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Your Favorite Songs Of The Decade: 2009

Posted at 5:16 PM on January 4, 2010 by Melanie Walker
Filed under: Favorite Songs of the Decade

Hi there! This is Melanie Walker, the Music Director here at The Current. As we're wrapping up 2009 here at The Current I'm finding myself reminiscing not only about my favorite songs of the last year, but my favorite songs of the last decade! Every week day till New Year's Eve I'll be counting down my favorite 10 tracks of each year of the '00's and I invite you to do the same! We've got 10 days to count down our 100 personal favorites of the last decade. This is simply just for fun. I'm no authority on what was the defining music of an era. You can check out the blog last week about the year 2008. Let's continue the countdown with the final year of the decade, 2009!

2009 was the year

These are my personal favorite songs of the year 2009.

10. Junior Boys - "Parallel Lines"
Junior Boys are one of the most over looked electronic pop acts out there today in my humble opinion. I think I mentioned this when referencing Junior Boys album, So This Is Goodbye, back in my 2006 blog. Their 2009 release, Begone Dull Care, was a solid album but didn't quite compare to their previous works for me except for one stand out track titled "Parallel Lines". "Parallel Lines" showcase's the duo's trademark attention to detail and nuance with its slow, teasing tempo and minimal production. I also had the pleasure of finally seeing them live at First Avenue this last year. Was a mighty fine show you all missed. The crowd was small but the place transformed into a "danceteria" for one night again!

Parallel Lines - Junior Boys

9. Gossip - "Heavy Cross"
Gossip's 2006 release, Standing in the Way of Control, was a huge success in the UK earning them a Gold Record Status over there. But, the funny thing is Gossip actually hail from Portland, OR and unfortunately did not get quite as much wide spread praise in the US. So, when it came time to write their next record they brought out the big guns having legendary producer Rick Rubin work with them on their 2009 release Music For Men. The band always had a touch of funk in their rock but Rubin seemed to really help emphasize that strength of theirs on this new release. Finally, the ears of audiences in the US perked up and took notice of Gossip in 2009 and "Heavy Cross" became one of the most talked about songs of the year and one of my personal favorites. Lead singer Beth Ditto is slowly and surely becoming an indie rock icon with her outrageous performances and soulful vocals.

8. Bat For Lashes - "Daniel"
Natasha Kahn aka Bat For Lashes 2006 debut release, Fur and Gold, was a hard act to follow. But, she wowed us again with her mix of pop and fantasy on her 2009 release Two Suns. On this release the basis of the album revolves around Khan's "desert-born spiritual self" and her "destructive, self-absorbed, blonde femme fatale" alter ego Pearl as it covers "the philosophy of the self and duality, examining the need for both chaos and balance, for both love and pain, in addition to touching on metaphysical ideas concerning the connections between all existence." That's a mouthful to fit into 11 songs and to be honest I'm not sure if I'm paying all that much attention to Metaphysics of Two Suns as I am to the pop hook of "Daniel". Regardless, if she's actually singing about Daniel from Karate Kid or not, the song is a huge hit for me and one of my favorites of 2009.

Daniel - Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes | MySpace Music Videos

7. Jack Penate - "Pull My Heart Away"
I'm a massive Jack Penate fan! He's been called somewhat like "Lily Allen minus the sarcasm and the party frocks". Most of his music is mainly very slick, pop tunes that draw a lot of reference to the Two Tone ska revival in South London. Jack's got so much heart and soul pumped into his recorded and live performances that I'm dumb founded he's not garnered more attention here in the states. His 2009 release, Everything Is New, was one of my favorite albums of the year and the heart breaker "Pull My Heart Away" my favorite song from the album.

6. Eels - "Fresh Blood"
Most people who are into music are fairly familiar with Eels but you'd be surprised that most don't realize that they are not so much a band but the brain child of front man, singer/ songwriter E (aka Mark Oliver Elliot). E's 2009 release, Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs Of Desire, speaks mainly on the more primal side of human experience with 12 songs focusing on themes like tenderness, rage, and reckless abandon. It's an album that's got the perfect balance of pop sensibilities and concept. I'm a huge fan of the dark strut of "Fresh Blood".

5. Wild Beasts - "Devil's Crayon"
Ok I realize that Wild Beasts debut release Limbo, Panto was actually released in November of 2008. But, the way we do the tabulating for our Top 89 here at The Current is actually from the later part of the previous year. Plus, I do feel like Wild Beasts was a band I spent listening to mostly in the early part of 2009 not 2008. Hailing from Leeds, England, Wild Beasts sound is primary based in non traditional indie rock genres such as cabaret, vaudeville, jazz, disco, and Afro-pop. They are as eclectic as they are beautifully odd whether it be the theatrical falsetto of lead singer Hayden Thorpe or the Dr. Seuss like rhymes and alliteration in their lyrics. I find most people don't know what to think of them they tend to be so incredibly unique compared to any other music on the market today. But, I think that's why I tend to love them so much. "Devil's Crayon" was one of my absolute favorite songs of this last year!

4. Delphic - "Counterpoint"
Delphic is a band I didn't discover till the later part of 2009. But, after the first listen I became a huge fan. Based out of Manchester, England, Delphic seemingly appeared out of nowhere quickly signing to Polydor records in the UK in the early part of 2009 and cutting a record with the help of legendary electronic producer/DJ Ewan Pearson (who happens to be a favorite of mine.) I'm looking forward to seeing what becomes of this band in early 2010 when their album Acolyte releases in the US. My favorite track from them thus far is "Counterpoint". This track reminds me a bit of New Order with a dash of Orbital for good measure. I love it!

DELPHIC - Counterpoint from Jean Demery / Handz.tv on Vimeo.

3. Animal Collective - "My Girls"
2009 was the year Animal Collective won over the masses with their album Merriweather Post Pavilion. They've long been a favorite of indie music heads worldwide with their other worldly, experimental sound. But, it wasn't until this most recent record that they were able to balance out their music's eclecticism with some approachability. Named on most critics best of the year lists, Merriweather Post Pavilion took us all off guard with hits like "Summertime Clothes" and my favorite track "Girls".

2. The Big Pink - "Velvet"
The Big Pink became one of the year's most successful new acts with their debut release, A Brief History Of Love. Duo Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell cut their musical teeth in their home studio nurturing the talents of bands such as Klaxons, The Teenagers and other British newcomers and tastemakers. After finding success as producers, they turned the spotlight inward nurturing their own talents and love for the dark, proggy excessiveness and epic expansiveness of the late 80's and 90's shoegaze and rock music. The result ended up being one of the most focused and impressive records of the year. My favorite track was "Velvet" with its echoes of My Bloody Valentine and Catherine Wheel.

1. Glasvegas - "It's My Own Cheating Heart"
My absolute favorite record of 2009 was the self titled debut release of Glasvegas. Maybe I'm a sucker for the blatant Scottish drogue, or the simplicity of their influences from the heydays of 50's and 60's doo wop and rockabilly that are heavily heard in the song writing of lead singer James Allen. Regardless, there's something I can't quite put my finger on about this band that sets them so far apart from any other rock record I heard all year. I think it may be the earnest emotional clarity, everyman anthems and pounding Wall of Sound dynamics that make it number one in my book. I had many favorites from Glaswegians this last year but my favorite was "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry".

Now it's your turn! What are some of your favorite songs of 2009?

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