HitFix's Top 10 Albums of 2009

Our No. 1 album artists: Pearl Jam and Grizzly Bear

Pearl Jam's "Backspacer" and Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest" came out on top of HitFix critics Melinda Newman's and Katie Hasty's top 10 albums of 2009 lists, respectively. Between the two, only a pair of titles had crossover: "Veckatimest" and Phoenix's "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix."

While rock seems to reign our lists, there's a smattering of pop, hip-hop, singer-songwriters, hard rock and more included. We discussed the personal -- and sometimes incomplete -- nature of list-making in our earlier article on "Why lists?", which is why you should check back in for a gallery of other media outlets' top 10s, too: we at HitFix want you to hear out the full spectrum of best albums from this year.

Stay tuned for other great moments from 2009 and the decade, including the best and worst in music news, top singles, most influential artists and more.

What were the year's best movies? Check in with HitFix blogger Drew McWeeny's list.
 

Melinda Newman, Music Blogger, "The Beat Goes On"

1.    Pearl Jam – Backspacer
2.    Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
3.    Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
4.    Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
5.    Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
6.    Rosanne Cash – The List
7.    Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
8.    Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 -  White Lies for Dark Times
9.    Ingrid Michaelson – Everybody
10.    Diane Birch – Bible Belt

Click here to follow Melinda Newman on Twitter.
 

Katie Hasty, Managing Editor

1.    Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
I can’t think of an album that’s pleased me more this year, nor that I listened to more.
2.    Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
It’s bliss!
3.    Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
There wasn't a moment wasted on this set.
4.    Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
One of the most stylistically creative and sophisticated albums this year.
5.    Vetiver – Tight Knit
This just makes me feel, y'know?
6.    Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do
Every time one of these songs came up on random, I was like what the hell, this is amaz… ah, I see.
7.    Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Very nearly their best album.
8.    Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Invigorating.
9.    Future of the Left – Travels with Myself and Another
I feel so satisfyingly entertained by the end of this.
10.    Visqueen – Message to Garcia
Not a newcomer by a long shot, but the perfect entry point.

Click here to follow Katie Hasty on Twitter.