Albums of the Year so far - 2009

[oddwithoutend]

We're halfway through the year so I believe it's time to take a look at how 2009 is shaping up. Feel free to list your favourite albums so far, your favourite songs so far, and your most anticipated album to come.

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
2. The Antlers - Hospice
3. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
4. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
5. Attack in Black - years (by one thousand fingertips)

Song of the year so far: Attack in Black - years (by one thousand fingertips)

Most anticipated album to come: Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem

[MattDennis]

Tops so far:
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
The Chariot - Wars and Rumors of Wars
As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water
Thursday - Common Existence
mewithoutYou - It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright

Fav songs:
Manchester Orchestra - Everything to Nothing
As Cities Burn - Made Too Pretty
The Chariot - Giveth

Most anticipated to come:
Between the Buried and Me, Brand New, Thrice, Jay-Z, Poison the Well, Baroness, and Born of Osiris

[thehereaway]

Good call on Cymbals Eat Guitars

[positive hearts]

In no order, my favorites so far include:

Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
The Dear Hunter - Act III
Passion Pit - Manners
Thursday - Common Existence
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

My favorite song is "You Were the Cancer" off Common Existence.

I haven't really been following what's coming out this year but I know Portugal. The Man have a new one soon so that.

[Genuma]

I swear I just psoted in this thread now it's gone. I saw the post, now no, it's gone.

[thespearkid]

1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
2. mewithoutYou - It's All Crazy!
3. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing

I think those are the only albums I've really loved so far this year. Still waiting on Jay-Z, Brand New, Say Anything, Kanye West (probably), and Lil' Wayne.

[oddwithoutend]

Good call on Cymbals Eat Guitars

Thanks.

[oddwithoutend]

I swear I just psoted in this thread now it's gone. I saw the post, now no, it's gone.

Yeah, sorry about that man. I addressed the issue in the opening post, though.

[fanberlinboy]

So far, I'm really liking the new Emery album. I'm not sure if it'll be in the best of 2009, but it's definitely my favorite so far.

Anticipating: Paramore, All Time Low, Between the Trees, Mayday Parade, Anchor & Braille, The Rocket Summer, Switchfoot

Also, is Motion City Soundtrack's next album coming out this year? I'm not sure. I know they are/were in the studio and that's about it.

[thespearkid]

Most disappointing: Eminem and the Dear Hunter.

[thehereaway]

Thanks.

Sorry man, completely missed what you wrote. Any particular reason why? Here's my list...

Aeroplane Pageant - Even the Kids Don't Believe me
Beep Beep - Enchanted Islands
Bomb the Music Industry - Scrambles
The Brobecks - Violent Things
Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth
Castledoor - Shouting at Mountains
Crystal Antlers - Tentacles
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone!
The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life & Death
El Grupo Nuevo De Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Cryptomnesia
Fightstar - Be Human
Grammatics - Grammatics
Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health
The March Hare - Mister Nimbus
Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!
Semiotics - Therio
So Many Dynamos - The Loud Wars
Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

Still a lot to add and a lot to take out though.

[oddwithoutend]

Sorry man, completely missed what you wrote. Any particular reason why?

Because not everyone frequents the General Forum.

[Genuma]

Whatever I'll type it out again.


Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
O Pioneers!!! - Neon Creeps
Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane
The Menzingers - Hold On, Dodge
Bomb the Music Industry! - Scrambles


Still haven't heard Propaghandi, Thursday, NFG, or NOFX.

[Genuma]

Yeah, sorry about that man. I addressed the issue in the opening post, though.
Oh, just saw that. It's cool.

[batmannj]

Releases that I enjoyed: Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, As Cities Burn, mewithoutYou, Now Now Every Children, Closure In Moscow, The Dangerous Summer, New Found Glory, Fireworks, House of Heroes, All The Day Holiday, POS, Manchester Orchestra, Architects, Thursday, The Chariot, For Today, Emery, Dredg, The Devil Wears Prada, The Audition, Mastodon, Kevin Devine, Impending Doom, Corpus Christi, Anarbor, Mae, Bon Iver, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, This Providence, The Decemberists, The Constellation Branch, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Morrissey, Fake Problems, and Woe of Tyrants

[Dagless]

Haven't listened to a lot. I've been getting some older stuff.

1. The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
2. The Antlers - Hospice
3. mewithoutYou - its all crazy, etc.
4. Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

[chipdip18]

Albums i'm really digging so far:
Merriwether Post Pavillion
The Eternal
Actor
A Woman A Man Walked By
Mama, I'm Swollen
The Blue Depths
Noble Beast
Middle Cyclone
Davy
Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future
Blood Bank EP
It's Blitz
Sagarmatha
Crossfox
Dear John
Circle of Fifths

[oddwithoutend]

Haven't listened to a lot. I've been getting some older stuff.

1. The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
2. The Antlers - Hospice
3. mewithoutYou - its all crazy, etc.
4. Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

Great stuff.

[MyWorldEntire]

Here's our lists: http://sunonthesand.net/?p=5103

[Genuma]

The Decmberists had a new album? Any good?

[Dagless]

Great stuff.

Thank you.

Didn't do most anticipated, so here that is:

The National
The Arcade Fire
Frank Turner
Brand New

[oddwithoutend]

The Decmberists had a new album? Any good?

It's a grower. The best example so far this year, actually.

[ThisIsNotDan]

The Decmberists had a new album? Any good?

I don't like it nearly as much as The Crane Wife, but that's after I listened once. I'd check it out for it is most likely a grower

[oddwithoutend]

Thank you.

Didn't do most anticipated, so here that is:

The National
The Arcade Fire
Frank Turner
Brand New

Didn't know Frank Turner had material coming out this year. Cool. I'm also looking forward to The National and Brand New, but not as much as new Mount Eerie.

[Jumpoff]

So far...

The Menzingers - Hold On Dodge EP
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Bomb the Music Industry - Scrambles
Regina Spektor - Far
Fake Problems - It's Great to Be Alive

[Dagless]

Didn't know Frank Turner had material coming out this year. Cool. I'm also looking forward to The National and Brand New, but not as much as new Mount Eerie.

He's apparently got an album called Poetry of the Deed coming out on September 7th. I've been seeing The Microphones discussed, and I was thinking of checking out The Glow Pt. 2 when I've got through the other music I've got lined up to listen to.

[oddwithoutend]

So far...

The Menzingers - Hold On Dodge EP
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Bomb the Music Industry - Scrambles
Regina Spektor - Far
Fake Problems - It's Great to Be Alive

Maybe I'll finally get around to listening to Fake Problems.

[Jumpoff]

Maybe I'll finally get around to listening to Fake Problems.

They were kind of a filler choice right there. I like tehm a lot but the other four are infinitely better albums.

[n1asfan]

As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water
MewithoutYou - It's all Crazy It's all False It's all A Dream It's Alright
(only been listening one day but I already feel that) The Dear Hunter - Act III Life and Death
Oceana - Birtheater

[Chris Reynolds]

1. mewithoutYou - it's all crazy!
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatemist
3. Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
5. M. Ward - Hold Time
6. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
7. Dan Deacon - Bromst
8. St. Vincent - Actor
9. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
10. Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years

most disappointing -

Animal Collective - MPP
Swan Lake - Mines
Beirut - MOTZ/Holland
The Decemberists - Hazards of Love

[oddwithoutend]

He's apparently got an album called Poetry of the Deed coming out on September 7th.

Awesome. Definitely something to look forward to.
I've been seeing The Microphones discussed, and I was thinking of checking out The Glow Pt. 2 when I've got through the other music I've got lined up to listen to.

You seem to like a lot of the same music as me. I'm sure The Microphones/Mount Eerie will resonate well with you.

[oddwithoutend]

They were kind of a filler choice right there. I like tehm a lot but the other four are infinitely better albums.

Well, maybe I've been avoiding punk scene more than I should be lately. I'll check out those releases.

[Robototron]

So far my favorites are:

Joris Voorn - Balance 014
Little Boots - Hands
Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do
Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country

Shout outs to:

Chester French - Love the Future
Durrty Goodz - Ultrasound (this album has a song produced by Joker that samples the MGS3 theme song)
Hanne Hukkelberg - Blood from a Stone
The Juan Maclean - The Future Will Come
UGK - UGK 4 Life

[Dagless]

You seem to like a lot of the same music as me. I'm sure The Microphones/Mount Eerie will resonate well with you.

Just now streaming a song off an unofficial myspace page. I think I'll get hold of this sooner rather than later!

[Jumpoff]

Well, maybe I've been avoiding punk scene more than I should be lately. I'll check out those releases.

Do ittt. The Propagandhi, BTMI, and Menzingers all put out some of the best stuff they've put out ever this year.

[oddwithoutend]

Just now streaming a song off an unofficial myspace page. I think I'll get hold of this sooner rather than later!

Good man.

Do ittt. The Propagandhi, BTMI, and Menzingers all put out some of the best stuff they've put out ever this year.

I'm on it.

[laurenleif]

favorite purchases so far:
as cities burn- hell or high water
therefore i am- the sound of human lives
metric- fantasies

looking forward to:
as tall as lions- you can't take it with you
thrice- beggars
alexisonfire- old crows/young cardinals

[Genuma]

Also I just listened to Coconut Records and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

[iam_theculprit]

Favorites thus far:

As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Taking Back Sunday - New Again (To be honest, it's my least favorite of their albums. I think I'm more excited by the idea of new TBS)

Looking forward to:

Paramore
Brand New
Say Anything
Oh, Sleeper
And I'm sure there are more I missed.

[thespearkid]

The Decmberists had a new album? Any good?
Ehhh.

[SwiftSilentDead]

Favorites:
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Thursday - Common Existence
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Empty Promise - Start From The Ground
The Loved Ones - Distractions
Gallows - Grey Britain
Shook Ones - The Unquotable A.M.H.
Razor of Occam - Homage To Martyrs
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Isis - Wavering Radiant

Other Ones I Liked:
Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor
Paint It Black - Amnesia
The Riverboat Gamblers - Underneath The Owl
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
Anti-Flag - The People or the Gun
Warbringer - Waking Into Nightmares
Last Lights - No Past No Present No Future
We're All Broken - Blacktop Cry
Kylesa - Static Tensions
The Menzingers - Hold On, Dodge
Fireworks - All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion

Still need to hear the new Darkest Hour and Dino Jr.

[Genuma]

I need to hear Shook Ones too! That stupid stream wouldn't work for me. The Loved Ones was decent.

[recall reality]

Quite a good deal that I like, but these five in particular are superb:

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth
Westbound Train - Come and Get It
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

Portugal. The Man, RX Bandits, Volcano Choir and The Mercury Program would be my most anticipated.

[nick19]

My favorites in order:

MxPx - On the Cover II
Mike Herrera's Tumbledown - Tumbledown
Papa Roach - Metamorphosis
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Honorable Mentions not in any order:

Reel Big Fish - Fame, Fortune, and Fornication
Whole Wheat Bread - Hearts of Hoodlums
New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight
Settle - At Home We Are Tourists
Stephen Lynch - 3 Balloons

[xJesusFreakx]

I feel like there was a thread like this in the music forum already, but oh well...

1.) Bradley Hathaway - A Mouth Full of Dust
2.) As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water
3.) Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
4.) mewithoutYou - it's all crazy...!
5.) New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight

I expect Regina Spektor's Far to sneak in at about 3 or 4. Also looking forward to:

-Sleeping Giant
-Project 86
-Thrice
-Brand New
-Kevin Max

Still haven't picked up Isis or Iron and Wine yet.

[murrich]

Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane, and Sugarcane
William Elliot Whitmore - Animals in the Dark
Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream

The Natural Order of Things by Trespassers William sounds good aswell, only listened to it like 4 times though.

I haven't really listened to much music from 2009, nothings really stuck out to me.

[SickOfStars]

So far in no particular order (note: I tried to be picky and actually pick FAVORITES, not just "shit I liked in '09, siq brah!", so there's tons of stuff that I enjoy listening to that's not here, so please don't jump down my throat):

LP's
Regina Spektor - Far (yeah I don't give a shit if it leaked 3 days ago. I already know it's going to be here)
Mono - Hymn to the Eternal Wind
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Graf Orlock - Destination Time Today
(MF) DOOM - Born Like This
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Irepress - Sol Eye Sea I
Furnace - Doublewalker
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
Balmorhea - All is Wild, All is Silent

EP's
Comma - Meen Either
Double Handsome Dragons - Lions Tigers and HOLY SHIT WHAT WAS THAT?!
Ghosting - Heart EP
Pelican - Ephemeral
Short Histories - S/T
Snowing - Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit
All of the Young Widows splits

Stuff I need to listen to MUCH more + commentary:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion: I've been pretty into the last few albums from these guys (see: Sung Tongs on), so I don't see why this couldn't be a favorite. I just haven't had the initiative to start putting it in rotation, though.

Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen: It's definitely got a sound to it that I tend to really enjoy, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to put aside my love for a harsher Cursive to appreciate this as much as I probably should.

Dinosaur Jr. - Farm: I just honestly haven't listened to it yet. It's going to be on that list, almost guaranteed.

mewithoutYou - It's all Crazy! etc. etc.: I really like it, but I want to make sure that it doesn't wear off on me.

Stuff I'm Looking Forward To:

Lawrence Arms EP
Thrice LP (forget the name)
The Dead Weather - Horehound
probably a bunch of other stuff......

[Robototron]

I totally forgot about that Mono album. Was pretty underwhelmed by it at first, but seeing them live definitely got me into it a lot more.

I also forgot about the new Phoenix. Good album.

[Colorblind!]

Some of my favorites so far in no particular order:

Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Brainworms - Swear To Me
The Rival Mob - Raw Life
Loma Prieta - Dark Mountain
Gray Ghost - Deep In The Shallow End
Bomb The Music Industry! - Scrambles
O Pioneers!!! - Neon Creeps
Coke Bust - Lines In The Sand
Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable
Shook Ones - The Unquotable A.M.H.
Vicious Cycle - Pale Blue Dot
Punch - S/T
Paint It Black - Amnesia
My Heart To Joy - Seasons In Verse
Mother Of Mercy - III

[SickOfStars]

Some of my favorites so far in no particular order:

Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Brainworms - Swear To Me
The Rival Mob - Raw Life
Loma Prieta - Dark Mountain
Gray Ghost - Deep In The Shallow End
Bomb The Music Industry! - Scrambles
O Pioneers!!! - Neon Creeps
Coke Bust - Lines In The Sand
Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable
Shook Ones - The Unquotable A.M.H.
Vicious Cycle - Pale Blue Dot
Punch - S/T
Paint It Black - Amnesia
My Heart To Joy - Seasons In Verse
Mother Of Mercy - III

holy fuck, I don't know why I forgot to include my heart to joy. that record kills.

[Colorblind!]

holy fuck, I don't know why I forgot to include my heart to joy. that record kills.

Yeah, it's fucking amazing. I wish I had more to listen to in that vein.
Have you listened to Loma Prieta yet? I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.

[SickOfStars]

Yeah, it's fucking amazing. I wish I had more to listen to in that vein.
Have you listened to Loma Prieta yet? I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.

Yeah, I quite like Loma Prieta. Noticeably more since they took that really huge turn in their sound on "Last City."

I like the new one, but dunno if I'd put it on my FAV FAV FAVORITES of the year.

[SwiftSilentDead]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the new Sonic Youth. Need to check that out soon. New Coliseum too.

[allroysez]

Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Animal Collectiv - Merriweather Post Pavillion
VNV Nation - Of Faith, Power and Glory

[TotalCollapse]

Thursday- Common Existence
Silversun Pickups -Swoon
As Cities Burn -Hell or High Water

[Hockeytown]

Favs:
Everyday Sunday- Best Night of Our Lives
The Friday Night Boys- Off the Deep End
Anarbor- Free Your Mind EP
Mathletes-Mathletes EP
All The Right Moves-All The Right Moves EP
Jody Has A Hitlist-Jody Has A Hitlist EP
Danger Is My Middle Name-Sink or Swim EP
Hit The Lights-Coast to Coast EP
Have You Heard- Have You Heard EP

Most Anticipated Albums:
All Time Low
Patent Pending EP
A Rocket To The Moon
Eminem Relapse Part 2

^ A lot more, those were just off the top of my head though.

[CalRahhh]

Favourites so far:

The Chariot - Wars and Rumors of Wars
A Day To Remember - Homesick
Enter Shikari - Common Dreads
Architects - Hollow Crown
The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below

Most Anticipated:

Converge
Paramore
All Time Low
Brand New

[SickOfStars]

Oh man, I can't wait for that Converge record!

[Bobby Tucker]

Favorites:

1) Alexander the Great: Faces Change
-As diverse an album as I've heard all year, every song hits just right.

2) This Town Needs Guns: Animals
-From a technical perspective, no album that I've heard in the past three or four years tops it. Absolutely phenomenal guitar and drum parts throughout.

3) The Damnwells: One Last Century
-Very moody alt-rock in the same vein as Augustana's Can't Love, Can't Hurt.

4) Pilot Speed: Wooden Bones
-Imagine Radiohead or Animal Collective using their electronics to make a straight pop album instead. Though the instrumentation is well done, the sounds going on in the background complete this album.

5) The Thermals: Now We Can See
-Very smart "pop punk" (if you can call it that), though the ocean theme does tire out after a few tracks.

6) Anthem In: The Cloudbusting EP
-This EP is still growing on me, but the atmospheric sounds and pop sensibilities are enough to get it at least this high right now.

7) New Found Glory: Not Without a Fight
-I'd get blasted for calling this a return to form, but it really is their best since Sticks and Stones.

8) Kevin Devine: Brother's Blood
-"Another Bag of Bones" and the title track are absolutely phenomenal, though this album slows down a little too much in spots (see "It's Only Your Life")

9) Parachute: Losing Sleep
-With hints of Jimmy Eat World, Matchbox 20, and Maroon 5 on almost every track, this is easily the best cd this year for fans of "radio pop".

Most Anticipated: Person L- The Positives (that's it; the only one I am truly aniticipating)

Most Disappointing:
1) The Dangerous Summer: Reach for the Sun
-Any comparisons between this band and The Starting Line are really tired by now. Lacking the melodies necessary for a powerpop album, TDS instead tries to get by on pretentious, and sometimes self-contradicting, lyrics and a vocalist whose high register consists solely of shrieking rather than actually hitting any of the notes. Just go buy Direction instead; you'll have a much better time.

2) Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to Nothing
-Don't get me wrong, this is still a solid record. But the hype surrounding this album, as well as the ultra-catchy opening track "Only One" left me expecting a lot more than I actually got. The first three tracks still make a regular rotation on my iPod, but once the album slows down, and relies on mimicry rather than originality (the opening guitar line of "In My Teeth" is a complete rip off of Nirvana) my ears go on snooze mode.

Albums I'm Still Working On:
As Cities Burn: Hell or High Water
Mansions: New Best Friends
Mos Def: The Ecstatic
Cursive: Mama, I'm Swollen
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
Fightstar: Be Human

Worst I've Heard All Year:
Ace Enders: When I Hit the Ground
-It says a lot about the year so far when I can still dig a couple of tracks ("Where Do We Go From Here?" in particular) off of my least favorite disc thus far.

[c_rob2700]

Albums
1. Manchester Orchestra/Mean Everything to Nothing
2. P.O.S./Never Better
3. Thursday/Common Existence
4. The Antlers/Hospice
5. The Dangerous Summer/Reach For The Sun
6. Iron & Wine/Around The Well
7. As Cities Burn/Hell or High Water
8. Metric/Fantasies
9. Cursive/Mama, I'm Swollen
10. Animal Collective/Merriweather Post Pavillion

EP's
1. Ace Enders and A Million Different People/Australia EP
2. Bon Iver/Blood Bank
3. The Menzingers/Hold On, Dodge
4. Manchester Orchestra/Fourteen Years of Excellence
5. Owen/The Seaside EP
6. The Gaslight Anthem/Live at Park Ave
7. Brother Ali/The Truth Is Here
8. Inverse/So True EP
9. Straylight Run/About Time
10. Coldplay/Left Right Left Right Left

[dancelukedance]

Thus far,

The Dangerous Summer - Reach For the Sun
Dance Gavin Dance - Happiness
A Day To Remember - Homesick

Anticipating:

Say Anything - S/T
Saosin
Circa Survive

[IWasaCamera]

Here's hoping the later releases pick up the slack because 09 has been thoroughly disappointing thus far.

[c_rob2700]

I think this year has had plenty of good albums per say but nothing spectacular

Albums
1. Manchester Orchestra/Mean Everything to Nothing
2. P.O.S./Never Better
3. Thursday/Common Existence
4. The Antlers/Hospice
5. The Dangerous Summer/Reach For The Sun
6. Iron & Wine/Around The Well
7. As Cities Burn/Hell or High Water
8. Metric/Fantasies
9. Cursive/Mama, I'm Swollen
10. Animal Collective/Merriweather Post Pavillion

EP's
1. Ace Enders and A Million Different People/Australia EP
2. Bon Iver/Blood Bank
3. The Menzingers/Hold On, Dodge
4. Manchester Orchestra/Fourteen Years of Excellence
5. Owen/The Seaside EP
6. The Gaslight Anthem/Live at Park Ave
7. Brother Ali/The Truth Is Here
8. Inverse/So True EP
9. Straylight Run/About Time
10. Coldplay/Left Right Left Right Left

[wewascontenders]

<<<<<<< that

[DaGaR]

no order really, just off the top of my head.

kevin devine - brother's blood
yeah yeah yeah - it's blitz
grizzly bear - veckatimest
manchester orchestra - mean everything to nothing
mewithoutYou - it's all crazy
animal collective - mpp