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Best albums of the year: 2009

Pop music had a rough 2009: Michael Jackson left us, Kanye West tried out for the sequel of "Girl, Interrupted," the constant airplay of Lady Gaga made some people gag and MTV continued its downward spiral.

The year 2009, though, wasn't all a bust. There were plenty of great albums released, and real music fans took notice.

Preview writers give their picks for the year's best of the best.

Marcus Amaker, 33

audiophile, voodoo child, living in style, a little bit wild (with a smile)

1. The XX, "XX": The most beautifully sublime record of the year, hands down. The XX wraps soul, trip-hop and indie rock in one neat little package. The album plays like a dialogue between two lovers dealing with the ups and downs of their relationship. And it makes you want to fall in love. The songs will stick to you from beginning to finish. Particularly amazing is "Infinity," which builds on a slow burning melody and ends up sounding like the best '80s song you've never heard.
2. Peaches, "I Feel Cream": Tell me if this sounds familiar: A flamboyant, over-the-top female singer with a knack for catchy songs, big beats and an even bigger voice releases a nearly flawless album of songs rooted in hip-hop and techno. While the rest of the world was settling for an imitation (Lady Gaga), Peaches came hard in 2009 with her best album since "The Teaches of Peaches." If you can resist the energy of songs such as "Mommy Complex," "More" and "Lose You," then you need to check your pulse.
3. Bat for Lashes, "Two Suns": The celestial metaphors are fitting for the second Bat for Lashes album, because "Two Suns" really sounds like it came from another planet. Natasha Khan's voice is an instrument that weaves perfectly with atmospheric and overly melodic musicianship. She sounds possessed on much of the album, and you can't help but become wrapped in her world.
4. Mono, "Hymn to the Immortal Wind": Post-rock giant Mono keeps delivering the goods, even when it's not what core fans expect. "Hymn to the Immortal Wind" finds the normally louder-than-life Japanese band turning down the guitars and turning up the volume on classical instruments. Parts of the album, particularly "Sleeping Dawn, Silent Flight" and "Follow The Map" wouldn't sound out of place as a film score. But fear not, just when you think they've gone soft, Mono still blows out your speakers with songs like the 12-minute layered "The Battle To Heaven" and the epic "Pure as Snow."
5. Prince, "lotusflow3r/mplsound": The story of post-'80s Prince is this: Every other album he releases is fantastic. So, we knew to expect something special after 2007's mediocre "Planet Earth." And he delivered with a double album of new, thrilling material. "lotusflow3r" is Prince being Jimi Hendrix, an hour's worth of guitar-heavy psychedelic jam songs. And "MPLSOUND" is Prince being ... Prince. You didn't realize he had a funk song like "Dance 4 Me" in him anymore, did you? This is so good I might just skip the next record and wait for 2011.

Honorable Mentions: Radian, "Chimeric"; Me'Shell NdegeOcello, "Devil's Halo"; Andrew Bird, "Noble Beast/Useless Creatures"; St. Vincent, "Actor"; Dan Auerbach, "Keep It Hid"; Mos Def, "The Ecstatic"; The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You"; Britney Spears, "Circus"; The Flaming Lips, "Embryonic"; Iron and Wine, "Around the Well"; Shh ... This is a Library, "Dream Big"; Lukid, "Foma."

Best song (and lyric): "Black Hearted Love," PJ Harvey and John Parish. "When you call out my name in rapture, I volunteer my soul for murder." That's pretty much all you need to know.

Worst song: Insert name of any John Mayer song off of his new "album." Oh, and that "Boom Boom Pow" fiasco from the Black Eyed Peas. And there were parts of the new Pearl Jam record that made me want to puke. It's a tough world out there, people.

Jack McCray, 62

Writer, producer, cultural guerilla, jazzerator

1. Ella Fitzgerald, "Twelve Nights in Hollywood": This gem of a four-CD set of Ella and her trio was recorded in 1961 and '62 has the band performing live in a small club on the Sunset Strip. It contains 77 tracks previously unissued. A masterpiece.
2. Ran Blake, "Driftwoods": Unconventional pianist Blake devotes this recording to his favorite singers Billie Holiday, Chris Conner and Jackie Paris. It's very nuanced with an inside-out feel to the music.
3. Steve Kuhn Trio with Joe Lovano, "Mostly Coltrane": Pianist Kuhn, drummer Joey Baron and tenor Lovano combine here to show the softer side of the garrulous saxophone icon John Coltrane. It includes romantic ballads and spiritual chants.

Best song of the year: Marcus Roberts, "Searching for the Blues"

Worst song of the year: Diana Krall, "The Boy From Ipanema"

Maureen Hartshorn, 28,

Gin drinker, escape artist, Angela Chase-sympathizer.

1. Dan Auerbach, "Keep It Hid": At first, the solo album from the Black Keys' guitarist/singer sounds a lot like, well, the Black Keys. It has the same gritty, vintage feel that defines the duo's brand of blues, but it experiments more, moving from swamp rock to lo-fi lullabies that depart from the Keys' catalog and confirm Auerbach as a powerful solo artist.
2. Neko Case, "Middle Cyclone": Skipping some of the vocal gymnastics Case is known for, this album's simple, polished sound creates an unassuming backdrop for its theme: the violent, beautiful and natural disaster of love. Case is lyrically perfect and paints an unabashed, naked portrait she hasn't shown previously.
3. Mos Def, "The Ecstatic": Welcome back, finally. Mos Def redeems himself musically in this album that draws a hip-hop map from Brooklyn to Baghdad, alternating genres and languages seamlessly. So good, it feels as if he never made a lousy album and left for the movies. And the Slick Rick cameo is priceless.

Honorable Mentions: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "It's Blitz!"; Elvis Perkins in Dearland, "Elvis Perkins in Dearland"; Andrew Bird, "Noble Beast"; The Swell Season, "Strict Joy"; Various artists, "Dark Was the Night"; The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You."

Best song of the year: Bon Iver, "Blood Bank."

Worst song of the year: John Mayer, "Your Body is a Wonderland," which was not released this year, or even close, but will be the worst song of the year every year until the end of time.

Caroline Millard, 21

Stylemaker, chaos lover, occasional muse and down-to-earth galleria

1. La Roux, "La Roux": I'm a sucker for Brit-girl synth-pop. The entire album pulls a lovely balance of melancholy love crooning and electrically delicious ballads of revenge all wrapped in electric loops and digital love. Perfect for nights of mischief.
2. Phoenix, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix": I'm a little late jumping on the Phoenix bandwagon (pun?), but this album is truly listenable and well-constructed from start to finish. Of course, I'm humming along to "1901" just like everyone else.
3. Passion Pit, "Manners": The album for my year, a blur of glittery beats and smile-worthy lyrics. Manners was the soundtrack to my 2009 all the way through. I don't think anyone could listen to this album and not have fun.

Best Song of the Year: Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance": She had to make it on my list somehow. If this song doesn't find itself on perma-loop in your head, we need to talk.

Worst Song of the Year: LMFAO, "I'm In Miami ...": I hate this song so much I won't even entertain it with a description.

Nick Bowman, 28

guitarist, "Lost" obsessive, Stephen Colbert disciple, snob, aging college student.

1. The Twilight Sad, "Forget The Night Ahead": While I can pick up some possible influences -- The Cure, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine -- over the course of two albums, The Twilight Sad have developed its own sound. The band plays loud, anthem rock with lots of noise and intensity. This album is almost as good as the first album, "Fourteen Albums & Fifteen Winters," which I think is one of the best albums of this decade. I think it's great that a four-piece guitar rock band can still find ways to make new and exciting music. Also, the lead singer gets bonus points for not concealing his Scottish Brogue.
2. Camera Obscura, "My Maudlin Career": I swear I didn't pick two Scottish bands on purpose; it just worked out that way. Camera Obscura are heavily influenced by '50s and '60s artists, such as the Ronettes, the Shirelles, and The Beach Boys, with a little bit of folk and country thrown in. They aren't particularly groundbreaking or innovative, but they write great pop songs. There are some who would write them off as sentimental and tacky. Those people are wrong. This is a simple, timeless, beautiful album. If you can listen to this whole album without feeling anything, you don't have a heart.
3. Cymbals Eat Guitars, "Why There Are Mountains": This is their first album, and they have set a high standard for their subsequent albums. The songs alternate between whisper quiet and screaming insanity. This is for fans of Pavement, The Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and The Flaming Lips. A lot of interesting guitar work and crazy tempo changes. To some people, it will sound like noise, and yes, there is a lot of noise. But there are also a lot of brilliant, off-kilter indie-pop songs. And unlike so many similar bands, these guys are great musicians. I can't wait for their next album.

Honorable mentions: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, "The Pains of Being Pure at Heart"; The Decemberists, "The Hazards of Love"; Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest."

Best song of the year: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, "Stay Alive."

Worst song of the year: Anything by Lady Gaga.

Kim Thomas, 31

graphic designer, artist, nanny and psychic friend

1. Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion": Not only does this album have one of the most psychedelic covers of the year, the music inside is also psychedelic (without the hippy-dippy patchouli). Kind of like space travel for your ears.
2. St. Vincent, "Actor": Normally, I'm very picky about female vocalists, but Annie Clark nails it with her cool feminine vocals combined with unexpected lyrics and quirky arrangements. I'm so bummed I didn't spill out the $25 to see her in October with Andrew Bird at the Music Farm.
3. Real Estate, "Real Estate": These guys are what The Beach Boys wish they could have been. Soft, psychedelic and dreamy, this first album is worth a listen.

Honorable mention: The Avett brothers, "I and Love and You."

Best song of the year: "40 Day Dream," Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Worst song of the year: Anything by Owl City.

Lisa Ryan, 22

writer, shoe addict, the best karaoke singer you've ever heard

1. Dirty Projectors, "Bitte Orca": Hands down the best album of the year, the Brooklyn rockers' latest studio recording has dominated the indie scene, finding a place with both hipsters and music connoisseurs alike. The album's melodic rifts, multipart harmonies, profound lyrics and ultra-experimental tracks are the product of frontman David Longstreth's unparalleled musical genius and simply like none other. To say that I'm obsessed with this album would be a gross understatement.
2. Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion": Though it is Animal Collective's eighth studio release, "Merriweather Post Pavilion" is by far the band's most popular album. Renown for its experimental tracks, the band has produced an album that is far more accessible than previous releases. It features a more concise psychedelic pop sound. The album's tracks profess an anti-materialistic message and feature effortlessly beautiful sounds that resonates with the listeners way after they've finished listening.
3. Neon Indian, "Psychic Chasms": Neon Indian struck a chord with the hipster crowd this summer with its amazing first single "Deadbeat Summer," featuring a laid back, lo-fi sound. The band's debut album sticks with the same vibe: a fun fusion of nostalgic, '80s-esque electronic beats and contemporary psychedelic sounds.

Honorable Mentions: Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest"; Phoenix, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"; The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You"

Best song of the year: Dirty Projectors, "Temecula Sunrise"

Worst song of the year: Kim Zolciak, "Tardy for the Party"

Melanie Caduhada, 22

former Charlestonian/NY metro resident, iPhone fiend, daydreamer, wino, hopeless cause

1. Phoenix, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix": The first three studio albums from these Paris-native dance rockers may have fallen under the radar this decade, but the massive response to the fourth, including sold-out performances, an indie all-star remix album and a Grammy nomination, proved no other modern album could be more associated with the term "Lisztomania."
2. Dirty Projectors, "Bitte Orca": A plethora of eccentric drum patterns, avant-garde rhythms, heart-dropping melody and sheer artistic genius, listening to this album is like taking your ears to a fireworks show: Musical beauty and creativity literally burst from every song. Bitte Orca is so experimental, you never get tired of listening, and so catchy, you can't help but play it over and over.
3. Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest": Put these guys in a recording studio and they've never disappointed anyone. But this year's highly anticipated collaboration is arguably their best. Is it poppier, more accessible? Perhaps. Yet it still manages to be filled with the swooning lyrics, meandering nature, charm and talent that Grizzly Bear never fails to bring to the table.

Honorable Mentions: Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion"; Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, "Up From Below"; Passion Pit, "Manners"; Micachu "Jewellery"

Best song of the year: Grizzly Bear, "While You Wait For The Others."

Worst Song of the Year: Owl City, "Fireflies." Excuse me, I have to vomit.

Nick Jenkins, 26

musician, drummer's drummer, illustrator, mentor, nostalgia-ridden pop philosopher, traveling salesman, lawn mower, etc.

1. Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion:" This album was in heavy rotation for me when it first came out. A lot of the sounds on this album made me think of early Nintendo games and Steven Spielberg films. It was a great record to walk and bike around to, especially in the middle of winter. Come on, bounce with me.
2. Dirty Projectors, "Bitte Orca": This one dropped in June. The vocals alone on this album deserve some great attention and praise. This album was on repeat all summer long for me. It reminded me of early '90s R&B girl groups (SWV, TLC, X-Scape, etc.) and even earlier '80s rock (Talking Heads). This album is a treat from start to finish, "but don't take my word for it."
3. Fever Ray, "Fever Ray": Fever Ray is the other half of the Swedish electronic dance duo, The Knife. This is a dark, dark album, but worth a few listens. This was also a heavily played album of 2009 for me. It's totally weird, but in all the goods ways. I'm also still listening to this one.

Honorable Mentions: Tyondai Braxton, "Central Market"; Bill Callahan, "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle"; Sister Suvi, "Now, I Am Champion"; Kaler, "Auditorium"; Lindsay Holler's Western Polaroids, "Helltembre"; David Bazan, "Curse Your Branches"; Mr. Jenkins, "Cupboards."

Best song of the year: "I Threw it on the Ground" by Andy Samberg.

Worst song of the year: "(Insert any title here)" by Miley Cyrus.

Holly Thorpe, 30

mix CD maker. old soul. live music goer. collagist. seeker of my truth.

1. The Avett Brothers, "I And Love And You": Seeing them live is an amazing experience in itself, but this album will truly give you goose bumps. You think one song is your favorite until you get to the next. Scott and Seth's vocals are stronger than ever, and album production is stellar. Love is the theme and their lyrics send shivers up your spine.
2. Vandaveer, "Divide & Conquer": Mark Charles Heidinger's old soul of a voice mixed with Rose Guerin "loveliest harmonies this side of Eden" create this highly underrated, sweetly haunting album that ranges from intense to dreamy sounds. A few songs beg to be sung along to while the others need your full attention, preferably in the car on your next road trip. Check out the YouTube video for "Fistful of Swoon."
3. Dan Auerbach, "Keep It Hid": Even while working on countless projects like The Black Keys and Blakroc, Auerbach totally delivers on his first solo album. It gives a throwback to an older time with songs that sound bluesy with shades of gospel and soul. When the song "When the Night Comes" plays, it stops me in my tracks. This album stays on repeat.

Honorable Mentions: Neko Case, "Middle Cyclone"; The XX, "The XX"; Andrew Bird, "Noble Beast"; The Low Anthem, "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin"; Joshua James, "Build Me This"; Sara Lov, "Seasoned Eyes Were Beaming"; Flaming Lips, "Embryonic"; Monsters of Folk, "Monsters of Folk"; Atlas Sound, "Logos"; Islands, "Vapours"; Fever Ray, "Fever Ray."

Best song of the year: Monsters of Folk, "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)."

Worst song of the year: Boys Like Girls, "Love Drunk."

Matthew, Weyers, 42

Man of mystery, sometimes writer, full-time competitive eating enthusiast

1. Sara Tavares, "Xinti": She sings in Portuguese, so I'm not sure what she's talking about, but it's the way she says it. Soulful in any language. Described in a word: Wow!
2. White Denim, "Fits": The new kings of lo-fi. All the rambunctiousness you expect from a garage band and a keen sense of melody that peeks through unexpectedly.
3. Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion": Dream-inspired post-pop rambling through an ethereal sonic landscape. That sums it up pretty good.

Honorable Mentions: Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest"; The Flaming Lips, "Embryonic"; Depeche Mode, "Sounds of the Universe"; Wavvves, "Wavvves"; Vivian Girls, "Everything Goes Wrong"; New York Dolls, "'Cause I Sez So."

Best song of the year: Wilco, "Bull Black Nova"

Worst song of the year: Miley Cyrus, "Party in the USA."

Jason Alan Layne. 31

Freelance photographer/graphic designer, skim boarder, Upper-Deck enthusiast, the only one in Charleston that doesn't like shrimp and grits and Band of Horses ... let the stone-throwing commence.

1. Mastodon, "Crack the Skye": Another epic album by an epic band. A concept album at its best and is best listened to from beginning to end. Amazing packaging and artwork accompanies the album, as well.
2. William Basinski, "92982": It took me a couple of months to listen to this album because I kept falling asleep to it! Not that it's a bad/boring or anything. It's an amazing ambient album: atmospheric, haunting, beautiful, melancholic, distorted ... I could go on. Grab the headphones for this one.
3. Coalesce, "OX": Coalesce is a band I grew up on and was ecstatic when they released a new album after a 10-year hiatus. They haven't lost the touch: loud, aggressive, technical and will sure to make my ears bleed once again. Ah, memories ... and tinnitus.

Best song of the year: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Zero"

Worst song of the year: Any song using auto tune.

Matthew Godbey, 26

Good people, good self and good bourbon.

1. The Avett Brothers "I and Love and You": Not as much reinvented as revamped, North Carolina trio The Avett Brothers has proven itself worthy of the critical praise for its new album, "I and Love and You". The boys from Concord, N.C., teamed up with producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin for their 11th studio album and major label debut. While the album holds true to the trio's bluegrass-inspired thrash-folk past, it expands into something much more refined. It builds on the music that was forged from the rugged and worn backbone of American Appalachia. Like a great wave, "I and Love and You" swells slowly, patiently and deliberately, taking its time to reach the listener. Each song leaves an anticipation without being trite or boring and tells a story full of vintage dialect and vernacular that still finds its place in modern times.
2. Kid Cudi, "Man on the Moon: THE END OF DAY": Every once in a while, an artist emerges from the shadows and blows the doors off everything you thought you understood about music. Kid Cudi did that for me this year. This young MC from Shaker Heights dropped out of film school, moved to Brooklyn and, at age 20, released a mix tape that blew Kanye West's mind. Soon after, Cudi was performing and collaborating with West. Before long, the kid from Ohio was collaborating with Jay-Z, Common, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga and Travis Barker. After sampling "The Funeral" by Band of Horses and collaborating with other alt-rock groups such as MGMT and Ratatat on his debut album "Man on the Moon: The End of Day," Cudi has expressed interest in working with more rock groups including Green Day. Now that's progression I like to see. Expect to see much more of this Kid.
3. Yeasayer, "Odd Blood": Though its album "Odd Blood" is not set for release until February, the Brooklyn-based trio Yeasayer escapes classification on its sophomore effort. Self-describing itself as "Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel" only seems ridiculous until you hear the music, then it makes total sense. Listen to the single "Ambling Alp" twice and try to shake it from the memory banks. I dare you.

Devin Grant, 39,

father, husband, writer, photographer, live music fanatic, concert photographer, and still a "Star Wars" geek.

1. Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You": The Avett Brothers have put out some great music in the past, but this Rick Rubin-helmed major label debut from the North Carolina band was about as close to perfect as an album gets.
2. Them Crooked Vultures, "Them Crooked Vultures": This down and dirty rock record harks back to the days when Led Zeppelin ruled the rock world. The fact that the supergroup features former Led Zep member John Paul Jones on bass certainly doesn't hurt. He, along with Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age's Joshua Homme, help mark the return of dangerously fun rock 'n' roll.
3. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, "The Live Anthology": Petty personally poured more than three decades of live performances and put the best stuff on four CDs. The result is a great early Christmas present from one of the best live bands out there. I could listen to this over and over.

Honorable Mentions: Monsters of Folk, "Monsters of Folk"; Tom Waits, "Glitter and Doom Live"; The Soundtrack of our Lives, "Communion"; Leonard Cohen, "Live In London."

Best song of the year: Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You."

Worst songs of the year: Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow," as well as each and every "song" on Guns 'N Roses "Chinese Democracy."

Lindsay Holler, 33

singer/songwriter in Charleston. nickname is "See Through" and I've had 2 cars catch on fire.

1. Tom Waits, "Glitter and Doom (live)": I was at one of the concerts that contributed some of its live material to this CD. The concert was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To me, Tom Waits weaves an extraordinary pattern of quality music, creativity and integrity that speaks to me with depth and sincerity. The opportunity to see someone so important to me in person is incomparable.
2. Ryan Bingham, "Roadhouse Sun": There have been several degrees of separation that have led me to Ryan Bingham, and I always keep coming back to his voice. Its fragile but resilient. I think that comes out more than ever on his newest record. It's the kind of voice that will settle well with life.
3. The Builders and the Butchers, "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well": The frantic creepiness of this calls me in ... exactly where I want to go. I'd follow these guys down and I'm excited to dig in. My new favorite crush.

Best song of the year: This is almost impossible to establish because I am extraordinarily moody, but right now, I'd have to go with "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. I know, not my usual cup of tea. But that's what music can do ... draws you in whether you want it to or not. I could not stop singing this song after the first time I heard it. (Thanks Lindsay and Adrian.)

Worst song of the year: Adam Lambert, "Take One." This is where pop goes wrong. All titillation and no substance.

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