Favorites of the Year (2009)

Sorry this is late, I was on Christmas vacation and didn't have access to my computer to sort mp3s by year released.

Like I said with the decade one about best of lists , I make no claims the following are the absolute greatest albums of 2009, but I will say they are my favorites, and highly recommended. Again, the list is extremely subjective, and subject to change, as there's naturally gaps in my listening. So here is my favorite albums of 2009 by genre:

Reggae/Dancehall/Dub:
Buju Banton - Rasta Got Soul

Although it isn't quite as good as some of his mind blowing other albums it is still quite excellent. It was great to hear Buju bring back the genre mix of dub, ska, and roots reggae influences in this album compared to his 2006 album, Too Bad, which was largely just dancehall. This proof of Buju still being able to write amazing songs makes the news of his Cocaine charges all the more disheartening.

Rap/Hip Hop:
Aceyalone - The Lonely Ones

This rock n' roll/doo-wop/hip-hop album is really refreshing. And it's inspiring to see an underground legend continue to explore new sounds.
Other Contenders: Rakim's Seventh Seal, K'naan's Troubadour, and Mos Def's The Ecstatic

Metal/Hardcore/Emo:
Converge - Axe to Fall

This album is great, and didn't come off at all proggy like most early speculations. It's blazingly fast though and really enjoyable to listen to, one of Converges' best since Jane Doe.
Other Contender: Trapped Under Ice's Secrets of the World

Jazz
Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen Inspiration Information Vol. 4

This album was great afrobeat experimentation, and Jimi Tenor and Tony Allen made a great combo. The Inspiration Information series has proven itself as one to watch. Along with Nomo's release this made me almost want to make a seperate afrobeat category.
Other Contenders: Nomo's Invisible Cities, Allen Touissant's the Bright Mississippi

Pop/Rock/Indie
Richard Swift's The Atlantic Ocean

I remember being super pumped for the LP based on the excellent EP. And although it was a bit of disappointment at first, in retrospect it's still pretty great, even if all the best songs were on the EP. Wonderful indie rock crossed with early American pop music influences.
Other Contenders: BPA's I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Latin

Frederico Aubele - Amatoria
This home studio, synth and acoustic fused collection of love songs from young Argentinian, Aubele, is sexy at times and heart wrenching at others.
Other Contenders: Aguilas and Cobras' Brownout

Singer,Songwriter/Folk
Somi - If the Rains Come First

Somi could be included in the Jazz section, or some additional African based category, but this World fusion jazz album features Somi's voice and songwriting abilities so well that I considered her a singer songwriter.
Other Contenders: Jenn Grant's Echoes

And without further ado the...
THE BEST ALBUM OF 2009 (according to my extremely subjective, single viewpoint):
Dam-Funk - ToEachIzOwn

It's extremely ambitious to make your first release a double album, but synth-funk wizard Dam-Funk (pronounced "dame") did just that, successfully. And although it might not be a perfect album, it does lull a bit at points (as most of even the best doubles do) it is still the year's best and extremely refreshing. What Dam does here is to enter into what I might consider Post-Modernist music. Just like a Post-Modern visual artist, he doesn't necessarily do something entirely new, trailblazing, or genre defying; he simply utilizes techniques/concepts already developed, rearranges them, and combines them to achieve his own vision. And within this vision comes uniqueness. Dam-Funk revives the blatant use of synth and so called "dated" sounds to show that it isn't just OK to use them, but actually that they could in fact have many advantages over modern production. Highly, highly recommended, a fully fleshed out review of both discs will be coming soon, and later I'll even review the 5 LP vinyl.

For that matter, I hope to get all of the great albums named here reviewed eventually. But that's going to be some work. Any who, thanks for reading.

P.S. 2009 also saw the release of the In the Christmas Groove funk compilation by Strut records that everyone should check out.