Roger Sterling’s Greatest Hits. “You ever get three sheets to the wind and try that thing on?”  Brilliant.

Today on my way home a track from the Maccabees called “Can You Give It?” came on, sandwiched in between Lucero and the Manics.  While I don’t know a ton about the Maccabees, I’m enjoying the discovery and you should probably try on “Wall of Arms.”

Top 5 Albums of 2009:

1) White Lies - “To Lose My Life”

There’s seems to be an coincidental formula behind the album I deem my favorite each year.  Traditionally I choose the album before summer, ignoring any possible fall releases that could be brilliant. The decision is almost always made upon a first listen (Muse “Black Holes and Revelations,” Radiohead “In Rainbows”).  I can’t explain the science.  My friend Jeremy mentioned the name White Lies to me in late 2008 and by February, I was downloading shitty mp3s off blog sites to give them a try. The album is dark, but full of “pop hooks.”  Oh, and I’m a fan of any band that sounds like the ghost of Ian Curtis. (See Editors, The National, Interpol).

Top 5 Albums of 2009:

2) U2 - “No Line on the Horizon”

When “No Line” came out, I gave it a listen and thought it was “really good” and perhaps a top 10 for the year.  While I almost instantly put the title track into my top 10 favorite U2 songs ever, I thought the album was 60% great, 30% average, and 10% “bleh.”  However, just like HTDAAB, I went back to the record around the time the 360 Tour rolled through Boston and it sounded completely different.  Maybe it was because I was really happy in the summer of last year.  That happens you know?  I believe our happiness is why we sometimes look back at our music collection and think, “why did I ever love Tommy Shaw’s late 90’s solo record’?”

Top 5 Albums of 2009:

3) Glasvegas - S/T

Yesterday Danny was talking about his plans for his website, dannydeza.com, and how he needs to amp up his blogging efforts.  When he pulled up his tumblr page I remembered that I had built one last fall as well.  It looks like I abandoned said page around the 8th of December, 2009.  Well, here I am… back to bring you album #3 of last year.  It’s the s/t Glasvegas record which I do realize technically came out in 2008, but release dates don’t count when they are on the “cusp” of a new year.  I had the opportunity to meet Glasvegas in early 2009 when they came by to play a stripped set for WFNX.  At that point I hadn’t really given them a listen and I found them to be a bit pompous during the interview portion.  However, out of curiosity, I went to the Paradise show and became an instant fan.  This record was in heavy rotation during the Winter season of early 2009.  Enjoy!

Top 5 Albums of 2009:

4) The Doves - “Kingdom of Rust”

So, the Doves were back this year.  They’ve released 4 albums this decade, but this might be my favorite so far.  To me it seems “bigger” than 2005’s “Some Cities.”  It’s hard to explain what I mean by “bigger.”  Maybe “soaring” is a better word? Maybe not.  Anyway the title track and “10:03” were in heavy iTunes rotations this year.

Top 5 Albums of 2009:

5) Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”

I remember getting a couple of albums from Phoenix in the mail in years past.  I also remember liking them and even playing them on a show called “Underexposed” when I was in Savannah. WAP features possibly my favorite song of the year, “Lisztomania,” as well as “1901” (the Cadillac commercial song).  It’s tough for an album to hold my attention from beginning to end but, this flows so well track to track it’s a challenge to stop anywhere in the middle.

Album 4 in the next few days.