Rich Bradley: The Blog » albums http://www.richbradley.org/blog In blog form at last Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:28:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Best Albums of 2009 http://www.richbradley.org/blog/2009/12/the-best-albums-of-2009/ http://www.richbradley.org/blog/2009/12/the-best-albums-of-2009/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:23:02 +0000 admin http://www.richbradley.org/blog/?p=105
  • Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion It’s always boring to go with the consensus choice, but what can I do? It’s probably one of the top three of the decade. I was not an AC convert prior to this record, and part of me was kind of proud for being a holdout. Turns out I was just being stupid. Still don’t like Feels though.
  • St. Vincent – Actor Just so thoroughly great from start to finish. Our generation so badly needed somebody to make Disney songs from hell.
  • Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest This was by far my most eagerly anticipated record of the year. And while it might not be the complete, unparalleled classic I’d hoped for, it’s still ridiculously good.
  • Girls – Album Simple, catchy guitar pop on the surface, but the album reveals surprising depth with repeat listens.
  • Neko Case – Middle Cyclone Best overall release by a New Pornographer in 2009, and that’s actually no small feat when you consider Dan Bejar put out one amazing, epic single and A.C. Newman had a solid solo LP.
  • Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca Ends on kind of a weak note, but a really impressive breakthrough for these guys regardless.
  • The Flaming Lips – Embryonic Some hate it, and it’s not exactly and easy listen, but it’s so much better (and so much more Flaming Lipsy) than everything they’ve released since Soft Bulletin.
  • Washed Out – Life of Leisure EP A very rewarding, appropriately brief collection of intimate bedroom synthpop.
  • Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Not every song is a standout, but when these guys are on they’re making some of the best pop music you’ll ever hear.
  • Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms Kind of like Washed Out, but a little more angular and goofy. I mean that as a compliment.
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