The 50 Best Songs of 2009

As part of PopMatters’ 20th anniversary, we are revisiting classic features. Travel back in time a decade ago to 2009, when indie rock was in its full ascendency,and hear the songs that soundtracked the era.

                                      
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in one month's time and thereafter into eternity, no one will ever, ever say to themselves, "You know what? I really have to hear 'Thank God for Girls' again. It's brilliant."

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With years between albums, a lot of factors, including a "get here now so we can record" email from the Black Keys' Patrick Carney, was what got Matt Sharp's the Rentals back into gear.

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As part of PopMatters’ 20th anniversary, we are revisiting classic features. Travel back in time a decade ago to 2009, when indie rock was in its full ascendency,and hear the songs that soundtracked the era.

Weezer's long-awaited return to form continues with a loose concept album about California, complete with the requisite Beach Boys influences.

The nerdiest band in pop/rock history might be trying to recreate their image with "California Kids".

For its latest, Weezer’s manager suggested the longtime Angelenos write a beach record. “It was one of those things where it’s so obvious that we never even realized it,” Cuomo said.

in one month's time and thereafter into eternity, no one will ever, ever say to themselves, "You know what? I really have to hear 'Thank God for Girls' again. It's brilliant."

From Polish black metal to mind-blowing progressive R&B and electronic music, 2014's best albums certainly have something for everyone.

Weezer's new album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, walks the tenuous line between redressing the band's follies and giving in to banal fan service.

Everything Will Be Alright in the End is not an album: it's an act of contrition that you can dance to.

With years between albums, a lot of factors, including a "get here now so we can record" email from the Black Keys' Patrick Carney, was what got Matt Sharp's the Rentals back into gear.

Matt Sharp's side project-turned-band is back, and they sound just like most of you remember them. But is that really such a good thing?

Rising emo band tackles an iconic set of songs from Weezer's "Blue Album" a bit too gently.

The middle day of the festival on Saturday featured a strong draw for the rock ‘n' roll crowd.

In the two decades since the band's self-titled "Blue Album" was released, Weezer's output has been a grab bag. PopMatters looks into the top 15 songs that prove that there's more to Weezer than being "Blue".

Career suicide albums fall into two camps: Those that were released ahead of their time, and those that set new standards in awful. The best thing that could be said about the later category is that these albums are oftentimes just as fascinating as an artist’s best work.

September 2010, the subject of our latest look at the year’s biggest events in music, was a month of TV events, celebrity arrests, and a lot of new music.

May 2010, the subject of our latest look at the year’s biggest events in music, was a hodgepodge of notable cover versions, new releases, TV events, and more.

Weezer takes through past faves The Blue Album and Pinkerton on their Memories tour through select markets.

Some 14 years later, Pinkerton's impact remains as powerful as ever. If only the bonus material even came close to matching it...

With a recent contract being signed to keep Voodoo in New Orleans through 2019, fans can expect the event to continue to grow and be a fitting close to each year’s music festival season.

After a mild uptick with Hurley, Weezer slide back down to Raditude's level with this newly-recorded collection of outtakes and rarities.

Weezer fans’ disappointment with the group's recent albums may have less to do with how the band has changed than with how nerds everywhere have changed, Rivers Cuomo included.

Weezer are now writing nothing but unabashed pop songs, aiming for nothing but the top of the charts and hoping you'll come along for the ride to multi-platinum glory. Word of advice: don't.

Mainstream rock alterna-gods keep us scratching our aging heads.

Alone shows Rivers Cuomo disarmed and open, doing what he loves. Sometimes it succeeds marvelously. Sometimes it fails.

If Ronson is going to pander to an audience, he may as well be straightforward about it.