Best Albums of 2009: Staff Picks

Well, it’s sad to say, but 2009 has almost run its course, and the time is now upon us to reflect on the best and brightest albums of the year—and then order them from one to ten. So without further adieu, below, you’ll find the Top Ten lists of our staff members, our annual ritual played out before you. Like our magazine, our tastes are diverse and span all genres of music. Enjoy!

Matthew W. Shearon, Editor

1. Bill Callahan, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

2. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone

3. Wilco, Wilco (the Album)

4. Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend

5. Buddy and Julie Miller, Written In Chalk

6. Antony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light

7. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

8. The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You

9. Phosphorescent, To Willie

10. The xx, The xx

Evan Schlansky, Online Managing Editor

1. Wilco, Wilco (The Album)

2. Regina Spektor, Far

3. Doom, Born Like This

4. Built To Spill, There Is No Enemy

5. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II

6. Andrew Bird, Noble Beast

7. St. Vincent, Actor

8. M. Ward, Hold Time

9. Bob Dylan, Christmas In The Heart

10. Ben Kweller, Changing Horses

Rachel Briggs, Art & Design Director

1. The Middle East, Recordings of the Middle East

2. Phosphorescent, To Willie

3. Thee Oh Sees, Help

4. Mount Eerie, Wind’s Poem

5. Bill Callahan, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

6. Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs

7. Reigning Sound, Love and Curses

8. The Dead Weather, Horehound

9. Generationals, Con Law

10.  Akron/Family, Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free

Davis Inman, Interactive Editor/Director

1. Phosphorescent, To Willie

2. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

3. Deer Tick, Born On Flag Day

4. Atlas Sound, Logos

5. Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend

6. The xx, The xx

7. J Tillman, A Year In The Kingdom

8. A.A. Bondy, When The Devil’s Loose

9. Luke Winslow-King, Old/New Baby

10. Cass McCombs, Catacombs

Caine O’Rear, Marketing & Operations Chief

1. Wilco, Wilco (The Album)

2. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Beware

3. Justin Townes Earle, Midnight At The Movies

4. Elliott Brood, Mountain Meadows

5. Bruce Springsteen, Working On A Dream

6. Lucero, 1372 Overton Park

7. A.A. Bondy, When The Devil’s Loose

8. Drive-By Truckers, The Fine Print

9. Wrinkle Neck Mules, Let The Lead Fly

10. Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend

Doug Waterman, A & R Director for AmericanSongspace.com

1. Larry Jon Wilson, Larry Jon Wilson

2. David Nail, I’m About to Come Alive

3. Charlie Mars, Like a Bird, Like a Plane

4. Tim McGraw, Southern Voice

5. Malcolm Holcombe, For the Mission Baby

6. Leonard Cohen, Live in London

7. Erin McCarley, Love, Save the Empty

8. Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King

9. Guy Clark, Somedays the Song Writes You

10. George Strait, Twang

Dustin Allen, Copy Editor and Contributing Writer

1. Mastodon, Crack the Skye

2. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest

3. Akron/Family, Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free

4. Sonic Youth, The Eternal

5. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion

6. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

7. Girls, Album

8. The Dodos, Time to Die

9. Bowerbirds, Upper Air

10. Junior Boys, Begone Dull Care

Kevin Richards, Contributing Online Writer

1. Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, Live At O’Tooles Tavern

2. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone

3. Ghostface Killah, Wizard of Poetry In Emerald City

4. Wilco, Wilco (The Album)

5. Arctic Monkeys, Humbug

6. The Decemberists, Hazards Of Love

7. Regina Spektor, Far

8. Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend

9. Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3

10. Levon Helm, Electric Dirt

Robert Clement, Publisher

1. Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend

2. Wilco, Wilco (the Album)

3. Charlie Mars, Like a Bird, Like a Plane

4. Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan

5. Roman Candle, Oh Tall Tree In the Ear

6. Erin McCarley, Love, Save the Empty

7. Regina Spektor, Far

8. Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3

9. The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You

10. Dexateens, Singlewide

Add your own list in the comments; we’d love to hear what you listened to in 2009!