Top40: The Best of 2009

Top40: The Best Of 2009

It's 2009, so we'll be drowning in end-of-the-year lists! What is the greatest music album of the 2009? If you ask a hundred different people to name the best album of 2009, the chances are that you will not get a unanimous answer!

When differential genre albums are placed that close together in a Top40 list, the specific rankings don't say much about the difference in quality.
In our list which is compiled by Top 40 Charts for 2009 we tend to look at it more listening albums, but we realize that kind of defeats the purpose of this list.

Quite frankly, at the end of the day, even though it's what we enjoy spending all our time doing on this magazine, music wasn't meant to be ranked.
A wise man once told us that "if something moves you, it has value."
You can't quantify that kind of personal value!

1. No Line On The Horizon - U2
One of the biggest bands of the last 25 years, U2 began life in Dublin, Ireland in 1976, holding their first rehearsal in the kitchen of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. From that inauspicious beginning U2 flourished, eventually becoming permanently woven into the pop-culture fabric of modern Western society. No Line On The Horizon, the new studio album from U2 was released on March 3, 2009. The band's 12th studio album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite.
After two albums that were more back to the roots of U2, the band has set out to explore the landscape of sound, trying to capture its infinite qualities in these bottles known as songs. The result is a more experimental and personal U2 album.
What makes a large majority of the album standout is the use of single takes on tracks like Unknown Caller, White as Snow, No Line on the Horizon and Moment of Surrender. Aside from minor tweaks, these songs are the best recorded 'live' tracks. And since U2 is known for their shows, these songs show the real colours of the band. These one take wonders never distract from other tracks, but emphasis their importance on the album. Songs like Breathe or Magnificent really showcase that personal side of U2.
Overall we believe the album to be a solid U2 offering. It's an easily standout great record like The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby but also its still a deep album. After you let it massage over you for a bit; you'll begin to recognize how great it really is!

2. The Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z
One thing Jay-Z did with this album is hook a lot of new rap fans and brought them into the game. Jay mixes 70's funk and soul with rhymes about the struggles,pressure,success,and joy growing up.
That is why it's considered a classic by so many! Jay still has his roots deeply in hustling and street life.
Overall, it is the production that makes the Blueprint good. The beats by Kanye, Just Blaze and Bink are excellent. After one listen, you can tell that Jay Z was looking for a more soulful sound on this CD. This may be a disappointment to fans of Jay Z's hardcore sound. You won't find that on many songs on this CD.
It seems like Jay Z is more relaxed and feels like he is No 1 in the rap game and he can resort to that sound when need be.
Clearly the best track on the CD is the Just Blaze produced, "You Don't Know" (probably this song is one of the best tracks that Jay Z has ever made).

3. The Resistance - Muse
The Resistance (after many listens) is a huge step in a new direction that they were only pointing at with Black Holes and Revelations. The Muse is combining the sounds of early Radiohead with the classic sound of queen, and their own ecclectic sound for the modern rocker, muse never fails to impress.
This is simply another superbly artful endeavor by Muse. Matthew Bellamy's ambiguous writing and showy playing is at the core of this band. He has endured the unjustifiable accustations of being a Thom Yorke ripoff, which have finally been silenced. Now it's Freddie Mercury and Brian May that he's beholden to. Well, he's certainly not the first artist to dare reveal his influences. It's that melting pot of experience, talent and influences that yield the most meaningful, enduring and controversial art.
We fully realize that this is the record that launches Muse to new heights but since we don't listen to radio for music purposes we pray that we are at least partially insulated from the unfettered hype that is sure to ensue.
Like most other albums, you need to listen to the whole album several times to fully appreciate the genius in the music. At first a few tracks stand out (tracks "Undisclosed Desires," "United States Of Eurasia," "Unnatural Selection," "I Belong To You") - classic Muse, but you learn to love rest when you listen a few times! This is a definite "keeper" for the modern rock music lover!

4. Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen
Optimism and Springsteen haven't gelled well in the past. "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town", the 1992 two-fer that saw Bruce waxing truly optimistic for the first time in his career. Fans will be pleased to know that, while "Working On A Dream" (Columbia, 2009) sees Bruce once again venture into the realm of the positive, he's both a) with E Street this time and b) kept his songwriting skills on top form.
The first thing longtime Springsteen fans will notice about this album is that the focus here is firmly on the music. The album is bookended by two of his more narrative-driven songs - eight-minute epic Western "Outlaw Pete" and Golden Globe-winning movie theme "The Wrestler" - but elsewhere, it's all about the sonic experimentation, rather than storytelling.
The songs here hop across a veritable plethora of genres and styles: "My Lucky Day" is a foot-stomping rocker that sounds like it was written in the "River" sessions. "Tomorrow Never Knows" is a beautiful easy-listening tune that sounds more like the '50s than anything Bruce has ever written. "Working On A Dream" is an Orbison-esque plush pop tune. "Good Eye" is what can only be described as electronic rockabilly.
This variety makes the album one of the most enjoyable listens in Bruce's history. On first listen, you've no idea what will come next: harmony-laden "This Life" segues into the cacophonous "Good Eye"; the relentless joyful "Surprise, Surprise" - possibly the Boss' poppiest tune ever - fades into the melancholy, calliope-backed "The Last Carnival", a touching track clearly dedicated to dear departed ESB member Danny Federici.
The melodies he is coming up with these past few years are OUTSTANDING, especially compared to the POP drivel that's going over the airwaves today. If you're a real music fan, don't let the low-grade recording quality of this, or Magic, hinder you from purchasing. You'll be missing some tremendous music by a rock legend. Buy it for the songs!

5. The E.N.D. - Black Eyed Peas
The new album by The Black Eyed Peas is off to a blazing start! The first single from The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies), BOOM BOOM POW was also the Peas' very first No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!
With The E.N.D., The Peas are poised to continue with the success of Elephunk and their fourth release Monkey Business - they have had multiple hit anthems, such as "My Humps" "Pump It" and "Let's Get It Started" along with "Don't Phunk With My Heart" "Where is the Love?" and "Don't Lie".
The latest offering from the Black Eyed Peas is far, far removed from their rap beginnings (in fact it really drops all pretense of rap at all and can easily be labeled "dance pop"). It is also the most consistent release since the introduction of the Elephunk-era lineup. Starting strong with the single "Boom Boom Pow," The E.N.D. keeps the momentum going for all tracks. With the overly socially conscious closers "Now Generation" and "One Tribe" this is a 5-star release. In "Meet Me Halfway," the Peas gel as a band and Fergie hits her vocal peak, emulating Debbie Harry at her best.
This album is very representative of who Black Eyed Peas are and what their fans expect from them - extremely catchy danceable music that makes you feel good. Fun!

6. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
Animal Collective are one of the most acclaimed indie bands around. They're also one of the most polarizing. You don't often hear someone say, "Animal Collective? Meh. They're okay." It's either, "Man, they're freaking awesome," or "Ya, I just don't get it. What's the appeal?"
This is their ninth full-length. The whoops and hollers that previously held together the sublime, chaotic urgency of their earlier work now signal the calm sense of euphoria and wonder that ripples through this wide eyed record. This album has more of an "electronic" sound (for lack of a better word) than past albums. It's not electro-pop or anything like that (maybe "Summertime Clothes" is), but it is very bassy and beat driven.
You could almost put this on for a dance party (almost!) We could even imagine an avant garde hip-hop artist rhyming over some of these beats. After finding out that this album was produced by Ben Allen, who has worked with the likes of Gnarls Barkley, P. Diddy, and Christina Aguilera, it made total sense.
For anyone who has previously ignored them or just hasn't been feeling this band, give this album a chance. Once it sinks its claws into you, the grip will hold on for quite some time...

7. Blacksummers'Night - Maxwell
We celebrate the return of Maxwell a.k.a the keeper of the R&B flame.
What can be said about Maxwell that has NOT been said? For us (through his music) he made us believe in love and romance. He made us believe that not all young urban men are thugs (or thug wannabes). We made me believe that music can STILL inspire. It took him 8 years to return, but it has been worth the wait.
All the songs are great and intimate, but the best songs are:
Pretty Wings-love song about meeting the right person at the wrong time. Cold-rumored really grooves and is very sexy.
Bad Habits- about really feeling a person to the point of addiction.
Love You- about wanting to become whatever the person you love want you to become.
Help Somebody- is one of Maxwell's first songs about helping mankind.
Our last point about this album is its been a LONG time since we 've heard REAL instruments in music (especially in R&B).
With this album, we get to hear REAL musicians....as we said earlier, we don't call Maxwell the keeper of the R&B flame for nothing.

8. It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been more than adept at keeping themselves a fresh commodity since they hit the NYC dance-punk scene in the early part of the millennial decade, their three albums over six years each showing a steady progression and evolution in the trio's distinctive sound. It's Blitz! is, predictably, like nothing the band has done before, trading in the raucous guitar assault of their debut and the more acoustic sounds of sophomore effort Show Your Bones for... disco?
Well, not quite. While the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have discovered a newfound appreciation for synthesizers and tasty backbeats on It's Blitz!, the band remains focused on well-crafted melodies, Karen O's distinctive vocals, and an appreciation for an undeniably organic sound that belies the electronica they put to excellent use.
With It's Blitz!, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs look poised to enter a new decade as strongly as they roared into this one. Already this year is shaping up to end the decade in brilliant musical style.

9. Lungs - Florence + The Machine
2009 debut album from the hotly tipped UK outfit fonted by Florence Welch. Lungs, produced by Paul Epworth, James Ford and Steve Mackay, is an intoxicating mix of delicate fragility, dark humor and twisted Tim Burton style fairy-tales. From the live favourite 'You've Got The Love' to the raw Blues-tinged 'Girl With One Eye' to the beautifully painful 'Between Two Lungs', the album is crammed with crowd pleasers.
Also boasting fresh tracks like new single 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)', 'Drumming' - with its epic denseness, the terrifyingly brilliant 'Howl' and 'Hurricane Drunk' with it's paradoxical charms of heartbreak, love and loss, Lungs promises to leave us wanting more of the insanely captivating Florence Welch.
Truly a stunning album. One of the most amazing pieces of music we have heard for many years. Florence Welch has a voice that she uses to amazing effect. It reminds us alternately of some other outstanding female vocalists, such as Grace Slick, Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Sinead O'Connor, Dido but somehow seems to transcend all of them. The music itself is pop of the highest quality, and the at-times sparse mixes move seamlessly between driving rhythms and allusive, haunting and captivating airiness. Standout track of this album is Rabbit Heart (Lift It Up), but any of these songs would, to my mind, be outstanding among the very best music ever recorded. Truly, truly a gem.

10. The Fray - Fray
This album captures what the Fray are truly about. We were hooked on 'You Found Me' but we must say that we even more hooked on 'Never Say Never.' This album is perfect for those who want to listen to songs with some substance. There music is something that you can really get behind. The whole album is full of great songs that really pull at your heart.
Their second album is much better than the first. Considering how great their first record was, that is saying something. "You Found Me" was a great first single, but if all you care about is single-worthy material, then you will surely not fully appreciate this new offering. It's so much more than singles, but about the mood of it all. Our favorite tracks are "Syndicate", "You Found Me", "Ungodly Hour", "Never Say Never", "Say When."
The Fray has added numerous more hits to the band's already growing collection with this release. Although the album is only ten tracks long, it requests multiple plays and it's easy for the listener to find new favorites after each one. At this pace The Fray will hold steady and give us many more future releases and beloved hits.

The best of the best for 2009 without music frontiers:

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