Artwork by the talented and generous Adam Sarpalius.
25. Girls – Hellhole Ratrace
Girls front-man Christopher Owen isn’t asking for your sympathy on the deeply nostalgic “Hellhole Ratrace”, but instead asking for your good times. If “Lust For Life” was Girls’ summer-fun anthem, these seven minutes of unadulterated genius is their heartbreak moment. A moment that does not drag on with song’s repetitive nature, but instead grows more powerful with each renewal, until you finally hear “Hellhole Ratrace” for what it really is.
24. White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
Percussion Gun is a masterful coming together of many disparate parts, one at a time until we wind up with a breathtaking finished product – a perfect, precise mix of several things that just fit, just barely, just tenuously enough to communicate that hurried energy of possible total disaster. And that energy is evenly matched with that of Steve Patterson’s lyrics: “Even rats would jump this ship.” Masterfully, effortlessly, even though that ship may be sinking, White Rabbits manage to keep it afloat until the very end. -Genevieve Oliver
23. Matt & Kim – Daylight
Cabaret-style piano and “we cut the legs off of our pants, threw our shoes into the ocean” is how Brooklyn’s happiest indie-duo open their catchiest and most reflective song yet. With Matt’s celestial synth and bass line and Kim’s stuttering drums, wrapped up in one of the biggest hooks of 2009, “Daylight” can brighten up the gloomiest of days and make Bacardi mojitos even more appetizing.
22. Dragonette – Fixin’ To Thrill
An unapologetically brash opener, “Fixin To Thrill” offered up one of 2009’s best beat drops, a mere 20 seconds in. From there on, we were ready for the floor, Martina Sobrara’s oddball lyrics complementing the crashing drum beats: “And the boys they offer diamonds/But they’re giving them quartz”
This was a pivotal song, built around a dutty synth line and call to arms: “Get on the floor, don’t make a fuss, just do it!” Who gives a fuck about strategic track listing? “Fixin To Thrill” was all about cojones, and this band certainly has them. -Will Hines
21. Phoenix – 1901
There is something very classic about Phoenix, something that must have existed before it existed. Upon the guitar entrance about fifty seconds in, when Thomas Mars distills a sentence like “I’ll be anything you ask and more” into a series of sweet and mindless “hey”s – there is a weird, joyous pop perfection in that, transcendent of any era. “Past and present, eighteen-fifty-five-nineteen-oh-one.” – Genevieve Oliver
20. Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
“Ambling Alp” is the type of bright, weird pop gem that you yearn for, without knowing it. But the satisfaction that comes after the first few listens is undeniable. Yes, Animal Collective reference have been thrown around, but aside from the obvious Animal Collective loop-over-loop-over-loop stylings, there is a lot going on here. The squishy electropop bass line and funk horns will save “Ambling Alp” from being pigeonholed, and with some justice, being written off as the Poor Man’s “My Girls”.
19. The Golden Filter – Solid Gold
In 2008, with a single mp3, The Golden Filter captured the attention of thousands of listeners from both sides of the Atlantic. In 2009, “Solid Gold” was released making the Golden Filter’s presence official. With this singular, but brilliant single, the mysterious Golden Filter played big gigs at this year’s SXSW, toured with the Presets, and filled sizable dance halls in the US and UK. The last artist to see so much success with sporadic single releases, without an album to support them, he was called LCD Soundsystem, and we all know how that worked out.
18. Harlem Shakes – Sunlight
Unique-voiced frontmen might be de rigueur in the world of indie pop music today, but there is still something special and endearing about Lexy Benaim, always singing “so close to true” around some kind of lump in his throat. Regardless of the bright titular joy of Sunlight and the band’s uplifting keyboard-driven pop, the melancholy in this song exists: “I did what I thought I was supposed to do” implies a kind of failure. Masterfully, despite this, there’s a blind ecstasy to Sunlight that’s absolutely unmatched. -Genevieve Oliver
17. The xx – Crystalised
No matter how good “Crystalised” is, I don’t think anyone expected The xx to accomplish what they have with their debut xx (according to Last.fm, nearly 100,000 users listen to them regularly). But that’s not to say they don’t owe most of their success to the polarizing “Crystalised”, our introduction to The xx’s brand of melancholy pop, the perfect marriage of lulling, yet lively guitars and soul-penetrating percussion work. The juxtaposition of the light, airy guitars and the heavy percussive tones make “Crystalised” indispensable.
16. Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love
‘You’ve Got The Love’ began life as a one-hit-wonder soul-disco track for The Source, feat. Candi Staton, in 1991 – but in the hands of Florence Welch and her Machine, it becomes a soaring paean; an unwavering declaration of faith and resolve. The song makes a grand enough statement (“When food is gone, you are my daily meal/When friends are gone, I know my savior’s love is real”) to merit, as well as suit, the magnitude of Welch’s voice, and she comes into her own. “As a kid, going to clubs and raves, this song made me feel love,” Welch said of the original Source track. Now, her reinvention of the hit acts as a grander, more contemporary expression of strength for those times it seems that life is just too much. -Elle Hunt
15. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
“Two Weeks”, is impossible to dislike – the piano notes dance sweetly while Droste’s honeyed voice does the real work, giving the track legs that stick it firmly in your mind for the duration of Veckatimest. It’s the kind of song that you listen to once and immediately make up your mind about, tell your friends about, write home about. I bet hundreds of hipster kids will have their first kiss to this song. -Chris Barth
14. Phoenix – Lisztomania
The lyrics on “Lisztomania” are almost as hard to work out as they are to interpret, but the song’s instant appeal can be spotted from a mile away. Drawing the song’s title from a term used to describe the massive public response to German composer, Liszt’s virtuosic piano performances, Phoenix write a compelling song about coming to terms with mainstream success, a success that Phoenix must have foreseen. As I write this, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is sitting in iTunes’ Top 40 and Phoenix are sitting on their first GRAMMY nomination.
13. The Antlers – Bear
Nothing was sadder or more beautiful in 2009 than the Antlers’ Hospice, and of those ten songs there was nothing sadder or more beautiful than Bear. The centerpiece of an album about the tenuous connection between a decaying life and a decaying romance, Bear sums up the whole thing. It begins gently and ends powerfully, guitar and vocals gaining reverb and depth and volume and losing the toy keyboard but retaining that same punch in the face of a lyric: “We’re too old. We’re not old at all.” -Genevieve Oliver
12. Animal Collective – Brother Sport
“Brother Sport” actually starts off with one of Animal Collective’s most accessible, catchy refrains to date. “Open up your, open up your, open up your throat,” sing Avey Tare and Panda Bear, bouncing off each other as quickly as the springy noises in “Lion In A Coma.” It’s all on top of a simple guitar hook and the usual AC “whoops” and “whaps.” Then comes the kicker: you’ve got to open up your throat “MATT!” The song explodes. “Support your BROTHER sports BROTHER” ping-pong Tare and Bear back and forth as “Brother Sport” evolves into layers of sound building and building until your mind is about to explode.
And finally, to end this brilliant, epic track, AC close out with some more afro-beats, sing-along lyrics, and a sense of pure, simple, unadulterated joy that is so perfectly conveyed throughout Merriweather Post Pavilion. -Adam Offitzer
11. Music Go Music – Warm In The Shadows
“What kind of heart would break so easy as my own?” sings Gala Bell with disco in her heart and dance in her voice. So is Music Go Music’s calling card single, “Warm In The Shadows”, complete with a discotheque bass-line, ABBA guitars loops, and even a sterling, face-melting guitar solo. This 9-minute journey in epic disco funk is centralized around Gala Bell’s oracular voice, the most important instrument in Music Go Music’s arsenal. Bell’s lucid tones are harmonized against each other, dubbed into endless reverberations, and wrapping themselves around our lonely hearts.
![latest pmaCAST](http://i46.tinypic.com/1zeh9v9.jpg")
Clearly the majority that have looked over this list were surprised to find that they only know one or a few songs. That is because the majority listen to what is on your typical Top 40 and is commercially endorsed. These songs are more of the “Indie” variety and just reflects one individual’s taste. I have heard of these songs and many are quality tracks. The word “gay” does not come to mind whatsoever but this is a term that is used to substitute the sheer anger and ignorance of people who have such a closed view of music in general. I think this is a valid list but I would agree that it does need a bit more variety. The top 20 songs are dominated by the same bands. I will listen to these songs and appreciate and enjoy them and I will still listen to the mainstream as well. I keep my interests open to all genres. The rest of you who bashed this list should give it a try.
have a good time in america
could not agree more with the 1 and 2. I finally saw a list that stated it!
So many mother fuckers listen to mainstream music. I was upset to see one Drake song on here. Glad to see there was no Kid Cudi, Taylor Swift, etc. Should have had some Deadmau5 on here, but you named some good ones. I would have included Intro by The xx as well, and maybe some Pryda.
i agree seriously people expect good music and uhmm this is bull shit sorry im not here to bash any1 cuz every1 likes diff kinds of music but i mean really som1 needs to show you GOOD music
Wow you need help these songs are gay! probley just like you!
I like this list
I just thought Empire of the Sun “Standing on the Shore” and The Avett Brothers “I and Love and You.”
LOVE Passion Pit! It’s nice to see them get the recognition they deserve
what the hell this is totally like fuked up shit
Thank God, a list that isn’t full of the same old shit
I love having sex but id rather get some head
these r really gay songs… i only heard of 1!
What the fuck are these!!!!!!! >:(
WTF!!!! Why the hell wont you list the music that i listen to!!! You shitty fagcocksucker.
Srsly, epic list. Ive heard most of it before but alot of new stuff aswell. Do another one for 2010, pls ty.
These comments make me weep for humanity.
this is the most mest up list of songs EVER! havnt heard of a single song on this list, except for ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
same here!
tdnc, qwdfgcxnwnsxwkx
It is a travesty to find out that people describe songs as being “gay”. I know there are better words out there to describe songs you personally do not take a liking to. And anyway, many of these are excellent songs that deserve more credit than what the immature audience of this thread gives them.
Enough said, leave your negative comments elsewhere and make your own list.
Um i only know one of those songs and its by drake…. so u need to actually ask other people instead of making a list of your own knowledge…
You know this would be one horrible playlist. These songs would only be good for movies, where they take out the words, and put only a little part of the music in there. My personal veiw!
-Coeyz!
these songs really, truly, honestly suck
yo mama sucks my cock
your a fucking loser
shit list..
hey don’t listen to these people this is an awesome list
This is the crapest list of 2009
this list sucks
how dare u like music different to me, you n00b, xxx isn’t there whaaa whaa you must be a n00b, opinions suck, agreeing with me rules
What the heck?????? This would be a great website IF,,, and I mean IF These songs were relevant! But its all depressing crap…. Makes you wanna barf. Pick real songs to put here…. please dont make anyone else suffer.
YOU MUST BE DEPRESSED TO HEAR THIS KIND OF MUSIC
MAYBE YOU SHOULD HANG OUT WITH SOME PEOPLE ONCE IN A WHILE
What the hell is this?!? Where the hell is Muse?!? They had one of the best albums of the year, well according to me. Screw this list. It is gay!
this is bull shit idk any of these songs!!! waste of time
These songs, in my opinion, are adequate. They are unique and I havn’t heard of most of them. Some other good songs that I’ve come across are:
Existentialism On Prom Night – Straylight Run
THIS SONG IS GREAT! IT IS VERY PRETTY.
Wherever The Wind Blows – Pillar
MY FRIEND SHOWED ME THIS SONG AND I REALLY LIKED IT, AS I’M SURE YOU WILL.
Lemonade – Chris Rice
I ALMOST USED THIS SONG FOR MY WINTERGUARD COMPETITION ROUTINE, BUT COULDN’T BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SHORT. BUT, IT IS ALSO ANOTHER CUTE, PRETTY SONG.
Gravity – Shawn McDonald
THIS SONG WAS PLAYED AT ONE OF MY DANCE RECITALS AND I WAS ENGAGED IN IT IMMEDIATELY. IT’S PERFECT IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A MODERN, FRESH NEW SONG.
i like th esongs but there were way better songs in ‘09, where is the taylor swift, carrie underwood, all american rejects, black-eyed-peas, agian there are better songs than this okay list
This is the saddest list ever. what the fuck were u thinking about when you wrote this? where is Rise Against? Franz Ferdinand? Nickelback? Kings of Leon? u must be fucking retarded
why dont you have taylor swift,michael jackson, demi lavoto,salena gomez,jonas brothers or carrie underwood.
Awesome list dude.
these songs r gay
that was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo crab you wasted my time.
yeah um theses are gay ok?
this is well shit !!!!!
That Shit Was Fucking STUPID
WTF
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is shit!!!
wow, I’m suprised so few people have heard these songs!
everyone of those songs is gay or unheard of. dumbass
shit
this is shit.. there are so many better songs this year…
wooow. i’ve heard of ONE of these songs. this is the stupidest thing ever!
yeah, “my girls” by animal rocks, but you’ve got 4 of top 11 in the collective camp. Variety much in your ears?
I think that these songs are the worst songs ever. These selection of songs are songs no-one has ever heard. Put black-eyes peas, lady gaga, iyaz, Lily allen, Jay Z, Tinchey stryder etc. These songs are really bad and no-one cares about them so go and get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF !!!!!!!