Aids
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Last Active 02-25-16 1:12 am
Joined 03-07-07

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 Lists
11.07.15 SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT01.10.15 My Top 100 Albums Of 2014
09.30.14 Some Good Albums: A 2014 Story 05.07.14 Summer 2014 Live, An Anticipatory List
04.16.14 Aids' Top 100: Current Favourite Albums 01.10.14 Aids' 2013: Albums Of The Year
01.03.14 Aids' 2013 In Last.fm Scrobbles11.19.13 Watch This Visual Ep
11.09.13 Usernames.09.23.13 The National Setlist (vancouver, Sep 22
06.16.13 Free Internet05.30.13 15 Favourite Rap Albums
04.28.13 Stickers On My Longboard04.22.13 Aids' Vinyl Pt. 2 Of 2
04.22.13 Aids' Vinyl Pt. 1 Of 204.15.13 Top 25 Musical Cities, According To Rat
04.05.13 List=digs03.19.13 Music To Trim Hedges To
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Aids' Top 25 Of '09

Better late than never right? I like to let my music sink in and if I had made this earlier, I would have missed some real gems. Also, I'm lazy. Enjoy:
1Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything to Nothing


Man, do I love this album. It's got such a nice complete feel to it and it flows really really well. There's a little bit of everything here (well, not everything, I guess there were no blast beats): some tracks (Shake it Out) have pop appeal and some (My Friend Marcus) are deeply moving. Andy Hull's voice goes great with the music, even when he belts it out. If you've ever liked anything remotely indie, you owe it to yourself to hear this album.
2Metric
Fantasies


I didn't give this album a chance until the staff list piqued my interest. At the risk of sounding like a My Chemical Romance fan, the lyrics on this album really spoke to me and helped through some issues I was having (am still having). It's got a nice catchy sound to it but it's not shallow in the least. Gimme Sympathy is also probably my favourite song released last year.
3Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavilion


People who don't like this album are stupid. Seriously, what's not to like? When I listen to this, I feel like I'm on drugs, even when I'm not on drugs.
4Brand New
Daisy


Clearly not as good as their previous album but who really expected that? Jesse Lacey is a great lyricist and the band always seems to find the right sounds to go with his words.
5Mono
Hymn to the Immortal Wind


Yes it's formulaic post-rock but done absolutely perfectly. The quiet sections are haunting and the crescendos are full of genuine emotion. I saw this band last year and they played all but one of the tracks from this breathtaking piece of art. That might have something to do with its' high placement on this list but I like to think not.
6Regina Spektor
Far


I love this woman. These songs are brilliant (mostly). If not for Human of the Year, this might be #1.
7The Antlers
Hospice


A heartbreaking album in somewhat the same vein as For Emma, Forever Ago (but slightly less impressive). I really like the way that some of the themes are reused throughout the album, it ties it together really well.
8Rx Bandits
Mandala


For the longest time, I didn't want to get this album. The "post-ska" discussion that was surrounding it defintely scared me away (I don't like ska). Then, I decided to go on a spree and get a bunch of highly regarded '09 albums and this was the best of the bunch. What immediatley struck me about it was that it sounds similar to Planet of Ice by Minus the Bear which is one of my all-time favourites. I can defintely hear bits of ska but it doesn't bug me at all, in fact it fits quite well. White Lies is a fantastic song.
9Maybeshewill
Sing the Word Hope in Four-Part Harmony


Post-rock with a twist is always refreshing. Lots of influences from electronica, post-hardcore, etc. here. Also, the "message," if you will, is pretty cool and excecuted in a non-pretenious manner (Bono, take note).
10Between the Buried and Me
The Great Misdirect


Some people hate this band, I hate those people. Joking, of course, but seriously what the hell staff? Lady Gaga beats this out for a spot in the top 50? This band always keeps things interesting (read: wanky) with fucked up instrumentation etc. Don't lie, you love some wank. Desert of Song was a surprising inclusion but a great one. That song defined the entire last half 2009 for me.
11Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


Indie pop, where have you been all my life? The only thing I don't like about this album is that there are no lyrics in French (the band's from France, aren't they?).
12Emery
...In Shallow Seas we Sail


This should be the model for post-hardcore music in the years to come. It's aggresive but calming at the same time: the band knows when to excerise restraint but also how to cut loose and go fucking nuts. The screamer is awesome and the vocal interplay on Cutthroat Collapse was one of the musical highlights of 2009.
13Fightstar
Be Human


Indie/post-hardcore? Fine by me. This appeared on far to few '09 lists on this site.
14Thrice
Beggars


A little bit of a dissapointment for me but only because I wasn't expecting it to lack the heaviness of their best albums (Vheissu, TAITA). It's a different sound for Thrice, I'll call it Alt-rock, and while I don't like it as much as their earlier, heavier stuff, it's still magnificent. The title track is brilliant as is The Weight.
15Every Time I Die
New Junk Aesthetic


The first of three metalcore albums on this list. I don't know what to say about this album......hmm.... how about: it owns my shit every time I listen to it.
16Silversun Pickups
Swoon


April 1 with Muse baby hells yah. This album is a bit of a grower but definitely worth the effort. You may as well pick this up seeing as Smashing Pumpkins suck now.
17Converge
Axe to Fall


Damn you sputnik, you made me like Converge! I like the production on this much better than on Jane Doe and for me, with this type of music, that makes all the difference. I think I can safely say that this is the most brutal band I listen to. The sheer agression of the music is absolutely jaw-dropping and if I could decipher the lyrics (RARRRR RARRR RAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!) I'm sure I would be impressed by them.
18Mastodon
Crack the Skye


Stupid concept yes, but it's still a great sounding record. The drumming in this band never fails to impress me. I saw them live twice last year and the second time, they played this album in full. It was wicked.
19 Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It's Blitz!


This album makes me want to dance...and I don't dance.
20August Burns Red
Constellations


The only reason I've heard this is because I'm such a Waior fanboy and his review intrigued me. I'm glad I can't understand what the vocalist is saying because the lyrics are probably all christian.
21As Cities Burn
Hell or High Water


Shit, I meant to put this at 17 but oh well. It's similar to Be Human in that it's essentially post-hardcore with an indie twist. I don't know if I'm late to pick up on that trend but I think it's fantastic.
22The Flaming Lips
Embryonic


This is probably the least accessible album on this list. Upon the first listen, I knew I liked it but I had no idea why. In fact, I still don't know why. It's like one long crack-attack (I mean that in the best way possible).
23Isis
Wavering Radiant


I hated this the first time I heard it but it grew on me. I don't know if "post-metal" is a genre but it should be.
24The Decemberists
The Hazards of Love


Pretentious, over-the-top, but fantastic. I don't usually find myself paying attention to what the lyricist is saying unless I'm actively focussing on it but the story told by this album's lyrics are super fucked up, how could I not pay attention. I still like The Crane Wife better but this album was definitely worth my time (and it took up a lot of it).
25 Lily Allen
It's Not Me, It's You


Who knew mainstream pop could be good? This album is funny and also really enjoyable to listen to. If you don't like this album, you clearly listen to too much Black Metal.
26 Honourable Mentions
In No Particular Order
27Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures


I was so worried that this would suck.
28The Mars Volta
Octahedron
29P.O.S.
Never Better


Hip-hop is probably the one genre (besides country) that I can't seem to get into. The overt sexism bugs the shit out of me (which is why I didn't care for Raekwon's supposed brilliant album). This was a refreshing take on the genre though and at least managed to keep me interested all the way through.
30fun.
Aim and Ignite


Really good but super annoying after a couple of spins.
31Dinosaur Jr.
Farm


This sounds exactly what you would expect it to sound like. Which is a good thing.
32Alexisonfire
Old Crows / Young Cardinals


Huuuuuuuge dissapointment. Their worst album yet, but still good. Some tracks (Song of Privlege, Midnight Regulations) are atrocious, however.
33Bon Iver
Blood Bank


EP of the year.
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