The Best Songs of 2009

Click on the turntable on the left to listen to a continuous stream of music featured on Pretty Much Amazing - updated every day. For more, you can check out the Best Songs of 2011, or our Best Albums of 2011.

Artwork by the talented and generous Adam Sarpalius.

50. VV Brown – Shark In The Water

With 60s power pop stylings, VV Brown kicks off her great single to-date with “Sometimes I get my head in a divvy, feeling so lost, ticking you off”, and for the next 3 or so minutes, we’re blown away by this young girl’s voice and her ability to command the breezy, cheerful music around her. Carrying itself with a George Michael “Faith”-like acoustic guitar, handclaps, and a magnificent set of do-do-do‘s “Shark In The Water” seems to grow bigger as it progresses, peaking at the humongous refrain that takes it all home.

49. Peter Bjorn and John – Nothing To Worry About

“Do this thing this type of thing, put a little money in this type of thing, we’ve got nothing to worry about. I got nothing to worry about.” From the opening high-pitched children’s choir shriek of “Nothing To Worry About,” Peter Bjorn and John had me hooked. It bubbles over with infectious joy and fun, and it bubbled the indie rock world with excitement for their album, Living Thing. – Adam Offiitzer

48. Jónsi – Boy Lilikoi

The first song to be taken from Jónsi’s solo debut was “Boy Lilikoi”, and what a song it was. Immediately after the song’s whimsical 36 second intro, you will notice that Jónsi is singing in English, a pleasant surprise for most Sigur Rós fans. The song progresses beautifully, becoming a symphonic anthem that Jónsi, as part of Sigur Rós, has been known to work with. At its liveliest point, “Boy Lilikoi” is a majestic force of woodwinds, strings, and assembly-line percussion that demands to be heard.

47. La Roux – Bulletproof

“Bulletproof” is a rejection of weakness, a shedding of mistakes, adoption of emotional armor, an acknowledgement by vocalist Elly Jackson that she should’ve known better. Not only her lyrics – the strength of her voice, the song’s dancy propulsion – everything seems to contribute to a recently discovered and inarguable power: “this time baby I’ll be bulletproof.” - Genevieve Oliver

46. Gossip – Heavy Cross

It’s no secret that Beth Ditto’s  voice is one of the most powerful in indie rock. Then why are we still left in awe when we listen her unleashes her tour de force? The Rick Rubin-tinged “Heavy Cross” is Gossip’s most accessible single yet, rivaling the critically embraced “Standing in the Way of Control” in dance floor appeal. Despite the sometimes congenital over-production and coldness of dance music, Ditto is never lost in the track’s blistering staccato guitarwork and percussion. Instead, she commands it with a familiar warmth.

45. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

Who knew that asking kids to dance through an extended Legend of Sleepy Hollow-esque decapitation metaphor could work so well? I don’t know if Karen O’s “dance until you’re dead” is entirely necessary – organ that’s at once funereal and electrifying seems to do the job by itself, and combined with Nick Zinner’s classic fuzzed-out guitar and some kinetic drums, I’m surprised Karen has to threaten us at all. We should already be dancing, right? – Genevieve Oliver

44. The Dodos – Fables

On “Fables” the Dodos enter sunny, feel-good indie rock territory a la Shins (thank Chutes Too Narrow and “Fable”-producer Phil Ek for that). Some fans are upset that the energy resonant on Visitor has been put to sleep on “Fables”, but I call bullshit. Listening to an indie band shed layers of cool to reveal their pop sensibilities is an eye-opening moment.

43. Dan Deacon – Build Voice

“Build Voice” would have been out of place on 2007′s Spiderman of the Rings, with Dan Deacon’s simple and distant harmonies (the clearest I’ve ever heard from him) seemingly detached for the hazy soundscape surrounding it. Deacon’s dexterity and maturity as a producer is clearly showcased in the controlled crescendo, making up the track, slowly letting the choas seep out of its cage, slowly building Voice.

42. Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo

Inexplicably pulling off the impossible balancing act of raising heart rates of both dubstep experts and well, people like us, “Hyph Mngo” twists from an initially disarming introduction into synths and cut up vocals that plunge into the murky world of sub bass. It grabs dubstep by its slightly elitist balls and drags it into the mainstream, and it is exactly because this desire to tear off into the unknown and also its arresting simplicity that “Hyph Mngo” is a record that resonates perfectly with 2009. -Phil Gwyn

41. N.A.S.A. – Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santigold, Lykke Li)

Don’t know if it’s Lykke Li’s Japanamation-like chorus, Santogold’s sweet contribution, or that Kanye actually realized that he should only rap, never sing, but this is some his most impressive work since Graduation. There are times where “Gifted” gets dangerously close to self-indulgent. Still, when any work of art comes across like that it’s usually because it actually is something to be proud of, and that’s the case with “Gifted”. It really is a brilliant collaboration – Jeff Lind

40. Basement Jaxx – My Turn (feat. Lightspeed Champion)

Basement Jaxx make quirky house music, and the bass bumping throughout new track “My Turn” certainly won’t challenge the assumption. However, “My Turn” isn’t a banger to drop on the late night. Although Basement Jaxx tracks can sometimes feel like the guest vocalist is there just to be there, Dev Hynes (aka Lightspeed Champion) really touches the heart strings with his vocals, and they never feel extraneous or cheesy. – Daniel Siegal

39. Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)

He’s the most respected man in hip-hop, he has more Number-One albums than Elvis, and he’s married to Beyonce. If anyone was qualified to write a high profile thank you letter to New York, it’s Jay-Z. And he doesn’t disappoint. On his ode to hometown, Jay-Z drops cultural references you didn’t know existed, but when heard in that cocky tone of his, they sound like your favorite memory of the big city.

38. Diamond Rings – All Yr Songs

A precise drum machine, vocals like the National’s Matt Berninger amped up in register and positivity, a sweet guitar-folk structure – but most affecting of all are John O’Regan’s lyrics. “In the summer weather we’ll put sunscreen on together; I would not want your skin to burn.” -Genevieve Oliver

37. Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams

Beyoncé, and her slew of instant-classic #1 singles, don’t come around often. Not since Whitney Houston has a female artist sent the R&B and Pop communities ablaze, and with “Sweet Dreams”, Beyoncé kicks off her first electropop tune. Digital Spy put it best: “Oh, and if you’re still in any doubt as to Beyoncé’s credentials, consider this: she’s just named her first electropop tune after one of the most famous electropop tunes ever… and pulled it off.”

36. Freelance Whales – Generator ^ 1st Floor

The minute I heard “Generator ^ 1st Floor”, I knew I had stumbled onto something marvelous. Freelance Whales captured my heart and ears with their savvy folk instrumentation, youthful ambition and pop sensibilities. Their project was a smart and wholly unique fusion of Sufjan Stevens and Arcade Fire. Like we said in our gushing review, just enjoy falling goofy in love with this band.

35. Big Boi – Shine Blockas (feat. Gucci Mane)

A couple of months ago, when I first visited Big Boi and Gucci Mane’s “Shine Blockas” all I had to say was “thank you Big Boi for giving me everything I ever wanted in a rap song.” Nothing has changed since.

34. Bon Iver – Blood Bank

If you haven’t heard it already, you will probably be fairly apprehensive as to how this sound has come out since For Emma, Forever Ago, as I was. The perfect cure for this natural apprehension is to listen to “Blood Bank” a few times and realize that Bon Iver has, actually, got better. “Blood Bank” will silence doubters and possibly even convert some dissenters thanks to Bon Iver’s new sound. – Phil Gwyn

33. Mos Def – Quiet Dog Bite Hard

After an excerpt from Fela Kuti, Mos Def blasts off with the percussive and minimalistic “Quiet Dog Bite Hard”. The brilliant combination (all hail producer Preservation) of an African rhythm, banging wood blocks, handclaps, shakers and I don’t know what else, give Mos Def the room to deliver some of wildest lines he’s written in years, with flawless precision. It goes without saying that his call to arms had been answered throughout countless parties this summer. QUIET DOG BITE HARD, LETS ROCK!

32. Vampire Weekend – Cousins

Vampire Weekend have always had energy, but there is something different about “Cousins”. “Cousins” has a different and remarkable kind of energy – it is driven utterly by itself, and yet it shoves at its own boundaries. Cousins is kinetic. Its motion gives it power. Everything leads effortlessly into everything, a thousand quick and smooth and completely logical progressions – every element upon every element. And this is where the talent of Vampire Weekend lies. So many facets and progressions, all of them built together with such continuity so as to be entirely natural. -Genevieve Oliver

31. Gotye – Learnalilgivinanlovin’

You would be forgiven for thinking, on a blind listen to ‘Learnalilgivinanlovin’, that you were witnessing a glorious new cut from some recently unearthed box of James Brown rarities. But no, quite the opposite – this is, in fact, the musical musings of young, white, exuberant Wally de Backer (aka Gotye). Everything about him exudes colour and vibrancy – from the multi-hued animation that bedecks this tracks video, through his delightful polka-dot pyjamas so gaily displayed on his MySpace page, to this perfect pastiche of all things good about Motown. – Fred Mikardo

30. Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire

Young Hearts Spark Fire” opens like so many songs by twenty-somethings: with lyrics of empty wine bottles, two hearts beating, and having gotten so drunk that you’ve gone numb; yet it is that one repeated lyric, “We used to dream. Now we worry about dying” that sells the album. Through all of their drunken ranting, clamoring for girls, and rocking, at the heart of Japandroids lies two boys, scared to grow up, and not forgetting this fact no matter how wrapped up in girls and partying they might tell us they are. -Ricky Schweitzer

29. Major Lazer – Keep It Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze)

Truthfully, I only gave Major Lazer’s Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do a few listens, but the great, “Keep It Goin’ Louder” has kept me coming back. It has all the elements of a winning pop song with a deadly beat and infectious vocals. It is a pop song that should have dominated the top 40. However, it is better kept as an indie treasure, proving to be better than anything you will hear on the top 40. -Will Oliver

28. Free Energy – Free Energy

If Free Energy the song is meant to define the sound of Free Energy the band, it defines them as a fuzzed-out summery ecstasy of a sound, all the happiness in something as simple as being “young and still alive,” the same simple joy and hazy garage fuzz used to great effect by bands like the Strokes. Not a bad definition, if you ask me. -Genevieve Oliver

27. Bat For Lashes – Daniel

Two Suns first single “ Daniel” is the unequaled highlight of the album. Yes, it’s about heartbreak, but it rumbles along with a hip-snapping beat, constantly buoyed by Natasha Khan’s catchy lyrics that make it somewhat danceable. A Bat For Lashes first? Quite possibly. -Phil Gwyn

26. Passion Pit – Little Secrets

Little Secrets is all about that glorious energy in feeling alive: keyboard like something out of a video game and playful percussion are all well and good, but the real power lies is Michael Angelakos voice, that childish, ecstatic register, layered over everything: “no one needs to know we’re feeling higher and higher and higher but I feel alive.” -Genevieve Oliver

by Luis Tovar on December 21, 2009 ‡ 296 reactions