Sentiments that differentiate you from a doormat or a prostitute presents
15.
She Wolf by
Shakira
Release Date: 10.09.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Mon Amour
I was such a fool for putting off this album until the latter months of this year but I appreciate MTV Tr3s getting me interested again with the video for Lo Hecho Está Hecho. The spanish songs are far superior to the english songs but overall it is a delightful album. I wish I had given the last album a proper chance beforehand but I'm glad to have checked this album somewhat in time. I also wish there were a lot more spanish songs and less english versions; I understand that she is trying to please both of her fans but when you compare the spanish versions, some things clearly get lost in translation. I don't even know spanish that well but I can pick up on different verses that just sort of dumb down the meaning. Either way, I highly recommend Mon Amour and the spanish songs on this album. Mon Amour is lyrically brilliant but maybe that is because I have no spanish counterpart to compare it to?
16.
Man on the Moon: The End of Day by
Kid Cudi
Release Date: 09.15.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Pursuit of Happiness
Overall, this album had a very interesting concept and there's something about certain songs that just work too well. Ironically, I love the nightmares a lot more than most of the other tracks. There are also different acts throughout the album... which I can sense when I actually listen to the album in order. I think the third act was probably my favorite from the album, except Make Her Say is personally overrated. There are a lot better songs on the album and I would have replaced that from that act if I could. As for my favorite song of the moment, I have lovedd Ratatat ever since I have heard their stuff and Pursuit of Happiness definitely sounds like their stuff for the background music. I also appreciated the video Kid Cudi did for this single, since it actually seems to work with the song and isn't typical, for me anyway.
17.
Ellipse by
Imogen Heap
Release Date: 08.24.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Bad Body Double
This album isn't getting the love it deserves. I'm a huge fan of Imogen Heap but I took forever to listen to this album and never really gave it the chance to grow on me. There are a couple of songs on this album that already get stuck in your head, including Bad Body Double, Aha!, and 2-1.
18.
The Fall by
Norah Jones
Release Date: 11.17.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Young Blood
There's something about Norah Jones... I love her voice and how she can make something sound sweet, eerie, and calming at the same time. I usually have to be in the right mindset to really enjoy her album as a whole but it works usually. With Young Blood, she sounds almost on guard and this was also the song performed on the Colbert Report.
19.
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by
Franz Ferdinand
Release Date: 01.26.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: What She Came For
It's sad, there have been really strong songs on this album but as a whole this was another album that was easily forgettable for me. Again, not saying it is a bad album at all, but it's this low because I did not play the whole album as much as i did for the albums ranked higher. What She Came For has a vintage sound with one of the instruments but continues the fun feeling I'm used to with Franz Ferdinand. I also love song titles where pronouns are used, haha.
20.
Monster of Folk by
Monsters of Folk
Release Date: 09.22.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)
Monsters of Folk are exactly as their title claims. I am not that big on the music and male vocals in this case but I can still appreciate certain good tracks and the overall album. It's probably one of my favorites when it comes to the genre, whatever that genre that may be. As for Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.), there's a huge Radiohead feeling to this song. Also, lyrically I can sort of relate to some degree. Not necessarily God but something of that sort... and I would think the song would fit perfectly.
21.
Merriweather Post Pavillion by
Animal Collective
Release Date: 01.06.2009 | Favorite Song of the Moment: Guys Eyes
Guys Eyes has a familiar sound, like most of the Animal Collective songs, but on it's own it's just really repetitive which can be comforting to some degree. Overall, the album was pretty good but unless I'm in the mood for anything remotely instrumental with vocals blending into the background, I wouldn't really touch the album repeatedly throughout the year. However, whenever I hear it, I always enjoy listening to the whole thing.
hot list
Paramore, OK Go, and Passion Pit are always welcome. 
Shakira + Norah Jones