2009, in ubiquitous “list” form.

Here, two weeks after the fact, is my personal faves of the last year. It’s the songs from last year, rather than the songs I listened to the most then (they’d be different lists). Naturally, there’s some omissions, because I don’t want to go too nuts with y’all. I’ve appended youtube videos with the songs, but I’m choosing this list for the music, not any visual accompaniment.

1. St. Vincent- The Strangers

There was a lot to love on “Actor,” but this song’s got what I want. It’s something about that “prettily sung but actually real dark” vibe, and the repeated line of “paint the black hole blacker” works in a way I could never understand.

2. Beirut- On a Bayonet

Funny maybe, that I choose the instrumental from “March of the Zapotec,” and also that I didn’t choose something from the better half of that album, the electro-pop “Holland,” but this little piece just has a charm and depth that’s kind of incredible for it’s minute and a half.

3. YACHT- Psychic City

This summer was certainly the summer of YACHT for me, with it all peaking at their Fantastic show at the Empty Bottle. There were a few stellar candidates for “Summer Jam,” with this one nearest to the top.

4. Animal Collective- Guy’s Eyes

It was obvious Merriweather Post Pavilion was going to be everyone’s favorite this year, but oddly enough it just didn’t hold up for me. It lost it’s personal importance to me after less than a month, which was pretty strange. It’s not that the songs weren’t great (they were!), so I don’t know whaat it was. In any case, my favorite was definitely this one.

5. Julian Casablancas- 11th Dimension

I wouldn’t have thought this song would be so great, but it totally is, and it is totally also Todd Rundgren for the new millenium (which is probably why I like it so much).

6. Fever Ray- I’m Not Done

I could have chosen any song from Fever Ray’s album, but I went with this one. That incessant beat drives right through my heart, won’t let up, then seals the deal with those close-mic’d strings at the end. But that’s a terrible explanation of how great and haunting this song is. I’ll leave it up to the line “how do you say you’re sorry, and there’s nothing to be afraid of.” What.

7. Neko Case- This Tornado Loves You

One liner— a love song from the perspective of a tornado!

8. Atlas Sound- Walkabout

I loved this song from the moment I first heard the crappy bootleg of some show somewhere. The quality was terrible, but I still listened to it over and over. This jam was that good. Another candidate for “Summer Jam,” obvi.

9. Dirty Projectors- Stillness Is The Move

BAM. If you needed any more reason to love this band after Rise Above (I didn’t), Bitte Orca delivered. ON EVERY TRACK.

10. Pains of Being Pure At Heart- Stay Alive

An easy-to-like “epic song,” which seems deliberately written to be “epic,” but they’ve done their homework, and hit all the right notes.

11. Smith Westerns- Imagine, Pt. 3

Hey, did you guys know? I worked at an ice cream store this summer with the lead guitarist from this band! I was so jealous. Especially when I heard this song.

12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Soft Shock

At first, I hated “It’s Blitz!” Then, pretty soon afterwards, I loved it completely. Naturally, I will choose the slowest (second slowest? third?) jam on the album. Why am I using the word “Jam” so much? Ugh.

13. Pool Holograph- Fireworked Beach

Sadly, I can’t find a youtube video of this fan-tastic song by my friend Wyatt. But trust me, it’s a winner. I assume the song I mean to show you is five-ish minutes in, but you certainly don’t have to skip to it!

14. Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks

Veckatimest was an odd album, because every song on it was golden, yet it was hard to listen to as a whole (I am the only person who thought that). I was discussing it with some friends, and I think the reason the album seems to plod a little is that they blew their Pop Jam load too quickly. This song, or “While You Wait For the Others,” should have been the centerpiece! Then the album would Peak instead of Valley.

15. Thom Yorke- All For The Best

What a surprise! When the beat first started, I thought “oh, an Eraser b-side. I hate The Drunkk Machine.” But then as soon as the organ came in, I knew this would be my favorite song of the summer, my defining “repeat song.” It didn’t let me down.

16. Cold Cave- Love Comes Close

It’s a drag the album this comes from only has one other song as great as this one. This, and “Life Magazine,” are two great goth-pop masterpieces. This one has a killerkiller chorus, so I’ll choose it.

17. The xx- Crystalised

I hesitated before I listened to The xx, mainly because I was put-off by the hype, but then I remembered that I originally refused to listen to Deerhunter for the same reason! Likewise, I discovered the hype wasn’t misplaced.

18. Atlas Sound- Quick Canal

Bradford Cox’s dream comes true, and we get a great new Stereolab song. Just kidding. But anyone who heard the instrumental version of this when Logos originally leaked was very much Not Disappointed.

Those have numbers (put them in a mix, they sound good), but what’s the numberless Best Song of The Year? It comes from my favorite album of the year, too. And, of course, its:

Antony & The Johnsons- Aeon

When this song first started playing, I though “ohh, that’s a nice little piano bit,” then the song kicked in and my mind went “woah, I should listen a little closer.” When he hits the “his arms are warm” line, I was frozen in love. That line means so much to me, especially for the time that I heard it in, and still sends shivers up me. Damn.