I’ve been working on this list in my head for a few weeks now, and I think there are two funny things about it: 1) there are a lot of pre-2009 records on here, and 2) several of them are so well-known that it’s beyond me why I’ve just now discovered them.

Anyway, here’s the list, in no particular order. By the way, this is a list of best albums, not best music. I’m a huge fan of the album. I know some people think it’s on its way out, but I don’t, or at least I very much hope they’re wrong. Here goes:

Angus and Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Apples in Stereo – Fun Trick Noisemaker
Electrelane – No Shouts, No Calls
The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and Soft Bulletin
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (Parental Advisory!)
Matt & Kim – Matt & Kim
The National – Boxer (Parental Advisory!)
The Notwist – Neon Golden
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
Sister Suvi – Now I am Champion
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings and All (better than her new album, IMHO)
Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs

The two most disappointing new releases of the year were Throw Me the Statue’s Creaturesque and Fanfarlo’s Reservoir, although for different reasons – the TMtS album was horrible, and the Fanfarlo album was just weak when I expected it to be amazing.

So there you go.

Traveling at Godspeed

My best music finds of 2009