Halfway through 2009

My top 10 albums of the year at the halfway point of 2009... seeing as how we're into June now, I figure I can start putting this together. We'll see how many of these albums hang in their over the course of the rest of the year. I have no idea what else is coming out either, so I might get pleasantly surprised by a lot of stuff. Who knows?

10) the Phenomenal Handclap Band - S/T
For a dance band, these guys have made one heck of a fun album. I've been listening to this a lot lately. I have no idea if it will stick with me for 6 more months, so we'll see. I think it's got a decent chance.

09) the Bony King of Nowhere - Alas My Love

He sounds like the minor league Thom Yorke, but the young Belgian, Bram Vanparys has created a fantastic album under the name The Bony King of Nowhere. Creative Pop music with a singer that doesn't quite grasp the English language... now that's charm.

08) Viva Voce - Rose City

This album is a rocker. From Duet to Quartet, Portland's own Viva Voce have recorded a simple rock record and should / will get a lot of praise for it.

07) St Vincent - Actor
If I hadn't seen her live a couple weeks ago this album would have probably not ended on my list. She (they) put(s) on a great live show and always sound amazing. The album is full of highs and lows and puts Annie Clark's great use of dynamics to work.

06) Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

Holy Crap. I am a huge Domestica fan. Ugly Organ is another decent Cursive album, but since (and before) those two albums Cursive does not do it for me... which is why I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this album the first few times I listened to it. I was expecting to dismiss it, but it has stuck with me and I think it will for a while from here.

05) Here We Go Magic - S/T Outside of Paul Simon, you can hear a fair amount of influences in Here We Go Magic, but Paul Simon is certainly the main one you will here when listening to this album. Very creative and a bit on the dark side... just how I like my music.

04) Post War Years - the Greats and the Happenings British, Mathrock, Dance music with complicated changes. Some sort of mix between Battles, Minus the Bear and Foals. I'll take it.

03) Malakai - the Ugly Side of Love Right time, right place is the only explanation I have for liking this band/album so much. It's retro sounding rap - as though Arthur Lee were fronting the Gorillaz or something.

02) Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca This band has hit a stride and continues to grow and get better with every song they record. Everyone plays a perfect part in this band as a whole, where separately they could sound disastrous.

01) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest No surprise here. It's perfect.