DaveyBoy
Emeritus

Reviews 300
Approval 96%

Soundoffs 209
News Articles 250
Band Edits + Tags 353
Album Edits 368

Album Ratings 2015
Objectivity 80%

Last Active 11-16-18 8:49 am
Joined 03-06-08

Review Comments 22,500

 Lists
01.28.18 DaveyBoy's Top 50 Albums Of 2017 ♦11.25.17 DaveyBoy's Top 50 Albums Of 2016 ♦
12.03.16 DaveyBoy's Top 50 Albums Of 2015 ♦03.13.14 DaveyBoy's Soundwave Festival 2014 ♦
01.24.14 Daveyboy's Top 40 Albums Of 2013 ♦03.21.13 DaveyBoy's Soundwave Festival 2013 ♦
01.16.13 DaveyBoy's Top 40 Songs Of 2012 ♦01.07.13 DaveyBoy's Top 40 Albums Of 2012 ♦
12.29.12 DaveyBoy's Top 10 Live Gigs Of 2012 ♦05.06.12 DaveyBoy's Potential 5s (1000 In 50) ♦
03.14.12 DaveyBoy's Soundwave Festival 2012 ♦01.19.12 DaveyBoy's Top 40 Songs Of 2011 ♦
01.06.12 DaveyBoy's Top 40 Albums Of 2011 ♦12.27.11 DaveyBoy's Top 10 Live Gigs Of 2011 ♦
10.03.11 DaveyBoy's Counter Revolution 2011 ♦03.11.11 DaveyBoy's Soundwave Festival 2011 ♦
01.03.11 DaveyBoy's Top 50 Songs Of 2010 ♦12.28.10 DaveyBoy's Top 40 Albums Of 2010 ♦
More »

DaveyBoy's Top 40 Songs Of 2009

Ok, here goes nothing... & I'm going to be more informal than on my other 2 year-end lists. I found ordering the top songs of the year much more difficult than the top albums. On any given day, pretty much anything I have rated from 1 through 12 could have been my #1. I originally had this list as a top 25, but 40 seems more appropriate & traditional for songs. The rules here are that only songs (not necessarily singles) which first appeared on 2009 released albums are eligible. This rules out tracks such as Emery's 'The Smile, The Face' & Passion Pit's 'Sleepyhead' (both of which appeared on prior EPs) & Rise Against's 'Savior' (my 2008 song of the year that was released as a single this year, but appeared on the band's 2008 album). After much umming & ahhing, I have also gone with the "one song from each artist" rule, which probably ruled out only 2 tracks: 'Down River' by The Temper Trap & 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' by Florence & The Machine.
1Florence and the Machine
Drumming Song

An absolutely mesmerizing song that was amazingly only released as the album's 4th single. Fantastic rhythms, an impressive double chorus and of course that captivating voice of Florence Welch. What I may like the most about the cut is how well-structured it is. I love the way it builds up to its satisfying climax.
2Paloma Faith
Stone Cold Sober

A rousing, character-filled, theatrical, rollicking roller-coaster ride of a debut single, with quite possibly the most infectiously catchy chorus of the year.
3Kasabian
Fire

Haters be gone. I absolutely love the volume & tempo changes in this addictive song, while the danceable chorus includes the most infectious riff of the year. Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang. Dang, dang, dang, dang.
4Biffy Clyro
That Golden Rule

This song is the prototype to what Muse's new album should have sounded like: Energetic rapid-fire verses, frantic riffs, pleading howls, a solid chorus & an orgasmic symphonic metal finale.
5Emery
A Sin To Hold On To

Soaring melodies & guitar lines, an uplifting chorus, a sing-along breakdown. It's just so darn catchy. I could go on and on, but I've written enough about the greatness of Emery over the past month or so.
6fun.
Be Calm

A fantastically theatrical & motivational cut that seamlessly uses every musical technique in the book.
7Phrase
Chains

(featuring Daniel Merriweather) A personal memorial to a deceased friend that includes a sweeping orchestral arrangement, this is a heartfelt & emotional hip-hop ballad with a simple, but fittingly spot on, chorus provided by the soulful Daniel Merriweather.
8Living Colour
Bless Those (Little Annie's Prayer)

Right here is what happens when you put 4 maestros in a room together. Truly astounding, this seamlessly transitions from a bluesy twang to a metallic riff, and then finally to a mind-blowing solo that will have you on your knees either playing air-guitar or proclaiming "we are not worthy". The most amazing fact however, is how Vernon Reid's virtuoso guitar performance does not overshadow the remainder of the band. The vibrant and well-defined bass-lines of Doug Wimbish, the punchy drums of Will Calhoun, and the character-adding vocals of Corey Glover all make this a real musician's piece.
9The Blackout
Save Our Selves (The Warning)

The best cover of the year (hi Adam). Seriously, this is the check-your-head-at-the-door sing-along of '09. A body-mover of epic proportions, there are so many hooks tightly packed into its modest running time that it is practically impossible to ignore.
10Passion Pit
Little Secrets

One reviewer called Passion Pit "dance music for those who don't like dance music". Another said "this makes me happy". Those 2 comments sum up this euphoric song very well.
11Closure In Moscow
Sweet#hart

It's rocky, it's dancey. It's dancey, it's rocky. Finkle, Einhorn. Einhorn, Finkle. OMG Einhorn is Finkle. And Sweet#hart is both rocky & dancey. "Too much head, too little heart, oh honey". Should have been the most hyped Oz song of the year, but instead that was probably the track 2 spots down...
12Bertie Blackman
Heart

Excellently arranged from the tribal rhythms, glitchy synth, layered handclaps & background "la la la la's" all the way through to Bertie's beguiling vocals.
13The Temper Trap
Sweet Disposition

Sweet melodies, soaring vocals & atmospherically layered guitars make this likeable song sound like a hybrid of U2 and TV on the Radio.
14Fightstar
War Machine

Maybe not the most complete song on an excellent & consistent LP, but the orchestral arrangement is strong throughout & the final minute or so is quite simply the musical moment of 2009 (excluding Kanye's interruption of Taylor Swift of course).
15Thursday
You Were The Cancer

This song didn't hit me as immediately as it did most people, but when it did, it definitely packed a wallop. It builds up terrifically over its 6 minutes & Geoff Rickley's emotional vocals provide a fantastic payoff.
16Mumford and Sons
Little Lion Man

The best banjo work since Deliverance. Speaking of catchy choruses, this could be the one that tops them all. I'll get around to listening to the entire album some time soon!
17Animal Collective
My Girls

"Wooooo". Album is over-rated & 'Little Secrets' is better, but this is still strong in the way it builds up to its memorable chorus. Plus, I now know what "adobe slats" are now.
18Metric
Help I'm Alive

Part of a fantastic opening duo to a great album, this is a hooky & alluring cut that is top-notch both musically & vocally.
19Taking Back Sunday
Capital M-E

An often forgotten song which sees TBS finding their sweet spot & even adding some effectively biting lyrics.
20David Guetta
When Love Takes Over

(featuring Kelly Rowland) A memorable and euphoric melody perfectly combining the piano hook from Coldplay's 'Clocks', swirling synths, an insistent beat and Kelly Rowland's splendid vocals. I had to have one worldwide smash hit on here & it seems this is it.
21Daniel Merriweather
Change

(featuring Wale) While most preferred Merriweather's 'Red, I lean more towards the lead single from the promising debut LP. A hooky piano loop and Mark Ronson's trademark horns ably assist the vocal contribution from rapper Wale, whose alternate verses surprisingly work a treat in combination with Merriweather's distinctively soulful voice.
22Bluejuice
Broken Leg

Dunno what some Aussies see in this band, but I'm strong enough to admit this song is the funnest, catchiest piece of 80's pop we've heard for a while. The video is pretty cool too.
23AFI
Torch Song

"Owwwww" A great first 40 seconds or so & a catchy-as-hell chorus highlight the best cut of AFI's move into more traditional rock music.
24Editors
Papillon

Talk about a one-song album. I guess one attempt had to work in the scattershot approach of infusing synths into their indie-rock sound. This did & when Tom Smith recites the key words of "it kicks like a sleep twitch", there is not only a palpable anticipation leading up to it, but he makes it somehow sound vitally important.
25Gallows
I Dread The Night

Gallows do hooky melodies & an anthemic sing-along looking for their Rise Against moment. Wonders will never cease, but it was a pleasant surprise for yours truly.
26Moneen
Hold That Sound

In trying to fashion a newer more mainstream-sound, a disappointing album resulted... But this lead single catchily hit the mark & actually deserved more success that it ultimately achieved.
27Alexisonfire
Born and Raised

I?m still deciding where this new album stands in amongst Alexisonfire's discography, but every time I hear this song I can feel what they're aiming for. Still needs more Dallas & less George though.
28Kate Miller Heidke
Last Day On Earth

One of the biggest hits down under this year, this song is just as easy to hate as it is to love. Seemingly coming from nowhere, it will win you over if you allow it to.
29Franz Ferdinand
Ulysses

"Well I'm bored, I'm bored"... "I found a new way". Synthesizers combine near-perfectly with the band's trademark dance-rock guitars to make for yet another thoroughly satisfying lead single from Franz.
30Say Anything
Crush'd

All those new "pop-comedy" bands going around need to study the religion known as Bemisism. In amongst an even batch of songs, it is Crush'd that makes me smile the most. "My hair cannot commit to one popular genre of music".
31Muse
Uprising

It's difficult to dislike a song that basically combines the 3 singles from their previous album & throws in a nifty Kasabian riff to top it off.
32The Almost
Hands

From a slightly disappointing album, the lead single was a radio-ready highlight that included a winning piano line, jangly guitars & super infectious sing-along chorus.
33Paramore
Ignorance

With Twilight's 'Decode' stealing some headlines, many overlooked what a strong cut 'Ignorance' was. Sure, it's no 'Misery Business', but it's still catchy in a beefier way.
34Dance Gavin Dance
Carl Barker

Technically proficient guitar-work successfully balances a jazzy progressive nature with a melodic dance-rock vibe. It's pretty darn accessible for DGD too.
35Manchester Orchestra
I've Got Friends

I could have picked a few songs from my #6 album of the year, but I ended up going for the catchiest, most memorable one that has me coming back frequently.
36Lily Allen
The Fear

"That's what makes my life so f**kin' fantastic". The lead single from my biggest surprise album of the year contains a whole bunch of cheeky lyrics amongst a catchy backdrop.
37Karnivool
Set Fire to The Hive

Bzzz, bzzzz. Hey, this clocks in at under 10 minutes. This is good... Maybe even so good that it could have snuck on to a Birds of Tokyo LP. Haha.
38Jay Z
Empire State of Mind

(featuring Alicia Keys) standard Jay Z rapping, but a nice tribute to NYC overall & Keys' chorus is fantastic.
39Phoenix
Lisztomania

I really liked the dancey vibe of this song the moment I heard it. Why I haven't followed up & listened to the album so many months later will remain one of 2009's greatest mysteries.
40Weezer
I Want You To

Catchy & charming as anything you're likely to hear this year... But I'm still scared to listen to the remainder of the album.
Show/Add Comments (49)

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy