2009's Best Music So Far

Yes, Kelly Clarkson made the top five
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 15, 2009 4:00 PM CDT
2009's Best Music So Far
Members of Wilco, from left, Pat Sansone, Mikael Jorgensen, Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline, and John Stirratt are shown.   (AP Photo)

Now that 2009 is more than halfway over, James Montgomery runs down the best albums of the year—so far—on MTV:

  • Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion: The No. 1 pick is “the only thing I can remember that has actually lived up to the hype, if not exceeded it.”
  • Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: “Retro pop hyper-focused on a futuristic re-imagination of post-modernism and neo-classicism as proletarian touchstones? That you can dance to?” earns album No. 2 spot.

  • Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted: “Yes, seriously,” she made it into the top five. Clarkson is “finally realizing her full potential as a pop megastar.”
  • Wilco, Wilco (The Album): “Jeff Tweedy and company appear to be aging gracefully here and, in the process, they've created the summertime anthem for anyone who owns a battered Volvo wagon and spends their Saturdays playing kickball in McCarren Park.”
  • Mos Def, The Ecstatic: This is “the album his fans have been waiting for since 1999’s milestone Black on Both Sides. Welcome back to earth, Ford Prefect.”
For the rest of the top 10, and honorable mentions, click the link below. (More Animal Collective stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X