BEST of 2009

Well, since it is the end of the year and a shit ton of great records came out in many genres, I've decided to create a few Best of 2009 lists by genre (sort of). I tried to pick the best albums from both established bands and newer groups that have a growing underground buzz. Some of the bands are a mixture of styles so they really could be on multiple lists. For instance, the new Thrice record should really be considered post-hardcore or alt rock, but I threw them into the Punk list. They are listed in no particular order and it was very difficult to narrow the lists down. I will continue to listen to all these albums well into 2010 and beyond. You should too if you know what's good for you. Plese talk shit to me if you disagree or think I left an epic album out.

Best of Punk Rock/Pop-Punk:

Brand New - Daisy
Thrice - Beggars
NOFX - Coaster
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
Saosin - In Search of Solid Ground
Dead to Me - African Elephants
Strike Anywhere - Iron Front
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Set Your Goals - This Will Be the Death of Us
Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg

Best EP: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream


Best of Hardcore Punk:

Gallows - Grey Britain
Horse the Band - Desperate Living
Fear Before - Fear Before (2008)
Paint It Black - Amnesia/Surrender
Blacklisted - No One Deserves to Be Here More Than Me
Defeater - Solid Ground (EP)
Evergreen Terrace - Almost Home
Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
Rise and Fall - Our Circle Is Vicious
Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals


Best of (Extreme) Metal:

Poison the Well - The Tropic Rot
The Black Dahlia Murder - Deflorate
Winds of Plague - The Great Stone War
Converge - Axe to Fall
Broadcast the Nightmare - Twenty Twelve
God Forbid - Earthsblood
Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
August Burns Red - Constellations
After the Burial - Rareform (Reissue)


Best of Rock/Alternative:

Marilyn Manson - The High End of Low
He is Legend - It Hates You
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Dave Matthews Band - The Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Muse - The Resistance
311 - Uplifter
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
Modest Mouse - No One's First and You're Next (EP)
Emery - In Shallow Seas We Sail
Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders

Some Honorable Mentions:

Shadows Fall - Retribution
Dethklok - The Dethalbum II
Castevet - Summer Fences
Banner Pilot - Collapser
AFI - Crash Love