Greatest Albums of 2009. #20. - #16.

20. Wavves - Wavvves (March 17, 2009)
Noise Punk/Lo-fi/Experimental

Nathan Williams aka Wavves managed to completely epitomise a then-emerging genre, noise punk, with his March 17 album release (via Fat Possum) earlier this year. The critically acclaimed Pitchfork favourite and just about everybody elses' marmite album of 2009, Wavvves - contains 16 tracks of some of the most chaotic lo-fi punk you'll ever hear - its haze of rattling drum machines and piercing guitar overdrive (somehow?) make even No Age seem tame. Accompanied by almost without fail totally unstructured lyric lines - Nathan's utterances of surfing/girls/cars/beach related half-sentences leave you stunned and sold short in one of the most innovative and challenging listens of 2009. So Bored is one of the tamer tracks from the album - there's actually lyrics and a fairly even drum beat concealed somewhere underneath the fuzz.

Wavves - So Bored (MP3)

Wavvves on Amazon

19. Olafur Arnalds - Found Songs (April 13, 2009) Classical/Post-rock/Instrumental

Ólafur Arnalds' latest release Found Songs (April 13, 2009) couldn't have wished for more of a contrasting placement in this list. Sitting calmly and comfortably next to Wavves' angsty beach punk track collection is a classically influenced masterpiece of beautifully constructed piano lines, selective musicianship and airy background strings. What is perhaps most remarkable about this almost entirely instumental album is that each individual track from it was composed, mixed and released inside a day. Despite the seemedly effortless rush - this stunning album convincingly retains every air of a wisdom far beyond Ólafur's 23 years of age. This Icelandic multi-instrumentalist has done string arrangements for 65daysofstatic and toured with Sigur Ros - and just to re-emphasise, recorded a classical album inside seven days.

Ólafur Arnalds - Raein (MP3)

Found Songs on Amazon

18. Florence & The Machine - Lungs (July 6, 2009) Indie Rock/Pop/Folk

There's no doubt anyone's mind that Florence Welch was (quite justifiably) one of the most hyped artists going into 2009. After a year or so of recording folky singles and demos and touring the UK, 2009 saw the release of Lungs on Island records. Welch showcases one of the most stunning yet unusual voices around, and that alone, for me, would have been enough to warrant her success. In the end however, combined with so many superbly written and perfectly executed pop songs, her success was guaranteed. There's no other word to describe her music than euphoric - in all three crowds I've seen this woman perform to this year she's whipped up a unparalleled frenzy amongst the masses. The album is the perfect representation of everything Florence is about - darkened themes disguised within uplifting indie rock of the highest quality - consistent throughout and coupled with one of 2009's great covers - a rendition of The Source and Candi Station's You've Got The Love.

Florence & The Machine - Dog Days Are Over (MP3)

Lungs on Amazon

17. The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love (September 14, 2009) Shoegaze/Electronica/Dance

The Big Pink's Brief History of Love is an album of darkened and semi-ambient electronica, with hard mechanical drum beats and aching walls of sound. Synth heavy, driving riffs and emotionless vocals drape the kind of MBV shoegaze that epitomises the New York and Manchester music scenes of the early 90s. Made up of two members, Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell, the first of which owns and runs the London-based Merok label, The Big Pink's debut album is perfectly produced and polished, containing two of this year's finest electronic anthems in the form of Velvet and Dominos.

The Big Pink - Velvet (MP3)

A Brief History of Love on Amazon


16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (March 31, 2009) Garage Rock/Alternative/Electronica

It's Blitz was the third full length release from New York garage rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who wrote the majority of the album in studio in late 2008. Its a definitive expansion from their previous two - but boldly introduces far more personal themes, as well as a far more airy, electronic sound than previous efforts. It's Blitz for Yeah Yeah Yeahs was an outward growth for them as a band, expanding in to new areas but never losing sight of the raw energy and chaotic spontanaeity we came to love them for. Heading the garage rock explosion of the 00s is a hard act to follow, and Karen O and band couldn't have gone about it better. YYY's continue to be one of the most innovative indie rock bands out there, releasing yet more strong singles this year in the form of Zero and Heads Will Roll.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Dull Life (MP3)

It's Blitz! on Amazon

READ PART TWO (#15 - #11)