Best Albums of 2009

Every year about this time, my high school and college buddies who participate is very intense and thought provoking email list put together our lists of top 10 albums released over the past twelve months.  Most of us have been in bands together so our tastes in music is very similar but occasionally one of us throws a curve ball.  In true Big Ten fashion, my Top 10 list has 12 entries, with a 13th "Bonus pick" thrown in for good measure.

So, without further ado, here is the list I came up with.

1. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
2. The Tragically Hip - We Are The Same
3. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
4. Robyn Hitchcock - Goodnight Oslo
5. Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come
6. Echo and the Bunnymen - The Fountain
7. Cymbals Eat Guitars -Why There Are Mountains
8. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
10. Them Crooked Vultures
11. And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Century of Self
12. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Bonus Pick: Hooray For Earth - Momo
Bonus Pick: James Horner - Avatar Soundtrack