Colleen’s Top 10+Honorable Mentions of 09 (Colleen is the co-host of The Kelly and Colleen show, fridays from Noon-2)

1. Cotton Jones- Paranoid Cocoon

It’s so easy to fall in love with their easygoing folk infused sound. Kelly and I ended up playing a different song every week- at first inadvertently and then very decidedly. The radio show didn’t feel complete without a song from CJ. Seeing them live at Monolith and then here in Jackson brought tears to my eyes, it sounded so beautiful.

2. Discovery- LP

This collaboration album (members of Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend) received a lot of mixed reviews from music critics.  Personally, I still can’t get enough of this album. I find that the strange mix of electronica and R&B always inspires me to do some robot-like shuffles and weird hand gestures, which I often call dancing. “My forehead burns, but I close my eyes. . .”

3. The Roadside Graves – My Son’s Home

These guys are still fairly undiscovered, but I stumbled upon the band when checking out the Monolith line up. The whole album is a gorgeous narrative, tales of going to war and the consequences faced upon coming home. There was a period of time when I couldn’t bear to go an entire day without hearing “Valley” at least once.

4. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Everybody loves this album, I know. Well, who can blame us? These french guys know how to rock it, with very upbeat and catchy tunes. Another Kelly & Colleen show staple.

5. Elliott Brood- Mountain Meadows

Took me by surprise how much I really enjoyed listening to this album. The lead vocals sound a lot like Deertick, very deep and coarse, but I find that to be the best attribute of both bands. I love the way this album starts off loud and fast, and then mellows out as the tracks progress, making it a very seamless listen.

6. Real Estate- Real Estate

Getting a lot of praise in the media and it’s all very deserved. These Jersey boys know how to construct a fluid, lo-fi style album that reminds you of days spent by the shore or just hanging out on a gorgeous summer evening.

7. The Dutchess and the Duke- Sunset/ Sunrise

This Seattle duo does a great job of blending a retro sound with newer indie rock. Despite a lame live performance, I think every song on this album is noteworthy. Alas, their pre madonna attitudes won’t keep them off my top 10.

8. Deertick- Born on Flag Day

I love John Joseph McCauley’s deep, raspy, almost abrasive voice. I also love that these guys are all in their early twenties, having fun, and well, putting together some solid music. Overplayed on the station, but I can’t deny this great alt-country album a place in my top 10.

9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It’s Blitz

This band has been morphing and evolving over the years, putting out a variety of sounds, but It’s Blitz! still took me by surprise. It’s fast, electronic, kind of disco-like beats completely shifted gears from previous albums, which had a more garage rock feel. Nevertheless, it works and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

10. Passion Pit- Manners

This album eased me into the electronica genre, with great pleasure I might add. Totally danceable and fun, I can never play “Sleepyhead” too many times, especially when I’d be speed walking up the King this summer.

**Honorable Mentions*** :
** Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below
- I really wanted to include this album, but in actuality, I only listened to 3 or 4 songs. But those songs WERE the jams of the summer (“Home,” duh).  And they have an incredible energy live- in fact, probably the best act I saw at Monolith this past September. And the lead singer looks a lot like Jesus.
** Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones
- I have always loved Ryan Gosling as an actor, and now that I know he can be a successful musician too, well, it’s a done deal. Backed by a Children’s Choir, this is not only a great Halloween album, but all around quality music. Who doesn’t love some spooking sounding songs with track names like, “My Body Is A Zombie for You?”
** Coastwest Unrest – Songs From the Desert
- Debut album for this trio from Las Vegas, aptly titled Songs From the Desert.  Mostly an americana sound, with a lot of violin, but then they add percussion for a nice contrast. There are plenty of tracks with vocals, but the lyrics are often soft and sparse, with lovely instrumentation in between.
** Blakroc – Blakroc
- The Black Keys can’t stop, won’t stop. Not only do they produce a great blues- rock sound on their own, but they create numerous successful side projects as well. Blending a bluesy guitar rock with hip hop, Blackroc is a phenomenal collaboration between the Black Keys and various hip hop artists, including Mos Def, Jim Jones, RZA, Ludacris, etc.
** Drummer – Feel Good Together
- Yet another Black Keys side project, created by Patrick Carney and consisting of all drummers from various bands. The title says it all- a feel good album- full of rocking guitar riffs, some taking you back to the 90′s. Can’t quite put my finger on a genre, but I love jamming out to this album anytime.