Finding this list of my favorite albums was pretty nostalgic. I started dating my wife in 2009, and we went to see a lot of these bands together. Although, we often went to shows together before we were dating. Which is what led to us dating. Having the same taste in music is real hot as it turns out.
I vividly remember seeing The xx at the Sixth & I Synagogue in D.C. It’s such a beautiful venue with high ceilings, and stained glass, and it’s dead quiet since everyone is sitting down in pews. But the most memorable was seeing the opener jj. (xx + jj on tour, ok 2009). I think the guy was having a drug episode and was just lying down on stage. The woman was frozen at the mic, seemingly paralyzed with fear. She was whispering, barely audible, and started crying. The audience started laughing, which made it worse. It was brutal. Entertaining, but brutal.
I also remember seeing Phoenix at Rock & Roll Hotel in D.C. It was one the hottest and loudest shows I’ve ever been to. I couldn’t hear right for a few days, but as I get older, the memories make it worth it. Maybe?
My favorite albums of 2009, as ranked in 2009.
- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
- Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing
- Girls – Album
- The xx – xx
- Wale – Attention Deficit
- Deleted Scenes – Birdseed Shirt
- The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
- Drake – So Far Gone
- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
- Rancid – Let the Dominoes Fall
- DJ Quik/Kurupt – BlaQKout
- Get ‘Em Mamis – Terawesome
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
- Florence and the Machine – Lungs
- Bear in Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below
- Peaches – I Feel Cream
- Dead man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones
- Fever Ray – Fever Ray
- Bad Veins – Bad Veins
Favorite songs of 2009
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
- Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
- Phoenix – Lisztomania
- Manchester Orchestra – I’ve Got Friends
- The Lonely Island – I’m on a Boat
- Cursive – From the Hips
- Matt and Kim – Daylight
- Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension
- Bear in Heaven – You Do You
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)