As part of thinking back and remembering things on the cusp of moving into 2010, I am trying to work out what to put on my iPod and what not. so what follows is a brief look through the best albums I got in the year 200 and a top 3 with some witterings on why i like things you will probably not like!

From 2003 the year London introduced its congestion charge, and the end of Channel 4′s Brookside and Supersonic aircraft Concorde.
the contenders are in alphabetical order;

Barenaked Ladies – Everything to Everyone
Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress
British Sea Power – The Decline of British Sea Power
Bruce Cockburn – You’ve Never Seen Everything
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Eddi Reader – Sings The Songs of Robert Burns
Martyn Joseph – Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home
OutKast – Speakerboxx / The Love Below
Over the Rhine – Ohio
Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
Rufus Wainwright – Want One
The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
The Violet Burning – This Is The Moment
Zwan – Mary Star of The Seas

using a completely biased methodology of what did I listen to most then, what do I listen to now and think is pretty good and just what rocks my world, the top three are
please note this year was extremely good for music and a real tough decision!

number 3
Barenaked Ladies – Everything to Everyone.
in my humble opinion probably the best record Barenaked Ladies have made. off kilter, gorgeous pop with a rock underbelly. lyrics to die for and a pop sensibility which belies the seeming simplicity of the album, it took me a while to click with, but now the album is welded in my subconscious, with twists and turns which are as familiar as old friends and sometimes as surprising as friends are.
seek out – “Another Postcard”, “Shopping” & “War on Drugs”

number 2
Rufus Wainwright – Want One
I remember buying this CD then giving a lift to someone in my car, and saying “You must listen to this album. it is wonderful, it mixes classical pop, beauty and wonder. it is as operatic as it is pop, it is just wonderful”. then I turned it up loud and sang along completely convinced it’s beauty would work wonders.
what an album. If it wasn’t for number 1 it would easily have been album of the year.
seek out – the whole album. it is easily one of the top ten albums of this decade.

number 1
Over the Rhine – Ohio
I don’t know how 2 albums into a 4 album deal Over the Rhine persuaded Virgin records to allow them to release a double album, but frankly it is a move of backing artists vision which was rewarded by one of the best albums i have ever heard.
It is moving, frank, honest, emotional, wonderful, dreamy, yet real, bitter sweet, an album of supreme skill craft, songwriting and beauty, just wonderful. absolutely wonderful.
seek out – ensure you have this album. If you don’t have it ask I will buy it for you. (really this is a real offer)

Barenaked Ladies , best album of... , over the rhine , Rufus Wainwright

music 2 Comments December 13th, 2009

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