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While assembling a top list for 2009 I found that there were four albums that really blew me away and stuck with me for the entire year. Trying to choose another six seemed a little silly to me, so here are my top four, with an honorable mention category for number five. Lhasa de Sela and Jay Reatard put out fantastic albums in 2009 and both died young in early 2010. I highly recommend checking out “Lhasa” and “Watch Me Fall.”

4. Animal Collective – “Merriweather Post Pavilion”

So everybody and their mom put this album on their top ten, but with good reason. After 10 years of releasing music, Animal Collective has hit their high point so far with this album.

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3. Fool’s Gold – “Fool’s Gold”

The summer vibes from this album kept me warm all fall. Check out my review here.

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2. Gui Boratto – “Take My Breath Away”

In 20 years this will be the Wikipedia entry for minimal techno in 2009. Check out my review here.

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1. HEALTH – “Get Color”

So dark, so heavy, so good. In my opinion, the best rock band in the world. Check out my review here.

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Additional albums:

Here are some other albums I liked. I tried to keep my album total to 25 so one might reasonably be able to check out any new albums not yet heard. A few have mp3s for your listening pleasure.

Antony & the Johnsons – “The Crying Light”

Bassnectar – “Cozza Frenzy”

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Bela Fleck – “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 – Africa Sessions”

Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Eating Us”

CFCF – “Continent”

Chancha Via Circuito – “Rodante”

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Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele – “The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele”

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Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes – “Up From Below”

Fuck Buttons – “Tarot Sport”

James Hand – “Shadow on the Ground”

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Jay Reatard – “Watch Me Fall”

K’naan – “Troubadour”

Krazy Baldhead – “The B-Suite”

Lhasa – “Lhasa”

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Lily Allen – “It’s Not Me, It’s You”

Major Lazer – “Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do”

Mochipet – “Master P on Atari”

Neon Indian – “Psychic Chasms”

Parov Stelar – “Coco”

Röyksopp – “Junior”

Simian Mobile Disco – “Temporary Pleasure”