The radio show / podcast of the best CDs of 2009 #30-#16 is here.

2009 Picks for the best CDs are selected amongst LPs only (as much as I loved some EPs this year….) AND based on the album’s overall quality — these albums below don’t just have 3 or 4 good songs on them – it’s a solid album that’s worth your download or walk-into-a-store-and-purchase time.

To listen to even more tracks from the artists below, go to 2009 Podcasts and do a search (“Edit”, “Find”) by artist name.

My top 30 CDs for 2008 are here.
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#15. Congrats to Canterbury – a group fresh out of the waters of 2009 – for recently celebrating over 10,000 free downloads of their CD. And while it’s gratis don’t think this is some ‘nothing’ CD that a bunch of wankers smashed together for no good reason. This is the type of CD you, we, *I should be out paying $ for… (using the money we *should get back from some of the baddies we *did buy this year!) . But thanks to ferocious competition and marketing these boys have pulled a smart move in ’09 by offering the 1st one and hopefully hooking us on their next one… We’ll be hearing more from them on the show in new year

Canterbury
CD Thank You (Free CD)
- take me out of the wall

#14. I must’ve played about half this album in ’09. Feel free to check past podcasts for the tunes from these Glaswegians.

Wake the President
CD You can’t change that boy
- Remember fun?

#13. Sounding a little like Arcade Fire are we? Well, they are sharing the same producer – but seriously, a beautiful album.

The Maccabees
CD Wall of Arms (May release)
- Love you better

#12. Welsh band SFA said this CD is meant to be played at outside venues only…sorry boys ..you’re indoors on the radio today! The CD is Led Zep, Jim Noir, Beach Boys and Thievery Corporation rolled into a summer ball of fun – with a few german lyrics just ta mess wit ur head! It’s prog, it’s art rock, it’s pop …. and it’s good.

Super Furry Animals
CD Dark days light Years
- white socks flip flops

#11. Pop Noise Records is the company that made the intellingent move to get behind Some Beans (AkA Andy Fonda). Thank you Pop Noise for supporting Andy who writes, play, and produces the CD (o you lay z lay z boy!). Almost every track is a pleasure. Think Portishead, Buck 65, Cut Chemist…. If you like this track, you’ll like the others that style between low-fi/ambient/electr/jazz/pop.

Some Beans
CD Fear and loathing in Tipton St. John
- Turning Blue

#10. A highly underrated CD of indie rock. It’s like well thought out twee with a fun twist … and lyrics you really you need to stop and listen to cause there’s actually some meaning in them (go figure)!

Art brut
CD Art brut Vs satan
- am I normal?

#9. Dance punk at its best! A new band from Carlisle, UK. Burn the Negative

Burn the Negative
CD In The Atmosphere (May release)
- she said she said

#8. My review of their CD on their website

The Lightyears
CD London, England (Jan. release)
- I’m not

#7. She redefined 80′s retro music (is that possible? …she re-retrod-retro?). A fun CD but don’t be fooled – there was many years of work gone into the making – hear about this and more in my 2009 interview with La Roux.

La Roux
CD La Roux (June)
- tigerlily

#6. The addition of Johnny Marr only makes this rock band even better than they’d already be with their 4th go around on a CD. Read my full CD review here. Stay tuned for my interview with them in Jan/10.

The Cribs
CD Ignore the ignorant (Sep. release)
- cheat on me

#5. My 2009 interview with Arctic Monkeys (Alex & Jamie). Artistic integrity & evolution was their goal for their 3rd CD and they did achieve it. …. yet in the back of my mind I can’t always help wondering if they reeaally needed to go to the Cali desert & NY to find it – considering all the production talent back home (granted some production was Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford). Nonetheless a great rock music output that shouldn’t have scared away as many base fans as it did – it’s just that this CD took a few more ‘go-rounds’ before you went ….yeah baby!

Arctic Monkeys
CD Humbug (Aug. release)
- Cornerstone

#4. My 2009 interview with Doves at the U.K. festival “Bestival”. My fav interview of the year??? I almost died from a cold waiting for them but it was worth it! The interview pics alongside the audio will give you the whole crazy fun.

Doves
CD Kingdom of Rust (April release)
- The Greatest Denier

#3. Great scots! …and just like the band in my #1 spot, they were early out of the gates in ’09 and held the bar high for all that followed. Every song on the CD (but one) is great. Even the slow song Katherine Kiss Me fits well. Do I like this CD better than their changed-the-music-landscape-and-reminded-the-world-where-scotland-was- 2004 debut album? .. hmmmm…..

Franz Ferdinand
CD Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Jan. release)
- no you girls

#2. My 2009 interview with Florence.I think I played almost every song off this album and some twice over. She’s got a gorgeous, emotive, and powerful voice, well drafted lyrics, songs from the quirky to the serious to the surreal, Flo is an entertainer and a dreamer all wrapped into one. My full album review is here.

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- I’m not calling you a liar

#1. A great CD out from the gates in 2009. Wondered all year if it’d be topped and the answer came back 11 months later. Nope. Well Harry Mcveigh, Jack Lawrence Brown and Charles Cave, all in their early 20s gave us a complete, well rounded, well orchastrated, fabulously lyricized (is that a word?) album – carrying the gamut of emotions. 2010 is supposed to bring more work from these boys. I can hardly wait…though I’ll try (try) to temper expectations… and if they never produce anything better than this, I’ll still be happy for this one. My interview earlier this year with songwriter Charles Cave.

White lies
CD To lose my life (Jan. release)
- Farewell to the Playground

Latest entries are in green and found at the TOP of each category. Enjoy!

2009 CDs that KILL and worth your $$ …

- Some Beans, Fear and Loathing in Tipton St. John. Pop Noise Records labels some unique acts including Scotland’s Popup but Some Beans (AKA Andy Fonda) is their latest to find. Andy writes, plays, produces the CD. Don’t think there’s a bad track (read: skip) among the twelve. His noted influences (eg, Buck 65, Portishead, Cut chemist) evolves their sounds on the tracks, not making you feel like you’ve ‘heard this stuff before’. His beautiful voice runs on low-fi/ambient/electro/jazz/pop influenced tracks. Chill.Best Tracks: Turning Blue, No more wine, The Mould.
- Florence and the Machine, Lungs My bet for the 2009 Mercury Prize winner). Every song’s enjoyable. She’s got the beautiful & emotive voice of Bat for Lashes, the humourous, quirky, and sexually strong & comfortable within her femininity lyrics of Lily Allen, the doom/gloom/morose & honest lyrics of Glasvegas. Solid album, with only last couple of songs the direction trails off). Best Tracks: Rabbit Heart, Dog Days are over, Kiss with a fist, My boy builds coffins, Drumming Song.
- Super Furry Animals, Dark Days/Light Years (The boys from Wales have greatly exceeded my expectations. An upbeat, fresh summer CD. Think Led Zep, Jim Noir (he’s listed under 2008 CDs to own), Beach Boys, touches of Tom Jones (when he was cool) and Thievery Corporation, some prog moments, flashes of art rock à la Bowie, a few uncomprehendible lyrics (german by Franz Ferdinand’s Nick McCarthy..he lived in Munich for awhile). How can all that be any good? Not sure. All I can say is it’s 60min of pure musical artistry) Best Tracks: Crazy Naked Girls, The Very Best of Neil Diamond, White Socks/Flip Flops.
- Micachu & The Shapes, Jewellery (This boy-girl-girl (tryin’ to make it sound sec-see!) band are like no other… a wonderful artistic concoction of sounds and unusual instruments (ever heard a vaccum cleaner ‘played’ before??). Sit back and be open-minded. Experimentalism defined!)
- The Doves, Kingdom of Rust (Let me be upfront from the get-go…I have a big soft spot for this 2brother/3piece band.. while I expected big things from this 4th CD based on my mezz-mer-eye-zing repeated enjoyment over their 3rd CD (“Some Cities”), I was initially a little disappointed..it lacked that overall ‘punch’ and stream of powerful lyrical messages that Some Cities provided. Yet after 3ish listens I warmed up to their return to an overall softer sound, and basked (yes, basked!) in their ever-strong ability to harmonize, along with the lead’s warm yet (somehow conversely?) raspy vocals. If you havent listened to the Doves yet, you …. well, you just should. A talented trio not yet given their dues and too smooth to fight for ‘em.
- The Maccabees, Wall of Arms (Is it me or do many songs sound similar? Upside: talent easily exceeds boredom factor. Mixed bag: use of Arcade Fire producer is betrayed, resulting in similar vocals & melodies. A pop pleasure nonetheless)
- Art Brut, Art Brut vs. Satan (fun indie rock, great lyrics. Band starting to come into their own on 3rd CD)
- The Noisettes, Wild Young Hearts (Amy Winehouse R&B/Retro meets electro guitar pop & strings)
- White Lies, To Lose my Life (if you love Depeche Mode, Glasvegas, Echo&thoseBunnies.. And finally! Alan Cross & I both agree – one of the BEST CDs of 09. My Interview with them is here
- Lily Allen, It’s not Me, It’s You (all around great pop. love how she doesnt give a fuck about swearing in her songs if it fits)
- The Lightyears, London England (new prog,rock,pop – they mix up this schizophrenic mix like no one can. Check out my Blog review of their CD)
- Franz Ferdinand, Tonight Franz Ferdinand (electro rock,pop) ahhh franz…nice you could join us again…
- The Joy Formidable (see my blog post for free CD D/L) NKOTB worth noting!
- This Town Needs Guns, Animals (check out their hilarious track listing.. there’s a reason the CD is called Animals)

2009 NOT BAD / has its moments CDs…

- Polly Scattergood, Self-titled CD. Combine lyrics, drama-queen-ness & soft voice of Judy Collins (who? you say… – you know..the lady from the 70s…”Bring in the clowns…don’t bother – they’re heeerree..) and the piano of Billy Joel and you’ve got a 17? y.o. girl full of angst with TONS of very-literal songs to chirp about. Don’t expect a cracker to satisfy this polly).
- 1990s CD Kicks Neo punk, rock. Their 2nd CD….they’re evolving somewhat…
- Morrissey, Years of Refusal It has some solid moments. Any Moz fan will want this.

2009 CDs that ILL (me in particular) …

- Spaceships are cool (perhaps. but you guys suck. back to the studi-o-di-o…)

Killer CDs to own – Anytime, Any year…

2008
- Glasvegas, Glasvegas (A cd where it’s good moments are awesome so worth slappin down the bucks,pounds,yens. I’m gonna get stabbed – How’s that for a song title? Fittingly I played it back at Hallowe’en but cool anytime. Geraldine – you heard on Letterman and my fav(not sure what it says about me!): It’s your own cheating heart that makes you cry, Go Square Go which is all about fight’en. A-magine that -scots writting bout that….)
- Oasis, Dig out Your Soul (ahh hate to give ‘the big guys’ space but it is a pleasure listening to this album. While not mind blowing and won’t compare to their 90s, it’s solid ‘backgrounder’ music as you tend to things (like read my blog!), flow nicely, & nice to hear Liam’s voice again)
- Working for a Nuclear Free City, Businessmen & Ghosts (one of the few doing great prog in early 08…a genre slowly starting to pick up again..but it takes artistic guts cause hard to do right, like on this CD)
- Supergrass, Diamond Hoo Ha (nice to see them back and take charge with some gr8 art / glam rock. If you love 70s Bowie, Roxy Music, you’ll love this. Every track bang on ‘cept Whiskey & GreenTea’ ugh..where did *that one come from?)
- Kaiser Chiefs, Off with Their Heads (yes, somewhat mainstream but if looking for a fun all-’round pop album this is it. and Can’t Miss a Beat is so DAMN catchy. hate it!)
- Ray, Death in Fiction (luscious vocals align well to their full guitar rock. idea: turn up the stereo ‘n dim the lights. purrfect. best appreciated in your livingroom, not the pod)
- Young Knives, Superabundance (super indie rock!)
- My Federation, Don’t wanna die (pop rock. consistent fun all the way through)
- Late of the Pier, Fantasy Black Channel (electro. a few down spots but overall ..ELECTRO-FUN)
- Hot Chip, Made in the Dark (moreso brooding electro.light up…the fireplace! and listen…
- Jim Noir, Jim Noir (60s groovy beach boys meets electro. how he made it work..who knows…)
- Friendly Fires, Jump in the Pool (great electro all the way thru. Check out my Friendly Fires interview on the blog)
- The Long Blondes, Couples (a solid follow up to cd 1 tho CD 1 has golden moments too..don’t deny yourself that either if you can! Check out my Long Blondes interview on blog)
- The Wombats, The Wombats Presents A guide to Love, loss and desperation (another that’s enjoyed numerous listens. You can’t help but smile when you start to piece. together the song lyrics. mental gone right. o and go see them live. Check out my Wombats interview on the blog).
- Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid (it won a shit load of awards in 08. often that doesnt mean much. here it does)

2007
- Maps, We Can Create (well crafted (&not boring!) euphoric soundscapes, shoegaze electronica)
- New Young Pony Club, Fantastic Playroom (pure unadulterated funky indie fun. Best tracks: The Get Go, Ice Cream, the Bomb, Talking Talking, Hiding on the Staircase)
-MIA, Kala (Best of the albums great tracks: Jimmy, 20 Dollar, Paper Planes)

2006
Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not (mark this one as a notch in the geneology of music. Rock, punk, pop moments with an accent & innocence & true to life lyrics. believeable. An absolute must-have..FROM ITS hilarious non-PC cover & CD design TO ITS No fear of long titles TO ITS enlightenment on the life & times & tribulations of today’s northern UK youths)
Keane, Under the Iron Sea (funny, i didnt like this CD until listening to it again in 08. hmm not sure what that says about me. Btw, their 08 CD bites the big one …maybe i`ll be back in ’10 to tell you how great it is now. ha. But no, i won’t. It’s not a great 80s review CD as touted. I was there, and the 80s were better than that …and that doesnt say much for this CD).

2005
Hard-Fi, Stars of CCTV (Best tracks: the ever famous Cash Machine for its recognition of the life challenges faced by today’s UK youths just trying to ‘get by’, Hard to Beat and the unknown Move on Now. Feelin down? Throw on Living for the Weekend, and you’ll soon forget..whatever it was! …Still their best album to date.
The Bees, Free the Bees
Bloc Party, Silent Alarm (best example of neo-punk. the fore runners before it became cool. The best of their 3 CDs. Check out my 2 Bloc Party interviews on the blog)
The Doves, Some Cities (i couldnt even TELL you how many times i’ve listened to this CD. one I need to relisten to every year)

2004
Morrissey, You are the Quarry (one word: Solid Morrissey. ok two.)

We were promised jetpacks
CD These 4 walls
- quiet little voices

Popular workshop
- her birthday (single)

Super Furry Animals
CD dark days light years
- crazy naked girls

Eugene McGuiness
CD Eugene McGuiness
- fonz

Lily Allen
CD Alright, still
- Ldn

Speech Debelle
CD Speech Therapy
- bad boy

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- my boy builds coffins

Wake the President
CD You can’t change that boy
- remember fun

La Roux
CD La Roux
- in for the kill

The Maccabees
CD WAll of arms
- kiss and resolve

Pete Doherty
CD Grace/Wastelands
- a little death around the eyes

Future of the Left
CD Travels with myself and another
- stand by your manatee

Noise Annoys simon
CD you say it i’ll know it
- all her beauty

Maximo Park
CD quicken the heart
- tanned

The Brakes
CD Touchdown
- Hey Hey

Enjoy ya summer!

What it is…
The Mercury Prize recognizes the year’s best album by a British or Irish artist

It’s a £20,000 (about $35,000 Cdn) prize and comes with a tremendous growth in industry and fan recognition. Even shortlisters see their CD sales rise. The 2009 winner will be announced at a London ceremony on Sept. 8

My interviews and pics with some shortlisters…
Here are recent interviews with two of the shortlist nominees: Glasvegas and Friendly Fires.

My prediction:
Even though Glasvegas *should win, I predict (a riot.ha) that Florence will win- who almost deserves it as much. If not, then Lisa Hannigan’ll get it. argh!

ps. Where’s White Lies, Micachu & the Shapes and Super Furry Animals in this list… Better be cause they missed the deadline!

The 2009 nominees:
* Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
* Florence And The Machine – Lungs
* Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
* Glasvegas – Glasvegas
* Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
* Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
* Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
* The Horrors – Primary Colours
* The Invisible – The Invisible
* La Roux – La Roux
* Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
* Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

MERCURY PRIZE ODDS
· Kasabian – 5/1
· Florence and the Machine – 5/1
· Bat For Lashes – 6/1
· Glasvegas – 6/1
· La Roux – 6/1
· Lisa Hannigan – 8/1
· Speech Debelle – 8/1
· The Horrors – 8/1
· Friendly Fires – 8/1
· The Invisible – 10/1
· Sweet Billy Pilgrim – 10/1
· Led Bib – 10/1

Playlist:

Archangel
- How to lose your best friend (single)

Kasabian
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Assylum
- fire

1990s
09 CD Kicks
- 59

Hatcham Social
09 CD You dig the tunnel, i’ll hide the soil
- Jabberwocky

Some beans
09 CD Fear and Loathing in Tipton St. John
- turning blue

I chat about…
- Cribs new CD and new single with Johnny Marr out on free download yesterday and you’ll hear it here!

Kinkane
- Still feel the same (single)

The Cribs
CD Ignore the Ignorant, out in Sep 09
- we are aborted (advanced single)

The Red Zoids
- wind it up (new single)

I chat about…
- latest CD reviews on my blog under What Kills/What ills post

The Noisettes
09 CD Wild Young Hearts
- every now and then

Two door cinema club
- something good can work (single)

Depeche Mode
09 CD Sounds of the Universe
- Miles away – The truth is

I chat about…
- Arctic Monkey‘s new single coming … their not-so-great-experience at their 1st euro festival of the year…
- what’s 505 about ? email me
- Live at the Apollo DVD review

Jarvis Cocker
09 CD Further complications
- further complications

I chat about…
- Muse’s new cd…
- PRS figures out on who’s now more popular,listened to: Blur or Oasis?
- book review: This is your brain on Music: The Science of Human Obsession (Author: Daniel Levitin)

Super Furry Animals
09 CD Dark days/Light years
- white socks/flip flops

Have a warm-not-rainy!-groovy-filled-with Vit-C week!