Three Imaginary Girls

Seattle's Indie-Pop Press – Music Reviews, Film Reviews, and Big Fun

thermals @ chop suey

I don’t know how it happened, but half the year officially is over! Which means that we’re half way to end-of-the-year-list time! I know that for a bunch of us, there are few things we love more than lists and mix tapes (I usually make a mix for friends of my year-end list favorites) — so it makes sense we should do a mid-year check in and see what’s topping our Best of 2009 list.

Here’s my off-the-cuff list of what albums would vying for Top 10 of 2009 in my book:

  • The Thermals – Now We Can See
  • Matt & Kim – Grand
  • iji – In Celebration
  • Lacrosse – Bandages For The Heart
  • Stuart Murdoch – God Help The Girl
  • No-Fi Soul Rebellion – Oh Please Please Please
  • Cage the Elephant – Cage the Elephant
  • Tiny Masters Of Today – Skeletons
  • Telekinesis – Telekinesis!
  • One for the Team – Build A Garden EP
  • Throw Me The Statue – Creaturesque

Locally speaking (and to prep for our Readers Best Northwest Releases of 2009 poll) – these folks have also put out stellar releases I’ve listened to on repeat:

  • Coulter – Sent to Coventry
  • U.S.E – LOVEWORLD
  • The Nightgowns – Sing Something
  • Skeletons With Flesh on Them – All The Other Animals
  • The Femurs – Ride Together EP
  • The Lonely Forest – We Sing The Body Electric!

And rumor has it that these folks will be releasing stuff later this year — and I bet the albums will be so good they might just knock some of the above off the top 10:

  • The Long Winters
  • Los Campesinos!
  • Northern Portrait
  • Pharmacy
  • Nana Grizol
  • Brown Recluse Sings

Oh yes, it’s going to be a very good year – and a brilliant end of year mix tape! And for the record, Stay Flyin’s song “The Hottchord is Struck” is my song of the year (download the MP3 here. Listen. Get hooked).

What’s on your Best of 2009 {so far} list?

{Thanks for the Hutch photo, Laura Musselman!}