Favorite albums of 2009

Everyone else was doing it two weeks ago! ...So naturally, I've only just gotten to it now. (Story of my life.) This is in no particular order.

Florence + the Machine - Lungs
Vienna Teng - Inland Territory
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
Brandi Carlile - Give Up the Ghost
Metric - Fantasies
Mika - The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Imogen Heap - Ellipse

And also the self-titled first releases from Codeine Velvet Club and The Paper Raincoat. There were also a few albums that didn't quite make the cut but still had a few of my favorite songs from this year. Like "The Great Defector" from Bell X1's album, Blue Lights On the Runway, or "Human of the Year" from Regina Spektor's Far. (I'm firmly convinced that last one would make an excellent short story. Listen to it. Seriously.)

Brandi Carlile's Give Up the Ghost

I only ever listen to Brandi Carlile when I'm miserable. I'm sure that doesn't sound like much of a compliment, but it is. I've always gotten the sense that songwriting for her is very much about connecting with the emotions of her audience. Her lyrics aren't the best ever written, but they ring true because she delivers them with complete conviction--and boy, does Brandi deliver. The title of this album is no joke: she really pours her heart and soul into these songs, covering everything from crises of faith to bad breakups to lost friendships. Great party music it ain't, but when you're feeling low, you could do worse than giving a Brandi album a spin. The compassion that characterizes much of her music shines through on the album opener, Looking Out, where she sings, "When you feel like giving in, on the coming of the end, like your heart could break in two, someone loves you."

Brandi has never made a secret of her preference for vinyl recordings, so it comes as no surprise that the album is divided into two sides. Side One is populated mainly by what I like to think of as the "show pony" songs--the big, powerhouse rockers and anthems. Dreams, the first single, is one of these, a tale of hopeless love set to a thumping beat and shouted chorus. The biggest "show pony" of them all is Caroline, a jolly road trip of a tune featuring piano and vocals from Elton John. The one really quiet moment on this side is That Year, a fragile acoustic number written in memory of a high school friend who committed suicide. Initially I found Side Two disappointing in comparison to the strong showing on the first, but now I find myself appreciating these softer songs just as much, if not more. Her voice reaches spine-chilling heights on the chorus of Before It Breaks, and the harmonies in Touching the Ground are particularly lovely and delicate.

In the end, whether you love this album or hate it very much depends on how you feel about the vocals. Brandi has a wide range and a keen sense of dynamics, but the little catch in her voice that has become part of her style can be something of an acquired taste. As always, her vocals are supported by the work of her longtime musical collaborators, Tim and Phil Hanseroth, who provide bass, guitar, and some excellent harmonies... not to mention the occasional whistle.

To sum up: great vocals, strong backing band, and a nice crop of songs that sound even better live. If her style turns out to be your taste, then this album's well worth checking out. Keep doing what you're doing, Brandi. It's working.