Make sure to download the newest episode of the pmaCAST: There's Something Living In These Lines, featuring Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Cut Copy, Friendly Fires, Freelance Whales, Passion Pit and more.
Artwork by the talented and generous Adam Sparpalius.
Today we celebrate the 274th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, but for the sake of simplicity, we will just call it 75% of 2009. As promised, I have updated the list of PMA’s Absolute (feel the sarcasm?) Best Songs of 2009. It was originally just my Top 10. Then it became the Top 50. Today, I have a top 50 with 25 ordered Honorable Mentions (don’t call it Top 75).
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) An album-track that has attracted enormous amounts of attention. That fourth definition is a loop hole, yes, but it’s a shame to ignore a smash hit just because it doesn’t have its own EP, amiright?
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. More often than not, it might help remind me of a song I may have missed. For example, last time I completely skipped on Matt & Kim’s “Daylight,” criminal, I know… but if it wasn’t for all of the people commenting on the track’s absence, I would have probably forgotten it again. And that, definitely, is a crime.
Alright, enough chit chat… let’s get started with the 25 Honorable Mentions, then the list itself.
25 Honorable Mentions for Best Songs of 2009
1. VV Brown – Shark In The Water
2. Volcano Choir – Island, IS
3. Zomby – Helter Skelter
4. Yes Giantess – Tuff ‘n’ Stuff
5. BBU – Chi Don’t Dance
6. Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind (ft. Alicia Keys)
7. Bombay Bicycle Club – Always Like This
8. The Big Pink – Dominoes
9. Lady GaGa – Paparazzi
10. St. Vincent – The Strangers
11. The Dodos – Fables
12. Hockey – Too Fake
13. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song
14. Das Racist – Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Wallpaper Remix)
15. Royksopp – The Girl and the Robot (ft. Robyn)
16. Dirty Projectors & David Byrne – Knotty Pine
17. The Sound of Arrows – Into The Clouds
18. Pictureplane – Goth Star
19. Metric – Help I’m Alive
20. Miike Snow – Animal
21. Little Boots – Remedy
22. Fever Ray – When I Grow Up
23. Neko Case – People Got A Lotta Nerve
24. The Maccabees – Love You Better
25. Pet Shop Boys – Did You See Me Coming?
and the top 50 are…
Tags: Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Basement Jaxx, Bat For Lashes, BBU, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bon Iver, Chiddy Bang, Das Racist, David Byrne, Diamond Rings, Dirty Projectors, Discovery, Dragonette, Eminem, Fever Ray, Fleet Foxes, Franz Ferdinand, Free Energy, Gang Gang Dance, Gotye, Green Day, Grizzly Bear, Harlem Shakes, Hockey, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, La Roux, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Little Boots, Matt & Kim, Miike Snow, Mos Def, Music Go Music, N.A.S.A., Neko Case, Panda Bear, Passion Pit, Pet Shop Boys, Peter Bjorn and John, Phoenix, Robyn, Röyksopp, Shakira, Simian Mobile Disco, Solange, St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, Sunset Rubdown, Taylor Swift, The Antlers, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, The Big Pink, The Decemberists, the dodos, The Golden Filter, The Gossip, The Killers, The Maccabees, The Sound of Arrows, The Sounds, The XX, Tiësto, Volcano Choir, VV Brown, Washed Out, White Rabbits, Yacht, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, yelle, Yes Giantess, Zomby
guys there is no reason to cuss there could be kids on here
So what lol. It’s just a word why does it matter? Not like they haven’t heard it b4. Fuck Shit Cunt Whore Slut Bitch Faggot
thats verry true this generation all the kids kno the bad words
Still,do you want to be looked at as the”bad guy” i wouldn’t plus what’s the point?
obviosly you are a cunt, whore, slut, bitch ,faggot, mole, ranga donkey-rooting joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
baha. you crackk me upp (:
cause God does not like it when you cuss.
wow, jessica. how old r u?
couldn’t have said it better.
bbbhahaha (:
We are the People by Empire of the Sun
great list. Many styles, seems like you know your stuff, make it sounds credible.
let me just make a couple suggestion from my own list : portugal the man – people say, the invisible – london girl, andrew bird – anonanimal
cant wait for the end of the year compilations
I am seriously obsessed with your taste in music! i love how its not just all of that stupid generic music everyone overplays
can’t wait to see the end of the year list 
LOVE IT!
I hate to sound elitist or even condescending but there’s a clear trend among the comments. The people who question the quality of this list are either young or uneducated as evidence by their informal slang or poor spelling, whatever, etc. The bottom line is the people who compiled this list know more about music than the average pop music listening comment hater. Based on online and offline consensus, My Girls is revolutionary not just for 2009 but relative to songs that have come out in the past decade. Again, not to sound elitist, but as a Juilliard graduate, the song’s chord progressions and structure are unlike anything we’ve ever heard. And that needs to be celebrated.
As evidence that this list is not partial towards indie music, check out the Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas selections. What people fail to realize is that the term “best songs” should imply innovation, progression and barrier breaking. While people may remember “Halo” or “Boom-boom pow” ten years from now because it was blasted on the radio or in the clubs, rather than the song that it’s derived from, it’s the “My girls” of the world that are going to make the most worthwhile impact on the music industry landscape…and that’s what it’s all about.
Keep dreaming and innovating
Well, sir Peter over here really knows his stuff.
Personally though, despite your righteous wording, I still have no love for “My Girls.”
no offence bt these are LAME!!! songs
i tottaly agree……..wanna get a more accurate list go to 2009charthits.com
I’m a kid!
Woah!
You guys need to watch your fucking language jeeeeeeeeeeeez
mabe you should watch yours you immature whore!
hOLII Pyschp
kool
u suck
worst songs ever
shut up. grow a brain and get lost!
Honestly, half the songs, well more I have never heard off. I do understand that it is your opinion. Though really, I’ve only heard some of the songs, around 5 to out of what you put *shrug* I like what I like, and I am a teenager thank you. It doesn’t mean shit. There’s a whole lot of songz I would’ve added but whatever…
there opinion is there opinion no one needs to here you winge about it. dont come back to the site if you cant handle it. immature!
are you retarded?
go fuck yourself pussy, and next time read the persons fucking post fag.
I wanted top ten songs not the top worst songs………………………………
U R SO NOT FUNNY, obviously you are amused by childish crap!
omg!!1 anonomous#2
settle down
if they dont like the list u cant make them like it
take a chill pill u physco
cussing isnot good……is that the image u want??a sinner…….good luck with ur life
its not sinning to swear i go to a jesuit high skool and kids still swear there just get over it
This is very nice list nearly perfect, to my opinion Merriweather Post Pavillion by Animal Collective is one of the best albums in this year.As the song My Girls it have everything – you can dance, you can sing, you can think about the meanings of lyrics, or just enjoy the sweet sound !
A couple more month to the years list, looking forward to it.
Keep up the good work !
bla bla bla
Hey Juilliard grad, no one cares where you went to school. Music is an art, and a lot of people do not put “Best songs” to imply what you are saying. People who go to school to “learn” art are silly, and btw… It was decided a while back that there is an entirely different language used on the internet and via text than is actually spoken. Oh yeah, and not everyone can type as well as everyone else snob. Plus, to all of the youngsters out there, don’t let ANYONE look down on you because you are young! You are the future, and you can like and respect whatever you like, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Lady GaGa, Cursive, The Sounds of Animals Fighting, Britney Spears, SPM, or anything else, if it inspires or speaks to you, then effing embrace it.
Great list. I love Franz Ferdinand! I actually went to Green Day’s concert mostly to see them but Green Day surprised me afterward with an awesome show. It was a great night
You have a few bands I didn’t know and I’ll check them out! I love discovering new bands everyday.
lol
MAD PROPS on including dustland fairytale. it is still, to this day, the only song that can make me cry like a blubbering idiot. it’s absolutely beautiful and I need to thank you for including it!
im too young for this shit
honestly why bother leaving a comment if all you are going to do is swear about it. What the hell is the point. If you think its funny then maybe you should get help. These songs are the persons opinion, if you dont agree just drop it dont be childish!
Look, I don’t mind the list. I don’t think it’s amazing but its alright to me. Everyone has their own opinion. If u love it, great! and if u don’t just keep your opinion to yourself. Or make your own list!
ya, about the bad word issue? every kid in town knows all the bad words. btw, no kids are coming to the website? you kiding. i am a kid.
poor choice of song
it sucks
what the fuck is this?! My Girls has to be one of the worst songs i have ever heard no joke
“Two” is #27!
“Two” is #27!
what do you mean ugh. this is a great list! if you want a top 5 go find it somewhere else there are plenty on the internet
what do you mean ugh. this is a great list! if you want a top 5 go find it somewhere else there are plenty on the internet
are you kidding me? la roux? so many better choices, for example any kings of leon song or jay-z song is better than what i just heard
I move that “Party in the USA” be placed at top spot.
poo
“LOL” (for the youngens out there)
I love reading people argue like this on the net.. especially youtube. =D so stupid and pointles!
even my comment is no benefit to anyone other than myself; just so I can feel a tad respectable?… haha..
no
i am bored.
but i must say.
“my girls” did not impress me.. it kinda sounds like it’s going to progress into something big.. but that something never came. *sad*
but it cannot be compared to alot of the ‘young’ hip-hop and r&b… it’s just different. and personally. i rather this than listening to somepeople just swearing their head off and calling it music.. sure.. in the case of rap..their articulations and ability to ‘rap’ is quite respectable as an art form.. (i can’t do it =D.. *sad*) but some lyrics just make me want to sigh.
heavy metal: interesting…. but not for me. i prefer to keep my hearing till old age.
sometimes i just dont have a clue what some music is about..
some people will just call me ’stupid’ for it, but COME ON! i wish i could give an example.. but i dont want to slander..
*ppl respond: “oo you idiot **** you think you’re so righteous and goodie goodie…”*
hehe.. yes.
but who am i to talk about music anyways. i know nothing about it. i just listen to songs that make me feel good.. depending on the mood.. ^^
whoever made this list, kudos to you. you, and the rest of the first world population knows more music than me! =D
however.. if you’re still reading this.. you must be as bored as i am.
who wants to teach me about engineering material science?..
God bless
how disrespectful can you people be? whether you agree with the list or not, the people who put this together have put in a lot of hard work, and if you would listen to any of the tracks here, which they have kindly included only one click away, you might actually open your mind to some new music you would’ve otherwise never heard. For me, that’s the only reason I come to these sites, other peoples opinions, because before tonight I had never heard of Gotye before, but boy am I glad I do now. Not to mention all the other killer bands here, atlas sound, dirty projectors, and OF COURSE Grizzly Bear. I personally would’ve stuck ‘em at #1 with their stellar While You Wait For the Others. also surprised to see Dark was the Night not represented more than two tracks. Thought that was a powerful compilation overall, one of the best I’ve heard in years. Looking forward to the end of the list. Expecting to see some Devendra Banhart on here, and maybe even some Avett Brothers??? Don’t disappoint me PMA.
you all need to get a life cause i read som o these and you all actin like baby ass Quiers
i like the list though
thhis list fuucking suucks
people can be real togh behind screens ^.^
YEAH, THERE ARE KIDS ON HERE. I AM ONE. ALL OF THESE SONGS SUCK. MAYBE ONLY FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD.
I ran into this page on accident…it was made for me
the list is frikken splendid.. are you all out of your minds
Just shut about about it cussing isnt good its just for you try to get into a cool group even though its not cool.
Turn from your ways and run to Jesus
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhhhhhhhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOOO happy to see M Girls back where it belongs.
Although the user who suggested including something by The Sound Of Arrows has a point…
Empire of the Sun-We are the People….should definately have made the list.