2009 was a great year for new music. Many of the acts on this list debuted this year, or at least saw their first full length album in 2009. Genres accepted by the indie rock mafia continued to expand: discoelectronica, hip-hop inspired autotune, hazy guitars, ambient rock, 80's nostalgia, SanFran Lo-Fi, and new percussion all reigned supreme. Above all else was the rise of the remix. Obscure and popular, if your single wasn't remixed by at least 4 people, it sucked. While most of these remixes were synthy crap, a few were mindblowing and have been complied in my top 2009 remixes list. I'll be posting the top singles list in groups of 10 over the next few days so check back to see what makes the grade. At the end of the list there will be a .zip with all the songs in it.
#30 Psyche - Massive Attack (feat. Van Rivers & the Subliminal Kid)
Aside from authoring the fantastic song used for the House MD into, we haven't really heard from Massive Attack in a while. Who would have thought that trip-hop would have been a genre that had staying power? After the Sneaker Pimps lasted this long and Portishead put out an album last year, trip-hop seems to be sticking around. This song is smooth as butter and cold as ice, so its like... icy butter.
Metric at it finest in this one. Upbeat synth-rock with mildly depressing lyrics. A good rock song should make you want to get up and scream the song while you dance your ass off, and Gimme Sympathy does both. I mentioned its awesome video a few posts back but if you missed it check it out here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg
te Heart - Anya MarinaWho would have thought that the most star studded indie soundtrack in decades would come on the Twilight New Moon soudntrack. With new songs from Thom Yorke, Lykke Li, Death Cab, Grizzly Bear and others, it almost makes the whole Twilight thing not the worst part of 2009. Almost. This song stood of the album by introducing singer/songwriter Anya Marina. She plays the whole lo-fi thing well to some strings and a plucky guitar.
Never one to shy away from sexual charged puns, Peaches' follow up to 2006's 'Impeach My Bush' continues in the sextronic vein with I Feel Cream. Surprisingly matured from previous work, this standout title song from the album sees Peaches expert snarky lyrics paired with tight beats and a sexy, sexy vibe.
#26 
Anywhere You Looked - Au Revoir Simone
Is that keyboard cat playing the melody? I secretly think so but we may never know. This delightfully lo-fi ditty has been remixed and covered to oblivion this year. I feel the original is still the best. Who says you need more than a laptop, garageband, and some fuzzy microphones to make a hit? Or maybe they just bottled some san fran sun and trapped in a CD. Either way, a truly great track.
#25 We Are Your Friends - Justice vs Simian Mobile Disco
There may be about 12 official version of this song but this one remains my favorite. A collaboration between electronic masters Justice and edgy Simian MD could only end in fantasticalness. Throw it on at a party, this track just wants to get everyone up and having a good time.
#24 Fredag - Dungen
Swedish psychedelic ambient rock? I'm in. There isn't a very good way to describe this track. My best attempt lands somewhere between Brian Eno twee and a satanic soundtrack to a christmas lights show. I'm not even sure how I first heard of Dungen. But its definitely genre bending and certainly worth the download.
#23 Video Tapez (feat. Del the Funky Homosapien)
Number 33 may not have originally came out in 2009, but this remix is such an overhaul, I feel like it gets to count as a new song. Hip-Hop + Radiohead? Well the outcome is better than you could imagine, almost like the two were always made for each other. Truthfully I'm not going to even describe this, just take a listen.
This song single handedly describes St. Vincent so well. A dichotomy of masculine and vulnerable, hard rock, and strings, staccato sax and hazy strings. Spelling out H.E.L.P with increasing urgency, is she a damsel in distress or a siren leading you to doom? After years writing songs for lesser bands its great to see her surging ahead so well on her own.
Not gonna lie, I'm kinda in love with the Gags. First I thought she was just some shitty factory produced bimbo. A nearly career ending non-denial of hermaphradism, some self-written acoustic sets, a blood filled awards performance, a plastic bubble outfit, and the amazing talent of playing a piano with whiskey bottles, ALL helped me change my mind in a big way. She's insane, proud of it, and more confident in her cray than anyone. Oh and this track has the most wtf video in forever. Thriller-ish T-Rex dance moves? Don't mind if I do.
There you are, numbers 30-21, halfway done! Right click save as for the ones you don't have. Check back tomorrow for the next 10!