Well, here they are. My Top 25 albums of 2009. Last year I chose The Hold Steady’s ‘Stay Positive’ as album of the year. That album tied the Drive-by Truckers for numero uno according to the Twangville Posse. This year, I’m thrilled to say that the Posse agrees with me once again. The Album of the Year belongs to Lucero with ‘1372 Overton Park’. The raucous crew from Memphis, TN really impressed with a magnificent tribute to their hometown.
I took a different approach to compiling the list this year by rating the albums as I listened to them. If there was any trend at all it was that my tastes moved decidedly toward pop. You’ll find Pete Yorn, The Damnwells, Brendan Benson, Ben Harper and Bob Schneider all within 10 of #1. That said, only 2 of my Top 10 reappeared in the Posse Top 10 which I take is a great sign that Twangville has really come a long way. Looks like I’ll have to spend some more money early in the year just to catch up on the recommendations seen from the rest of the Twangville crew. How many of my picks appeared among your favorites in 2009?
Tom’s Best of 2009
- LUCERO, 1372 Overton Park (Republic) Rock / Indie / Southern Rock [★★★★★/4.833]
- STEPHEN KELLOGG & THE SIXERS, The Bear (Vanguard) Rock / Alternative / Indie [★★★★★/4.818]
- PETE YORN, Back & Forth (Columbia) Rock / Alternative [★★★★★/4.800] Read Todd’s review
- THE DAMNWELLS, One Last Century Rock / Indie [★★★★★/4.750] Read Mayer’s review
- DINOSAUR JR., Farm (Jagjaguwar) Rock / Alternative [★★★★★/4.750]
- WILL HOGE, The Wreckage (Rykodisc) Rock / Americana [★★★★★/4.727]
- BRENDAN BENSON, My Old, Familiar Friend (Jagjaguwar) Rock / Alternative [★★★★★/4.636] Read Mayer’s review
- JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod) Rock [★★★★★/4.545] Read Jeff’s review
- BEN HARPER AND THE RELENTLESS 7, White Lies for Dark Times (Virgin) Rock [★★★★★/4.545]
- BOB SCHNEIDER, Lovely Creatures (Kirtland) Americana / Folk Rock / Folk [★★★★★/4.538]
- DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Fine Print (New West) Rock / Indie / Southern Rock [★★★★★/4.5] Read Todd’s review
- MINDY SMITH, Stupid Love (Vanguard) Pop / Rock / Americana [★★★★/4.417] Read Chip’s review
- TWO TONS OF STEEL, Not That Lucky (Smith Entertainment) Americana / Country / Roots [★★★★/4.400]
- SONS OF BILL, One Town Away (Thirty Tigers) Rock / Country [★★★★/4.334]
- WRINKLE NECK MULES, Let the Lead Fly (Lower 40) Rock / Indie / Country [★★★★/4.308]
- BEN KWELLER, Changing Horses (ATO) Country / Classic Rock / Punk [★★★★/4.300] Read Jeff’s review
- MATTHEW RYAN, Dear Lover (The Dear Future Collective) Rock / Folk / Ambient [★★★★/4.300]
- PETE YORN & SCARLETT JOHANSSON, Break Up (Rhino / Wea) Alternative / Indie [★★★★/4.200]
- FROG HOLLER, Believe It Or Not (ZoBird) Rock / Indie / Bluegrass [★★★★/4.200]
- PHISH, Joy (Jemp) Rock / Alternative / Jam [★★★★/4.200]
- CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND, Outer South (Merge) Rock / Roots / Alternative [★★★★/4.188]
- BRANDI CARLILE, Give Up the Ghost (Sony) Folk / Pop [★★★★/4.182]
- THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, Duets (Time Life) Gospel / Soul / Blues [★★★★/4.154]
- SARAH BORGES, The Stars are Out (Sugar Hill) Rock / Country / Rockabilly [★★★★/4.100] Read Kelly’s review
- MICHELLE MALONE, Debris (SBS) Rock / Blues / Roots Music [★★★★/4.091]
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.