AbsolutePunk.net (Staff Compiled)

[Julia Conny]

Using a pack of highly sophisticated algorithms and secret government computer programs, we - the staff at AbsolutePunk.net - have somehow managed to create a collective list of our favorite albums of 2009. And with minimal bloodshed! Before you read on, know this: the albums on this list may or may not be your favorites too. We recognize that. That's why it's our list and full of varying genres and preferences. What made your list that missed out on ours? What albums do we share? What made 2009 awesome?

Top 30 Albums of 2009
30) We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
29) New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight
27) Relient K - Forget Not and Slow Down
27) Paramore - Brand New Eyes
26) John Mayer - Battle Studies
25) The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
24) Mew - No More Stories...
22) Fake Problems - It's Great to Be Alive
22) The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
21) So Many Dynamos - The Loud Wars
20) All The Day Holiday - The Things We've Grown To Love
19) Tegan & Sara - Sainthood
18) Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
17) mewithoutYou - it's all crazy! it's all false! it's all a dream! it's alright!
16) Morrissey - Years of Refusal
15) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
14) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
13) Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death of Us
12) Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
11) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
10) Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
9) Say Anything - Say Anything
8) Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
7) P.O.S. - Never Better
6) The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
5) The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
4) Thrice - Beggars
3) Brand New - Daisy
2) fun. - Aim and Ignite
1) Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

From our computers to yours.....a gift that can last all year long (http://www.absolutepunk.net/gallery/browseimages.php?c=4581&userid=). Happy Holidays from the AP.net staff.

[Julia Conny]

THANK YOU KIDDOS FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR!

I'm pumped that ATDH made our staff list. Such a shiny little gem of an album.

[Drew Beringer]

:drew:

[Garett Press]

:wave:

[denissuxx]

Awesome list

[zubinmoosa]

:thumbup:

[Snails]

This is good.

[Hagysaurus Rex]

:party:

[introduction]

i love that one song, you know, the one that goes "ghghghghghghghghg".

[josepablo32]

:-p

[Jason Tate]

Good list. GO MANCHESTER!!!!

[Formatfun]

This is a great list to me. I think MO deserved that top spot.

Woo Aim and Ignite number 2!

[walshknilb281]

you guys doing an album of the decade or what

btw Brothers Blood #1 for me

[Julia Conny]

i love that one song, you know, the one that goes "ghghghghghghghghg".
Ha! Now you look silly. Staff edit powers, for the win.

I, however, love that song.

[bhs1158]

More people need to listen to the new Cassino album.

[I am Mick]

Outside of Brand New and fun. I like this list, especially excited to see Mew make it.

[Julia Conny]

you guys doing an album of the decade or what

btw Brothers Blood #1 for me
I think if we had tried to do such a thing, we'd all either 1) quit or 2) kill each other. We're all too opinionated to decide on one album.

Look at the staff personal blogs, I bet one or two of us will have personal album of the decade lists.

[Julia Conny]

Manchester beat out Brand New ... just sayin'.

[walshknilb281]

I think if we had tried to do such a thing, we'd all either 1) quit or 2) kill each other. We're all too opinionated to decide on one album.

Look at the staff personal blogs, I bet one or two of us will have personal album of the decade lists.
true, well im writing my own one up, so im guessing the blogspot is where there all gonna be

[mulcahy67]

this looks pretty relative to my own list. solid choices.

[anthonydarko]

:party: Good to see fun. in the top three.

[ACA]

A ton of glaring omissions and a ton of joke picks, but overall that's a pretty solid list of 2009's best albums.

Good read.

[Blake Solomon]

A ton of glaring omissions and a ton of joke picks, but overall that's a pretty solid list of 2009's best albums.

Good read.
what do you mean by joke pick?

[cscwell107]

I really like this list

[Matthew Tsai]

A ton of glaring omissions and a ton of joke picks, but overall that's a pretty solid list of 2009's best albums.

Good read.
lol dude, it's the top 30 picks - you think they're going to get all your favorite albums?

[anthonydarko]

So was Grizzly Bear and Propagandhi tied for #10?

[ACA]

lol dude, it's the top 30 picks - you think they're going to get all your favorite albums?
No chance.. hell, I probably couldn't make a better Top 30.

It's a great list of great albums (with a few exceptions I'll get into if anyone cares). Of course there are some better albums not on the list, but most of the albums on there are definitely deserving.

-ACA

[Carpathia]

Brand New is #3 and RX Bandits' Mandala, MUTEMATH's Armistice, Lucero's 1372 Overton Park and Dashboard Confessional's Alter The Ending are ALL out?

:lol:

[PlanetDahmz]

I love seeing the Propagandhi album up that high.

[kristanxmarie]

Not similar at all to my top 15 but regardless, solid list of 30.

[Julia Conny]

Brand New is #3 and RX Bandits' Mandala, MUTEMATH's Armistice, Lucero's 1372 Overton Park and Dashboard Confessional's Alter The Ending are ALL out?

:lol:
Alter The Ending? Really now?

[Julia Conny]

So was Grizzly Bear and Propagandhi tied for #10?
Yes indeed. Only on AP.net, I suppose.

[Adrian Villagomez]

That's some good listening right there.

[kazuma_ootaro28]

I love seeing Phoenix over Animal Collective on AOTY lists. Also great that We Were Promised Jetpacks' made the list.

[joexfm]

no converge axe to fall = fail =[

[TriangularDuck]

I love seeing Phoenix over Animal Collective on AOTY lists. Also great that We Were Promised Jetpacks' made the list.
Funny, I love seeing none of those three on AOTY lists.

[phillipjacob]

very similar to mine. but some honorable mentions.

harvard - the inevitable and i

the rocketboys - 20,000 ghosts

closure in moscow - first temple

as tall as lions - you can't take it with you

anchor & braille - felt

[kazuma_ootaro28]

Funny, I love seeing none of those three on AOTY lists.
Hmm, which would you rather see? Daisy, lol?

[only the clouds]

the rocketboys - 20,000 ghosts
For sure, I love this album.

[roju]

Glad MO, fun., and Thrice are all that high. I guess it was pretty much expected though.

[Whalejaw]

Manchester beat out Brand New ... just sayin'.
As it should. METN was the better album.

[xconcretenwater]

i've been reading this list for 5 years now and every year i'm puzzled as to what defines the "best" albums versus the "most favorite albums". while obviously this site (like pitchfork, etc) serves as a certain sort of taste-maker and is a community for like-minded music fans, where is the line drawn between albums that we like a lot and albums that we think, for example, are more cohesive as a singular work, are more creative, innovative, and progressive, or will have a lasting impact on music of the future? while i loved beggars and think it's a wonderful testament to thrice's progression as a band over the last 10 years, i don't think it exhibits the same level of musicality as veckatimest, for example. same with the dear hunter: act iii is an impressive display of casey's musical and songwriting abilities, does it really stand out so far as to be ranked 8 places ahead of wolfgang amadeus phoenix. and then there's say anything, a band we've all grown to adore... with an album marked by repeated one line hooks and lyrics that lack the depth of is a real boy..., are we placing them at #9 because we just love their past work too much ignore their lacking effort this time around or because it's really one of the best of the year?

maybe i've just moved on from the whole "pop-punk" "emo" thing or whatever, but i find myself feeling less and less drawn into the adolescent nature of bands like the dangerous summer or set your goals.

but mean everything to nothing and daisy were, of course, awesome records.

[Carpathia]

My top 30 albums of 2009 list:

1 - Taking Back Sunday - New Again
2 - Thrice - Beggars
3 - Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
4 - fun. - Aim and Ignite
5 - RX Bandits - Mandala
6 - Thursday - Common Existence
7 - AFI - Crash Love
8 - The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
9 - The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life and Death
10 Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
11 - Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
12 - Say Anything - Self Titled
13 - Paper Route - Absence
14 - Japandroids - Post-Nothing
15 - Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
16 - Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
17 - 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War
18 - MUTEMATH - Armistice
19 - The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
20 - Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
21 - The Antlers - Hospice
22 - Emery - ...In Shallow Seas We Sail
23 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
24 - A Fine Frenzy - Bomb In A Birdcage
25 - Silversun Pickups - Swoon
26 - Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death of Us
27 - Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down
28 - Pearl Jam - Backspacer
29 - Tegan & Sara - Sainthood
30 - Paramore - brand new eyes

[SoCoSquid4]

no third eye blind?!? ive lost faith in the staff.

[birtcho]

no daisy?

[Ari Christos]

Really glad to see We Were Promised Jetpacks on here. They were that band that I didn't catch onto until later but was really surprised at how great they were.

Great list guys, got a little something on there for everyone.

[Argentine]

Love that Manchester is at the top. Great list.

[smogs]

I don't know what it is, but I just couldn't get into the new MO album. I agree with a lot of the list though. It really was a solid year for music.

[W/O a Parachute]

of course this is a list privy to a certain crowd. I mean, as all music is subjective, opinions will vary. For instance, there is no way I could include a top 30 list without Pearl Jam's Backspacer or Dave Matthews Band's Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King.

with that said, the top 4 of this list are all in my top ten.

and besides my complete hatred for the new John Mayer album, I find this list very appealing and i will definitely discover some things from this list that i expect to fall in love with.

[Spenny]

Great list.
I still haven't been able to get into Mean Everything to Nothing, but I'll try again soon.

[Blake Solomon]

no daisy?
u reed gud

[SmallFrailBoy]

2009 was a surprisingly good year for music. There really wasn't a shortage of solid records. How's that for some unbridled optimism?!

[Shakriel]

Glad P.O.S is up high.

[heyguys123]

stuff that i like better than everything on this list except fake problems (and in some cases, fun. or brand new):

weatherbox - cosmic drama
wale - attention: deficit
trophy scars - bad luck
the thermals - now we can see
strike anywhere - iron front
screaming females - power move
rehasher - high speed access to my brain
polar bear club - chasing hamburg
nothington - roads, bridges, and ruins
lucero - 1372 overton park
future of the left - travels with myself and another
frank turner - poetry of the deed
elvis costello - secret, profane and sugarcane
banner pilot - collapser
attica attica! - napalm and nitrogen
american steel - dear friends and gentle hearts
broadway calls - good views, bad news
bouncing souls - ghosts on the boardwalk
big d and the kids table - fluent in stroll
o pioneers! - neon creeps
bomb the music industry - scrambles
dear landlord - dream homes
nofx - coaster
green day -21st century breakdown
shook ones - unquotable amh
rx bandits - mandala
andrew jackson jihad - can't maintain
the sidekicks - weight of air

[mid_westsun]

good to see so many dynamos on this list. those guys deserve the recognition.

[XEmoBoyShandorX]

So glad fun. made it into the top 3!!! That is such a great album! Manchester Orchestra is a great choice for number 1. Its so refreshing to finally see a list that doesn't have Animal Collective in the top 5.

[Kapa73]

Funny, I love seeing none of those three on AOTY lists.
i agree 1000 times over

[taylerx0]

Good for All The Day Holiday. Glad The Dear Hunter and The Dangerous Summer came out pretty high on the list. Needs more Closure in Moscow, though, imo.

[goodguy8705]

No Mutemath?

[Blake Solomon]

stuff that i like better than everything on this list except fake problems (and in some cases, fun. or brand new):

weatherbox - cosmic drama
wale - attention: deficit
trophy scars - bad luck
the thermals - now we can see
strike anywhere - iron front
screaming females - power move
rehasher - high speed access to my brain
polar bear club - chasing hamburg
nothington - roads, bridges, and ruins
lucero - 1372 overton park
future of the left - travels with myself and another
frank turner - poetry of the deed
elvis costello - secret, profane and sugarcane
banner pilot - collapser
attica attica! - napalm and nitrogen
american steel - dear friends and gentle hearts
broadway calls - good views, bad news
bouncing souls - ghosts on the boardwalk
big d and the kids table - fluent in stroll
o pioneers! - neon creeps
bomb the music industry - scrambles
dear landlord - dream homes
nofx - coaster
green day -21st century breakdown
shook ones - unquotable amh
rx bandits - mandala
andrew jackson jihad - can't maintain
the sidekicks - weight of air
list is too punk. we don't do that here.

[katieissweet]

Great list. A lot of good albums came out this year.

[Clark]

My top ten:

10. Paramore - brand new eyes

09. Thursday - Common Existence

08. Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals

07. Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions

06. mewithoutYou - it's all crazy! it's all false! it's all a dream! it's alright

05. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

04. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

03. fun. - Aim and Ignite

02. Brand New - Daisy

01. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing

[rsk423]

Nice list for the most part. Wish I could see Relient K bumped up a little higher on the list. But to see The Dangerous Summer in the top 5 makes me very proud to be a fan.

[brenByah]

Pretty good and diverse selections, a few I don't remember hearing much about at all on the site.

[aradiantsunrise]

I like that list. Suprised to see no Thursday or Thrice.

[heyguys123]

list is too punk. we don't do that here.
still, given the stuff this site leans towards, at the very least frank turner and rx bandits not being on there is a crime.

[jimjam32]

Brand New is #3 and RX Bandits' Mandala, MUTEMATH's Armistice, Lucero's 1372 Overton Park and Dashboard Confessional's Alter The Ending are ALL out?

:lol:
yes.

[Carpathia]

still, given the stuff this site leans towards, at the very least frank turner and rx bandits not being on there is a crime.
Not placing RX Bandits' Mandala and Lucero's 1372 Overton Park in the top 30 list being a crime? I think I can agree with you on this.

[Sarcasm]

Nice list, good job staff!

[jimjam32]

top ten:

10 NOFX - Coaster (surprised this hasn't had more ap.net love)
9 Cartel - Cycles
8 Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
7 P.O.S. - Never Better
6 Say Anything - Self Titled
5 The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
4 Fireworks -All I Have to Offer is my Own Confusion
3 Brand New - Daisy
2 Set Your Goals - This Will Be the Death of us
1 NFG - Not Without a Fight

[pleasedontpanic]

Where is As Cities Burn on this list?

[timb89]

set your goals but no passion pit?

[newfoundmichael]

stuff that i like better than everything on this list except fake problems (and in some cases, fun. or brand new):


polar bear club - chasing hamburg
frank turner - poetry of the deed
o pioneers! - neon creeps
bomb the music industry - scrambles
dear landlord - dream homes
rx bandits - mandala

I'll agree that I liked these albums more than some on their list, but the staff list is still excellent.


Props to adding Dear Landlord though...these guys deserved so much more love this year.

(I made this before seeing the staff list)

20. Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
19. Passion Pit - Manners
18. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
17. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
16. The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
15. Muse - Resistance
14. So Many Dynamos - The Loud Wars
13. DOOM - Born Like This
12. Polar Bear Club - Sometimes Things Just Disappear
11. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
10. Ace Enders & A Million Different People - When I Hit The Ground
9. Volcano Choir - Unmap
8. Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
7. Jay-Z - Blueprint III
6. Say Anything - Say Anything
5. The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
4. Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us
3. Dear Landlord - Future Homes
2. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
1. fun. - Aim & Ignite

[ghelms88]

Overall a great list. A couple of albums I would have enjoyed seeing on there as well:

Cartel - Cycles
Dashboard Confessional - Alter the Ending
Broadway Calls - Good Views, Bad News
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
AFI - Crash Love
30 Seconds to Mars - This Is War
Emery - ...In Shallow Seas We Sail

[Trauma Caspian]

Thrice should be number 1!!! still glad to see mewithoutyou and the Dear Hunter made it to the list....I know this whole site would easily compare Brand New to God, but the new cd is nowhere as good as The Devil and God are raging inside me lots of albums were better then Daisy this year.

[shawnPLAGUES]

Great list.

Glad to see Set Your Goals, P.O.S., New Found Glory, and Every Time I Die.
Not surprised, but still happy to see Thrice and Brand New.

This has been a great year. Happy Holidays.

[Drew Beringer]

lol another compiled staff list and another year of users not fully understanding how this works. oh well

[tait]

good list. happy to see fun, kevin devine and portugal. the man.

More people need to listen to the new Cassino album.

this. definitely one of my favorite albums this year

[awakeohsleeper]

From the list I enjoyed Relient K, mewithoutYou and Paramore. I bought the Manchester Orchestra record too, but didn't enjoy it as much as their previous release.

Sad to see no recognition for As Cities Burn!

[Drew Beringer]

check out my list here: http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1464071

[bobsheiskawy]

the jonny craig cd seems to get no recognition anywhere. that was one great album, top to bottom. i find it hard to put anything above that this year, and that's with a modest mouse ep and anchor & braille's debut. the ben gibbard & jay farrar album was a pleasant surprise as well. overall, not a bad year for music, but no where near as good as last year. hopefully 2010 pulls through with some great releases.

[jay_klinkhammer]

that top 3 is pretty laughable tbh.

[Adrian Villagomez]

no third eye blind?!? ive lost faith in the staff.Steve and I dig it. Not everyone listens to the band.

[apresnuledeluge]

So glad to see Fake Problems making so many end of the year lists.

[Scrawns]

no devil wears prada, saosin, august burns red, day to remember, all time low, or as cities burn?

M-(

[drivethruaz]

Never seen a better list. perfect except BN>MO Thrice>MO

[punkrockmedic]

I think P.O.S. deserves at least top 3. I don't even enjoy rap, but I've listened to that album more than anything else this year. Fun is right behind that.

[Memphis]

my list, in no particular order:

Emery - ... In Shallow Seas We Sail (best post-hardcore album of the year, amazing in every aspect)
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions (surprisigly great album)
Fightstar - Be Human
Saosin - In Search of Solid Ground (not as goog as s/t, but good nonetheless)
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Muse - The Resistance
White Lies - White Lies (also the best debut by far)
AFI - Crash Love
Taking BAck Sunday - New Again (no idea why's everyone here bitching about it)
All Time Low - Nothing Personal (well, i really don't know why i enjoyed this so much :D )
The Audition - S/T
Cartel - Cycles
Silverstein - A Shipwreck in the Sand

Honorable mention - Paramore, Dashboard Confessional, Paper Route, Tegan & Sara

[alert=danger]

Love that We Were promised Jetpacks are on this list. Amazing band, and such a good album.

[_><_]

Daisy over Beggars ?!

[Chop[chop]]

Super super.

[hitormiss92]

To each his own, but I would have had Mandala somewhere on the list. Just sayin'

[Romancebled]

Glad to see Mew & All The Day Holiday on here!

[Toner]

Ou est le Thursday!? :-0

Was pretty surprised to see Manchester Orchestra topping the list until I started giving it a spin and "Shake it Out" blew my face off. It's been way too long since I've listened to this album...

I love this time of year though! Makes me realise what I missed out on. It looks like I really need to get around to checking out fun. and Portugal. The Man. I never got around to buying The Dear Hunter either so really need to get on that.

[runningfree1]

Daisy doesn't deserve a spot on that list.

[Trunk]

Say Anything is on the list, yay!

I love the list!!!:-d

[HoldThatSound]

Forgot moneen

[thehereaway]

No RX Bandits?! That is quite a big shock considering they have a big fan base on this site. Other than that, it's a decent list.

[Troggy]

MPP kinda sticks out like a sore thumb, don't you think?

[Garett Press]

Literally every single "better" album mentioned can be found on at least one of the individual staff lists.

These albums were the ones that appeared both more frequently and generally higher on staff lists... it's compiled. I haven't even heard a handful of these records, but it's our only way to create a cohesive top 30.

[denissuxx]

No Cobra? There must be a mistake here...

[drudo182]

I've still never listened to fun.

Kind of surprised person L didn't make the list too.

[stayillogical]

That's exactly my top 6, just different order.

[PunkRocks]

lol another compiled staff list and another year of users not fully understanding how this works. oh well

I think you mean: yet another year of continued illiteracy, ignorance, and incompetence.

Here's to 2010! :drunk:

[SuchAPerson22]

:-d Good list!! 2009 was a good year for you and I, AP.net.

[P_T_W]

Daisy is WAY WAY too high, and no as tall as lions?! i think they would make the top 5 lists of a lot of readers on this site.

5. NFG - Not Without a fight (COMEBACK RECORD OF THE YEAR)
4. As Tall As Lions - You Cant Take It With You
3. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
2. Thrice - Beggars
1. fun. - Aim and Ignite

[fran.182]

29) New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
27) Relient K - Forget Not And Slow Down
27) Paramore - Brand New Eyes
26) John Mayer - Battle Studies
13) Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us
4) Thrice - Beggars
3) Brand New - Daisy

Those will be in my top 20. I don't really care about the others.

[A7XBlink]

This is why I love this website, instead of an indie clusterfuck of best albums, we've got a mix of everything

[zack-182]

Stoked for TDG and fun.

[Drewski]

Only complaints:

-Drop down 'Say Anything'.
-Move up 'New Junk Aesthetic' and 'Sainthood'.
-Uhhh where the fuck is 'Axe to Fall' by Converge? C'mon now.
-Glad you didn't cop out like everyone else and put Animal Collective in the upper echelon of your list.

Besides that, gravy.

[timtowner]

Good list but no Silversun Pickups? :-(

[timtowner]

Daisy doesn't deserve a spot on that list.

Thats definitely one of my top Albums of 2009.

[timtowner]

My top ten:

10. Paramore - brand new eyes

09. Thursday - Common Existence

08. Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals

07. Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions

06. mewithoutYou - it's all crazy! it's all false! it's all a dream! it's alright

05. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

04. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

03. fun. - Aim and Ignite

02. Brand New - Daisy

01. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing

Good call on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs too.

[Zippedychick]

Wow I'm only a fan of three of these albums. I have a bunch to check out!

My fav off of here are
3. Manchester Orchestra, Mean Everything to Nothing
2. The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love
1. fun. Aim and Ignite

[knowthisx]

good list, As Cities Burn should have made it though.

[knowthisx]

Good list but no Silversun Pickups? :-(
them too.

[xapplexpiex]

This is one list I can totally agree with.

[SomedayTheFire]

No ACB :-( other than that pretty damn great list.

[narcoleptic953]

Daisy was painful...

[CarlosLunes]

Happy! :-)

[captainoats32]

No Dashboard? Other than that it's a fantastic list.

[Liter-O-Cola]

This is the one list that I thought Lucero would make :-|

[xsinkshipsx]

:wave:
down with your avatar...it's my number 1 for the year!

[Aphasia17]

haha wow, none of my personal top 3 albums made this list! oh well, it's still pretty good. thank goodness none of the staff killed each other!

[MADSTA]

Do not like.

[RUFiO006]

Awesome to see The Dangerous Summer up there.

[E. Clectic]

I like how this list is music that people actually listen to.

Unlike other magazines/sites lists, that are just made up of music that is supposed to be good, that no one listens to.

[Young Machetes]

I'm satisfied with this list except for Fun and Say Anything.

Glad to see Phoenix so high up, and All The Day Holiday on the list.

[Softer]

I think you guys left out
As Tall As Lions - Can't take this with you
Thursday - Common Existence.

[EvilZeppelin]

I don't see the greatness of Manchester Orchestra?

[Blake Solomon]

I like how this list is music that people actually listen to.

Unlike other magazines/sites lists, that are just made up of music that is supposed to be good, that no one listens to.
what? hush.

[LagwagonX8]

Mariachi El Bronx?

[zubinmoosa]

Where is As Cities Burn on this list?
this

[Schmidty Says]

No Anchor & Braille on the list? Definitely one of the best of the year IMO. :shrug:

[kbi the crowing]

good for We Were Promised Jetpacks, they put out a great record this year.

[Shatter_Glass]

No Arctic Monkeys or Them Crooked Vultures??? c'mon "scene". haha you even left of Common Existence?!?! dern.

[tigertiger]

I like how this list is music that people actually listen to.

Unlike other magazines/sites lists, that are just made up of music that is supposed to be good, that no one listens to.

Except for the new Set Your Goals...

Really pumped to see All The Day Holiday and The Swellers on there and Propagandhi being so high made my day. :)

[evvandflow]

More people need to listen to the new Cassino album.
this and this

[xxemo_kittyxx]

how did you guys come up with this?

[JordanBuell]

such a great list. awesome job guys

[iIi]

No Paper Route. Huh...

[micsforsinging]

no passion pit?

[Garett Press]

how did you guys come up with this?
Each staff member assigns these point values to their list and we add 'em all up!

Scale
1. 100 pts
2. 80
3. 70
4. 60
5. 55
6. 50
7. 45
8. 40
9. 35
10. 30
11-15: 25
16-20: 15
21-25: 10
26-30: 5

[adumb]

One of my favorites this year is The Answering Machine's Another City, Another Sorry.

That album is just so catchy. It seems the poppier stuff this year (like Phoenix) was more pleasing to my ears.

[Jason Tate]

No Arctic Monkeys or Them Crooked Vultures??? c'mon "scene". haha you even left of Common Existence?!?! dern.
That Arctic Monkeys album was one of the biggest disappointments for me of the year.

[adumb]

Too bad ep's can't be included. Modest Mouse's latest was so good...and have you seen the video for "The Whale Song"? Good stuff, indeed.

[adumb]

Oh, and the Avett Brothers' latest made me quite content. I miss Limbeck.

[TheDemosRock]

i agree with most of this. maybe i'd change the order around here and there, but either way it's a great list.

[splitsecond]

Actually a much better list than I expected. I think Animal Collective is hipster garbage that shouldn't ever be mentioned around here, but hey, I can't agree with everything all of the time.

[Jason Tate]

Actually a much better list than I expected. I think Animal Collective is hipster garbage that shouldn't ever be mentioned around here, but hey, I can't agree with everything all of the time.
Me too.

[evvandflow]

fuck hipsters.

[Shatter_Glass]

That Arctic Monkeys album was one of the biggest disappointments for me of the year.
Oh heavens! I found the new up-tempo tracks so exciting (Dangerous Animals, Crying Lightning, Pretty Visitors) on repeated listens and the slower jams (Cornerstone, My Propeller, Dance Little Liar) I found were just so well done with great lyrics. Haha, I geeked out big time for this Monkeys record. I guess it found me at the right time (I wasn't really anticipating it), but the fact that AM pulled off a non-pretentious darker sounding record is bloody brilliant to me. Loved the guitar tones they got from the Homme produced stuff. Even the title Humbug, just grand! I know they're not twin brothers but it's hard for me to understand how some people can like Mean Everything To Nothing so much and snub this. I just love a well done rock record these days, and I think the Arctic Monkeys and Manchester Orchestra both hit big home runs this year. :)

[Jason Tate]

Oh heavens! I found the new up-tempo tracks so exciting (Dangerous Animals, Crying Lightning, Pretty Visitors) on repeated listens and the slower jams (Cornerstone, My Propeller, Dance Little Liar) were just so cool to me with great lyrics. Haha, I geeked out big time for this Monkeys record. I guess it found me at the right time, but the fact that AM pulled off a non-pretentious darker sounding record is bloody brilliant to me. Even the title Humbug, grand! I know they're not twin brothers but it's hard for me to understand how some people can like Mean Everything To Nothing and snub this. I just love a well done rock record, and I think both Arctic Monkeys and Manchester hit big home runs this year. :)
Their "up tempo" tracks were mid-tempo compared to their past releases. :sleep:

[crookedneighbor]

Eh, don't exactly agree with the list, but I don't care: Long live AP.net!

ben.

[Shatter_Glass]

Their "up tempo" tracks were mid-tempo compared to their past releases. :sleep:
There's a grand beauty in that aspect, I mean they didn't make the same record. People would have bitched it was "more of the same" rather than different. haha
Those snooze-fest-fast-songs still got me going. :shrug:

[Jason Tate]

There's a grand beauty in that aspect, I mean they didn't make the same record. People would have bitched it was "more of the same" rather than different. haha
Those snooze-fest-fast-songs still got me going. :shrug:

Where dig Beggars rank for you personally? It's my number two, fighting for my number one.
To each his own. Used to love those Monkeys. Was let down with this one.

[BlackpoolLights]

Actually a much better list than I expected. I think Animal Collective is hipster garbage that shouldn't ever be mentioned around here, but hey, I can't agree with everything all of the time.

Me too.

Funny, I'm listening to MPP right now. I've always considered myself extraordinarily anti-hipster. But the album gets better every single time I listen to it, and I can't say that about many other albums.

Extremely disappointed that Dredg's The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion didn't make it...I was happy it did so well at mid-year. One of the best all-around albums of the year, IMO.

My Top 30:

Honorable mentions (in approximate order):
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - 11:11
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King
Kill Hannah - Wake Up The Sleepers
Editors - In This Light And On This Evening
The Antlers - Hospice
The Rocketboys - 20,000 Ghosts
Trevor Hall - Trevor Hall
The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Bronx - El Bronx
Paper Route - Absence
Taking Back Sunday - New Again
As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
The Alarmists - The Overhead Left
mewithoutYou - It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright
Grammatics - Grammatics
Lucky Boys Confusion - Closing Arguments
Athlete - Black Swan
Calogero - L'embellie
Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn
Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Anchor & Braille - Felt
A Love Like Pi - Atlas And The Oyster
FM Static - Dear Diary
Nightmare Of You - Infomaniac
All Time Low - Nothing Personal
Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here
Castledoor - Shouting At Mountains
Gallows - Grey Britain
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
Eels - Hombre Lobo
OneRepublic - Waking Up

30) AM - Future Sons & Daughters
29) Paramore - Brand New Eyes
28) Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
27) Awesome New Republic - Hearts
26) The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
25) Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down
24) Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
23) Eye Alaska - Genesis Underground
22) John Mayer - Battle Studies
21) Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
20) Rob Thomas - Cradlesong
19) Say Anything - Say Anything
18) 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War
17) Hurt - Goodbye To The Machine
16) Plushgun - Pins & Panzers
15) The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death
14) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
13) Blue October - Approaching Normal
12) Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
11) Muse - The Resistance
10) MUTEMATH - Armistice
9) The Bravery - Stir The Blood
8) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
7) Sherwood - QU
6) AFI - Crash Love
5) The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
4) fun. - Aim & Ignite
3) Thrice - Beggars
2) Dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
1) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

[Etrain4242]

Imogen?!? Haha it's ok I saw it on a few other staff members top lists.

Good list though I enjoyed a bunch of those and introduced me to a few.

Thanks for a good year AP :)

[phoenixinflames]

For me...Phoenix definitely had the best record of the year.

I'd follow that with Converge, St. Vincent and Manchester Orchestra.

[Shatter_Glass]

Funny, I'm listening to MPP right now. I've always considered myself extraordinarily anti-hipster. But the album gets better every single time I listen to it, and I can't say that about many other albums.

Extremely disappointed that Dredg's The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion didn't make it...I was happy it did so well at mid-year. One of the best all-around albums of the year, IMO.

My Top 30:

Honorable mentions (in approximate order):
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - 11:11
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King
Kill Hannah - Wake Up The Sleepers
Editors - In This Light And On This Evening
The Antlers - Hospice
The Rocketboys - 20,000 Ghosts
Trevor Hall - Trevor Hall
The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Bronx - El Bronx
Paper Route - Absence
Taking Back Sunday - New Again
As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
The Alarmists - The Overhead Left
mewithoutYou - It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright
Grammatics - Grammatics
Lucky Boys Confusion - Closing Arguments
Athlete - Black Swan
Calogero - L'embellie
Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn
Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Anchor & Braille - Felt
A Love Like Pi - Atlas And The Oyster
FM Static - Dear Diary
Nightmare Of You - Infomaniac
All Time Low - Nothing Personal
Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here
Castledoor - Shouting At Mountains
Gallows - Grey Britain
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
Eels - Hombre Lobo
OneRepublic - Waking Up

30) AM - Future Sons & Daughters
29) Paramore - Brand New Eyes
28) Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
27) Awesome New Republic - Hearts
26) The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love
25) Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down
24) Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
23) Eye Alaska - Genesis Underground
22) John Mayer - Battle Studies
21) Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
20) Rob Thomas - Cradlesong
19) Say Anything - Say Anything
18) 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War17) Hurt - Goodbye To The Machine
16) Plushgun - Pins & Panzers
15) The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death
14) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
13) Blue October - Approaching Normal
12) Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
11) Muse - The Resistance
10) MUTEMATH - Armistice
9) The Bravery - Stir The Blood
8) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
7) Sherwood - QU
6) AFI - Crash Love
5) The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
4) fun. - Aim & Ignite
3) Thrice - Beggars
2) Dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
1) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
There's no way you listened to every one of those records.

[fishingthe_sky]

My top 20, for shits and giggles:

20) The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
19) Simian Mobile Disco - Temporary Pleasure
18) Norah Jones - The Fall
17) Blakroc - Blakroc
16) The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love
15) Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse
14) The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha
13) Dead Weather - Horehound
12) Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
11) Passion Pit - Manners
10) Brand New - Daisy
9) Silversun Pickups - Swoon
8) Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
7) Imogen Heap - Ellipse
6) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5) Cassino - Kingprince
4) Thrice - Beggars
3) Paper Route - Abscence
2) Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
1) P.O.S. - Never Better

[BlackpoolLights]

There's no way you listened to every one of those records.
Hah. Those were only the ones I rated 4+ stars (well, except one or two), and every record I rate 4+ stars I listen to 4-5 times first. I actually listened to at least 10 times that many albums, all the way through.

Oddly, however, my most played album of the year was The '59 Sound...and the only one in the top 10 that didn't come out in 2009.

I am obsessed. I never stop listening, all day, every day, and this year I focused more than ever on newer music. It helps that I can play only my music for my entire 25 hours of work a week, and actually focus on it a good deal of the time. Plus I listen while I do homework or write papers. And while I'm chilling with My Girls.

[Julia Conny]

Most years, I struggle to find 30 albums I general like enough to consider them the best. This year, I had too many.

[BlackpoolLights]

Oh shit, and I forgot Passion Pit's Manners and Arctic Monkey's Humbug...and Great Lake Swimmer's Lost Channels. Put those in the Honorable Mentions. Lmao.

[BlackpoolLights]

Most years, I struggle to find 30 albums I general like enough to consider them the best. This year, I had too many.
Agreed.

[fadedmemories]

Surprised that New Found Glory, Paramore and The Swellers made the list, considering I found nothing special in any of those albums.

Expected Brand New, Thrice and Manchester Orchestra, even if I will never get half the hype abut these three albums.

[zeropunk16]

Definitely agree with #1.

[katieissweet]

Most years, I struggle to find 30 albums I general like enough to consider them the best. This year, I had too many.
Same. So much great stuff came out this year.

[SandManTEND13]

good list

[Kyle Garchar]

maybe replace AIHTOIMOC with TWBTDOU

[Chris92]

Dig. Nailed the top 4. Mine would have been in a different order, though.
I suppose the fact that that NFG album made this list means I should finally go check it out.
Sigh...

[BigAl]

fun. is great.

[Tony]

I really don't understand the love-fest for Manchester Orchestra, but around here I'm clearly in the minority there. Also really surprised 21st Century Breakdown made it onto so many individual lists, since I find it totally forgettable and one of the biggest disappointments of the year (alongside A Wilhelm Scream and Say Anything).

I somehow still haven't checked out fun., but I definitely like what I'm hearing from We Were Promised Jetpacks.

Anyway, since I know people care, here's my 10:

1. Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
2. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
3. NOFX - Coaster
4. The Aggrolites - IV
5. Matt & Kim - Grand
6. Anti-Flag - The People Or The Gun
7. Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
8. Frank Turner - Poetry Of The Deed
9. Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
10. Cobra Skulls - American Rubicon

[aoftbsten]

Is there going to be a staff Album of the Decade list?

[saving jonathan]

No Passion Pit??

[Colin1755]

great list, agree w/ it for the most part except for the brand new part.

[yayitsjoe]

great list. bummed that there's no passion pit, but it's whatever.

:)

[Corgkowznor]

Pretty good list, I think AFI, Emery, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Cartel should be on there...but definitely a good list...I like how TDS is up there, though I would have put The Swellers and Paramore a touch higher.

Animal Collective seriously sucks though.

Overall, a Great job by the staff!

[aboutfalling]

okay okay good list.
would have loved to see some closure in moscow up there

[zubinmoosa]

My list:

1. As Cities Burn – Hell or High Water
2. Brand New – Daisy
3. The Dangerous Summer – Reach for the Sun
4. Say Anything – Say Anything
5. Thrice – Beggars
6. The Sleeping – What it Takes
7. Closure in Moscow – First Temple
8. Kevin Devine – Brother’s Blood
9. New Found Glory – Not Without a Fight
10. Thursday – Common Existence
11. The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life and Death
12. Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing
13. Set Your Goals – This Will Be the Death of Us
14. Marianas Trench – Masterpiece Theatre
15. Weatherbox – The Cosmic Drama
16. Paramore – brand new eyes
17. This Time Next Year – Road Maps and Heart Attacks
18. A Love Like Pi – Atlas and the Oyster
19. Mansions – New Best Friends
20. All Time Low – Nothing Personal
21. Emery - …In Shallow Seas we Sail
22. Fireworks – All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion
23. Cartel – Cycles
24. A Day to Remember – Homesick
25. Therefore I Am – The Sound of Human Lives
26. Rx Bandits – Mandala
27. Fightstar – Be Human
28. Consider the Thief – Signs and Wonders
29. Meg and Dia – Here, Here, and Here
30. 30 Seconds to Mars – This is War

[alltimecam]

Veckatimest is not better than MPP, it's not even better than Yellow House.

[alltimecam]

I don't understand what people don't like about Animal Collective...

[brandon_260]

looks pretty good, but i really think the set your goals album exceeded the say anything one

[sleepyseanzzz]

:thisissparta:

[somenatures]

You Forgot Tigers Jaw

[sleepyseanzzz]

looks pretty good, but i really think the set your goals album exceeded the say anything one
that album gets a lot of hate, but i loved it, it was MY album of the year at least. so many standout tracks in addition to the opener and gaia bleeds.

[Shatter_Glass]

Hah. Those were only the ones I rated 4+ stars (well, except one or two), and every record I rate 4+ stars I listen to 4-5 times first. I actually listened to at least 10 times that many albums, all the way through.

Oddly, however, my most played album of the year was The '59 Sound...and the only one in the top 10 that didn't come out in 2009.

I am obsessed. I never stop listening, all day, every day, and this year I focused more than ever on newer music. It helps that I can play only my music for my entire 25 hours of work a week, and actually focus on it a good deal of the time. Plus I listen while I do homework or write papers. And while I'm chilling with My Girls.

Great record.

You clearly didn't listen to all those records since a Rob Thomas record was in your top list ;-)

[tentativetitle]

Hell Yeah! Machester is fucking awesome!

[BlackpoolLights]

Great record.

You clearly didn't listen to all those records since a Rob Thomas record was in your top list ;-)
*laughs*

Interesting logic! What can I say? I matured and thrived on Matchbox Twenty; they were my favorite band for half a decade. I still have a weakness for anything Rob does.

In addition, Cradlesong actually got 4* from Stone - higher than any previous MBT or Rob album. There's no denying he has a talent for writing catchy, memorable tunes that speak to the heart...even if they all have a Hot AC feel. His albums are surprisingly consistent all the way through.

[SomedayTheFire]

Can't see why some people hate Animal Collective so much, is it just their blind hate for 'hipsters'?

[loofa]

The Antlers- Hospice

Very, very good album.

[bobsheiskawy]

my most-listened to albums from 2009 were:

1. saosin - the grey
2. a day to remember - homesick
3. emmure - felony
4. jonny craig - a dream is a question you don't know how to answer
5. let's get it - digital spaces
6. blue october - approaching normal
7. the devil wears prada - with roots above and branches below
8. a skylit drive - adelphia
9. green river ordinance - out of my hands
10. all time low - nothing personal
11. eye alaska - genesis underground
12. saosin - in search of solid ground
13. broadway - kingdoms
14. conor oberst and the mystic valley band - outer south
15. silverstein - a shipwreck in the sand
16. august burns red - constellations
17. blessthefall - witness
18. craig owens - with love
19. passion pit - manners
20. the dead weather - horehound
21. the audition - self-titled album
22. every time i die - new junk aesthetic
23. the academy is... - lost in pacific time
24. boys like girls - love drunk
25. john mayer - battle studies
26. modest mouse - no one's first, and you're next
27. iwrestledabearonce - it's all happening
28. suicide silence - no time to bleed
29. the used - artwork
30. the almost - monster monster

my top ten for the year would be jonny craig, broadway, green river ordinance, john mayer, modest mouse, anchor & braille, dance gavin dance, blue october, the almost, and a combination of the saosin releases, in no particular order.

[andresr200]

Tegan And Sara it's a Top 5 for me, and Relient K it's should be on the Top 10. Glad to see fun. up there! amazing album. Thrice it's # 1 for me! As for the total absences: No MUTEMATH seriously guys? No The Almost? No Emery? As for Manchester Orchestra they deserve the honor! :)

[rawesome]

The top four are the same top 4 as my list I made for my school's newspaper, only with Thrice and Brand New switched.

Why is Say Anything in the top 10, though?

[Chemical Love]

I like 7 out of the 30 on that list.

[Gleebo]

Kind of surprised to see Manchester Orchestra up there at #1. Totally agree but I feared that being released as early as it was in the year that it would be forgotten by the end of the year and snubbed from these types of lists.

Was it just my imagination or was last years list a bit more indie heavy with stuff like Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Blitzen Trapper or am i remembering a few staff lists and not the general consensus.

Im not sure what my list looks like yet but I know Brand New will be in the top 3 and probably Third Eye Blind which I dont think made this list unless I overlooked it.

[Say Nothing]

Where is Swoon?

[Chiodosbros13]

No Anchor and Braille :(
and imo Relient K is way too low on the list
but it's a pretty good list nonetheless :p

[Gleebo]

Tegan and Sara, Relient K, and We Were Promised Jet Packs are all making an end of the year run for me. Its ridiculous that Relient K can't break through to the mainstream yet Owl City is probably one of the most successful songs of the year. Tegan and Sara should also be all over Top 40 with "Hell".

The biggest snubs on this list that are gonna be in my top 20 for sure are as follows.

Third Eye Blind
Relient K
Tegan & Sara
Muse
Silversun Pickups
Metric
Them Crooked Vultures
Glasvegas
White Lies

I know they aren't really a band that is covered around Ap.net but the new Alice In Chains shocked the hell out of me. Expected it to be terrible and it was very good, the new lead singer must been injected with some of Layne Staley's DNA because its so close to his that you forget that he isn't still the lead singer...or alive.

[Gleebo]

Where is Swoon?

What I was wondering too.

If "Panic Switch" isn't in the top 5 singles of the year there has to be some sort of conspiracy.

Also, am I the only one that just doesn't get into Grizzly Bear or Animal Collective. I mean they are decent but not something I can sit and listen to an entire album start to finish.

[OnSale182]

I can't believe Bom bthe Music Industry or Alexisonfire aren't on anyone's list. Two of the best albums of the year.

Set Your Goals is the biggest disappointment of the year by far. They seem like they're trying too hard to be cool with all the cameos.

[Memphis]

Tegan and Sara, Relient K, and We Were Promised Jet Packs are all making an end of the year run for me. Its ridiculous that Relient K can't break through to the mainstream yet Owl City is probably one of the most successful songs of the year. Tegan and Sara should also be all over Top 40 with "Hell".

The biggest snubs on this list that are gonna be in my top 20 for sure are as follows.

Third Eye Blind
Relient K
Tegan & Sara
Muse
Silversun Pickups
Metric
Them Crooked Vultures
Glasvegas
White Lies

I know they aren't really a band that is covered around Ap.net but the new Alice In Chains shocked the hell out of me. Expected it to be terrible and it was very good, the new lead singer must been injected with some of Layne Staley's DNA because its so close to his that you forget that he isn't still the lead singer...or alive.
definitely... except for Glasvegas, they released the album in 2OO8 :D

[jimboj917]

More people need to listen to the new Cassino album.
from a look at that list, more people need to listen to a lot of albums.

[Poultrylicious]

congrats to manchester but kevin devine had the best release this year.

[luvsickcatalyst]

Extremely impressive list (other than the lack of MUTEMATH. Seriously, guys. That's better than the new NFG record was) Really like the combined list idea, much better than going through each staff member's list (although I enjoy hearing some staff's individual opinions) I'm really happy to see about 4/5 of my AOTY List on your Top 30. Here's my personal Top 10 list with mini-reviews on each album:

http://lovesickcatalyst.blogspot.com/2009/12/10-best-albums-of-2009.html

Definitely give feedback on writing, albums I chose, and whatnot.

[eriatarka24]

Nice to see Paramore, The Swellers and New Found Glory make it. ha.

[Shatter_Glass]

*laughs*

Interesting logic! What can I say? I matured and thrived on Matchbox Twenty; they were my favorite band for half a decade. I still have a weakness for anything Rob does.

In addition, Cradlesong actually got 4* from Stone - higher than any previous MBT or Rob album. There's no denying he has a talent for writing catchy, memorable tunes that speak to the heart...even if they all have a Hot AC feel. His albums are surprisingly consistent all the way through.
ill check it out then man, i liked me some M20. i got the singles collection! haha, the album art of his face was so lame looking i didn't bother. Plus he cameo'd on It's Always Sunny this year, he's do for another listen. As long as that damn Santana song isn't a bonus track or something.

[HometownHero]

Thats to bad that MO is at number one

[handlikesecret]

awesome list, folks! good year for music. i believe we share 12 albums. can't really disagree with anything on there. :-)

no Sherwood though? kind of surprising.

[Drew Beringer]

read my list! :http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1464071

[loj]

needs more Mansions.

otherwise, love it. surprised MWY got into the top 20.

[musikjunky311]

I really think Right Away, Great Captain! should be getting more love.

[Metal Now]

Awesome list.

[sizetoosmall]

lol

[fightoffyrdmns]

Really glad to see We Were Promised Jetpacks on there.

Disappointed in Mean Everything to Nothing (biggest disappointment of the year IMO) but can't say I'm surprised. I am a bit sad my album of the year, Metric's Fantasies, didn't make the list at all, however.

[StartAngry&Mad]

A LOT of my favourites are on there; but like others I'd go as far as to say I'm offended by the omission of RXB's "Mandala"
Others favourites of mine not on the list include:
"City of Thieves" Sonic Boom Six
"Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)" Attack In Black
"Bad Luck" Trophy Scars
"Sagarmatha" The Appleseed Cast
"Armistice" MuteMath

Honourable Mention
"The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion" Dredg, "You Can't Take It With You" As Tall As Lions (clearly I dug the RXB, Dredg, ATAL tour this summer)

[unwritten]

Mutemath didn't even make the top 30? Damn, haha.

[And Hours Pass]

no third eye blind?!? ive lost faith in the staff.

You really thought the 3eb album made the top 30 releases of the year? I'm a loyal 3eb fan, but I thought that album was really weak.

No Mutemath?

Mutemath didn't even make the top 30? Damn, haha.

Mutemath's absence was a travesty to me. This was one of my top 3 favorites of the year.

Each staff member assigns these point values to their list and we add 'em all up!

Scale
1. 100 pts
2. 80
3. 70
4. 60
5. 55
6. 50
7. 45
8. 40
9. 35
10. 30
11-15: 25
16-20: 15
21-25: 10
26-30: 5

Thank you for explaining this! Never knew that was how this was done.

Eh, don't exactly agree with the list, but I don't care: Long live AP.net!

ben.

This.

For me...Phoenix definitely had the best record of the year.

I'd follow that with Converge, St. Vincent and Manchester Orchestra.

Easily made my top 3.

I really don't understand the love-fest for Manchester Orchestra, but around here I'm clearly in the minority there. Also really surprised 21st Century Breakdown made it onto so many individual lists, since I find it totally forgettable and one of the biggest disappointments of the year (alongside A Wilhelm Scream and Say Anything).

I somehow still haven't checked out fun., but I definitely like what I'm hearing from We Were Promised Jetpacks.

Anyway, since I know people care, here's my 10:

1. Fake Problems - It's Great To Be Alive
2. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
3. NOFX - Coaster
4. The Aggrolites - IV
5. Matt & Kim - Grand
6. Anti-Flag - The People Or The Gun
7. Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
8. Frank Turner - Poetry Of The Deed
9. Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
10. Cobra Skulls - American Rubicon

Consider me another member of your minority.

*laughs*

Interesting logic! What can I say? I matured and thrived on Matchbox Twenty; they were my favorite band for half a decade. I still have a weakness for anything Rob does.

In addition, Cradlesong actually got 4* from Stone - higher than any previous MBT or Rob album. There's no denying he has a talent for writing catchy, memorable tunes that speak to the heart...even if they all have a Hot AC feel. His albums are surprisingly consistent all the way through.

Thank you! He's really an underrated songwriter. He does phenominal work.

[nowFace]

Surprised that New Found Glory, Paramore and The Swellers made the list, considering I found nothing special in any of those albums.

Expected Brand New, Thrice and Manchester Orchestra, even if I will never get half the hype abut these three albums.
u didnt think beggars was good?

[spezialk]

I personally think Cartel should have been on this list over NFG (don't get me wrong, I love me some NFG since 2002). What about Mutemath!? And Brand New shouldn't have been rated so high; Daisy has too many ups and downs to be a sturdy album. Flame all you want, but I can't get into the record and I've always supported Brand New.

[Brissona]

great list guys, i'm loving that all of you collaborate on the list. The fact that you've included probably the best top 30 list i've seen anywhere makes me so proud to be apart of this community. Man. Orchestra's was a great cd, it just didn't stick for me, fun. had the under the radar hit of the year in my opinion. All the Day Holiday, most underated band of 2009.

[threepunchjim]

Very respectable list. I'm a little surprised Mos Def and MUTEMATH didn't secure a spot in there, but the exclusion of Dredg and The Swell Season is to be expected, though it made me a little sad inside. MO and fun. definitely, definitely deserve the top slots.

[threepunchjim]

needs more Mansions.

otherwise, love it. surprised MWY got into the top 20.
it's weird how sneaky the new mewithoutYou is. I find myself enjoying it a little more every time I listen to it.

[SuNDaYSTaR]

The top 10 was predictable, but eh, they all deserve it.

[Jourdan]

bitte orca

[Say Nothing]

What I was wondering too.

If "Panic Switch" isn't in the top 5 singles of the year there has to be some sort of conspiracy.

Also, am I the only one that just doesn't get into Grizzly Bear or Animal Collective. I mean they are decent but not something I can sit and listen to an entire album start to finish.
I had that problem with Animal Collective for a while....After forcing myself to a few listens through their albums, I starting really enjoying them. On the other hand, I've always loved Grizzly Bear.

[Indie_Ebby]

Great list. Glad to see TDS album get that good of a rating, because it was that good of album, very underrated. And of course Brand New.

[raychull]

no common existence? =(

[Curtis&BemisRok]

animal collective should be higher. as well as grizzly bear! move portugal up too

[feedingthefoxes]

Tegan and Sara/ETID tie, good thinkin

[SofiaHxC]

I like it :)

[msdk1820]

no say anything?

[Schmidty Says]

Tegan And Sara it's a Top 5 for me, and Relient K it's should be on the Top 10. Glad to see fun. up there! amazing album. Thrice it's # 1 for me! As for the total absences: No MUTEMATH seriously guys? No The Almost? No Emery? As for Manchester Orchestra they deserve the honor! :)

Monster Monster was such a disappointing album to me. Southern Weather was much better IMO

[NervousDestiny]

Tegan and Sara, Manchester Orchestra, fun., Phoenix. I like this list.

[runningohfive]

I like this list. I really enjoy most of the bands listed.

[andrewa5]

ETID!

Homesick from ADTR should be on this list though!

[onthebrightside]

definitely glad Aim and Ignite made it to number two. fun. deserves it.

[atainder]

No Weatherbox love.. balls.

[tawtaw]

Can't believe Daisy is that high up, but aside from that it's a solid list imo.

[sparkle7]

I'm really glad Fun. is so high on the list. Overall, it's a very good list, and now i know which albums I missed that I should check out.

[Trunk]

:drew:
hilarious:celebrate::celebrate:

[FeynmanWannabe]

St. Vincent's Actor is better than each and every one of those albums.

[Bruycker]

I expected most of the bands to make the list.

I thought As Cities Burn would've been on it. IMO better album then Daisy, but lots of people see them as a "Sceneband" If I may call it like that.

Good list nonetheless

[SophGod]

needs more Common Existence

[mymusicismylife]

Glad to see Propagandhi and Portugal. The Man getting there proper due.

[ninthandash]

I expected most of the bands to make the list.

I thought As Cities Burn would've been on it. IMO better album then Daisy, but lots of people see them as a "Sceneband" If I may call it like that.

Good list nonetheless
this
I think since it came out in like January of '09, everyone forgot about it haha

[DivisionStreet]

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is my AOTY.

[ilovesofie]

I only love 12 albums out of this list. But I like the diversity of this list, that's why I like this website so much. It's doesn't really represent one kind of music, that's beautiful.
The only complain I could give is that some albums are lowly praisen by the staff and than the rest of the users follows. I mean for example, the new Taking Back Sunday album, some staff members think it's bad and suddenly everybody thinks it's garbage. It isn't good but it's far from awful. Sputnik rated a classic, allright, that's way above it's value but than I read the comments and most of the users agree. On another forum, people like it too. So it's kinda weird that here everybody hate it. But hey, that's just me making a conclusion based on facts I've seen.

[Nicolas]

absoluteindie.net

[thekinison]

The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die - what a monsterous record!!!