When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: It’s been a pretty mediocre year for hip-hop albums (and hip-hop in general)…until now. The much-anticipated debut from Kanye West affiliate Kid Cudi–Man on the Moon: The End of Day–lives up to the hype. And rising underground star Brother Ali delivers his best album yet with Us. Both releases make their way into the Top 3 of the year (so far). Meanwhile, Gossip’s Music for Men and The Features’ Some Kind of Salvation get bumped out of the Top 20.
1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek)
2. Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day (Motown/G.O.O.D.)
3. Brother Ali Us (Rhymesayers)
4. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
5. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
6. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
7. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
8. Jack Peñate Everything Is New (XL)
9. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
10. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
11. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
12. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
13. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
14. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
15. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon)
16. UUVVWWZ UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek)
17. Thrice Beggars (Vagrant)
18. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
19. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
20. The Black Crowes Before the Frost… (Silver Arrow/Megaforce)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: Fans of the poppier, more eclectic output from The Cure should find plenty to like on Jack Peñate’s Everything Is New, which lands in the top 10 of this list. Also, the latest from Thrice - Beggars - and The Black Crowes - Before the Frost - find their way into the Top 20. Meanwhile, Sunset Rubdown’s Dragonslayer, Peter Bjorn & John’s Living Thing and Heartless Bastards’ The Mountain fall off the list.
1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek)
2. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
3. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
4. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
5. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
6. Jack Peñate Everything Is New (XL)
7. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
8. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
9. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
10. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
11. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
12. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
13. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon)
14. UUVVWWZ UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek)
15. Thrice Beggars (Vagrant)
16. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
17. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
18. The Black Crowes Before the Frost… (Silver Arrow/Megaforce)
19. Gossip Music for Men (Columbia)
20. The Features Some Kind of Salvation (429)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: The debut album from Lincoln, Nebraska’s UUVVWWZ and the long-awaited sophomore album, Some Kind of Salvation, from Tennessee’s The Features find their way into the Top 20. Meanwhile, two solo female artists get the short end of the deal. Lily Allen’s It’s Not You, It’s You and St. Vincent’s The Strangers get nudged off the list.
1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek)
2. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
3. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
4. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
5. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
6. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
7. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
8. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
9. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
10. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
11. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
12. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon)
13. UUVVWWZ UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek)
14. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
15. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
16. Gossip Music for Men (Columbia)
17. The Features Some Kind of Salvation (429)
18. Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)
19. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
20. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: New #1 Album of 2009 (so far)!! The Rural Alberta Advantage take over the top spot with their exciting debut Hometowns. Plus, veteran rapper Chali 2na finds his way into the Top 20 with a debut of his own, Fish Outta Water. Meanwhile, Morrissey’s Years of Refusal and Matt & Kim’s Grand get bumped from the list.
1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek)
2. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
3. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
4. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
5. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
6. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
7. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
8. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
9. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
10. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
11. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
12. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon)
13. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
14. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
15. Gossip Music for Men (Columbia)
16. Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)
17. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
18. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
19. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
20. St. Vincent The Strangers (4AD)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2008 and November 30, 2009. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album (or albums) break into my Top 20.
Update: After a mediocre May and early June, the last few weeks have been a much more satisfying period of time for new albums. The Mars Volta enter the Top 5 with their latest release Octahedron, and Gossip’s Music for Men and Sunset Rubdown’s Dragonslayer find their way into the Top 20. Meanwhile, Beast’s self-titled album, Manchester Orchestra’s Mean Everything to Nothing, and Bishop Allen’s Grrr… fall off the list.
1. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
2. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
3. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
4. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
5. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
6. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
7. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
8. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
9. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
10. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
11. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
12. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
13. Gossip Music for Men (Columbia)
14. Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)
15. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
16. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)
17. Lily Allen It’s Not Me, It’s You (Capitol)
18. St. Vincent The Strangers (4AD)
19. Morrissey Years of Refusal (Attack/Lost Highway)
20. Matt & Kim Grand (Fader)
