#4) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Glassnote; released 5/26/2009]
“Do you remember when 21 years was old?”
“Countdown”
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the 4th album from the French pop-rockers is one of, if not, the most easy to listen to, and enjoyable albums of 2009. That’s not to say there isn’t depth in the music, but trying to delve into what makes the album such a success is completely unnecessary and a waste of time, especially when there’s an album this good to be enjoyed. Whether it’s the ambient electronics that create an almost nostalgic feel, or just the abundance of danceable hooks that make up Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, one thing’s for sure, it’s masterpiece of sophisticated pop that takes Phoenix to a whole new level. It’s 10 songs and 36 minutes of tightly constructed synth driven pop-rock songs that don’t try to be more than what they are, but still display a craftsmanship of detail so fine that not a second is wasted. Oftentimes the joy of listening to an album can be lost in trying to over-analyze all it’s intricacies that make it what it is. But for an album as fun as Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, sometimes it’s best just to sit back and enjoy the ride…preferably in a Cadillac.
[“1901” – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix]
#3) Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino; released 1/20/2009]
“I don’t mean to seem like I care about material things, like our social stats. I just want four walls and adobe slats for my girls.”
“My Girls”
The hype for Animal Collective’s 9th full-length album was built up long before all the glowing reviews started rolling in upon its release in mid-January. For all intents and purposes, the critical consensus for album of the year was already set in stone not even one month in. And when all was said and done for 2009, Merriweather Post Pavilion reigned as the best reviewed studio album of the year according to Metacritic. So 9 albums in, what is it that sets this AC release apart from any of their others? Well, it’s pretty simple; MPP is the most accessible and therefore easiest listen of the Brooklyn/Baltimore band’s career. However, the originality and weirdness still remain in these psychedelic tunes making it invariably an Animal Collective album that would be impossible to mistake for anyone else. Melodies abound in MPP in ways they never have on an Animal Collective release and while tagged as their “pop” album, there’s no shortage of the textured electronica and experimental songs that have characterized the group to this point. Merriweather Post Pavilion can be seen as an Animal Collective re-boot in a sense; one that by no means will alienate longtime fans, but will do wonders in garnering a brand new appreciation for those willing to open their minds to one of the most inventive and important American bands of this era.
[“My Girls” – Merriweather Post Pavilion]
Posted by Hawkins 
A Round of Sound 