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The 10 Best Debut Albums of 2009
Continuing our celebration of PopMatters' 20th anniversary, we revisit our 10 picks for the best debut albums of 2009. It turns out our selections were prescient as many of these artists have gone on to storied careers. Travel back to 2009 and see them again for the first time.
The 60 Best Albums of 2009
PopMatters turns 20 years old this October and we're beginning to celebrate our history by taking you back in time a decade ago. Obama was in the White House and the musical times were very good indeed. Revisit 2009 through its best albums.
Swoll Reveals Subtle Power via "Shudder to Think" (premiere)
Electronic rockers Swoll craft a powerful song in "Shudder to Think" that moves beyond boundaries.
M83's Ambitious But Inert 'Digital Shades Vol. 2' Underwhelms
M83's follow-up to 2007's ambient collection Digital Shades Vol. 1 lacks the ingenuity of his pioneering predecessors' output and the thrill-ride wonder of the genres he set out to salute.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Bryce Dessner and Eighth Blackbird Collaborate on 'When We Are Inhuman'
A rewarding, enriching and outstanding collaboration between Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Bryce Dessner, and Eighth Blackbird makes the old sound new, the new sound old and shines a light on a long lost minimalist composer.
'Ad Astra' Does Daddy Issues Well
Ad Astra has the astronomical humanism of Interstellar mixed with the morose nihilism of Apocalypse Now, fueled by a booster rocket of daddy issues.
Kate Tempest Takes on the UK Establishment with 'The Book of Traps and Lessons' and Wins
The Book of Traps and Lessons reveals Kate Tempest's disdain with contemporary society while also envisioning a future where it all can be changed. With a flair for hip-hop laced with Marxism, the album is poetic artistry.
British Electronic Duo Brook Release Debut 'Built You for Thought' (album stream) (premiere)
Signed to Vince Clarke's Very Records, Brook's electropop debut is a rich mix of taut electronics and captivating vocals.
Norwegian/Welsh Duo Firewoodisland Deliver Exquisite Chamber Pop Positivity on "Hollow Coves" (premiere)
Folk poppers Firewoodisland deliver peak chamber pop with the gorgeously arranged and performed ode, "Hollow Coves".
Who's He in Connor Willumsen's 'Bradley of Him'?
Connor Willumsen keeps the narrative in his graphic fiction book, Bradley of Him, as lean and off-balance as his maybe-deranged main character.
Slayyyter's Love For 'Blackout' Era Britney Spears Informs Her Debut Mixtape
Slayyyter's debut mixtape suggests not only nostalgia for, but an intrinsic value in, a long-dead version of celebrity in which artists needn't make statements to achieve icon status.
Vampire Weekend's Grandiose Madison Square Garden Debut
Vampire Weekend's largest headlining show in New York City, in support of their fourth album, Father of the Bride, was just one date of an extensive tour.
Blues-Cruising Samantha Fish Takes Joy Ride of Her Life on 'Kill or Be Kind' (album premiere + interview)
"Playing more for the song," Samantha Fish feels right at home dealing with various shades of blues in New Orleans, and proves it with a sneak preview of her sixth studio album.
The HawtThorns Offer Country Music a West Coast Vibe on 'Morning Sun'
The HawtThorns successfully shine-up classic country music with sumptuous harmonies and innovative instrumentation on Morning Sun.
Queer Capitalism: A Street-Level, #LGBTQ Response to Life in the Times of Trumpism
Legislation, the vehicle of idealists, is bereft of ideas in the times of Trumpism. We are left to fend for ourselves.
Neurosis and Jarboe Create a Titanic and Utterly Enveloping Musical Experience
Neurosis and Jarboe collaborated on a stunning album of heavy metal experimentation back in 2003. Now the album has been remastered and it's time for a fresh appraisal.
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