Regina Spektor (left), Grizzly Bear (top middle), Dirty Projectors (bottom middle), M. Ward (top right), Andrew Bird (bottom right)
We could tell early on that 2009 was going to be an outstanding year for music. Bands such as Animal Collective , Andrew Bird , Bon Iver and Antony and the Johnsons all released new music, and that was just in January. By the time we posted our online ballot to vote for the year's best music, we had a dizzying array of albums and artists from which to choose.
Thousands of votes poured in and, just as it is every year, the race was very close. In our mid-year ballot , Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion was the most popular album. But by the end of this year, Grizzly Bear had edged its way to the top, with Animal Collective, Phoenix, Neko Case and Andrew Bird rounding out the top five.
As always, be sure to tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Extended List: See The Top 50 Listener Picks For 2009
NPR Listeners Pick The Best of 2008
NPR Listeners Pick The Best of 2007
Complete coverage of the year in music, 2009 .
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01.
Song: Two Weeksfrom Veckatimestby Grizzly Bear
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Song Veckatimest Album Veckatimest Artist Grizzly Bear Label Warp Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Merriweather Post Pavillion
02.
Song: My Girlsfrom Merriweather Post Pavillionby Animal Collective
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Song Merriweather Post Pavillion Album Merriweather Post Pavillion Artist Animal Collective Label Domino Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
03.
Song: Lisztomaniafrom by
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Song Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Artist Phoenix Label Glassnote Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
04.
Song: This Tornado Loves Youfrom Middle Cycloneby Neko Case
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Song Middle Cyclone Album Middle Cyclone Artist Neko Case Label Anti Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
05.
Song: Oh Nofrom Noble Beastby Andrew Bird
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Song Noble Beast Album Noble Beast Artist Andrew Bird Label Megaforce Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
06.
Song: The Rake's Songfrom Hazards of Loveby The Decemberists
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Song Hazards of Love Album Hazards of Love Artist The Decemberists Label Capitol Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
07.
Song: Wilco (The Song)from Wilco (The Album)by Wilco
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Song Wilco (The Album) Album Wilco (The Album) Artist Wilco Label Nonesuch Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
08.
Song: Blood Bankfrom Blood Bankby Bon Iver
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Song Blood Bank Album Blood Bank Artist Bon Iver Label Jagjaguwar Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
09.
Song: I And Love And Youfrom I and Love and Youby The Avett Brothers
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Song I and Love and You Album I and Love and You Artist The Avett Brothers Label Sony Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
10.
Song: The Strangersfrom Actorby St. Vincent
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Song Actor Album Actor Artist St. Vincent Label 4AD Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
11.
Song: Zerofrom It's Blitz [Deluxe Edition]by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
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Song It's Blitz [Deluxe Edition] Album It's Blitz [Deluxe Edition] Artist Yeah Yeah Yeahs Label Interscope Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
12.
Song: Eetfrom Farby Regina Spektor
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Song Far Album Far Artist Regina Spektor Label Warner Bros. Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
13.
Song: Stars of Leofrom Hold Timeby M. Ward
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Song Hold Time Album Hold Time Artist M. Ward Label Merge Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
14.
Song: Feeling the Pullfrom Strict Joy [Deluxe Edition]by The Swell Season
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Song Strict Joy [Deluxe Edition] Album Strict Joy [Deluxe Edition] Artist The Swell Season Label Anti Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
15.
Song: Say Pleasefrom Monsters of Folkby Monsters of Folk
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16.
Song: Stillness Is The Movefrom Bitte Orcaby The Dirty Projectors
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17.
Song: Sleepyheadfrom Mannersby Passion Pit
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Song Manners Album Manners Artist Passion Pit Label French Kiss Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
18.
Song: You Are the Bloodfrom Dark Was the Night [4AD]by Sufjan Stevens
Dark Was the Night, Live from Radio City Music Hall .
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19.
Song: French Navyfrom My Maudlin Careerby Camera Obscura
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Song My Maudlin Career Album My Maudlin Career Artist Camera Obscura Label 4AD Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
20.
Song: Sick Musefrom Fantasiesby Metric
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Song Fantasies Album Fantasies Artist Metric Label Metric/Last Gang Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
21.
Song: The Shrewfrom March of the Zapotecby Beirut
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22.
Song: VCRfrom XXby The xx
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23.
Song: Danielfrom Two Sunsby Bat for Lashes
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Song Two Suns Album Two Suns Artist Bat for Lashes Label Caroline Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
25.
Song: Satellite Skinfrom No One's First and You're Nextby Modest Mouse
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Song No One's First and You're Next Album No One's First and You're Next Artist Modest Mouse Label Epic Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
