The Best Music of 2009
It may feel a little early for this sort of thing, but we on the Amazon music team have pooled our collective knowledge and taste to determine the best music of 2009.
We spent 2009 soothed by Neko Case's wail, moved to dance by Yeah Yeah Yeahs' turn towards big beats, intrigued by Somali hip-hop Troubadour K'naan, and ready to hear three key words from neo-twangsters the Avett Brothers.
On the songs side, French popsters Phoenix went nutty for a composer and we went nutty for Phoenix. La Roux made us feel invincible, Jay-Z officially crushed an awful trend, and Passion Pit sent us reeling.
Voting with their wallets, our customers told us they really like U2, as it was both our bestselling CD and MP3 album of 2009. Black Eyed Peas also popped up in plenty of playlists, as they locked down the top two slots on our songs chart.
Every year, great albums slip through the cracks. This year, our editors wanted to save some from that unfair fate. We shine a spotlight on excellent underheard CD and MP3 albums across all genres, and we've even made a playlist featuring a single song from each record, so you can sample 'til you find something you like.
Dig into the lists and see which lists line up most closely with your personal tastes:
Best Albums of 2009
- Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
- Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
- the Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
- Girls - Album
- Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
- K'naan - Troubadour
- Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
- Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
> See all top 100 best albums of 2009
> See the list at Amazon MP3
Best Songs of 2009
- Phoenix - "Lisztomania"
- La Roux - "Bulletproof"
- Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)"
- Animal Collective - "My Girls"
- Neko Case - "People Got a Lotta Nerve"
- Passion Pit - "The Reeling"
- Girls - "Lust for Life"
- Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
- The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
- Lily Allen - "The Fear"
> See all top 100 best songs of 2009
> Sample songs 1-50
> Sample songs 51-100
Bestselling CDs of 2009 (through October, including pre-orders)
- U2 - No Line on the Horizon
- Susan Boyle - I Dreamed a Dream
- Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
- Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
- Bob Dylan - Together through Life
> See all 100 bestselling CDs of 2009
Bestselling MP3 Albums of 2009 (through October)
- U2 - No Line on the Horizon
- Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
- Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
- Paramore - Brand New Eyes
- Lily Allen - The Fear
Bestselling Songs of 2009 (through October)
- Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"
- Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
- Flo Rida - "Right Round"
- Miley Cyrus - "The Climb"
- Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho"
> See all 100 bestselling songs of 2009
> Sample songs 1-50
> Sample songs 51-100
Outstanding 2009 Albums You Might Have Missed
- Throw Me the Statue - Creaturesque
- Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band
- The Legends - Over and Over
- Lushlife - Cassette City
- Point Juncture, Wa - Heart to Elk
> See all 100 2009 albums you might have missed at Amazon MP3
> Sample songs from albums 1-50
> Sample songs from albums 51-100
Head over to our best music of 2009 store to find complete lists, plus the best in everything from Latin music to Gospel to comedy and all points between.
We're aware there's still a decent chunk of the year left. We'll be adding a latecomers and honorable mentions feature over the next few weeks. Hit the comments, let us know what we missed, and perhaps it'll make an appearance.
-- Jeff Reguilon
r4i software on November 15, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Hi,
I am such a big fan of music when ever i free i turn on my i pod and listen music from it whole day…
I also searching for music info like lyrics albums singers and much more….
My favorite music types are sad songs , Fast Rock and Roll type songs and some really Hip Hop…
So this article will make me more better in music knowledge and also some kind of fun…..
Thanks for sharing some valuable info…
Steven on November 13, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Again with all the indie rock. Jeez. And what's with the live albums and compilations? Really?
A couple that are at least AS deserved as most things in this Top 100:
Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring
Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day
Allen Touissaint - The Bright Mississippi
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
The Minus 5 - Killingsworth
Lyle Lovett - Natural Forces
The Clientele - Bonfires On the Heath
Ron Moses on November 10, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Wow, who the hell listens to this crap? I went to listen to the samples of the top 50... I got as far as #12 and I pray to God I never hear any of those songs ever again. What a bunch of hipsters.
Hucbald on November 10, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Jeez, I've heard exactly zero of those lists... and I'm a musician. I went to music school with Diana Krall! LOL!
Oh well. Being old and jaded has some advantages, I guess.
Bill on November 10, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Jeff S, not anymore
Jeremy Reaban on November 10, 2009 at 02:57 PM
This list is far too hipster orientated.
Where is Ram - Ramsterdam? Adam Nickey (Callista is one of the years best songs)? Chicane's Popiholla or Hiding all the Stars?
I'm sure all your songs will be making appearances in car commercials, though.
Sean on November 10, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Big Jay-z fan and Kingdom 3 is one of his weakest. It's a quandary really with DOA being an excellent tume with a wicked drum loop and guitar line, but that album is weak. Mr Oizo's Lambs Anger is my choice. Dance exploitation music. Nothing like it.
Clyde on November 10, 2009 at 12:50 PM
You've got Yoko Frickin' Ono on the list and no room for Cracker's Sunrise In the Land of Milk and Honey?
Jeff Shultz on November 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Huh. I'm guessing you don't have any C&W fans working there.
Flavio Richter on November 09, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Great list, but I miss some very good cds in it: Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Bowerbirds, Pete Yorn & Scarlett, Rural Alberta Advantage. Oh, and Wilco on this year´s greatest cds ? Gimme a break.