Nine best albums of '09...so far

By: Stephen Ortiz

Posted: 6/15/09

The year is already halfway over and there has been a bevy of top-notch releases in the music world, eyeing spots on year-end "best of" lists. So why wait? Here are the top nine albums that 2009 has given us already.

Bruce Springsteen, "Working On A Dream" - The Boss can do no wrong. He continues his tales of middle-class America, the working man and ordinary life with an album that is more hopeful than 2007's dreary "Magic." The album is ambitious, big on style and timeless in sound.

Lily Allen, "It's Not Me, It's You" - Allen followed up her highly acclaimed debut with another album that deserves nothing but more praise. "It's Not Me, It's You" is a wonderful step forward for the pint-sized Brit-pop singer. Sure, she's still a potty-mouth, but compare her two albums and it's clear that she's grown up a lot. Gone are the ska-pop cuts that made her a sunny day delight, replaced by a darker electro-pop sound and some more heartfelt tunes not seen before from Allen.

Lamb of God, "Wrath" - The best metal album we will hear this year comes from the same guys who have already brought us a handful of American metal staples over the past decade. "Wrath" is fantastic. There are no holes, no flaws and absolutely no moments of doubt that Lamb of God are not among metal's best. It's unlike any album that the band has put together before, and you can tell a lot of effort went into orchestrating this project rather than simply recording another album.

Morrissey, "Years of Refusal" - Considered by many as a return to form for the British singer, Morrissey did fans a favor by not trying to reinvent himself as most artists do after they have been producing music as long as he has. Production from the late Jerry Finn as well as consistent control over his vocal abilities finds Morrissey at a polished state that is impossible to tarnish.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "It's Blitz!" - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have crafted something spectacular with their third full-length album. Combining elements of The Killers, MGMT and other dance-pop outfits, "It's Blitz!" stands out above all other alternative pop albums of recent memory.

Mastodon, "Crack The Skye" - With their best album to date, Mastodon further proves that they are the modern day Rush … only much more metal. With a story too bizarre to even imagine (a paraplegic floating through space who gets sucked through a wormhole and then is reincarnated inside of Rasputin - that's only the tip of the iceberg) and long, prog-metal epics, these Southern rockers have made a sound and style that is very much their own.

Green Day, "21st Century Breakdown" - Long awaited and highly anticipated, Green Day did not disappoint with "21st Century Breakdown." "American Idiot" was just the appetizer - this rock opera goes above and beyond, with its three act story. The beautiful thing about it is the band's ability to switch up the sound of the album numerous times, which helps to give the feeling of a progressing story.

God Forbid, "Earthsblood" - Just like Lamb of God and "Wrath," God Forbid demonstrates with their latest release that they are a force to be reckoned with. This is one of metal's most promising up-and-coming acts, and while their previous efforts have all been well-received, "Earthsblood" is the album to push them over the top.
Method Man & Redman, "Blackout! 2" - Hip-hop's dope-loving duo returns ten years after their first collaboration with an album for the fans. No bells, no whistles, just the lyrical skills that made them kings of the mic despite being rap's leading court jesters.