Editors' Picks

Best Songs Of 2009: Tracks 1-10

Our Top 10 Songs of The Year. Hint: there are some surprises!

Tracks 11-30 Here
Tracks 31-50 Here
Full 50 Song Playlist at the end!

...This list reflects the musical hand wringing of Chelsea Girl, DJ Losaida, CoreyDu, KC Tinnitus, BBublick and JenCad with encouragement from MusicFile friends and followers around the world. Thanks!

(an ** denotes the track is from a debut album)

10. "Fresh Blood" by Eels from Hombre Lobo. Los Angeles, Ca.

Every time this song hits the :52 mark, it elicits an automatic fist pump from me...followed by a both feet off the ground jump. In a year when Vampires dominated our Books, Movies and TV,  I found E's Werewolf cry far cooler than them all. This song will literally have you howling at the moon.

9. "Islands" by XX from xx**. London, Uk.

To say that XX burst onto the scene with their debut album in 2009 is an understatement. Hands down the most original juxtaposition of lead vocals, 80's style soul and new world techno that I've ever heard. This standout track is like a slow motion late night drive thru a sexy urban landscape. It makes you hold your breath just as it's taking your breath away. Groundbreaking.

8. "Blood Bank" by Bon Iver from Blood Bank EP.Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

From the opening line of this song, we are drawn into the story: "Well I met you at the blood bank/We were looking at the bags/Wondering if any of the colors/Matched any of the names we knew on the tags". What ensues is a tender story about being in the present moment and realizing that this is when we are most alive. The imagery in this song is simply astounding. It will envelope you as the snow falls, the new moon wanes and Christmas morning ensues.

7."Wilco (The Song)" by Wilco from Wilco (the album). Chicago, Il.

All the bad 'dad rock' jokes aside, this was truly Wilco's year! After 15 years and 7 studio albums, the band suddenly got the equivalent of a mini lifetime achievement award. And they had a heck of a lot of fun along the way... as evidenced on the title track which they debuted in a hilarious segment on The Colbert Report. In a year when everything seemed to be going down the tubes, "Wilco will love you baby" suddenly seemed liked the rallying cry we all needed. Can a band love you back? Can they be a 'sonic shoulder for you to cry on'? Yes. And they made us believe they meant it.

6. "People Gotta Lot Of Nerve" by Neko Case from Middle Cyclone.Vancouver, Canada.

Another artist who seemingly 'got discovered' on her 6th studio release and the masses got to hear what long time fans have known for years- just let this caged bird sing. Neko' s voice rides the thermals of country, gospel,and pop like no other artist singing today. On this track, she sings against the unnatural caging of animals, reminding us that we shouldn't be surprised when things go horribly wrong-we have gone against the natural order of things and we humans are to blame.

5. "Shampoo" by Elvis Perkins In Dearland from Elvis Perkins In Dearland**. New York, NY.

The first time I heard this song back on January 28th, 2009, it stopped me in my tracks. Very few songs through out the year have come close. On his debut album with a full band, the son of Anthony Perkins proved that his 2007 critically acclaimed solo album Ash Wednesday was no fluke. His obvious reference to the traditional Scottish song "Black Is the Color of My True Loves Hair" gives the song an ancient feel as Perkins weaves it into a tale of loss and death. THE best folk song of 2009.

4. "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes**. Silver Lake, Ca.

If Arcade Fire moved to the deep south and joined a cult, they might sound like this. "Home" is a song that is so knee slapping-ly endearing that it may surprise you how often you find yourself going back to it. The story of Alexander and Jade taps into a basic primal human need served up with a combination of old time whistling, jangly pianos and an under current of indie cred that turns out to be the cherry on top.

3. "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest. Brooklyn, NY.

Four minutes of sheer, soaring, musical bliss. With elements of the best of Brian Wilson's vocal style harmonies, this is a song that takes it's time while vaguely singing about taking your time. It carries you along on a lilting journey that you don't want to end. It's not about the lyrics, it's about the ride. This is what I hope music in heaven sounds like.

2. "I And Love And You" by The Avett Brothers from I And Love And You.Concord, N.C.

The hair on the back of my arms stands up every time I hear this song. It will break your heart, it will make you cry, it will lift you up. It will make you feel beyond human. This song is such a coming of age story for the brothers Avett-it's really about leaving North Carolina behind, making it big and all the potential compromises that that entails. Through it all these guys have stayed real. Couldn't be happier for them. Man, they deserve it.

1. "The Ruminant Band" by Fruit Bats from The Ruminant Band. Seattle, Washington.

If a music blog can have a true north, this song embodies it. Our sweet spot is "the midstream'', music that is chronically overlooked by mainstream media but not so edgy that you have to work to find the enjoyment in it. The title track from their 4th album finds lead Eric Johnson (taking a break from The Shins) in throwback bliss, managing to create a song that feels like the last 30 years of rock and roll in 3 and half minutes. It's one part Crosby Stills Nash and Young, one part Allman Brothers, with lyrical references to both Robert Plant and Clapton. It's as if the time he has spent over the years with Califone, Vetiver and The Shins have morphed Johnson (and his band) into one uber-talented surprise...one that finds them ruminating on the past in ways that produced one of the catchiest modern rock songs of the past decade.



Our Top 50 Songs of 2009 in one playlist, mixed for your listening pleasure!