All Songs Considered Listeners Pick The Best Music Of 2009

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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All Songs Considered Listeners Pick The Best Music Of 2009


Merriweather Post Pavillion
02.
- Song: My Girls
- from Merriweather Post Pavillion
- by Animal Collective
Full Animal Collective archive


This Tornado Loves You
04.
- Song: This Tornado Loves You
- from Middle Cyclone
- by Neko Case
Full Neko Case archive.


The Rake's Song
06.
- Song: The Rake's Song
- from Hazards of Love
- by The Decemberists
Full archive for The Decemberists.



I And Love And You
09.
- Song: I And Love And You
- from I and Love and You
- by The Avett Brothers
Full archive for The Avett Brothers.


Zero
11.
- Song: Zero
- from It's Blitz [Deluxe Edition]
- by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Full Yeah Yeah Yeahs archive.



Feeling the Pull
14.
- Song: Feeling the Pull
- from Strict Joy [Deluxe Edition]
- by The Swell Season
Full archive for The Swell Season.

Say Please
15.
- Song: Say Please
- from Monsters of Folk
- by Monsters of Folk
Full Monsters of Folk archive.

Stillness Is The Move
16.
- Song: Stillness Is The Move
- from Bitte Orca
- by The Dirty Projectors
Full archive for The Dirty Projectors.


You Are the Blood
18.
- Song: You Are the Blood
- from Dark Was the Night [4AD]
- by Sufjan Stevens
Dark Was the Night, Live from Radio City Music Hall.

French Navy
19.
- Song: French Navy
- from My Maudlin Career
- by Camera Obscura
Full Camera Obscura archive.





Home
24.
- Song: Home
- from Up from Below
- by Edward Sharpe
Full archive for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Satellite Skin
25.
- Song: Satellite Skin
- from No One's First and You're Next
- by Modest Mouse
Full Modest Mouse archive.