Well, it’s that time again — end of the year Top Album lists. And there are a lot of them in 2009. So…here’s another one. Mine. The Top 5 “Sounds from my Cubicle” albums.

Top 5 “Sounds from my Cubicle” Albums in 2009:

1. Them Crooked Vultures - “Them Crooked Vultures“

Get ready to bash your head. Rock ain’t dead. Even the rumors of this album were exciting. When I hear that three dudes with impressive rock resumés are forming a “Supergroup,” I’m in. Dave Grohl(Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Josh Homme(Queens Of The Stone Age) and John Paul Jones(yep, the Led Zeppelin guy) make up this band of all-stars.

This debut album draws on each of the band members’ individual talents and also has experimental qualities. This high-quality garage rock is full of tempo twists and a lot of starting and stopping arrangements. I absolutely love the wonderful trippy psychedelic swagger this album carries. It never lets up.

2. Regina Spektor - “Far“

More anti-folk from one of my favorite singers/writers. Regina Spektor is quirky, eccentric and approachable. Most of this album sounds like it was written for television dramas and movies.

Two highlights on the album are “Eet” and “Laughing With“. Strange and beautiful. Can’t explain it, I just like it.

3. Phoenix - “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix“

This is the third release from the dapper French rockers. I think the best description for their musical style is alternative funk. Most Americans first learned of this band through the “Lost In Translation” soundtrack.

This album is full of thick, fuzzy synth and jangly guitar chords with a healthy dose of sophistication. “Love Like A Sunset” is seven minutes that summarizes “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” and makes it what it is. This album definitely shows Phoenix’s progression as a band.

4. The Avett Brothers - “I and Love and You“

This North Carolina trio has been around for awhile, but you probably haven’t heard of them until recently. That would be because the only radio play has been the title cut/single from this latest album. And that’s because Rick Rubin produced this fine album.

This latest album is more mature and polished than its past releases. What hasn’t changed — they still sing about love, family and connections with a lot of piano and harmonies. “Kick Drum Heart” and “I and Love and You” are a couple of highlights.

5. Morphine - “At Your Service“

If you are a huge Morphine fan like me, Mark Sandman will live on forever…in his music. Mark died on stage 10 years ago in front of his fans, where he loved to be. Thanks to Mark recording everything he ever played, with everyone he ever played with, “At Your Service” gives us 15 unreleased songs, a bunch of alternate versions of songs we know and love and some live radio performances from the band’s early days in Boston.

The truly unique low-bottom growling sound that Morhpine is famous for is electric on this album. The sound not fully polished or arrangements even fully formed. Many of these were in the experimental stages. But then again, Morphine was always experimenting with its music. “Come Along” and “Patience” are two highlights on the album. The creativity and imagination is all here on this album. The deep soul-shaking bass, the ear-bleeding horns and Sandman’s “Come Along” vocals will live on forever. This album is essential for a Morphine fan’s library.

Worth Listening To:

Eels - “Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire”

Modest Mouse -  “No One’s First, And You’re Next”

Wolfmother - “Cosmic Egg”

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - “Outer South”

Bon Iver - “Bloodbank”(EP)

Ben Kweller - “Changing Horses”

M. Ward - “Hold Time”

Yo La Tengo - “Popular Songs”

Mastadon - “Crack The Skye”

The Fiery Furnaces - “I’m Going Away”

Noah and the Whale - “First Days of Spring”

Steve Earle - “Townes”

Son Volt - “American Central Dust”

Drive-By Truckers - “The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008)”

The Dead Weather - “Horehound”

Andrew Bird - “Noble Beast”

Manic Street Preachers - “Journal For Plague Lovers”

Monsters of Folk - “Monster of Folk”

Silversun Pickups - “Swoon”

Cymbals Eat Guitars - “Why There Are Mountains”

Julian Casablancas - “Phrazes for the Young”

Built To Spill - “There Is No Enemy”

Devendra Banhart - “What Will We Be”

Levon Helm - “Electric Dirt”

Local Baltimore bands albums  to check out from 2009:

Wye Oak - “The Knot”

Cotton Jones - “Paranoid Cocoon”

Cool sites with live performances:

http://www.daytrotter.com/

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/performers/concerts/

Interesting Video to Watch:

Korb - “I’ll Be Gone”

http://vimeo.com/7792511

It’s been a great year for music. Looking forward to 2010.

As always, I would love to hear what you are listening to.