08 April 2010

The 2009 Grampies (Revised and Revisited)

My top two favorite new releases of 2009, hands-down, were my daughter Katharina (20 February) and my granddaughter Sarena (1 March). But now, in honor of my second granddaughter, Emma Alethea Wirgau, who is already my favorite new release of this Year of Our Lord 2010, I'm revisiting my favorite music albums of the past year. I did this once before, but I wasn't satisfied, because there were still a couple months left in the year, and that didn't seem quite right or fair.

The 2009 Grampies include only regular albums of new material released in the course of this past year. No special editions or greatest hits collections. Obviously, these are matters of my personal opinions, which is of course the point when it comes to the music I listen to for fun.

I've listed my thirteen favorite albums, across all genres, as well as my top ten favorite albums in each of the five broad categories of music I tend to enjoy. So, here you go, for what it's worth. Comments from the peanut gallery are welcome, as always, preferably polite.


THE BAKER'S DOZEN BEST OF 2009

Five for Fighting - Slice

Daughtry - Leave This Town

Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk

Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony

Orianthi - Believe

This Providence - Who Are You Now?

Brooke White - High Hopes and Heartbreaks

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Lonely Road

Mandy Moore - Amanda Leigh

Rodney Atkins - It’s America

Rob Thomas - Cradlesong

Bon Jovi - The Circle

Mozella - Belle Isle


POP

Five for Fighting - Slice

Mandy Moore - Amanda Leigh

MoZella - Belle Isle

Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody

Colbie Caillat - Breakthrough

Mat Kearney - City of Black & White

Regina Spektor - Far

Howie Day - Sound the Alarm

Meg & Dia - Here, Here and Here

A Fine Frenzy - Bomb in the Birdcage


POP ROCK

Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk

Orianthi - Believe

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Lonely Road

Rob Thomas - Cradlesong

Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here

Parachute - Losing Sleep

Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane

Dashboard Confessional - After the Ending

The Audition - Self-Titled Album

The Fray - The Fray


ROCK

Daughtry - Leave This Town

Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony

Bon Jovi - The Circle

Burn Halo - Burn Halo

Delain - April Rain

Jet - Shaka Rock

Creed - Full Circle

Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know

Three Days Grace - Life Starts Now


COUNTRY

Brooke White - High Hopes and Heartbreaks

Rodney Atkins - It’s America

Eric Church - Carolina

Tim McGraw - Southern Voice

Jack Ingram - Big Dreams & High Hopes

Toby Keith - American Ride

Chris Young - The Man I Want to Be

Steve Azar - Slide on Over Here

Jason Aldean - Wide Open

Carrie Underwood - Play On


ALTERNATIVE

This Providence - Who Are You Now?

The Script - The Script

Sherwood - QU

Owl City - Ocean Eyes

Bowling for Soup - Sorry for Partyin’ {with caveats}

Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down

U2 - No Line on the Horizon

The Almost - Monster Monster

New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight

Mutemath - Armistice

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