Deep Sea Diving Best of 2009 Album List: rejoice, the most indecisive person has settled on picks.

10. Various Artists- The Sound of Wonder

 Amazing songs of Pakistani films from the 60s, rediscovered.

9. The Mumlers- Don't Throw Me Away

Garage-y, Soulful, Songs from another time. But now. Really good.

8. Camera Obscura- My Maudlin Career

More pop gems from the Scottish band. A couple of my favorite songs of the year are on here. I might like this even better than "Let's Get Out of this Country."

7. Bobby Birdman- New Moods

A very recent release. His show at UCI convinced me that I needed to listen to the whole album, and I'm so glad I did, because I love every song. The combination of hip hop, electronic, and his beautiful voice is refreshing and fun to listen to even if its been in your car's cd player for a few weeks. This is like if Ron Sexsmith had cool beats and young people wanted to listen to him. Now, dance.

6. Cotton Jones- Paranoid Cocoon

This project of the former Page France dude came out earlier this year. Needless to say I like this way better than Page France. Nothing bad on here. A laid back mix of soul, folk, gospel, garage, and country. With possibly one of my top ten favorite songs of the year "I Am the Changer," this album in its entirety is an amazing debut. 

 

5. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion

For the sheer amount of times that I have played half the songs of this album, it deserves to be in my top 5.  I was absolutely in love with Summertime Clothes, My Girls, Bluish, Daily Routine, Also Frightened, Brother Sport, and Guy's Eyes was pretty good too. While yes, these songs make up most of the album, i still feel like as a whole there are other albums that I like more. However, those songs up there are incredibly good. And so, number 5 it is.

 (Side note: did not know that the album cover is a optical illusion till someone told me.) 

4. Mason Lindahl- Serrated Man Sound

The reason why this album beat out Animal Collective is mostly cuz I just like it as a whole album.  I have also become a big fan of intricate guitar work partly thanks to Brian. Anyway. This is super good.

3. Jonsi & Alex- Riceboy Sleeps

While some people might think this is boring, repetitive, Sigur Ros without vocals, I will agree to disagree. It might be that I am a huge Sigur Ros fan, but to me, even though this is mostly just ambient background music, it happens to be terribly beautiful.  Also I just love Jonsi. He's cute.

2. Andrew Bird- Noble Beast

Once I listened to this earlier in the year I knew it was going to be in my top 2 at least. Andrew Bird is just so good at constructing songs- every single song is really good, not to mention that the songs all weave together to form a really cohesive, amazing album.

AND NOW FOR MY TOP ALBUM.....

bu dum dum dummmm...

1. St. Vincent- Actor

 This album is freakin amazing. Every song is a piece of art, each one is beautiful and interesting both lyrically and construction-wise. I also like the flow and that I am able to listen to a whole album without wanting to skip songs. Also. This lady is just plain adorable. Not that that factored into her number one spot. Okay maybe a little. But no, not really.

Honorable Mentions: they were close.

Sam & the Plants- The Eft

Taken By Trees- East of Eden
(I have a weakness for Eastern instruments)

Bishop Allen- Grrr...

(I seriously had this in my cd player for a couple months, it's really poppy, and good I just liked others a little better)

Tune-Yards- Bird Brains

Candy Claws- In Dreams of Sea Life