The Absolute Best Songs of 2009

21 Dec

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 featureArtwork by the talented and generous Adam Sarpalius.

The final list is here. We have been working on this Absolute (sarcasm) Best Songs of 2009 list all year, updating it at the end of every quarter. I was only going to have PMA’s Top 50 of the year listen, but I couldn’t narrow it down beyond the top 75. This list will represent and acknowledge some of the artists I felt had to be left out of our Best Albums of 2009 list.

As always, I upheld only one rule while making this list: a song cannot be on this list, unless it was released as a single. As a reminder, here is my definition of the word “single” — 1) A song that has been given away for free to promote an upcoming album (known as a promotional single). 2) A song that has been played on TV or the radio (two of the largest mediums of discovering new music). 3) A song with its own music video and/or EP. 4) Loophole: an album-track that has attracted enormous amounts of attention that it’s become that artist’s “calling card” of sorts.

I want to thank everyone who takes the time to leave a comment, even if its obvious that you came here through Google (PMA pops up when you google “Best Songs of 2009″). As always, don’t be shy to share your personal favorites of the year. Trust me when I tell you I didn’t go out of my way to list all of your favorite songs of the year, so if you want those songs represented, list them yourselves in the comments. I also want to thank the wonderful contributors this site has for helping me with this list. And finally, Adam Sarpalius, whose work as graced this list since July.

Now, onto the Top 75:

75. Drake – Best I Ever Had

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Drake dazzled audiences on a national level this summer with his perfectly sun-kissed and jaunty “Best I Ever Had”, with absolutely no backing from a label. At least that’s how the story goes.

74. jj – Ecstasy

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature On “Ecstasy” jj samples Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” and drags it through a lethargic yet compelling haze, shifting it’s signature hip hop lilt into something more subversive, yet equally brash in its own manner. -Jason Oberholtzer

73. Sleigh Bells – Crown on the Ground

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature After a string of energetic shows at this year’s CMJ Marathon, Sleigh Bells were catapulted to the indie blogosphere spotlight, with a handful of demos to prove themselves. All they ever needed was “Crown on the Ground”.

72. Little Dragon – Runabout

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Elegant percussion flourishes abound, the bass-line hits that unobtrusive-yet-omnipresent spot all good bass-lines strive for, and Yukimi Nagano’s light-as-a-feather voice repeating “Runabout… runabout the streets…” sounds like a prescription for fun. -Daniel S

71. – Zero

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature The came back as strong as ever with “Zero”. They promised us a album that was more dance influenced, so we didn’t know what to expect. They released “Zero” not only calming our nerves, but rocking our bodies, making us want to dance. -Will Oliver

70. Girls – Lust For Life

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature With a beach-punk attitude, Girls longingly depict the perfect summer scenario, in a starry-eyed, out-of-reach manner that almost convinces you that you too are “crazy and fucked in the head” without a beach house, a boyfriend, and a sun tan.

69. The Sound of Arrows – Into The Clouds

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Nothing can stop us if we stick together chant The Sound of Arrows over lush synth-pop that’s sunnier than their American brethren, MGMT. With an emphasis on positivity and staying away from the fast life, “Into The Clouds” just might be the best pick-me-up in 2009.

68. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Like any Decemberists song, “The Rake’s Song” is grossly violent and creepy; but throughout the humble narrator‘s recounting his children’s deaths, Colin Meloy never loses an ounce of charm, or our attention for that matter.

67. Matt & Kim – Lessons Learned

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature The song’s hilariously explicit music video might have overshadowed its merits, but unlike Matt & Kim’s clothes, they are definitely there. “Lessons Learned” follows indie-pop structure fine, but Matt & Kim perform with an honesty and energy that make up for the lack of artistry.

66. Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature The perfect summer anthem to just not doing not too much at all, “Deadbeat Summer” has the feeling that it would have just stopped if it weren’t pulled along by those brilliantly pulsating waves of synths. Simultaneously, Neon Indian effortlessly set the benchmark for the inevitable wave of electronic experimentalism. The most lazy of trend-setters. -Phil Gwyn

65. Sunset Rubdown – Idiot Heart

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature On “Idiot Heart” Sunset Rubdown really hit their groove. “Idiot Heart” has a melody that is instantly memorable, seemingly already familiar on first listen. It’s like meeting an old friend who you don’t really remember – but they’re so cool that of course you were friends! -Chris Barth

64. Neko Case – People Got A Lotta Nerve

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature It’s hard not to stop what you’re doing and tap your toes to Neko Case’s maneating anthem, when it comes on. This is Neko Case giving her most alt-country accessible performance of her career, claiming new fans left and right.

63. Janelle Monae – Come Alive (The War of the Roses)

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature I don’t think anyone expected this gritty girl power energy from Janelle Monae after last year’s Neo-Urban oprah, and I’m positive no expected that excruciating high note at the end there. It goes to show that Janelle Monae is one of the post unpredictable artists we’ve come across.

62. Yes Giantess – Tuff ‘n’ Stuff

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Boston’s Yes Giantess inject Grade A pop magic into their signature sugary-sweet synthesized love song “Tuff ‘n’ Stuff”. With simple lyrics and a smooth time signature, Yes Giantess have opted to create short-and-sweet pop tunes full of youthful vim and refrain from over-exerting themselves, a lesson a lot of bands should learn.

61. Hockey – Too Fake

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature As soon as the LCD Soundsystem blips introduce “Too Fake”, your toe is tapping. You might even catch a few James Murphy vocal cues before roaring Strokes-like guitar riffs. But Hockey don’t sound like their New York godfathers, instead they’ve created a jam that will appeal to fans of the DFA-set and the Strokes-set.

60. – Feel It All Around

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature “Feel It All Around” is an appropriate title for a song that sounds like partying all night in a dark, sweaty room and waking up on a beach at dawn next to someone you like, cold sand in your hair. It doesn’t sound like dance music or party music or techno music – it is a sensuous electronic whirlwind, but that isn’t really a genre, is it? -Genevieve Oliver

59. – Orange Shirt

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature is Ra Ra Riot’s Wes Miles and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, and instead of churning out lovely orchestral pop, they churn out… jams. “Orange Shirt” is one of these Z100-style club-banger jams, with autotune and fuzzy synth and lyrics like “google yourself when you get home.” Jams of the caliber of “Single Ladies” or “Yeah!”-era Usher, and not just for the indie kids. -Genevieve Oliver

58. Japandroids – Wet Hair

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Though I wasn’t listening to many other songs on Japandroid’s Post-Nothing in the beginning, I always had some fascination with “Wet Hair,” which happily prevented me from writing off Post-Nothing as just another loud, albeit fun, album. For those of us who crave strong and heartfelt melody with their noise, “Wet Hair,” really might be the best place to start. -Ricky Schweitzer

57. Röyksopp – The Girl and the Robot (feat. Robyn)

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Inspired by the marriage of melody and technology, masters of their craft, Royksopp worked with Scandinavian songstress Robyn on the icy “The Girl and the Robot”. Robyn tells the story of living with a robot; an absent, workaholic lover, with a fiery passion that cuts through the immense electro backdrops presented by Royksopp with one of the biggest hooks I have heard all year.

56. Beach House – Norway

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Although it’s unmistakably a Beach House track, “Norway” suggests that they might have built upon their signature languid tone on their Teen Dream. It seems less dreamy than their previous work, and Victoria Legrand’s warm, full-bodied tone gives weight to the track’s heartfelt and picturesque restraint. It is as she sings: “We were sleeping ‘til you came along” – and now, Beach House has woken up. -Elle Hunt

55. Tiesto – Feel It In My Bones (feat. Tegan and Sera)

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature The collaboration between Tegan and Sara and Dutch trance DJ Tiesto was an unexpected one. On “Feel It In My Bones”, Tegan and Sara are undoubtedly out of their element, but somehow it works, it works surprisingly well. The sisters’ light-as-air vocals float through the waves of Tiesto’s grainy synths, so effortlessly and so skillfully that you begin to wonder if Tegan and Sara have found their true calling.

54. Simian Mobile Disco – Audacity of Huge (feat. Chris Keating)

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature Huge was this name-dropping, Kanye ego-sized, gloating summer anthem, paired with a bodacious mother-of-all bass-lines and none other than Chris Keating, lead singer to the equally-trippy art-rocking Yeasayer, on the mic. While “Audacity of Huge” was a step towards the Chemical Brothers and away from Attack Decay Sustain Release, it held dance floors and iPods in a headlock for months this summer.

53. Free Energy – Dream City

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature “Dream like there’s nothing to scream about” sing Philly’s absurdly-named Free Energy on one of this summer’s best feel-good tunes. We owe most of the magic that surrounds Free Energy to James Murphy, who has produced the band’s debut long player and signed them to DFA. “Dream City” is an infectious anthem, a beach fire sing-along, an ode to wholesome city fun, and a mainstay in summer night soundtracks.

52. Miike Snow – Animal

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature In their polarizing debut single “Animal”, the mask-wielding Miike Snow raked in unexpected and often laughable comparisons, like Daft Punk meets The Empire of the Sun, or my favorite, Animal Collective meets Phoenix. As crazy as it sounds, that last suggestion of the marriage of experimental freak-folk and French indie-rock seems to fit Miike Snow and “Animal” nicely.

51. YACHT – Psychic City (Voodoo City)

The Absolute Best Songs of 2009 feature I’m convinced 2009 was the year of the summer song. At least it was for me. I don’t think anyone expected “Psychic City” from YACHT. I didn’t think they had a pop song this joyous and wonderful in them. While the song is self-indulgently showered in bubble-gum pop bliss, we never forget that this is YACHT we’re listening to. Throughout the song we are treated to rubbery, light but finely tuned electronic flourishes that have definitely made DFA proud.

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696 Responses to “The Absolute Best Songs of 2009”

  1. Jonny 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Wow. This list is epic. I love that it includes the good pop songs of 2009 along with the prolific tunes of the year. Big props for this one.

    • Anonymous 23. Apr, 2010 #

      boom boom pow come on

  2. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is The Move
    Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
    Passion Pit – Sleepy Head
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
    Animal Collective – My Girls

  3. Greg 01. Jul, 2009 #

    What’s up with the Animal Collective lovefest? #1 and #5? That’s a little overboard. I didn’t think “Summertime Clothes” was that good of a song in the first place.

    My top 3 songs of the year are:

    Grizzly Bear “While You Wait For The Others”
    Animal Collective “My Girls
    Bon Iver – Blood Bank

  4. Linda 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Nice list. I love Girl and The Robot!!

    Here are mine:
    Royksopp – The Girl and the Robot
    Phoenix – Lisztomania (Classixx Remix)
    Annie – Antonio
    Bat For Lashes – Daniel (Duke Dumont vs. Youth Attack! Remix)
    Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You (Mondkopf Remix)
    La Roux – In For The Kill

  5. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    WHERE IS LA ROUX?!!!!!

    La Roux- Bulletproof <– my favorite song of the year.

    • Alyssa 22. May, 2010 #

      Yesss ! Love that song (:

  6. Jack 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Good list overall, but it’s missing some key ingredients, I think.

    This is what it needs…
    Patrick Wolf – The bachelor
    The xx – Crystalised
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runawayy
    Bat for Lashes – Pearl’s dream

    Maybe instead of “Boom Boom Pow” or 2 Lady GaGa songs, you could have added one of those ;)

  7. Andy 01. Jul, 2009 #

    cool list, it’s pretty varied. here are mine:

    tommy sparks – shes got me dancing, tiga – shoes, phoenix – 1901, röyksopp – the girl and the robot…

    and even more… such a good year!!

  8. Jacob 01. Jul, 2009 #

    This list is Pretty Much Amazing, lol. It’s just missing ONE song: “Two” – The Antlers. It’s bloody brilliant! Download it NOW.

    Thank you.

  9. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    There needs to be some Little Boots up in here! “Remedy” is so good. Listen to it.

  10. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    “Post has been read 68,528 times”

    omg. this shit is massive/////////////////////////

  11. Richard 01. Jul, 2009 #

    This list was too long. Ugh. What’s wrong with just putting up a simple Top 5 or something?

    Aside from that, I think your Top 20 are great. I’d take my Top 5 from there:
    My Girls
    Heads Will Roll
    Blood Bank

  12. Richard 01. Jul, 2009 #

    oops.. that was there, here are the other two:

    Stillness Is The Move
    Moth’s Wings.

  13. Hmm.. 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Interesting Top 5 choices… double Animal Collective? that non-single Sufjan Stevens song? … it’s your list, i guess…

  14. Eb 01. Jul, 2009 #

    The Killers – A Dustland Fairytale

    You are seriously awesome for including that song. It’s criminally underrated. Ignored, actually.

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  16. Simon 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Marina And The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot
    Florence And The Machine – Cosmic Love
    Röyksopp – I Am Not A Robot

    My top 3.

  17. Jonathan Moldenhauer 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Where is La Roux?

    In For The Kill is good but I believe the real GEM to be “Cover My Eyes.” Who has not had a time when they can not stand to see someone with someone else. That sour feeling you get in your stomach when you see this is brilliantly captured in the song.

    Where is Britney Spears?

    “If You Seek Amy” may not be the smash hit it deserves to be, but it ever solidifies Britney’s weird fetish underground following she seems to have with blogs and DJ’s. Plus the princess of pop, now Queen of pop, has had quite the comeback.

  18. BJay 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Even though both Phoenix’s “1901″ and “Lisztomania” would’ve been in my Top 10, I still think this list is great!!
    And of course… you had to put Beyoncé in there… lol.

  19. Tyler 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Come On!
    No Chiddy Bang!?
    Not even Kids Remix?

  20. Luis Tovar 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Thank you for the comments everyone!

    @Jonathan Moldenhauer – La Roux is absent from this list because the only single of hers I truly loved was Quicksand, and that was released in 2008. Once/If “Tigerlily” is released, then we’ll talk ;) Re: Britney, “If U Seek Amy” was definitely catchy and likable, but hardly a candidate for this list. The novelty rubbed off rather quickly, in my opinion.

    @Tyler – because of the “Single” rule I placed, Chiddy Bang doesn’t qualify for this list. “Kids” would have easily been on this. Maybe once they release their mixtape…

    @Anonymous #9 – YES! I’m just waiting for “Remedy” to be released – that song is great.

  21. Eric 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Can’t claim to be as on top of new music as I probably should be, but I’m noticing three pretty glaring omissions IMO:

    Metric – Gimme Sympathy
    Silversun Pickups – The Royal We
    Crystal Method – Falling Hard

  22. Eric 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Ahhh, “singles”. Lame on my part.

  23. Keso 01. Jul, 2009 #

    We Were Promised Jetpacks – Quiet Little Voices

    I can’t stop listening to that song, can listen to it for hours.

  24. Sharkeen 01. Jul, 2009 #

    I’m dissapointed about you… That’s my Top-50 singes of first half 2009: http://sharkeen.private.lt/2009/06/22/geriausios-2009-m-pirmo-pusmecio-dainos/

    Leading:
    1. 0909 Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream 18
    2. 0894 White Lies – To Lose My Life 19
    3. 0852 La Roux – In For The Kill 19
    4. 0828 Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses 18
    5. 0765 La Roux – Quicksand 19

  25. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Nice top 5 picks!

    First Communion and Mykonos are definitely from last year, unless I’ve mastered time travelling without knowing.

    Oh, and if you listened to the entire BEP album, you’d like “Alive” more than “Boom Boom Pow.”

  26. Luis Tovar 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Thanks Anon #25! re: Mykonos and First Communion — they were officially released as singles in 2009. That’s the rule of this game, singles only :)

  27. Luke 01. Jul, 2009 #

    I love Summertime Clothes. Definately deserves that #5 spot.
    However, I never really liked My Girls… i don’t think its as amazing as everyone seems to think…

  28. Anonymous 01. Jul, 2009 #

    This is a really good list but BBU should have been way up there

  29. Evan G 01. Jul, 2009 #

    i would totally say “New in town” by little boots but i can’t stand the version that was released. i like when it was “leaked” or whatever, there seemed to be a lot less polish which was good in the situation.

  30. Defunder 01. Jul, 2009 #

    “The list is life.”

    Great songs. Sadly, I haven’t had a chance to keep up with music this year, and I feel like this list is keeping me in the game!

    If only I had a way of easily playing this playlist at my Float of July party this Saturday….

  31. Luis Tovar 01. Jul, 2009 #

    Defunder, I feel your pain! But for the safety of the blog… I couldn’t put up a 50-song .zip file, ya know?

    The best you can do is sign up with Lala.com, “add” this songs to your Lala collection w/ your 50 credits (1 song = 1 credit) and you can play the songs from your laptop/computer at your party… or pay for each one, 89c.

    Good luck!

  32. Neil 02. Jul, 2009 #

    I was going to write an article like this with maybe my top 10 songs of the year so far, but then last night you beat me to the punch with this top 50 list that includes every song I was considering.

    So instead, I wrote a feature on some of the albums we’re all anticipating in the SECOND half of 2009. Here’s the article. It’s been an astounding year for music so far, and there’s a lot more to come.

  33. Brandon @ TBE 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Oooh man, 50 songs and still FULL of holes. Here are the odd numbers from TBE’s Best 20.9 Songs of 2009 So Far. (My rules were different so don’t flip if my shit don’t fully vibe.)

    20.9 – Das Racist – Combination Pizza Hut And Taco Bell (Wallpaper. Remix)

    19 – The Sounds – Dorchester Hotel

    17 – N.A.S.A. – Gifted ft.Kanye, Santogold, & Lykke Li

    15 – Wild Light – California On My Mind

    13 – Simian Mobile Disco – Audacity Of Huge ft. Chris Keating

    11 – Harlem Shakes – Strictly Game

    9 – Passion Pit – Little Secrets

    7 – The Maccabees – Love You Better

    5 – Daniel Merriweather – Change ft. Wale

    3 – Filthy Dukes – Nonsense In The Dark (Ft. Orlando Weeks)

    1 – Bike For Three! – All There Is To Say About Love

    Check out the full list.

  34. jigga 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Grizzly Bear wins 2009!

    Best songs out there. MPP has grown tiresome to me sadly
    :(

    Stillness is the move rules though! Nice to see that Gossip track get some love too, however, nobody should encourage people to listen to the black eyed peas, it’s just irresponsible

  35. Knatterjak 02. Jul, 2009 #

    would have put sex on fire on there- oh wait that was 2008 wasnt it

  36. Anonymous 02. Jul, 2009 #

    the top 5 sucks. deal with it.

  37. Bear 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Eh. Okay list. But…

    1- Solange’s “T.O.N.Y.” was released in 2008.
    2- As was Kanye West’s “Paranoid.”
    3- N.A.S.A.’s “Gifted” was leaked late in 2008 too.

  38. Bear 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Erm. Wait. Nevermind. I didn’t read your qualifiers carefully enough to understand what you meant.

  39. cureos 02. Jul, 2009 #

    I’m also a bit cool to the top 5, but as a whole, this is a great list! I would have pushed ‘Daniel’ and the incredible ‘Moth’s Wings’ up a couple spots though and dropped in some Handsome Furs (‘I’m Confused’). My top two non-singles so far this year are ‘Help I’m Alive’ and ‘All We Want Baby Is Everything’.

  40. John 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Nice list. I cannot find your tracks on the Hype Machine. It says that they don’t follow you anymore. When will this be fixed?

  41. azjpeg 02. Jul, 2009 #

    Mike Bones “What I Have Left” (and the quite beautiful b-side version of the same track by Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor)
    Chew Lips “Solo”

    and if these were out as singles:
    Neon Indian “Deadbeat Summer”
    Nottee “Young Modern Life”

  42. slap yo mammy 03. Jul, 2009 #

    If you measure “goodness” in singles, you are a moron. Not to mention your taste is repugnant. It’s all about the albums. Have a lovely day.

  43. Mardy 03. Jul, 2009 #

    Great list! good mix of songs

    the only thing else i would include is The Letter by The Veils

    Pitchfork review of the album here
    http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12955-sun-gangs/

  44. Anonymous 04. Jul, 2009 #

    where’s peaches?

  45. rebecca 05. Jul, 2009 #

    swimming in speakers “in knowing”

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  47. Anonymous 06. Jul, 2009 #

    OMDZ! this is alllllllll so wrong so many should be put higher and lower!!! i could think of soooooooooo many gooooooood songs that arnt on der!!! go on the big40 and u will know

  48. Anonymous 06. Jul, 2009 #

    LADY GAGA? ARE YOU CRAZY?????????????????????????????????????
    BLACK EYED PEAS? OH GOD.

    • Henry 21. Dec, 2009 #

      lady gaga lol
      black eyed peas bahahaha

  49. Anonymous 06. Jul, 2009 #

    TIGERSAPIEN !!!!????

  50. yoyoyoyo 07. Jul, 2009 #

    you have some shit taste in music. Its kinda a shame that your blog is popular when your promoting such shitty music.

  51. kyle 07. Jul, 2009 #

    decent list, i was surprised that there wasn’t

    basement jaxx – raindrops
    passion pit – little secrets
    metric – help i’m alive

    • RuthieKins 07. Jul, 2009 #

      Hey.. Kyle ;)
      thanks for putting that up otherwise i wouldnt have found out the metric song. THANKsss Uber Mucho! haha! B)

    • Anonymous 12. Aug, 2009 #

      Raindrops is on there, right? Anyway, Metric is incredible and this new album is there best yet.

  52. pmna 07. Jul, 2009 #

    this list is fucking lame
    no im not saying you should you should just put obscure bands…but like Green Day…Eminem? Those songs were just crap, what is this website offering? 21 guns? that sounds like an avril lavigne song

    • Anonymous 24. Jul, 2009 #

      haha. then put up your own list, so we can pick on it.

  53. Anonymous 08. Jul, 2009 #

    daylight by matt & kim gets snubbed on a list with green day?

    • genn 10. Aug, 2009 #

      totally agree. and greenday doesnt even fit in with list but matt&kim totally complement these artists

  54. Adrian 08. Jul, 2009 #

    I’m disappointed not to see Britney Spears on this list.
    PMA has been such a great fan of hers.
    “Circus,” “If U Seek Amy,” and “Radar” deserve to be on this list.

    • Bayleigh 21. Jul, 2009 #

      Circus and If U Seek Amy were made in 2008. Radar is an old song which came out in 2007 so no they dont deserve to be on this list

      • annyomous 05. Aug, 2009 #

        yes they do !!!!!

    • Anonymous 07. Aug, 2009 #

      ur a homo

    • Anonymous 09. Aug, 2009 #

      FAG

  55. Elvis 09. Jul, 2009 #

    Ok so daylight didn’t make the list.. wtf..
    white rabbit – percussion gun didn’t make the list.. wtf.

    those 2 songs are at least in the top 10 so far. at least.

    oh and how did 1901 fall below lisztomania. and why isn’t 1901 in the top 15? a brief explanation would be nice.

    that eminem song is a 5 out of 10 and the green day song is too simple. doesn’t deserve mention.

    you need to listen to all the songs us users are suggesting before making this your final list.

    go listen to the two songs i mentioned and also..

    yeasayer – tightrope
    noisettes … theres several to choose from.
    coconut records – microphone

    oh and do not put the metric song on the list. everyone of their old songs is better.

    but pleease, i repeat, please put white rabbits – percussion gun in the top 10…. AT LEAST!

    • Luis Tovar 09. Jul, 2009 #

      thank you for your suggestions. this is the upside of doing these lists every quarter — it gives me time to build up the list properly for the actual final list in late dec / early january.

      and you’re right, the absence of “Daylight” and “Percussion Gun” is completely and utterly wtf-worthy.

      RE: 1901 v Lisztomania. The reason is simple. I like Lisztomania better. And to be honest, I wish 30 songs would fit into the Top 15 ;)

  56. Elvis 09. Jul, 2009 #

    ps. bloc party one month off is from 2008

  57. Elvis 09. Jul, 2009 #

    wow… how many lady gaga songs does it take to make a list lose all credibility.. none! because you also have britney spears on this list.

    wheres matt and kim – daylight? are you on crack

  58. Anoymous 09. Jul, 2009 #

    No offense…but this list was wack.

  59. Your mom :D 09. Jul, 2009 #

    This sucks.

  60. Anonymous 09. Jul, 2009 #

    Daylight, nuff said

  61. .... 09. Jul, 2009 #

    Boom boom pow….
    Awful…

    • Anonymous 28. Jul, 2009 #

      u suck BALLS

      • Anonymous 06. Aug, 2009 #

        noshit

  62. Anonymous 10. Jul, 2009 #

    you guys are such indie heads, lol. really i felt animal collective should have been number one i don’t have many other gripes. not every list is catered to your off beat marriwether pavillion-esque opinions.

    Nice list. thats all. im happy you put paparazzi higher than love game. Heavy cross should be a bit higher.
    N.A.S.A.’s gifted is rightfully placed. its a shame that album bombed because nothing else was good.

    • Henry 21. Dec, 2009 #

      If luis was trying to be ‘indie’ he wouldn’t put animal collective as #1.

      You’re an idiot.

  63. asher 11. Jul, 2009 #

    All together great list….
    BUT i think you put a few songs on the list for the “mtv pop”crowd i.e black eyed peas/lady gaga/eminem…
    Which i think is wrong…these songs don’t come close to being in the top 50 and i think most reviewers would agree..
    your website is 80% on the button most times when it comes to reviews and music…
    ALL UP KEEP IT UP,I LOVE YOUR WORK!!
    P.S thanks for the new music,without this list i would’nt of found some great new artists/music…much appreciated!

  64. scott 14. Jul, 2009 #

    YOU FORGOT DAY N NITE

    • djdnfon 01. Aug, 2009 #

      no they didn’t…its just reeeeeeeally mediocre….

      • Anonymous 07. Aug, 2009 #

        ur a fucking retard punk bitch

        • Anonymous 07. Aug, 2009 #

          i feel u he’s a cock sucking faget

          • Anonymous 08. Aug, 2009 #

            djdnfon is right he didnt forget its just not that great….

  65. brian 14. Jul, 2009 #

    pretty solid all around. except that Zero should be in the top 10.

  66. manu 16. Jul, 2009 #

    animal collective – you’re right!!

  67. karol 16. Jul, 2009 #

    half this list is pretty much absolute garbage, no offense to those who made the music.. your music is indeed appreciated by some, like the dude that created this list..

    anyway if you want my approval please change your links to zshare.

  68. AsH 17. Jul, 2009 #

    hey man.. this not what i call real music,…. I dont think I like This…

  69. thoe 17. Jul, 2009 #

    what about The Airborne Toxic Event’s “sometime around midnight?”

  70. Sean 18. Jul, 2009 #

    All these people who think all these songs suck need to rethink the reason we have lists like this, so I can find new music! :D

    Animal – Miike Snow is enough of a good song for me to think this list is totally worth it. I really like 1901 and raindrops as well. I don’t quite know why you put Heads Will Roll on there instead of Hysteric which is by far (my favorite) song on the whole album.

    It’s too bad no one likes The Prodigy anymore cause they have some great songs on their new album Lost Beats like, Warriors Dance and Thunder. I suppose it’s a more acquired taste.

    Anyways I’m still going to go through every song on here, you did a great job!

    • Luis Tovar 18. Jul, 2009 #

      Thank you Sean!

      Oh and RE: “I don’t quite know why you put Heads Will Roll on there instead of Hysteric which is by far (my favorite) song on the whole album.”

      Hysteric, unfortunately, isn’t a single. :( But yes, it is a great song. My personal favorite from that album is Dull Life or maybe Runaway.

      • Sean 19. Jul, 2009 #

        OHHHHHHH haha, everything makes sense now.

  71. Sergio 18. Jul, 2009 #

    I’m usually out of touch with non-mainstream music until the year end best of lists and then I go crazy.

    So, this is awesome. Christmas come early.

  72. jeffreygeoffrey 19. Jul, 2009 #

    cool list … I’d put Phoenix and Passion Pit higher, though

    here’s my take on the year so far:

    http://blog.jeffreygeoffrey.com/2009/07/top-songs-of-2009-so-far.html

  73. matt 19. Jul, 2009 #

    “mykonos” was from 2008. early 2008 at that.

  74. Ashlee 20. Jul, 2009 #

    Animal Collective’s “My girls”, is number one. (:
    I’m so elated about that, so I can’t really complain.
    I thought maybe “1901″ could have been lower, but then again I was happy with “Listzomania”.
    Oh, and I’m sure many people have also mentioned this… (so I feel bad for repeating it), but “Daylight” by Matt & Kim is missing…. (well maybe this is strictly my opinion, but I was disappointed when I didn’t see it. )
    I think you guys did pretty good, no list is perfection, and I agreed with a good amount of it.
    Keep up the good work, and this might be a lot too ask but, I really hope you all put Imogen Heap in the next list…. I’m a huge fan and her new song is amazing.

  75. Stomper90 21. Jul, 2009 #

    If you are going to do Eminem why wouldnt you do crack a bottle?

    How is Cudi/Kanye Poker Face that far down on the list? 1 Franz Ferdinand? how is Mike Snow that low? How did Carby by Discovery not make it?
    where’e Cam’Ron i hate my job? No Chiddy Bang?

  76. Holly 23. Jul, 2009 #

    Most of these songs are crap, like Welcome to Heartbreak, CRAP!!! But even though everyone has their own tastes, the “Absolute Best Songs of 2009″ should be chosen by their overall populatiry status, not by one persons opinion. A song that stayed at number one on the charts, like Boom Boom Pow deserves to be high up, but Bloc Party doesn’t need to be on here, and neither does Taylor Swift. Majority rules. Period.

    • Anonymous 24. Jul, 2009 #

      Holly, come on, you ought to know better than “majority rules. period.” If that were the case, if the list were what “the majority” likes, then Miley Cyrus would be on here, you’d have no argument against Taylor Swift and Beyonce would be on here for “Put a Ring on it.”

    • Luis Tovar 24. Jul, 2009 #

      lol, actually. “I” rule. since, well, I pay the hosting bills for this site.. heh :)

      and anyone that knows me/reads this blog knows that the “absolute” part is a bad joke and exaggeration.

      Maybe I should put it in italics. Hmmm…

    • Henry 21. Dec, 2009 #

      boom boom pow….

      black eyed peas fucking lol

  77. Anonymous 24. Jul, 2009 #

    Nah, Luis. Leave it as it is. There is no pleasing the Holly’s of the world. Anyone with even the smallest slice of intelligence understands that you are playing with the word “absolute.” It takes a lot of work to post an informed list of this sort. Sensible people understand. The problem is that sensible people often fail to take the time to post their thoughts on blogs like this. They check it out, admire the work, then move on to the other things in their well-rounded lives. Just thought I’d be the exception and stop and say, “nice work!”

    • Anonymous 08. Aug, 2009 #

      Amen.

  78. redburn 25. Jul, 2009 #

    Great list man.

  79. hope peace love 27. Jul, 2009 #

    these suck

  80. Anonymous 29. Jul, 2009 #

    PMA – what a consistently good source for catching up! agree totally with the guy up there who says it’s like christmas come early…

    somehow i had missed dragonette but thanks to this list i’ve found a gem.

    do agree with those calling for daylight but that aside, great work!

  81. Duffy 30. Jul, 2009 #

    I love bleeeding love. (: and america’s favorite dancers.. keep bleeeeding love i keep bleeding.

  82. Anonymous 30. Jul, 2009 #

    holy crap what garbage …

    • lexishopinfreak 01. Aug, 2009 #

      thats not nice to say garbage say it in a proper way say not a good website

      • Anonymous 07. Aug, 2009 #

        ur a bitch
        that shit was fucking garbage

  83. albert 01. Aug, 2009 #

    This is my issue:
    You say that If U Seek Amy was released in 2008, and Radar in 2007.
    I agree that Circus was released in 2008 (as the 2nd single)
    but the former two songs were released in 2009…IUSA in March and Radar in June
    You cant say they were released before because Lady GaGa’s album (The Fame) came out in 2008…therefore it shouldnt be on the list if britney’s not on the list

  84. djdnfon 01. Aug, 2009 #

    shame no jack penate……am i the only one to think his new album is genius?

    • djdnfon 01. Aug, 2009 #

      and no little boots…..or la roux?

  85. lexishopinfreak 01. Aug, 2009 #

    This website is not good at all i only got 1 song: Love game by Lady Ga Ga!!! Not very successful!!!

  86. lexishopinfreak 01. Aug, 2009 #

    But they could change some stuff but this website is like crap right now but i really wish they changed th song like in Kiss FM!! It would be better i mean do any of you know some of these songs i mean i know 1!!! Only one love game by lady Ga Ga it sucks its not good wish they changed it!!! I mean do you wish they changed this????? Please Please Please reply to me and tell me what ya think ttyl to ya all!!!

  87. Ali 02. Aug, 2009 #

    great list. i found some real gems in here that i would have missed otherwise. this helps me and the artists. mission accomplished and thank you for investing your time for me and others. i will be returning in future.

  88. The Hero 03. Aug, 2009 #

    WTF OMFG!! why is my girls the no 1 song its so fucken retarded

  89. Anonymous 03. Aug, 2009 #

    this list suckssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  90. This List Sucks 04. Aug, 2009 #

    This mother fucker list sucks this songs isn’t the best songs of 2009, this songs is a BIG shit and this list need to be remaked!!!

    Every Body GO TO SHIT!!!

  91. hahahahahahaha if this songs is the bests in the world , i think that we are near of the end of the world!!!
    Becuse this songs sucks!!!

    • Henry 21. Dec, 2009 #

      As you can see the retards who have posted comments right above me cannot grasp the concept of the difference between a blog and fucking news site.

  92. Josh 05. Aug, 2009 #

    Well i think that this list has some really good music that i would not have found otherwise. Thanks heaps.
    And to everyone who thinks the list is “shit” don’t read it and get over yourselves.

    • Josh 05. Aug, 2009 #

      P.S.
      Thanks to people who have added more music in the comments, they have also been helpful :)

  93. Erin 07. Aug, 2009 #

    Put on arma-godam-motherfuckin-geddon by marylin manson

  94. ryan 07. Aug, 2009 #

    that was the worst songs ever ithoght u sid best songs not worst songs

  95. sean bligby 07. Aug, 2009 #

    props for your number 1 choice. i love “my girls”

  96. Dfresh 08. Aug, 2009 #

    21 guns…you’ve gotta be kidding me. Maybe you just got impatient.

  97. Alyssa 09. Aug, 2009 #

    I know this song didnt come out in 2009 but Where’s the weed at by Kottonmouth kings shld b on here!

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