2009: Overlooked

In anticipation of the annual year-end review, here is a collection of five favorite overlooked songs that were not included in last year's list. This is a recognition of some tracks released in 2009 that either got a raw deal last December or simply weren't discovered until after the calendar changed... 

Foreign Born

"Vacationing People"

There's no second of wasted energy in "Vacationing People." The song is performed like Foreign Born have only so much gas to get them to where they're going — but they've got a long way to go. As a result, every drum beat and guitar strum is carefully plotted so as to not waste their strength. And when they start running on fumes just before the three minute mark, they throw it all on the fire: drums become more excited, horns lift the song, and even the strum of the guitar gets more lively. But then we putter slowly to a stop... right on top of the bullseye.

-Matt Jordan

Freelance Whales

"The Great Estates"

If Sufjan Stevens had decided to give the Pacific Northwest a nod instead of two states in the Midwest, the result would have sounded a lot like "The Great Estates." Banjo and organ permeate this song chock-full of nature imagery, making it feel like a beautiful walk in winter woods.

-Claire Tiller

 

The Middle East

"The Darkest Side"

"Did you know the word karaoke is Japanese for empty orchestra? Isn't that hauntingly beautiful?" – How I Met Your Mother

Though this band sits comfortably with seven members, their recordings come off as if they are a somewhat empty orchestra. The sound is not overbearing for what you'd expect from such a large group or the multiple instruments they each play; instead this song comes off sparse and intimate. Their music is not ground-breaking or unique, yet they capture your attention. Maybe it is the Aussie accents, but it certainly is "hauntingly beautiful."

-Lindsay Juley

The Rural Alberta Advantage

"Frank, AB"

Things start out quiet in "Frank, AB" — much as they did on the night of the deadly rockslide that inspired the tune — an innocuous thrum of guitar and kick drum with the occasional skitter of hi-hat like pebbles down a mountain. The tap of the hi-hat quickly intensifies and washes over the song, howls and wails snaking up over the crash. A momentary sense of calm takes over; then there is chaos. When the dust settles, there are just two voices left, intertwined and fading. The kick drum carries us out, a heartbeat slipping away as "Frank, AB" lays itself to rest.

-Stacey Lansing

The Temper Trap

"Sweet Disposition"

There is a reason you hear this song being whored out on movie soundtracks and TV commercials everywhere you turn. It demands your attention from the get-go and sticks in your head immediately. Not only is lead singer Dougy Mandagi's falsetto voice bearable unlike some other musicians' high pitch squeals (*ahem*Mika*ahem*), but there is also a gradual build up in the song to the epic chorus which is the perfect complement to any climactic/tv moment. Cue the on-screen kiss!

-Lindsay Juley

Best Songs of 2009: 10-1

		"Dominos"
		The Big Pink
		A murky wash of distorted guitars and hazy synths paired with slick beats (almost) masks this track's transparent topic. The swaggering shoe-gaze duo waste no time delivering their irresistibly catchy hook about hooking up and they conquer all hearts and ears in their path. No wonder the girls fall like dominos.
		-Claire Tiller
		"1901"
		Phoenix
		"1901" marries Phoenix's two sides — the blue-eyed soul-singing polish of their early releases and the dirtied up French boys found on 2006's It's Never Been Like That — to form a more perfect union of dirty rock and butt-slapping dance.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Percussion Gun"
		White Rabbits
		The stark shifting textures of "Percussion Gun" sound about as unsettled and arid as the relationship the song is about. Enlivening percussion propels the song forward, running away from a bad relationship and obscurity in one fell swoop.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Crystalised"
		The xx
		This is The xx at their most seductive, and their most urban, evoking the singularly universal experience of youthful pining — perhaps in a drunken stupor and enveloped in darkness — for sexual clarity. A sultry, ethereal drone hovers behind competing staccato guitar lines and the alternating verses of Oliver Sim's fuzzy baritone crooning and Romy Madley Croft's soft implorations. This suggestive sparring ceases during the chorus, though, a descending repetition of "ahh" sung in unison, ambiguous but familiar, satisfying. While clarity may not emerge at the end of this track, the xx reminds us to simply "go slow" and savor the tension.
		-Peter Truby
		"Animal"
		Miike Snow
		With their curiously simple approach, Miike Snow's "Animal" sticks to the philosophy that less is more. The punchy little song makes you want to bob your head from side-to-side with its off beat. It has all the little things that make Miike Snow's music animalistic.
		-Julie Gong
		"Moth's Wings"
		Passion Pit
		"Moth's Wings" has a perfect toe-tapping beat so that even the most uncoordinated hipsters can nod their heads confidently in rhythm while twittering about how they just swapped sweat with Michael Angelakos.
		-Lindsay Juley
		"Daylight"
		Matt & Kim
		"Daylight" was everywhere in 2009 — a hot Bacardi commercial, video games, NBC's Community. Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino realized they were suddenly capable of curing what ails the Millenial generation most with the medicine of unrelenting optimism, because how could you hate during a song like this?
		-Andy DeLoach
		"My Girls"
		Animal Collective
		The art-rock ensemble writes a simple folk-song and fuses it with a ridiculously catchy beat, and an overwhelming urge to dance follows. A composition with meaning beyond the studio wizardry, "My Girls" is Animal Collective's finest achievement in a decade's worth of exemplary material.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Two Weeks"
		Grizzly Bear
		"Two Weeks" begins with a steady beat of cheerful piano notes (struck as loudly and surely as if a child's chubby fingers were plunking out "heart and soul" on the family wurlitzer) before settling into a lovely blend of bright sunshiney chords over slower, slightly melancholy, deliberate vocal harmonies that swirl and twist around one another like a musical cyclone, only to suddenly dissipate into the air. A standout song on a standout album, "Two Weeks" is a testament to the work ethic of a band clearly determined to bring an immaculate recording as close to perfection as possible.
		-Litzy Everson
		"Stillness is the Move"
		Dirty Projectors
		"Stillness" sounds like a pinball machine on steroids. The clangy groove is the perfect contrast and backdrop to Amber Coffman's stunningly agile voice. Her soprano becomes buoyant, floating on top of the busy background and carrying the song's hopeful lyrics across a sea of clamor. In the last minute the commotion falls away to reveal a string quartet, a gorgeous respite from the beautiful noise before.
		-Claire Tiller

Best Songs of 2009: 25-11

		"Kettering"
		The Antlers
		Repeated, persistent piano chords support and console Peter Silberman's fragile voice as he grapples with mortality on "Kettering." The song moves from melancholia to anger to acceptance through five minutes of sad shoegaze.
		-Claire Tiller
		"When the Devil's Loose"
		A.A. Bondy
		Dimly lit by the embers of fires, Bondy finds revelatory praises in the darkness. He's waiting in the shadows with the sort of affected voice that haunts with weakness and vulnerability to warn you of his lovely sadness. The pinewoods can't hold the "Devil" back and neither will they keep you from A.A. Bondy.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"She Loves Everybody"
		Chester French
		A tragic overture surrenders to a deceivingly upbeat song, a smartly recycled and modernized accolade to new-wave and '60s pop. The lyrics "Well, she craves affection, so I use protection, And I know she loves me, she loves everybody" are equal parts smugly clever and poignantly heartbreaking.
		-Claire Tiller
		"French Navy"
		Camera Obscura
		A complete love story in three minutes? Impossible unless you're Camera Obscura. This carefree tune transports you to a breezy afternoon filled with skipping, laughing, and the reminder that even French sailors will break your heart.
		-Julie Gong
		"So Far Around the Bend"
		The National
		Sufjan Stevens would drool over the whimsical woodwinds in an earthy folk-rock song that would feel right at home on the now infamous Garden State soundtrack.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Ambling Alp"
		Yeasayer
		Packed with memerising electro beats and a bright pulsating rhythm, "Ambling Alp" strikes a rare balance between forward-thinking experimentation and good old-fashioned fun.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Dog Days Are Over"
		Florence & the Machine
		You know how sometimes you start to wallow in your own self-pity? Everything seems a little grey and dreary and melancholy. But then maybe a ray of sunlight breaks through the mass of clouds above, filling you with enough brightness and warmth that suddenly you're thinking how lucky you are to be you, here, today, right where you are. Well, that's the exact feeling evoked here. The beginning piano notes twinkle gently and deliberately beneath the lovely rich quality of Florence Welch's voice, and then the two slowly build together into a joyful chorus of, well, sunshine, with handclaps taking over the beat to allow Florence and her machine to dance together in that perfect beam of sunlight. And when she sings "happiness hit her like a bullet in the head," you know just what she's talking about.
		-Litzy Everson
		"Oh No"
		Andrew Bird
		The first seconds of "Oh No" are like a sonic sunrise warmly awakening a field of handclaps and whistling. The day-dreamy music initially seems mismatched with lyrics about humanity being "harmless sociopaths" with "calcium mines buried deep in our chests," but it's a gentle wake-up call from Bird to stop feeling numb and get back in touch with our emotions, lest otherwise it take "a calculated blow to the head to light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths."
		-Claire Tiller
		"Let's Go Surfing"
		The Drums
		"Let's Go Surfing" reminds you of everything that is awesome about youthful summer. Skipping off to the beach aside, it's really about complete and utter freedom and the last sweet drops of pure happiness a teenager can enjoy.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Got Nuffin"
		Spoon
		"Got Nuffin" provides soul, groove, rock, and grit — side-by-side — in less than four minutes. That's no small feat and the outcome leaves you wanting to either dance, spit, or tell off your boss with confidence. I recommend all three at once.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Heads Will Roll"
		Yeah Yeah Yeahs
		"Heads Will Roll" jerks you awake out of monotony. With a snappy beat and infectious lyrics, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs pull you up by your hair and demand that you get up and dance... dance, dance 'til you're dead.
		-Litzy Everson
		"Young Hearts Spark Fire"
		Japandroids
		"Young Hearts Spark Fire" is reminiscent of listening to your high school boyfriend's band practice in his parents' basement — it's lo-fi but high energy, more shout than sing, uncomplicated, incredibly idealistic, and what it lacks it makes up for three times over in charm.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Airplanes"
		Local Natives
		There's no messy sexuality here, or worse, syrupy wistfulness. Instead, "Airplanes" is pure remembrance laced with a longing for something lost that is deeper and older than any romantic connection. The music builds, pulls back, and builds again — steady and hopeful, but always aware of its ultimate finiteness.
		-Casie Yoder
		"Blood Bank"
		Bon Iver
		With sparse instrumentation and the haunting "oohs" at the beginning, "Blood Bank" manages to capture the feeling of a Wisconsin winter and actually romanticize it. Though the style does not stray from For Emma, Forever Ago, "Blood Bank" proves Justin Vernon does not need a breakup and a deserted cabin to deliver.
		-Lindsay Juley
		"White Blank Page"
		Mumford & Sons
		An urgent, pleading strum pattern supports Marcus Mumford's aching voice as he sings heartbreakers like "Tell me now where was my fault in loving you with my whole heart." Barren harmonies and Celtic sounding fiddles and accordion lend the song a feeling of friends hunkering down in a cozy pub to wallow in and drown out their heartache.
		-Claire Tiller

Best Songs of 2009: 40-26

		"Treat Me Like Your Mother"
		The Dead Weather
		Allison Mosshart fiercely sneers, demands and threatens over Jack White's slick beats and Jack Lawrence's and Dean Fertita's prog-punk rock.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Knotty Pine"
		Dirty Projectors & David Byrne
		"Knotty Pine" covered a great deal of time and space in coming together — David Byrne wrote the lyrics in the '70s and Dave Longstreth placed it to music all these years later. It's fitting, then, that the song seems separated from time and place. The Projectors' sprightly voices send the song into blissful territory before the first verse even finishes.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Lakeside"
		BLK JKS
		A frenzy of guitars, restless rhythms, and half-ominous/half-joyful vocals converge and collide, reaching a fever pitch of epic proportions.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Pa Pa Power"
		Dead Man's Bones
		Skeletal, goth-flavored standout (complete with accompaniment by Silverlake Conservatory Children's Choir) from the surprisingly adept debut disc by Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling and friend Zach Shields.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Actor Out of Work"
		St. Vincent
		"Actor" begins like the flip of a switch — no preface, no pretense, just Annie Clark's warm yet detached voice deliberating over jagged, fuzzed out guitar, drums and a delightfully bizarre guitar riff. Then, sudden as it started, the switch is flipped back off, an actor coming back to reality from a monologue, off to another audition.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Generator ^ Second Floor"
		Freelance Whales
		With their self-released debut album Weathervanes, Freelance Whales have splashed on to the scene with a collection of thoughtful and catchy tracks. "Second Floor" has a breezy but intense sound driven by a banjo, bells, and guitar, which gives the track a very organic vibe. And yes, there's also a first floor — and it's good.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Strictly Game"
		Harlem Shakes
		Apparently Harlem Shakes weren't as happy together as their music would suggest. The now-defunct band mimics Vampire Weekend's success with cheeky, happy-go lucky lyrics and bouncy Afro-Caribbean beats. Perhaps this will be a better year for the separated Shakes, but it certainly won't be for us.
		-Claire Tiller
		"High Ground"
		Orenda Fink
		Orenda Fink gets all placid and pastoral singing to a dude who's so destructive he's like a flood, while banjos and Modest Mouse's Issac Brock are busy in the background.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)"
		Cymbals Eat Guitars
		Cobbled together lyrics littered with vague personal references couple well with a rag-tag ensemble of guitars, brass and vibraphone. Cymbals Eat Guitars deftly navigate through the patchwork song, the whole a happy result of junk-pop culture.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Home"
		Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
		Somewhere there's somebody singing longingly of a home they'll never see again, but that isn't anywhere near Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. "Home" is a victory march to everywhere and, in fact, it is everywhere you are.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"While You Wait for the Others"
		Grizzly Bear
		An anxiously restrained and stripped down verse bursts into a palette of gorgeous harmonies on the chorus. Somewhere, Robin Pecknold is green with envy.
		-Claire Tiller
		"The Sandman, the Brakeman, and Me"
		Monsters of Folk
		What is interesting about this supergroup is that each entity is already uniquely identifiable. On first listen, this track could be mistaken as a M. Ward solo effort — but then come those superb backing harmonies supplied by Mr. Oberst and Mr. James (Yames, here) that makes such an enjoyable case for why these Monsters are powerful when united.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Northern Lights"
		Bowerbirds
		Bowerbirds prove here that often the greatest beauty lies in simplicity. The melody is simple, the strum pattern is simple, the lyrics are simple. But it all comes together to become one beautiful, straightforward song that feels like an old familiar blanket on a cold day — inviting, cozy and warm.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Fortune"
		Little Dragon
		"Fortune" is a shining example of Little Dragon's signature smooth-but-noddy, sleepy-yet-electric sound. What sets the Sweden band apart is frontwoman Yukimi Nagano's cooing voice. Spinning wryly-romantic tales over eerie melodies and Fairlight synthesizer washes, she is consistently captivating.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"People Got a Lotta Nerve"
		Neko Case
		If there were a contest for best sing-along chorus of the year, Neko Case would win hands down. The alt-country "man eater" chorus here is fiery, playful, and powerful — not surprising from a singer-songwriter who embodies those same qualities.
		-Claire Tiller

Best Songs of 2009: 55-41

		"These Are My Twisted Words"
		Radiohead
		Radiohead's twisted words are stunningly wrapped in their twisted sounds. Thom Yorke's vocals float effortlessly over the disorienting, hazy soundscape, creating a painfully beautiful portrait of loss.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Help I'm Alive"
		Metric
		"Help I'm Alive" combines Metric's signature catchy pop with Emily Haines's dreamlike vocals and dynamic, carefully-crafted lyrics ("Hard to be soft, tough to be tender"). Canada's premier synth-rock crew don't disappoint in their long-awaited return.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Everyday"
		Vetiver
		Vetiver's used everything that's great about wholesome pop/rock love songs to create this acoustic track about longing for the love you miss. The infectious rhythm and relatable lyrics will have you bouncing along instantly.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Island, IS"
		Volcano Choir
		Multiple rhythmic pieces interlock to form a lush mosaic of sound, an intricate bed for Justin Vernon's characteristically ethereal vocals. The end evaporates away, gently bringing the listener back from a beautiful sonic retreat.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Cornerstone"
		Arctic Monkeys
		Alex Turner goes looking to replace a lost love in this dreamlike odyssey through bizarre drinking holes, returning with a song as exquisite as it is strange.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Pulling on a Line"
		Great Lake Swimmers
		There's a carefree and pleasant feeling you get from listening to "Pulling on a Line." Led by Tony Dekker's unstrained vocals, the Great Lakes Swimmers project folk sound in a refined but very honest way. You don't have to dig very deep into this Canadian group's repertoire to understand why they have been steadily gaining recognition and a dedicated following around the world.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Laughing With"
		Regina Spektor
		Sobering piano chords begin Spektor’s candid reflection on the Almighty, a simple and honest contemplation of humanity’s relationship with God and the guises imposed on Him.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Little Secrets"
		Passion Pit
		Right away the electronic keyboard sets the rhythmic tone for this feel-good anthem. Visions of circuses, balloons, pogo sticks, and other random yet enjoyable summer activities flood the mind while nodding to the ever-lasting pop-techno beat. The inclusion of a simple chorus sang by child like vocals adds another element of youthful happiness.
		-JoAnn Schinderle
		"For You"
		Sharon Van Etten
		Musically little new ground is tread on "For You," but that is no complaint with a voice that sounds as gorgeous and real as Sharon Van Etten's.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"The Ruminant Band"
		Fruit Bats
		If Supertramp and Led Zeppelin wrote a song together, it would probably end up sounding a lot like "The Ruminant Band." The lighthearted, summery '70s sounding folk-pop song is the perfect soundtrack for carefree summer drives with plenty of time and no destination.
		-Claire Tiller
		"I'm Confused"
		Handsome Furs
		Hair band-esque guitar riffs wailing over a robotic drum machine beat you'd swear is straight from an '80s casio keyboard might at first make you, well, confused. But as with most things you just don't get, you'll probably feel compelled to try and figure it out. So one listen leads to another, and then another, and then you're not so much confused as convinced.
		-Litzy Everson
		"Oscar Wilde"
		Company of Thieves
		The Chicago trio comes off sounding more LA than IL on this sunny alt-rock song. Wilde would be pleased with the bookish lyrics that invoke his wit and wisdom in decrying self-conscious superficiality.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Panic Switch"
		Silversun Pickups
		Boasting an almost mischievious flow, "Panic Switch" plays perfectly to the band's strengths. Featuring the pent-up anger of a jilted lover, the song builds slowly until it explodes with a devastating tempo switch and a sublimely catchy chorus.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Swing Tree"
		Discovery
		The electronic hook immediately makes "Swing Tree" feel like part of the soundtrack to a 8-bit video game, but its soothing groove and ever-advancing drum beat helps move this song past any cliche. The thoughtful lyrics are well-placed and perfectly complement the uplifting, floaty feeling you get as you bob your head to the beat.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Young Adult Friction"
		The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
		Somewhere between Belle & Sebastian and My Bloody Valentine fans lies a wasteland of disaffected musical youth waiting for a certain melancholy message to assure their love for both twee pop and dream pop. "Young Adult Friction" is just such an intimate sort of pop song, but one that makes even the most jaded hipster want to give up PBR and American Apparel for a night in with a loved one. The Pains try very hard to look like they aren't really trying at all and that's the kind of low-key anthem "Young Adult Friction" provides — kind of like a speed-walking victory lap.
		-Andy DeLoach

Best Songs of 2009: 70-56

		"The Rake's Song"
		The Decemberists
		Colin Meloy not so much sings but bellows, with chilling bravado, his unsurprisingly clever libretto about infanticide.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Horchata"
		Vampire Weekend
		Those clever Ivy League boys are at it again with their pop tricks. This time they're spreading the knowledge with a certain flavor of Spanish drink and world music, but it doesn't make the outcome any less palatable. Every nation has an irresistible melody worth catching in your head and Vampire Weekend wants you to know that.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Demon Host"
		Timber Timbre
		"Demon Host" is a stripped-down track that blends folk and gospel into a dark, beautiful confession. Taylor Kirk's vocals are haunting and could easily pass as the ghost of Ricky Nelson. With little accompaniment and a simple chord structure, this song radiates a soulful, old-time vibe that makes you wonder if this tune wasn't being played around campfires and front porches 100 years ago.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Alligator"
		Tegan and Sara
		With a hynpotizing array of twinkling bells, high hats, and piano chords, this irresistible track from Tegan and Sara has surely sparked many impromptu dance parties.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Fire"
		Kasabian
		This is a tale of two songs. It begins as a dusty sounding cowboy song with a plodding beat and Tom Meighan's lazy, drawling vocals. The chorus, however, explodes into a hipster disco groove complete with a funky bass-line and epic harmonized cries of "I'm on fiiiiiiire." It sounds about as contrasting as Jackson, Wyoming and New York City — but it works.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Cannibal Queen"
		Miniature Tigers
		The Miniature Tigers have a knack for creating likable songs, filled with hooks that seem to flow effortlessly into the next. Such is the case here — a tight and well-balanced track that keeps switching riffs and moods just enough to stay constantly fresh. It's nearly impossible to ignore how charming and well-crafted the lyrics are, as they move quickly through the bouncy guitar riffs.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Low Rising"
		The Swell Season
		Glen Hansard uses his white boy soul voice to master a certain bittersweet feeling that most lovers experience when their emotions swings from joyous to draining. It's worth the fight if we listen to Glen and Marketa but there will only ever be small victories without a winner — but you gotta do it for love and "Low Rising" is a testament for the reasons why.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"11th Dimension"
		Julian Casablancas
		The first solo single from the Strokes' frontman captures something of the essence of '80s American electro, brought up-to-date. The chattering synths and reedy guitary lines are perfectly integrated and convincing inventions.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Lisztomania"
		Phoenix
		The Frenchmen's bouncy blend of synth and guitar pop-rock smartly avoids gimmick or syrupy sweetness and entices instead with irresistible energy and the band's obvious affinity for making music.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Silvia"
		Miike Snow
		"Silvia" carries a complex and grand sound, but it certainly doesn't alienate the listener. Many of the instruments and sound effects found on this lengthy track are used exceptionally well and complement the laidback, unflinching piano and vocals. After listening to this track and deciding that you want to tell your friends about how amazing it is, please don't forget that Miike Snow is the band's name, not a person. And the double "I" in the name is neither a typo nor an optical illusion.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Caterpillar Playground"
		Nurses
		The Portland transplants create a wonderfully whimsical song that sounds one part retro foreign film score, one part stuck inside on a rainy afternoon, and all parts quirky pop perfection.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Summertime Clothes"
		Animal Collective
		A collage of sound bytes, repetitive electric guitar, and the inclusion of a thumping beat with remnants of cultish vibes. A build and relief occurs when distinctive Animal Collective upbeat vocals sway in. The lead singer's light and airy sound contrasting with the semi-dark lyrics and back beat makes "Summertime Clothes" a brunette in a realm of blonde pop culture.
		-JoAnn Schinderle
		"Know Better Learn Faster"
		Thao
		Who says a break-up record must sound sad? It's hard not to get sucked in by Thao Nyguen's quirkily endearing vocals and confessional lyrics, and enlisting cameos from Andrew Bird (violin, whistle) and Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley (slide guitar) are never bad ideas either.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Quiet Little Voices"
		We Were Promised Jetpacks
		We Were Promised Jetpacks livens up any dance party with this frantic four-minute workout. Although songs with a fever pitch rate such as these often lose sight of the lyrics, We Were Promised Jetpacks beautifully articulates that even quiet little voices aren't always quiet.
		-Julie Gong
		"People Say"
		Portugal. The Man
		The best part about every Portugal. The Man release is that each one has a different sound but still manages to have an overall cohesiveness between them all. Church Mouth leaned towards psychedelic rock while "People Say" off of The Satanic Satanist combines a funky guitar/bass with an organ to create a sound that would not seem out of place in a Southern church. The beginning guitar part sounds more like a jam that would normally be placed towards the end of the song and because of this, the track immediately stands out. Coming from one of their more accessible albums, "People Say" can be enjoyed by nearly anyone while sipping sweet tea on a porch in the summer.
		-Lindsay Juley

Best Songs of 2009: 85-71

		"All the Words You Can't Say Right"
		Laarks
		The boys in Laarks have found a way to express their emotions without coming across as obvious or cheesy. That is a particularly fine line to walk but perhaps this song sums up their motto — it is in the words they can't quite say that their point is made clear.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"The Reeling"
		Passion Pit
		The perfect opening song to any mix tape, this starts off the only way Passion Pit knows how...awesome. The journey begins slow and before you know it, your foot is tapping to the intoxicating beat. That tap quickly moves to a head bob and by the end of the track you're in full hipster dance party mode.
		-Julie Gong
		"I Start to Run"
		White Denim
		A straight-up rock and roller from one of Austin's finest shoves its cojones in your face while kicking you in yours.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"No Intention"
		Dirty Projectors
		The Projectors are content with a casual walk through the park on "No Intention" and that's probably for the best because this particular park is shape-shifting with every step. Hand-claps, obscure bass lines, and female voices build a vibrant environment that will envelop you for four minutes — you have no choice but to keep walking.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Basic Space"
		The xx
		A bleak foundation of drum machine beats and stark keyboards carries Oliver Sim's mumurs and Romy Madley Croft's coos, giving merit to the adage "less is more."
		-Claire Tiller
		"Give Blood"
		Rain Machine
		Big, emotionally wrought, and suitably intense, the solo project of TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone is one of the best side gigs this side of Jack White.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Change of Heart"
		El Perro del Mar
		An unexpected but thoroughly enjoyable sidestep by the Swedish soundstress, "Change of Heart" createss a sublime Stevie Nicks interpretation of pop melancholy that further proves Sarah Assbring's almost spiritual connection to American music.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"
		Cage the Elephant
		This really makes you wonder why more bands don't use the slide guitar. The band puts it to good use in their modern twist of vintage blues, augmenting and updating the sound by splitting and splicing to create a sort of aural stop motion. Add lyrics belonging to a confessional and a delightfully gritty and fresh blues song results.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Last Dance"
		The Raveonettes
		Yet more enjoyable proof that the Raveonettes have their fingers on the pulse of the millennial generation. Instead of protesting or picking on the flaws of the world's young adults, they embrace them and rejoice. This isn't a last dance to hang your head over but instead one to dance away your troubles with.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"No You Girls"
		Franz Ferdinand
		Tying witty lyrics to muscular melodies has always been Franz Ferdinand's strength and it is in abundance here. With a twisted guitar riff and deliciously naughty lyrics ("Kiss me where you eye won't meet me"), it is the kind of kind of song that can get stuck in your head after just one half-attentive listen.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Microphone"
		Coconut Records
		It begins with Jason Schwartzman picking out the melody with a guitar and a toy piano. This humble approach to a beginning quickly makes way for more dynamic instruments and sounds, as this is the sort of dynamic melody songwriters dream about — a melody that's familiar but not tired. It's the kind of melody that the West Coast pop stars of the '60s were so good at producing and, perhaps with the help of Mr. Schwartzman, will do so again.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"The End is Near"
		The Fiery Furnaces
		The happy hook here is a strange bedfellow for the doom and gloom lyrics the Fiery Furnaces have written for it. The down-tempo bass and piano song is perfect for a sleepy Sunday morning; rather than the apocalypse; perhaps the Friedbergers were mourning the inevitability of yet another Sunday night succumbing to Monday morning, "such a clear and certain hell of a thing."
		-Claire Tiller
		"Rich Doors"
		NewVillager
		Opening with a drum beat that belongs at a pep rally, "Rich Doors" boldly introduces this bicoastal duo to the world, proudly demonstrating that they have the right sound rich enough to take you down.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Never Had Nobody Like You"
		M. Ward
		Few artists could pepper a chorus with "A, B, C's" and "1, 2, 3's" and get away with it the way M. Ward does. Songs like this prove that simplicity can be easily overshadowed by an artist's unique and brimming sound. Zooey Deschanel makes a guest appearance but sticks to backing up Ward's raspy vocals and overdriven guitar – with She & Him's Volume 2 allegedly in the works, we'll certainly see those roles reverse as they continue to collaborate.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Daniel"
		Bat for Lashes
		Natasha Khan's ghostly voice drifts dreamily through her brooding chamber-pop meets ethereal '80s electro song. It sounds as intangible as the elusive relationship Khan sings about, as if the whole thing just slips through her fingers.
		-Claire Tiller

Best Songs of 2009: 100-86

		"All the Way Down"
		Tiny Animals
		Tiny Animals manage to capture the Killers, Silversun Pickups, and Weezer all in one anthemic song. Build up, break down, repeat.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Around the Bend"
		The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
		Thanks to an iTouch commercial, this will be cemented into the minds of Americans as "another catchy song from an Apple commercial." Those who know better, though, give credit where credit is due. Not only does "Around the Bend" excite the senses with simple lyrics and a danceable beat, but it includes a whole horn section. A horn section, people. Enough said.
		-Julie Gong
		"Feel It All Around"
		Washed Out
		Washed Out slows down Gary Low's "I Want You" and keeps the listener asleep aboard a comfortable airliner or adrift in calming ocean waters — depending on your particular interpretation, of course. The song is indicative of both the artist's title and the song's as there is a tingly cleansing feeling experienced as the song progresses, never going anywhere in particular and never needing to.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Lady Luck"
		Richard Swift
		Richard Swift's fuzzed out falsetto over a steady bass and tambourine retro-groove make you wonder why Lady Luck wouldn't want to spend time with him.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Boy Boy"
		Lissy Trullie
		This single from the former New York model/DJ's debut EP — a labor of love a few years in the making — proves that she has plenty of substance to go with her style.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"I've Got Friends"
		Manchester Orchestra
		"I've Got Friends" sums up The Aughts pretty well — computer blips and whirrs, wounded emo lyrics, and Andy Hull's Bright Eyes-meets-Silversun Pickups delivery.
		-Claire Tiller
		"To Lose My Life"
		White Lies
		Cruising along in the car while listening to a song called "To Lose My Life" proves oddly life-enhancing when it's this track from the young British trio.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"Repeaterbeater"
		Mew
		The beginning of "Repeaterbeater" smacks you off your chair before launching into a slick prog-rock song with a churning guitar undercurrent and an arena-ready chorus.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Walking on a Dream"
		Empire of the Sun
		This is silky smooth electro-pop at its finest. The beat is soft and inspiring, and the song creates an atmosphere that draws parallels to blissful moments in life where time slows down and you feel love. Bless your vocal chords if you can hit those high notes in the chorus.
		-Chad Helminak
		"Crying Lightning"
		Arctic Monkeys
		In "Crying Lightning," the driving rhythm section sends us marching towards that girl from whom we should stay away. That evil, black magic woman countless generations of music warned us about is exactly the type of girl the Arctic Monkeys' are into — and this song is a moody, grooving, tribute to her.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Finish Line"
		Fanfarlo
		Glorious xylophone-assisted pop from the London-based five-piece. You'd call it twee if it weren't so heart-melting and inviting.
		-Jon Kjarsgaard
		"The Fear"
		Lily Allen
		Lily Allen walks a tightrope between clever satire and utter irony in a dreamy dance-pop song that fluctuates between stark intimacy (or honesty?) and little girl lost in a synth-thick chorus. Hypocrisy never sounded so palpable, or so palatable.
		-Claire Tiller
		"Fables"
		The Dodos
		This San Francisco band treat their acoustics like electrics and that's the type of thinking that makes "Fables" suitable for rock venues, not just coffeehouse open-mics. Thank goodness, too, because this chorus sings like an anthem larger than both venues.
		-Andy DeLoach
		"Brackett, WI"
		Bon Iver
		Released as part of a compilation, this stands tall with the most revered tracks from Bon Iver's critically acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago. Justin Vernon's penchant for layered vocals and a slow-building intensity is present and mesmerizing on this track, and it constantly keeps you hanging in anticipation for the next lyric.
		-Chad Helminak
		"All the King's Men"
		Wild Beasts
		Galloping drum beats, haunting falsetto background vocals, shimmering guitar licks, and a driving melodic pulse all lend this track a regal quality, befitting of the title and the song's seeming content: a king who like his concubines. However, Wild Beasts are able to supply a nuanced punch that makes it more poignant than the catchy hooks would suggest it was capable of. It's about using primal desires to mask a deeper yearning for child-like maternal guidance. And somehow Wild Beasts make that subject matter incredibly fun.
		-Peter Truby

Best Albums of 2009

	Technicolor Health
	Harlem Shakes
	"Niagara Falls"
	Actor
	St. Vincent
	"The Strangers"
	The Crying Light
	Antony and the Johnsons
	"Epilepsy is Dancing"
	Hospice
	The Antlers
	"Bear"
	Horehound
	The Dead Weather
	"Hang You From the Heavens"
	Sigh No More
	Mumford & Sons
	"The Cave"
	Lungs
	Florence & the Machine
	"Drumming Song"
	Post-Nothing
	Japandroids
	"Heart Sweats"
	Noble Beast
	Andrew Bird
	"Anonanimal"
	Fantasies
	Metric
	"Gold Guns Girls"
	It's Blitz!
	Yeah Yeah Yeahs
	"Zero"
	Gorilla Manor
	Local Natives
	"Camera Talk"
	Dark Was the Night
	Various Artists
	Feist & Ben Gibbard - "Train Song"
	Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
	Phoenix
	"Lasso"
	Miike Snow
	Miike Snow
	"Burial"
	Manners
	Passion Pit
	"Little Secrets"
	xx
	The xx
	"Heart Skipped a Beat"
	Bitte Orca
	Dirty Projectors
	"Two Doves"
	Merriweather Post Pavilion
	Animal Collective
	"Brother Sport"
	Veckatimest
	Grizzly Bear
	"Cheerleader"