Shuffled and shifted, I've finally cried "enough!"
Listing the greatest albums of the year sure is tough
But on we prevailed, and it came out just fine
So here it is, from 10 to 1, the...


Had to throw another rhyme in there, since I did it yesterday too. All in all, I'm extremely proud of the variety and selections in my top 10. I hope you enjoy.

Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do
June 16, 2009 (Downtown)
mp3: Major Lazer - Hold The Line

Only so much praise can be said for the high quality and production skills of Diplo and Switch without sounding like a broken record. Although, interestingly enough, one of their biggest tunes from this release, sounded just like that. Sing it with me, "oh, oh oh oh ohhh, oh oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhh". Awesome.


HEALTH - Get Color
September 8, 2009 (Lovepump United)
mp3: HEALTH - In Violet

It's noise, it's dissonance and overall a mess...upon first listen. But go back and listen to the LA troupe's second studio offering, and I guarantee you'll be in for a slow death by admiration.


Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N' Cheek
September 21, 2009 (Dirtee Stank)
mp3: Dizzee Rascal - Holiday

The good ol' grime boy broke through his underground audience with a solid offering that verges on the punny yet powerful. Backed by Calvin Harris' stellar production hand, this rascally rapper secured A+ status with fans by asking them to "dance wiv 'im".


Peaches - I Feel Cream
May 5, 2009 (XL Records)
mp3: Peaches - More

Eccentric and energetic, the queen of electroclash's 5th studio output features everything from signature beat drops to the hairy and heart-wrenching notes sung by the indisputible icon. From start to finish, one of the most cohesive albums this year.


Florence + The Machine - Lungs
July 6, 2009 (Island)
mp3: Florence and The Machine - Kiss With A Fist

Sultry vocals backed by endless drummings and soulful strummings, the debut album by the London outfit features many songs about violence and death. It's the most beautiful compilation of dark subject matter you could ever ask for.


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
March 9, 2009 (Interscope)
mp3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Dull Life

From the first two singles through the bonus acoustic versions of a handful of tracks, our beloved New Yorkers constructed a sentimental and slamming indierock album. When you're not dancing you're crying, but fear not, for one or the other is ready to pick you up and put you right back down again. Emotionally electrifying.


Micachu and The Shapes - Jewellery
March 9, 2009 (Rough Trade)
mp3: Micachu and The Shapes - Calculator

This progressive art-rock offering cuts through the clutter and, surprisingly, plays off as quite the improbable pop phoenix. Additionally, the use of nontraditional instruments, like broken bottles and cardboard boxes, makes each spin a new and uniquely thrilling journey.


Aceyalone - The Lonely Ones
March 31, 2009 (Deconstruction)
mp3: Aceyalone - Can't Hold Back

Soulfully retro with a modern day sensibility, this longtime "featured guest" broke out of the shadow of his pals, and threw together this solo effort. He does reign his friends in, as well as a slew of new fans, by pairing Motown croonings with mad beats and massive riffs.


Fever Ray - Fever Ray
March 18, 2009 (Rabid Records)
mp3: Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

Making every hair on the back of your neck stand up simultaneously is quite a feat in and of itself. With a handful of keys and notes hit, this debut and final album immediately launched its way into the forefront of notoriety, blog-wide. On a personal note, there's no greater emotionally sound electronica artist that Karin Dreijer Andersson.


The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
August 25, 2009 (Green Owl)
mp3: The Very Best - Mfumu

Let slide the "all too fitting" band name, strip away the inevitable collaboration with M.I.A. and if you haven't already spun this album, I'd implore you to drop everything you're doing and get on it now. When played as background noise, it's perfect. When used as a dance floor filler, the bodies move nonstop. When played in Beastonia, we can only say one thing: RADDEST OF THE YEAR.

And on we go...prepping our ears for what will surely be anoher rad year of tunes in 2010. In the meantime, tomorrow I'll give you my 10 BE[a]ST Singles of 2009. Are you ready?