Albums from THE FUTURE/2010 began trickling through the cracks of the intenets a couple of weeks past. By the same token, 2009 feels as if it has been going on for about... 14 months. Thus it is with great pleasure that i close out this year with a list of things that happened that were interesting in recorded music.

5. HEALTH - Get Color
More interesting stuff, with a lot more structure and songs and singning and stuff than their first effort, which may or may not be a good thing. But it definitely came out in 2009 so qualifies for this list.

4. Busdriver - Jhelli Beam
Classic Busdrivering, fast versus, slow choruses, delivered amusingly, if self-consciously. Also gets bonus award for stupidest album name of the year.
Sardless tracks: The entire first half of the album.

3. Dan Deacon - Bromst
Pretty good, was expecting something ludicrous along similar lines to 2007s Spiderman of the Rings, instead got this dreamy piece of orchestral psychedelica, described by Deacon as "Its like a... its like when a dragon wakes up and its not horny but it knows it could easily become horny... lets not use that at all. Thats... that is gone. If that gets on the internet, all three of your balls, off!". Not sure what this is supposed to mean but it serves as a grave warning to keep your children off drugs.
Sardless tracks: Snookered, Surprise Stefani (mostly for the name).

2. Nisennenmondai - Destination Tokyo
After years of giving us Westerners nothing, 2009 proved to be a boon with several releases from the small Japanese ladies. Destination Tokyo showcases some outstanding technical instrumental work, with the album having a much cleaner and more "electro" sound than earlier works.
Sardless tracks: Mirrorball, Destination Tokyo.

1. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
After years of nothing, rumours of break-ups, Earthly Delights surprised us all in October with BRAND NEW Lightning Bolt material of the classic mould - loud, awesome and loud.
Sardless tracks: Funny Farm, Colossus, Transmissionary, Sound Guardians.

Honorable mentions: Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion, DOOM - Born like this, Zorch - Demo, Danny Deleto - Satursnakes, Universal Studios Florida - Ocean Sunbirds, Rooftops - A Forest of Polarity.

For me 2009 will be remembered as the year of the media scaremongering (swine flu, financial crises), luckily there was some good music to listen to while waiting at one of the many inconveniently located body temperature checkpoints. In terms of new music I mostly stuck to hip hop, luckily macron1 had some of the other bases covered.

5. U-God - Dopium
The album does have its fair share of flaws and solely going by the rating numbers it wouldn't make the list, but it still gets in at number 5 because it really surprised me. U-God really gets his solo album act together and produces a very decent album which includes one of my top songs of '09 "Train Trussle".
Sardless Tracks: Train Trussle and Stomp the Roach.

4. Statik Selektah - Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned EP
Statik Selektah continues the Grand Theft Auto tradition of having a great soundtrack.
Sardless Tracks: Here In Liberty City and Car Jack.

3. DOOM - Born like this
DOOM finally returns with a short but sweet release, it is a bit recycled so I am hoping he is saving something special for a new Viktor Vaughn album in 2010.

2. Kool Keith and 54-71 - Idea of a Master Piece
For me this album proves two things about Kool Keith:
(1) After 20+ years in the rap game he still has the innovation and creative vision.
(2) His best work is when he just focuses on the lyrics and lets someone else produce.
Someone release this outside of Japan already!

1. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II
Following up on what many consider to be the best Wu solo album is a daunting task in itself, but announcing it way back in 2005 and letting the hype/mythical status grow makes it even more difficult. Luckily for all involved Raekwon delivers and for now it looks like it will usurp the first linx.

Honorable mentions: Kurious - II, Wu-Tang Clan - Chamber Music, J Dilla - Jay Stay Paid