Looking back at 2009…

Back at the beginning of 2009, I picked out some stuff I was looking forward to – I had about 10 albums that I thought would be exciting. Looking back, I think I was about 50/50…

(each link takes you to the Spotify album page for a listen before you buy)

• Antony and the Johnsons – Crying Light, as beautiful as expected – amazing vocals, heartrending songs. HIT
• Kings of Convenience – Quiet is the New Loud, ended up being renamed ‘Declaration of Dependance’, here’s what I thought of it when it got released. HIT
• Morrissey – Years of Refusal, not his finest moment, but a poor Morrissey album is still something to behold. MISS
• The Decemberists – Hazards of Love, more of the same from Colin Meloy but still a lovely album. HIT
• Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe, still absolutely 100% essential, did not disappoint. HIT
• Lily Allen – It’s not me, it’s you, everywhere, all the time, Ms Allen still delivers the goods. HIT
• Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion, slightly disappointing for me -  I may have been slightly jaded by all the psychadelia (MGMT etc). MISS
• U2 – No line on the Horizon, a couple of decent tunes but way too much of everything else, especially Bono. MISS
• Starsailor – All the Plans, not straying much from a well trodden line, pleasant enough – but they really need to up their game. MISS
• Imogen Heap – Ellipse, some interesting promotion for this one, another fine album. HIT.
• Placebo – Battle for the Sun, with a new drummer still sounding as spiky and vibrant as ever. HIT.

So, all-in-all, my reasons to be cheerful panned out OK for 2009 – tomorrow, I’ll list some of my early music hopes for 2010!

Who do you think will be massive in 2010?