The 2009 Magazine Albums Of The Year Thread For Posting Lists and Discussion.

maybe within genres but

Of course the Rihanna album's going to appeal and hold personal cache to many people, same as MPP, but they're still very specific niches

the rihanna niche is just that bit bigger than the other one, which is kind of what qualifies her album and its attendant campaign as an actual cultural event noticed by people who aren't necessarily invested in her

I got the impression DL was trying to suggest stuff that impacted on music in the popular phenomenon sense? xp

bad, like nevermind, like sgt peppers, like nation of millions etc..?

this is just an absurd set of examples to me. i was alive and conscious of pop culture for 3 of the 4 and none of them felt epoch-defining at the time

you might have got me to agree had you said thriller instead of bad - thriller was the only one of those that it *felt* like something huge and groundbreaking and shifting was happening - even though at the time, michael jackson was still part of a pack of artists, thriller just went exponentially massive in a way that madonna and prince didn't at the time because they released EVERY SINGLE TRACK OFF IT AS A SINGLE which seemed, even to my just coming up teen ears to be a bit of a stunt

which only goes to say that i'm agreeing that album of the year does not always seem apparent at the end of the year. the things that seem massive or epochal or paradigm shifting only really appear so with perspective

OK I didn't realize "Russian Roulette" went to #2 in the UK, that kinda explains some of the disconnect w/ Lex's opinion about the reach of the Rihanna album

Greg Kot - Top albums of 2009 - Chicago Tribune
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/12/top-albums-of-2009.html

the fact that the last time i personally noticed anyone saying or anything being said about rihanna was back when she released "umbrella", arguably diffuses her album from being a big album. and no, i didn't go out of my way to ignore her. if it was in the news, i prob didn't get the paper that day. but all in all, rihanna the person is not the same as rihanna the album, whatever that may entail. and yeah, more people will buy rihanna's album than mpp because it's that much more radio friendly. but this is all starting to get bogged down in - good god - personal taste, and we wouldn't want that now

Matt, I have been around long enough to experience "talked about" records - y'know, ones that people get excited about and take the day off to go out and buy on release day. "Kid A" is maybe the most recent example. this is never going to happen again.

erm every radiohead record has been like that

that's why the in rainbows thing worked - there was still that universal frisson

Matt, I have been around long enough to experience "talked about" records - y'know, ones that people get excited about and take the day off to go out and buy on release day. "Kid A" is maybe the most recent example. this is never going to happen again.

if i were a betting man, i'd go to ladbrokes AGAINST this one

(the only thing that would mitigate this is the fact that people don't have to take the day off work to order things off amazon or d/l them off iTunes or whatevs)

I don't recall anything specifically exciting about Kid A being released and I gave many times more of a fuck abt Radiohead then than I do now

scott: that leaves a whole lotta america where all that shit is basically unheard of

it certainly does, no doubt. Outside of maybe Lady Gaga or the Black Eyed Peas (or Susan Boyle or Michael Jackson) I don't think there was anything that was unavoidable. We just don't have collective cultural musical experiences the way we used to, or the way the UK still can.

Al's right-- that Rihanna had an album out meant nothing in the context of her celebrity narrative this year. Rihanna went on TV when she did because of the album, but she wasn't booked at that time because of it. She could have gone on 20/20 at any point this year and had the same impact as a celebrity and advocate. The album itself was a footnote, as her chart performances has indicated: her last album had five hits more successful than the lead single from Rated R. The general consensus on the hip-hop/pop DJs over here, from the bits I've heard, is that the LP is too dark and in the long run will be a relative flop.

I think the biggest problem with this, and bear with me here guys, is that 2009 as a year has been significantly WORSE in terms of actual output than ANY other year this decade. However, things are building for a quite magnificent 2010. I doubt we'll be having this discussion next year. Everyone's hiding in the fatty folds of MPP & Friends for now, but trust me that won't be happening again for a while. I see this as a farewell to consensus indie. Optimism!

fact starting to put their list up btw; how is tht hudson mohawke rec? I searched for a thread but nothing doing

ew @ the image of MPP's fatty folds

yeah, i've definitely been sitting around on my arse smoking dope and not working on my album coz i really want it to be epochal and decade-defining for the 2010s, rather than a dribble from the arse end of the noughties

it's true, you've caught me out on that & i bet every other artist in the world is thinking the same thing

KID A was one of the first examples of viral internet marketing for albums, Radiohead had a playback widget which people could use

I'm not saying that's what's happening! I'm just saying that 2009 has been a bit of a shitty year, relatively speaking, but that a LOT of great things are due for release next year. I can sense a disturbance in the force.

i think 2009's been a pretty good year overall fwiw, but i agree - i think 2010 will be classic for a bunch of reasons i'm a bit at ends to go into here.

This is all a massive red herring given that the actual genuine biggest pop phenomenon of the year was Susan Boyle and the idea of any magazine we're talking about putting her on the cover or voting for her in a poll is frankly hilarious.

this is kind of important! i think we might be entering into an era of easily defined poor oppositional mass taste again!

http://www.newlog.com.ar/LPAL/Andy-Williams-angustia-de.jpg

i mean, now that i) 'proper pop' is pretty cool ii) also pretty good iii) no one gives a shit anymore, yeah right is the rihanna record 'an event' -

i mean, my friend's band is supporting jedward next week ha ha

you know who's more popular on last fm than anyone mentioned so far this thread? MORCHEEBA. and NICKELBACK. fuck yes

this is kind of important! i think we might be entering into an era of easily defined poor oppositional mass taste again!

James Blunt proves that we never left this era in the first place.

how is tht hudson mohawke rec? I searched for a thread but nothing doing

some talk of it on the "wonky s/d" thread, for some reason

yeah, i've definitely been sitting around on my arse smoking dope and not working on my album coz i really want it to be epochal and decade-defining for the 2010s, rather than a dribble from the arse end of the noughties

it's true, you've caught me out on that & i bet every other artist in the world is thinking the same thing

― Karen Tregaskin, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 10:40 AM (36 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I've found kind of as a rule, about 95% of bands don't think like rock critics or about rock critics

tv on the radio are in the 5%

thx blueski just discovered joker's digidesign 9 mths too late thx to tht thread

who coined wonky and funky? smh

joker's kinda dope; i should be listening to more of this.

does time review music? their list was kinda good!

They do on occasion. Their list was one of the most varied ones posted here.

Mixmag Albums of the Year

it's a jpg so click to magnify:

http://www.stholdings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/mixmagtop50albums.jpg

now doubt someone will do a summary list soon

Deadmau5 being on there (and their little blurb abt him) is really the kind of thing that brings it home how little different musical world interact sometimes - he seems to be like Christ to a certain strain of young raver but I have never once seen him mentioned on ILM

Ha The Prodigy are like the Dylan to Mixmag's Uncut aren't they

at least Mixmag included Juan Maclean

The XX's predicted status as this year's functional indie chillout/monging record for dance kids confirmed.

(Also known as the Erland Oye Award)

Also lol @ Top 5 Skanks.

nicki minaj?

FACT Magazine

40 best: Albums of 2009
http://bit.ly/8ko2Vn

so far, 20 to go

40: THE HORRORS
PRIMARY COLOURS
(XL)

39: SUBWAY
SUBWAY II
(SOUL JAZZ)

38: BLACK METEORIC STAR
BLACK METEORIC STAR
(DFA)

37: GIRLS
ALBUM
(TRUE PANTHER)

36: MAJOR LAZER
GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE…LAZERS DO
(DOWNTOWN)

35: WILLIAM BASINSKI
92982
(2062)

34: PAUL WHITE
THE STRANGE DREAMS OF PAUL WHITE
(ONE HANDED MUSIC)

33: JASON FINE
FUTURE THOUGHT
(KONTRA-MUSIK)

32: HILDUR GUDNADÓTTIR
WITHOUT SINKING
(TOUCH)

31: THE VILLAGE ORCHESTRA
I CAN HEAR THE SIRENS SINGING AGAIN
(HIGHPOINT LOWLIFE)

30: HUDSON MOHAWKE
BUTTER
(WARP)

29: LEGOWELT
AMIGA RAILROAD ADVENTURES
(STRANGE LIFE)

28: SILK FLOWERS
SILK FLOWERS
(POST PRESENT MEDIUM)

27: 2562
UNBALANCE
(TECTONIC)

26: CITY CENTER
CITY CENTER
(TYPE)

25: SND
ATAVISM
(RASTER-NOTON)

24: ATLAS SOUND
LOGOS
(4AD)

23: RSD
GOOD ENERGY
(PUNCH DRUNK)

22: DAM-FUNK
TOEACHIZOWN
(STONES THROW)

21: MORITZ VON OSWALD TRIO
VERTICAL ASCENT
(HONEST JON'S)

wavves was this year right? pretty awesome how everyone has forgotten about them

^^

I'll bet metal and dance folks won't find much in the AV Club list either.

I voted for a few dance albums but I'll be devoting my January AVC electronic column to a Best of '09 list, and I'm pretty certain Leonard Pierce's Metal Box column will run a year-end list this month.

And yeah I know what you're saying about consensus, etc., but those things will actually be dealt with there.

Is there a link to the Mixmag singles/tracks list? Always like reading those.

not yet, maybe soon: Mixmag Lists
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mixmag.html

new issue of Mixmag on sale today in the UK
http://twitter.com/Mixmag/statuses/6527494364

details:
http://www.mixmag.net/content/subscribe-mixmag
Free with this month’s issue is Diplo's 2009 Rewind CD looking back at all the biggest tracks of the year including those by Major Lazer, La Roux vs Skream, Boys Noize, The Prodigy, Chase & Status, Fake Blood, Erol Alkan, Laidback Luke, Felix Da Housecat and many more.

wondering if mixmag will plump for waves or death suite

That La Roux/Skream remix feels like it was the biggest track of the year, so I'd be surprised if Mixmag didn't vote it number one.

back to the USA...

Stereogum Best 50 Albums of 2009
http://stereogum.com/gummys/2009/best-album-2009.html

summary via:
http://countmeoutblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2009-gummy.html

50. Antony And The Johnsons - The Crying Light [Secretly Canadian]
49. Mos Def - The Ecstatic [Downtown]
48. Silversun Pickups - Swoon [Dangerbird]
47. jj - n° 2 [Sincerely Yours]
46. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II [Loud/RCA/BMG]
45. Regina Spektor - Far [Sire]
44. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns [Saddle Creek]
43. Mastodon - Crack The Skye [Reprise]
42. The Dead Weather - Horehound [Third Man]
41. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures [DGC/Interscope]
40. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms [Lefse]
39. Brand New - Daisy [Interscope]
38. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle [Drag City]
37. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains [Self-Released]
36. The Horrors - Primary Colours [XL]
35. Tegan And Sara - Sainthood [Vapor]
34. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [ATP]
33. Florence & The Machine - Lungs [Island]
32. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm [Jagjaguwar]
31. The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come [4AD]
30. Dan Deacon - Bromst [Carpark]
29. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career [4AD]
28. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers [Domino]
27. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young [Cult/RCA]
26. Metric - Fantasies [Metric Music International]
25. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast [Fat Possum]
24. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug [Domino]
23. Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk [Shangri-La]
22. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You [Sony]
21. Japandroids - Post-Nothing [Polyvinyl]
20. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart [Slumberland]
19. Atlas Sound - Logos [Kranky]
18. Wilco - Wilco (The Album) [Nonesuch]
17. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night [4AD]
16. The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love [Capitol]
15. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns [Astralwerks]
14. Fever Ray - Fever Ray [Mute]
13. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer [Jagjaguwar]
12. St. Vincent - Actor [4AD]
11. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic [Warner Bros.]
10. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone [Anti-]
09. Passion Pit - Manners [Frenchkiss]
08. The Antlers - Hospice [Frenchkiss]
07. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz [Interscope]
06. Girls - Album [True Panther]
05. The XX - XX [Young Turks/XL]
04. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Glassnote]
03. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca [Domino]
02. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]
01. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

those are voted on by readers iirc

How many lists are gonna be fuckin AnCo, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Pro and Phoenix in different orders?