1 Alela Diane - To Be Still [Rough Trade, February]
^This 11 track CD is a complete joy. I predicted this would be my top pick for 2009 way back in March... and I'm sticking to it. The vocals are right out front and the accompaniment includes a diversity of stringed instruments (cello, fiddle, mandolin, banjo), plenty of tribal beats and interesting effects. The pieces fit together so perfectly. Every Path is my favorite track, followed by a walking beat, steel guitar-ed To Be Still and the traditional folk sound of The Alder Trees. Folk is in.

2 Japandroids - Post-Nothing [Polyvinyl Records, August]
^Japandroids master other places inside tomorrow forever conversations. Their 2009 release Post-Nothing is an 8-pak of songs blending youthful fantasia with pulp fiction lyrics into addictive concoctions strong enough to cure the doldrums of reality. The blasting simplicity intoxicates the senses. Distorted tempos repell voids dying to wreck the scene. This duo dares you to madly jump on your sofa, wave your arms and forget the fear.

3. Ilyas Ahmed - Goner [Roots Strada, May]
^Ilyas Ahmed has been haunting us with adequately sparse 4-track urban mysticism since his first CDr in 2005. This 2009 release is lost in time with indecipherable vocals and prowling electric patterns. The acoustic selections follow the same theme. It's monochrome defying you to venture outside the lines. Earn Your Blood followed by Love After Love are my favorites.

4. Sleepy Sun - Embrace [ATP, May] [Best CD case artwork too!]
^This release is a gambit of sludgy, tribal, whispering melded to heavily syncopated jams. Modal illusions of evilness morphing towards gospelesque purity. These songs span where we are and the world we want to be in. Reality exists only in the silence between the tracks. Listen in a face painted hypnosis and the mind alteration takes over. Favorite tracks; New Age and White Dove. I saw Sleepy Sun at the Larimer Lounge this past November and was amazed by their performance.

5. Sonic Youth - The Eternal [Matador, June]
^29+ years since NY's Noise Fest and Sonic Youth still have their timbre running amok plenty to sell out shows whenever they tour. These guys are old school, matured alley cruisers fighting mission control till the sun grows cold. The noise goes on with bold VU overtones, moody atmosphere and the expected change-ups SY is known for. My track picks are Anti-Orgasm, Antenna and Malibu Gas Station. My one and only experience seeing SY, November 1991 when they opened for Neil Young at McNichol Arena!

6. Wooden Shjips - Dos [Holy Mountain, May]
^This is Wooden Shjips' pulsing dream of hypnotic drones and Devo-ed beats. Their mesmerizing highway is a ribbon in a vast emptiness delivering hope of delaying the freakdown. Those who understand know and those who don't struggle. Best tracks are Motorbike and Fallin'.

7. Samatha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Songs In The Night [Ramseur, April]
^Samantha Crain's dusty tremeloed voice catches your interest as quickly as her lyrics. The confidence and simplicity of her style seems impossible to have been attained at the age of 22. At times it's playful folk, but listen on as she leads the Midnight Shivers to electrified twangin' country. In 2010 Crain & the Midnight Shivers will begin touring in support of the Avett Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle. She will only get better in a crowd like that.

8. Sir Richard Bishop - The Freak Of Araby [Drag City, May]
^Richard Bishop transcends melodious cultures on every track with this release. After playing solo for the last 4 years Bishop finally released a CD utilizing a full band. Take that familiar ethic sound and add all the effects plus fab percussion and get 10 tracks of criminal scene atmosphere. There's already talk of Sir Richard's next release in spring of 2010... newest conspirators include Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance) and Chris Corsano (freewheeling improv drummer). I love the final track, Blood-Stained Sands, ie Jajouka!

9. Dinosaur Jr. - Farm [Jagjaguwar, June]
^Thank the Dharma that some things can be counted on like J. Mascis and the gang. Yes, these are uncertain times and what better than to rip the cellophane off FARM and know the situation can be counted on. Dig way back to June and find Farm's bonus disc. You did get the bonus disc RIGHT!? Play track 4. It's a dam good tune and good things don't need to change. Play loud of course.

10. Nels Cline - Coward [Cryptogramophone, February]
^Most of you know Nels from providing the fiery licks in a little band named Wilco. That is kidstuff compared to Cline's improvisational noise experiments. Yes, there's lot's of effects, but he backs it up with tons of technique and creativity. That's code for he can play a frickin' guitar backwards and upsidedown. Que up Coward and you'll ride the void on an illuminated beam.

Runners Up:
Vee Dee - Public Mental Health System [Criminal IQ]
Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions [Southern Lord]
Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound - When Sweet Sleep Returned [Tee Pee]
Ahkmed - Distance [Elektrohasch Records]