Our first year as a music publication has been awesome. We’ve grown every month since our conception in late-2008, attracting more and more readers and visitors, and improving the quality of our content with the addition of quality writers to our staff team, and several pretty cool interviews.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence then, that 2009 has also been a musically mesmerizing year, seeing not only a multitude of follow-up records from many well-renowned artists, but also the birth of tomorrow’s celebrated acts, with several newcomers stealing this year’s spotlight. As we say goodbye to the last twelve months, and indeed the decade, it’s time for us to collect our thoughts, and create our lists. Here goes!
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We asked all our staff to fill out end of year lists. When the results were mathematically combined, these were the collective choices:
10. All Time Low - Nothing Personal
9. Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us
8. Oh, Sleeper - Son Of The Morning
7. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
6. Brand New - Daisy
5. New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
4. Paramore - brand new eyes
3. fun. - Aim And Ignite
2. The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
1. Say Anything - Say Anything
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Individual Lists:
Shawn F.
Owner/Editor/Writer
Best albums of 2009:
15. Endless Hallway – Autonomy Games
14. All Time Low – Nothing Personal
13. August Burns Red – Constellations
12. The Swellers – Ups And Downsizing
11. Say Anything – Say Anything
10. Saosin – In Search Of Solid Ground
9. The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
8. Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
7. Dashboard Confessional – Alter The Ending
6. Paramore – brand new eyes
5. Brand New – Daisy
4. Lights – The Listening
3. Mayday Parade – Anywhere But Here
2. Oh, Sleeper – Son Of The Morning
1. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
Best EPs of 2009
5. Valencia – We All Need A Reason To B-Side
4. The Sequence – In Lights
3. August Burns Red - Lost Messengers: The Outtakes
2. VersaEmerge – VersaEmerge
1. Anarbor – Free Your Mind
Honorable mentions:
A Day To Remember – Homesick
I See Stars – 3D
Most disappointing:
5. The Used – Artwork
4. Boys Like Girls – Love Drunk
3. Forever The Sickest Kids – The Weekend: Friday
2. A Skylit Drive – Adelphia
1. Nightmare Of You – Infomaniac
Looking forward to in 2010:
11. Holding Onto Hope
10. The Bled
9. God Loves A Challenge
8. My Chemical Romance
7. The Gaslight Anthem
6. Blink-182
5. As I Lay Dying
4. The Ataris
3. Alkaline Trio
2. Secret And Whisper
1. Circa Survive
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Denis S.
Co-Owner/Site Coordinator/Writer/Interviewer
15. Saosin - In Search Of Solid Ground
14. The Summer Set – Love Like This
13. Brand New - Daisy
12. Meg & Dia - Here, Here, And Here
11. Anchor & Braille - Felt
10. All Time Low – Nothing Personal
9. Drop Dead, Gorgeous - The Hot ‘N Heavy
8. mewithoutYou – It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright
7. Farewell - Run It Up The Flagpole
6. Paramore – brand new eyes
5. Holiday Parade – Tickets & Passports
4. Say Anything – Say Anything
3. Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
2. fun. – Aim And Ignite
1. The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
Best EPs of 2009
5. Jack’s Mannequin – The Dear Jack EP
4. Take Cover – The Last Word
3. VersaEmerge - VersaEmerge
2. The Sequence – In Lights
1. Raining And Ok – Always Will Be
Honorable mentions:
Barcelona – Absolutes
Dance Gavin Dance - Happiness
Owl City – Ocean Eyes
Relient K – Forget And Not Slow Down
Single File – Common Struggles
The Years Gone By – Something You Know Nothing About
Most disappointing:
5. Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here
4. Taking Back Sunday - New Again
3. Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk
2. Nightmare Of You – Infomaniac
1. Brand New - Daisy
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. VersaEmerge
9. Valencia
8. Manchester Orchestra
7. Lydia
6. Raining And Ok
5. Dear And The Headlights
4. You, Me, And Everyone We Know
3. The Dangerous Summer
2. Blink 182
1. Jack’s Mannequin
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Adam V.
Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10. Paramore - brand new eyes
9. AFI – Crash Love
8. The Devil Wears Prada – With Roots Above And Branches Below
7. Breaking Benjamin – Dear Agony
6. Killswitch Engage – Killswitch Engage
5. fun. – Aim And Ignite
4. A Day To Remember – Homesick
3. The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life And Death
2, Say Anything – Say Anything
1. Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
Best EPs of 2009
5. The Rocket Summer – You Gotta Believe
4. Straylight Run – About Time
3. Sonny Moore – Gypsyhook
2. Death Cab For Cutie – The Open Door
1. Jack’s Mannequin – The Dear Jack EP
Honorable mentions:
Anti-Flag – The People Or The Gun
Taking Back Sunday – New Again
The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
The Sleeping – What It Takes
There For Tomorrow – A Little Faster
Most disappointing:
5. The Audition – Self-Titled Album
4. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Lonely Road
3. The Fall Of Troy – In The Unlikely Event
2. Saosin – In Search Of Solid Ground
1. Cobra Starship – Hot Mess
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Jimmy Eat World
9. Against Me!
8. The Offspring
7. The Gaslight Anthem
6. Bad Religion
5. Vampire Weekend
4. Bayside
3. Blink-182
2. Motion City Soundtrack
1. My Chemical Romance
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Andrew H.
Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10. Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
9. Emery - … In Shallow Seas We Sail
8. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
7. Speakeasy Tiger – The Public
6. Strung Out – Agents Of The Underground
5. Jay Farrar & Ben Gibbard – One Fast Move Or I’m Gone
4. Therefore I Am – The Sound Of Human Lives
3. The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life And Death
2. Brand New – Daisy
1. Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen
Best EPs of 2009
5. Sierra Leone – Moving Forward
4. I The Mighty – I The Mighty
3. A Wilhelm Scream – A Wilhelm Scream
2. Greenhorse – Transcontinental
1. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
Honorable mentions:
Felt – 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez
Kiss Kiss – The Meek Shall Inherit What’s Left
Lo Pan – Sausquanaut
Monty Are I – Break Through The Silence
Passion Pit – Manners
Portugal. The Man – The Majestic Majesty/The Satanic Satanist
Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
Most disappointing:
5. The Mars Volta - Octahedron
4. Bonnie Prince Billy – Beware
3. As Tall As Lions – You Can’t Take It With You
2. Thursday – Common Existence
1. RX Bandits – Mandala
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Circa Survive
9. Gnarls Barkley
8. Hopesfall
7. Garotas Suecas
6. Edison Glass
5. Iron + Wine
4. Finch
3. Good Old War
2. Glassjaw
1. Stars
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Jerry B.
Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10. Broadway Calls - Good Views, Bad News
9. Relient K - Forget And Not Slow Down
8. Silverstein - A Shipwreck In The Sand
7. Thrice - Beggars
6. All Time Low - Nothing Personal
5. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
4. Paramore - brand new eyes
3. The Swellers - Ups And Downsizing
2. Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
1. Say Anything - Say Anything
Best EPs of 2009
5. Man Overboard - Dahlia
4. Valencia - We All Need A Reason To B-Side
3. Hit the Lights - Coast to Coast
2. Transit - Stay Home
1. The Years Gone By - Something You Know Nothing About
Honorable mentions:
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
Sparks The Rescue - Eyes To The Sun
The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
This Time Next Year – Road Maps And Heart Attacks
Most disappointing:
5. The Academy Is… - Lost In Pacific Time
4. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
3. Brand New - Daisy
2. Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here
1. Saosin - In Search Of Solid Ground
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Hit The Lights
9. Jimmy Eat World
8. Coheed And Cambria
7. Bayside
6. The Starting Line
5. Senses Fail
4. Jack’s Mannequin
3. Four Year Strong
2. Valencia
1. Blink-182
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Kyle L.
Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10. So Long Forgotten – Things We Can See And Things We Cannot
9. The Cast Before The Break – Still
8. Oh, Sleeper – Son Of The Morning
7. David Crowder Band – Church Music
6. Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane
5. The Glorious Unseen – The Hope That Lies In You
4. Moneen – The World I Want To Leave Behind
3. Jeremy Larson – Salvation Club
2. The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
1. Sleeping At Last – Storyboards
Best EPs of 2009
5. Daniel Bashta – My Worship In Motion
4. All or Nothing/The Wonder Years - Distances
3. Ferguson – A House Divided
2. Glass America – Redivivus
1. The Ember Days – The Ember Days
Honorable mentions:
The Almost – Monster Monster
The Fold – Dear Future, Come Get Me
Gatlin Elms – The Ocean And The Stars
Great Awakening – Cities
Iron & Wine – Around The Well
mewithoutYou – It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright
New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
Preson Phillips – The Observant And The Anawim
Relient K – Forget And Not Slow Down
Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
This Time Next Year – Road Maps And Heart Attacks
Thrice – Beggars
Most disappointing:
5. Mayday Parade – Anywhere But Here
4. Four Year Strong – Explains It All
3. Saosin – In Search Of Solid Ground
2. Taking Back Sunday – New Again
1. Brand New – Daisy
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Fair
9. Lovelite
8. Justin McRoberts
7. Cary Brothers
6. Coldplay
5. Blink-182
4. Four Year Strong
3. Sons Of God
2. The Ember Days
1. Jeff Martin (This Day & Age vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist) solo album
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Drew W.
Contributing Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10.New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
9. You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colors
8. Owl City - Maybe I’m Dreaming
7. Craig D’Andrea - Getting Used To Isolation
6. Trophy Scars - Bad Luck
5. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
4. As Cities Burn - Hell Or High Water
3. The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun
2. Say Anything - Say Anything
1. Immanu El - Moen
Best EPs of 2009
5. Never Shout Never - The Summer EP
4. Andy Henningsen - Noteworthy Feature
3. The Photo Atlas - To Silently Provoke The Ghost
2. Modest Mouse - No Ones First, And You’re Next
1. Mae - (M)orning
Honorable mentions:
Brand New - Daisy
Cartel - Cycles
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King
Meese - Broadcast
Plushgun - Pins And Panzers
Most disappointing:
5. The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life And Death
4. Brand New – Daisy
3. Mutemath – Armistice
2. As Tall As Lions – You Can’t Take It With You
1. Mayday Parade – Anywhere But Here
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Underoath
9. Dead Poetic
8. Good old War
7. Lorene Drive
6. Circa Survive
5. Moving Mountains
4. The Spill Canvas
3. Lydia
2. Sigur Ros
1. John Butler Trio
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Matthew C.
Contributing Writer
Best albums of 2009:
10. Brand New - Daisy
9. Broadway - Kingdoms
8. New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
7. Jonny Craig - A Dream Is A Question You Don’t Know How To Answer
6. Shadows Fall - Retribution
5. John Mayer - Battle Studies
4. Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
3. Dance Gavin Dance - Happiness
2. Say Anything - Say Anything
1. fun. - Aim And Ignite
Best EPs of 2009
5. The Word Alive - Empires
4.We’re Not Friends Anymore - The Constant Dream
3. Paint It Black - Amnesia
2. Paint It Black - Surrender
1. Mindset - Reset, Revive
Honorable mentions:
BATS - Red In Tooth & Claw
Closure In Moscow - First Temple
Flood Of Red - Leaving Everything Behind
Rebelution - The Bright Side Of Life
Tides Of Man - Empire Theory
Most disappointing:
5. Four Year Strong - Explains It All
4. Craig Owens - With Love
3. All Time Low - Nothing Personal
2. Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
1. AFI - Crash Love
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Foals
9. Deftones
8. The Wonder Years
7. Gorillaz
6. Panic! At The Disco
5. Coheed and Cambria
4. Blink-182
3. Vampire Weekend
2. Against Me!
1. Minus The Bear
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Mark S.
Photographer
Best albums of 2009:
10. Lights – The Listening
9. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
8. All Time Low – Nothing Personal
7. A Day To Remember - Homesick
6. Cartel – Cycles
5. Two Tongues – Two Tongues
4. A Rocket To The Moon – On Your Side
3. Silverstein – A Shipwreck In The Sand
2. Owl City – Ocean Eyes
1. Say Anything – Say Anything
Best EPs of 2009
5. You Me At Six – Kiss And Tell
4. Jack’s Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP
3. XO – Some Day
2. VersaEmerge – VersaEmerge
1. Death Cab For Cutie – The Open Door
Honorable mentions:
Perma - Perma
The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
The Secret Handshake – My Name Up In Lights
The Starting Line – Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us
The Summer Set – Love Like This
Most disappointing:
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
4. Iwresteledabearonce – It’s All Happening
3. A Skylit Drive - Adelphia
2. Saosin – In Search Of Solid Ground
1. Brand New – Daisy
Looking forward to in 2010:
10. Isles And Glaciers
9. Confide
8. Forever The Sickest Kids
7. Of Montreal
6. Minus The Bear
5. Chiodos
4. Jack’s Mannequin
3. Four Year Strong
2. Matchbook Romance
1. Blink-182
i want to stab anyone that said daisy was disappointing. that album was epic and it combined every element of that band from the past. it was a perfect example of what brand new is capable of
Haha. The album didn’t really sit well with a few people. I personally thought it was great. Nothing too spectacular though.
It was ok but nothing crazy good. It paled in comparison to TDAG and Deja. And I’ll flat out say that I hated “Bed.”
‘Bed’ is one of the highlights of ‘Daisy’, in my opinion. Fantastic atmosphere.
Also, like, all your reviewers have strikingly similar music tastes
ya it might not have been amazing, but take it for what it is and not based on expectations.
I honestly don’t know anyone that DOESN’T like the new Say Anything. Hah.
Anyone who rated all time lows piece of shit over there for tomorrows debut needs to be shot.
and by the looks of it thats most of you
1. Compared to their last two albums, Daisy was hugely disappointing. It was my most anticipated of the year, too. It wasn’t awful though - which is why I put it in my top 15 AND my most disappointing.
2. I like Bed too
3. There For Tomorrow are average as fuck. Hence, no one even mentioned it.
4. Thank you to all the staff for helping to make this feature possible!
Seriously There For Tomorrow isn’t that good. They have a solid singer but their musicianship is piss poor. Everything is so boring, especially their drums.
Glad to see The Dangerous Summer up there on the list! Should’ve been number one…
Overall, 2009 was a great year for album releases.
After reading your little review of 2009, I am quite surprised at lack of diversity within this website. Mayday Parade’s album, yes it was disappointing, but you can’t deny that it still possessed some powerful lyric and good hooks within the melody.
Brokencyde, although their new album was absolute crap, because of your lack of diversity, you fail to mention it within your little review, all of you.
Say Anything, best album of the year, you make me laugh. in comparison to an album such as This is War, 30STM, it’s appauling that this album haven’t even be mentioned, however Say Anything seems to be so hyped up. Kings and Queens was arguably one of the best singles released this year, but there is hardly any mention on RRR.
Although you all have very valued opinions, your website would benefit by catering to a wider audience by maybe opening your minds a little. Not to offend, just to acknowledge.
Note that the album is in my top 15 of the year. Regarding Brokencyde, or any similar “band” in that “genre,” I would much rather run a cheese grater over my ears before listening to or even providing coverage for them. Strangeglue said it best.
Welcome to the world of Niche audiences-- get to know them.
We don’t cover Brokencyde, and related ‘bands’.
Mayday Parade was mentioned - several times, and once in a ‘top’ list.
Yeah but i think that you are completely missing my point. I was not critisising you on your lack of Mayday parade mentioning, I was critising you on the low scoring of Anywhere but Here. Also i’m pretty sure Breathe Carolina is kind of associated with Brokencyde, to a certain extent.
Jus’ sayin’
So if i understand your comment right your criticizing us for having a different opinion than you. That seems either moronic or childish to me you pick which one you want but either way your comment is pretty pointless.