryBluesAndMosey. A solid, down-home release by a female-led traditional Americana band. It’s nice to hear some genuine country/blues these days–the band in no method tries to be adorable by throwing in electronica, indie rock, or all the other things most bands utilize to dilute this genre. even better: It’s consistently interesting, surprising, as well as even funny.

Wild Ones (Direct link)

12. Metty The Dertmerchant-Fink Ployd (review) BackpackerRapBlendz. You understand what’s awesome about mixtapes? The method they can illegally snatch awesome samples. Let’s deal with it, hearing Clipse rap over Common’s “The Corner” or Lil’ Wayne bite off Jay-Z is hype as hell. Metty The Dertmerchant, producer of underground rap group Sweatshop Phenomenon, blew me away with this “concept” mixtape. All Pink Floyd samples, with extremely great unknown rappers. truly extraordinary.

And the link is still live!

11. vulture Whale–Vulture Whale (review).  DrunkenAmericana. There’s not a great deal of bio on vulture Whale’s website, however this band, on Skybucket Records, exploded on the scene this year with not just a fantastic album, however likewise a fantastic follow-up EP. It’s rude bar-band Americana, in the custom of backyard Tire Fire, Wes McDonald, Drive-By Truckers, etc. Fantastic, fun as well as raw.

Here’s a fantastic video for the tune Sugar:

10. The Cave Singers–Welcome joy (review).  SpaceFolk. My wierdo pick for this year. perhaps in a year I’ll be scratching my head about this pick, however for now I’m discovering this album fascinating. It seems to evolve as I listen, morphing as well as moving.

Beach home (direct link)

9. increase as well as the Avid record Collector-Risen (review). BackpackerRap. You understand what sucks about increase having the very best hip hop album of the year? That this slot doesn’t go to DOOM. however that’s DOOM’s own fault for not stepping up. In the meantime, increase as well as the Avid record Collector have produced an energetic, verbally agile masterpiece. If you hanull

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