Top Albums of 2009 That Should Have Been Great, But Weren’t
[graphic by Copycat]
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[list by Jon Behm]
#1) Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II (album review)
I know, I know, this album was actually really well received. And it is actually quite good. Just not quite as great as I had hoped when compared to the original.
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#2) Peter Bjorn and John Living Things (live performance review)
Their debut album was absolutely terrific, which can be a blessing or a curse; a curse in this case since the bland schlock that followed it is all but toothless.
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#3) Andrew Bird Noble Beast (live performance review)
Andrew Bird is one of my favorite artists, but try as I might, I just found quite a bit of Noble Beast irritatingly over-wordy and the melodies erratic. It is still a good album, but in my opinion, far below his true ability.
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#4) Kings of Convenience Declaration of Dependance
This record has a few great tracks, but overall the external focus of the duo’s songwriting gets kind of annoying. Maybe I am way off base here but their view of women in general comes off as slightly misogynistic.
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#5) Fanfarlo Reservoir (album review)
Another pretty decent album that I feel could have achieved higher heights, but settled for some pretty ho-hum pop hooks. I will be more interested to hear what comes next for the group.
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Fanfarlo “Finish Line” [MP3]
Fanfarlo “I’m a Pilot” [MP3]
Fanfarlo “Luna” [MP3]
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[list by Josh Keller]
#1) Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk (album review)
Proof that the sum is not always equal to the parts.
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#2) Wilco Wilco (The Album) (album review)
Until they prove otherwise, it might be best to assume that Wilco will be coasting into their”classic rock” phase where they are best remembered for the word from their glory days.
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#3) The Dodos Time to Die (album review)
Time to Die was fine, but it sure felt hollow compared to Visiter.
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#4) Discovery LP
Not sure I ever had any expectations for this album, but if I did they were not met.
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Discovery “Orange Shirt” [MP3]
#5) The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (live performance review)
I fully expected this to be a boring and pretentious snooze-fest meant for nerds who think they like “literate rock” and I was right. I guess I put it on the list because so many people (including those at The Current) seem to bow in front of this humdrum band of bores. I could have picked about 4,000 bands that would have better headlined Rock the Garden.
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[list by Chris DeLine]
#1) Ghostface Killah Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City
A crossover from hip hop to R&B that should have never taken place. By comparison, More Fish, an album of leftovers from the brilliant Fishscale, sounds like a classic.
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#2) UGK UGK 4 Life
So much for going out on top.
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#3) Dead Man’s Bones Dead Man’s Bones
While a few songs stand out—”Pa Pa Power” is surprisingly good—the polished eerie electronic sound on the album does little to reflect the rugged character of the original version of “In The Room Where You Sleep.”
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#4) Spinnerette Spinnerette
I love Brody Dalle, and the Distillers’ various albums were in heavy rotation for much of the past decade. But while “Ghetto Love” was promising, Spinnerette lacks the urgency and aggression the Aussie conveyed in her earlier recordings. Another album like this, and comparisons to Courtney Love—and I’m talking Celebrity Skin Courtney Love here—might have a leg to stand on.
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#5) The Flaming Lips Embryonic (album review)
The Flaming Lips open and close Embryonic with the album’s best songs, but in the middle we’re left with 16 forgettable tracks.
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fwiw, the latest Peter, Bjorn, & John album is their 5th studio record.
but i agree, it sucked
I agree with Andrew Bird being on the list – don’t know what happened there. Flaming Lips on the other hand is definitely one of my favorite albums this year.
OB4CL2? Speechless…
OB4CL II is hip-hop best record. Are you fucking kidding me? Well received?
The 4th highest rated at Metacritc.
Ghostface, major letdown.
cheers mate!
I think you nailed these.I guess a lotta bands are happy with all that filler.I find most albums don’t inspire complete listening anymore.
Man, Noble Beast is a very fine album and has no business being on this list. Of course to each, their own. I just had to offer a rebuttal. Sorry, don’t usually feel the need.
The Hazards of Love is only a let down if you were already a fan of the Decemberists. If, like me, you weren’t all that familiar with the back catalogue and didn’t particularly care to know it, Hazards was a pretty great album
even better when heard live! xo
I never really got into the band, but I did enjoy a lot of The Crane Wife. Since then, I’ve found them to be a bit dull for my taste…
Thought of another record that could’ve been baller but was bunk: Street Sweeper Social Club.
Lmao @ rae’s Album Being a Letdown. That Whole Album Save for like 2 joints are Rae at his Best. I Agree It isn’t better than Its Predecessor, but damn if it doesn’t come close.
Now im Looking Forward To That Collabo Album. Wu-Tang Bitches!