Top 10 albums of 2009 - Northern Soul

Well we are firmly into 2010 now so I guess it's time to announce my top 10 albums of the previous years, I would also like to kill the myth that it was a poor year for music. It has been quite the opposite in fact. We've had some good albums this years some haven't made the list such as The XX, Editors, The Cribs, Julian Plenti & Manic Street Preachers all produced memorable material. But the following in my opinion have made the list certainly for me as the best albums of this year. Enjoy reading and I hope you agree to some extent :)

Thank you and have a happy new year

Northern Soul

10. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
09. Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
08. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust
07. The Rifles - Great Escape
06. The Decemberists - Hazards Of Love
05. The Antlers - Hospice
04. Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose
03. Florence + The Machine - Lungs
02. The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms
01. White Lies - To Lose My Life...



10. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

After two superb albums in Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare The Monkeys elevated themselves to arguably the biggest band in the United Kingdom. Sold out stadium tours followed and all things looked rosey for the Alex Turners band.

Humbug came along in August of this year and it's an album with a different angle than their previous attempts. Arctic Monkeys have matured as a band and produced a solid album. Whilst I wouldn't say it matches their previous works nobody can argue that Crying Lightening and My Propeller are not as good as any of their earlier tracks. It can at times however, be a difficult album to listen to.

Listen to: The Jeweller's Hand


09. Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

Biffy Clyro returned this year with their 5th studio album and it didn't disappoint. I'm not really a big fan of the band, This is only the second album of theirs I have owned (the other being Infinity Land from 2004) but the album is brilliant. It gained critical acclaim and went gold shortly after it's release.

Listen to: Mountains


08. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust

For myself, The Doves have always been a band who I've never called one of my favourites but they've constantly been listened to and they've constantly produced good music. This is the bands 4th album now and I like many others have got all 4 of them. A review at the time of the release of the album suggested what I've said above.

The Doves are never going to be one of them bands who will be directly in the spotlight, They just aren't that kind of band. So be it, If they're going to continue writing albums such as this then I'm happy with that.

Listen to: Kingdom Of Rust


07. The Rifles - The Great Escape

One of my favourite bands of the last couple of years. The Rifles are brilliant. Listening to their albums will have you dancing around or if you're more composed maybe a slight nod of the head and a tap of your foot! I've managed to see them 3 times now all at small venues packed to the rafters with their faithful fans. Each time you come out absolutely shattered after jumping about for the whole gig! A true "indie" band.

Listen to: The Great Escape


06. The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love

Another concept album which I enjoyed this year was from The Decemberists. This story is a little more complex than Hospice however. Hazzards of Love tells a story between a woman named Margaret, a shape-shifter, an evil forest queen and a rake, Strange huh? Definitely! But it's such a great album. Lyrically clever and every song leads straight into the next, no pause between the tracks, The first time I heard this album I had to listen to it from start to finish with no breaks.

It has you in it's grip and it will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what exactly happens! As songs go individually, this isn't a strong album for singles but when they're all together they work brilliantly!

Listen to: The Rake Song


05. The Antlers - Hospice

Before the end of each year I frantically search music websites to see if there are any albums which I haven't managed to listen to. This is how I came accross The Antlers. Hospice is a concept album telling the story of a woman who is terminally ill from bone cancer. As the album goes on Siberman describes the relationships of the woman with herself, her past and her partner who also happens to be the hospice worker taking care of her. I'm not gonna try and rose tint this, Hospice has some quite depressing lyrics but it's the kind of album where you can excuse the lyrics for the beauty of the album as a whole and how Siberman delivers the story.

Listen to: Shiva


04. Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

Hailing from London Bombay Bicycle club can now fully concentrate on their music! The band have only just finished school in past years gone by music was being fitted around homework and detentions. For a band just finishing their education you'd be forgiven for thinking they're unpolished and raw. However listening to the album, you get the impression of a mature band with a wealth of experience. A true joy listening to this album rock along with Early Contraception Blues or Magnet and appreciate their ability to write a love ballad with Dust On The Ground.

Listen To: Magnet


03. Florence + The Machine – Lungs

Certainly one of this years success stories. Few had heard of Florence or her machine (backing band) The band have produced some superb singles this year in the likes of Dog Days Are Over and Rabbit Heart. But on the album the beauty and strength of her voice is probably more noticeable in songs such as Girl With One Eye and My Boy Builds Coffins. A cover of You've Got The Love was arguably her most successful song this year and again shows how incredible this girls vocals are. The song ends the album unless you have it on repeat. Like me.

Listen to: You've Got The Love


02. The Maccabees - Wall Of Arms

Superb album! What is there to say? It works well both as a singles album or an LP. Love You Better, Can You Give It? and William Powers all would work as superb singles. There isn't really a weak song on the album and plenty of stand out tracks. Every time you listen to Wall Of Arms you will find another song which you will call your favourite, however this will swiftly change the next time you listen the album for another one of their tracks.

It's also nice to see that The Maccabees have stuck to their winning formula of their previous album Colour It In. Another masterpiece from the London band

Listen to: Can You Give It?


01. White Lies - To Lose My Life...

My favourite album of 2009 is White Lies debut album To Lose My Life... It's fair to say the album got mixed reviews in the press but I think it's absolutely brilliant. Farewell To The Fairground is one of my favourite singles of the year as well. It's quite a morbid album especially reading the lyrics “lets grow old together and die at the same time” come from the albums title track. And Is This The Price Of Love Tells the story of a kidnapping and murder. You'd be forgiven this was goth rock but their disco tunes, heavy bass and howling vocals make it one of the happiest murder, death, suicide pact albums you'll ever listen to.

Listen to: Farewell To The Fairground