I spent most of 2009 being pretty unimpressed with new music. Part of that is me getting older and more set in my ways, I'm sure. But I really think the crop of new releases this year was weaker than the last several. That said, I managed to find a few stand-outs.

The "Hip Hop Hooray" Award

Troubadour - K'naan - I love literate, socially-conscious, and (apparently) Canadian hip hop. I didn't even think that was a thing. I thought k-os was awesome and that was that. Then I heard K'naan, and I'm starting to wonder what's in the water in the true north. Troubadour came to me at the 11th hour -- much like Gaslight Anthem did last year -- and took my best of the year list by storm. Innovative beats with reggae, jazz, African, and metal influences and an amazing, creative, and erudite flow, K'naan is incredible and an MC to watch in the coming years. Now, any other Canadian rappers I should know about? Stand-out track: Take a Minute.

Us - Brother Ali - Before I get started, is albino Muslim hip hop a thing? Let me know because I have one specimen here, and he's pretty great. Brother Ali raps about his faith, his struggle, and his everyday life with a powerful voice over funk-fusion-inspired beats. Equal parts inspiring and thought-provoking, Stand-out track: Fresh Air.

The "Do Covers Count?" Award

Townes - Steve Earle - This is an album of songs written by the late Townes Van Zandt, one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century and a friend and mentor of Earle. Not much to say here except that Earle masterfully treads the line between tribute and interpretation. He puts his own, inimitable stamp on Van Zandt's amazing tunes without draining them of their essence. Stand-out track: Colorado Girl.

Varshons - The Lemonheads - Evan Dando has always filtered his edgier, punkish influences through a So-Cal country-rock prism to write some really compelling alt-rock songs. On Varshons, an album of covers, he lets some of his influences out, and there's some strange, beautiful stuff going on here. I don't pretend to know who Wire or Sam Gopal or Fuckemos are, but Dando does and manages to weave their songs into a cohesive whole. Stand-out track: Beautiful.

The "Obligatory Indie Pick" Award

Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear - To tell you the truth, I don't often like "difficult" albums. I like a hook that I get and get quick. But difficult records are sometimes the most rewarding. After a few listens, they coax themselves into the basement of your brain and start their work, and in the end, they feel like an old friend. So now I have Grizzly Bear: living in the back of my head, whispering their sweet harmonies, their clever rhythmic and vocal arrangements, their psychedelic melodies, the whole bag. The songs aren't easy, and they aren't quick. But are they ever beautiful. Stand-out track: Two Weeks.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix - Angular but accessible, meaningful but danceable, experimental but familiar, Phoenix knocked it out of the park with this album. I'm not going to say anything that hasn't already been said. Sample any bit of Lisztomania or 1901, and you'll be hooked. It's infectious indie-dance-pop with no weak tracks in the bunch. Get. This. Record. Stand-out track: Lisztomania.

The "So Good for So Long" Award

Middle Cyclone - Neko Case -  There's something about Neko Case's voice that makes all her songs sound the same. And that's not a bad thing. I can't think of another singer who uses their voice with such precision to evoke a specific atmosphere in their tunes (well, maybe the next guy, but we'll get there).  Point is, the power of her vocals cuts through any attempt to arrange (tame?) them, and it's like she's wailing the history of country music in every note. The songs on Middle Cyclone aren't as strong as on some of her previous albums, but you can't argue with that voice. Stand-out track: People Got a Lotta Nerve.

Years of Refusal - Morrissey - I'm not a Morrissey guy. I like a lot of the music I've heard from him, but I'm not in the club/clan/cult. With that frame of reference in mind, I think Years of Refusal is a great rock record. When it rocks, it rocks hard. And when it's soft, well, nobody beats a Morrissey slow jam on the sexy, sullen, croony quotient. I've heard the man croon, but I was surprised by the edge of his vocals on tracks like All You Need Is Me and Something is Squeezing my Skull. That said, I really love the mid-tempo dynamic swells of It's Not Your Birthday Anymore. The man's still got it. Stand-out track: It's Not Your Birthday Anymore.

Wilco (the Album) - Wilco - Once you've made a masterpiece, where do you go from there? 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot will probably go down as the pinnacle of Wilco's artistic achievement, but that doesn't mean they can't still make damn fine records. On Wilco (the Album) they leave the bulk of their experimental flourishes at the door in favor of a tight collection of relatively simple, extremely listenable pop songs, and that's just fine. The electric guitar work from new-ish member Nels Cline (he joined up before 2007's Sky Blue Sky) is once again a highlight of the arrangements. Of all my 2009 picks, I had the hardest time choosing a stand-out track. You and I, Country Disappeared, I'll Fight, and Everlasting are all amazing songs, but I'd be remiss if I didn't pick Wilco (the Song) on Wilco (the Album). Wilco'll love you, baby. Stand-out track: Wilco (the Song). 

The "Favorite of the Year" Award

My Maudlin Career - Camera Obscura - Gorgeous arrangements, lush orchestration, drenched in reverb, wall-of-soundish melancholy pop from an amazing band. Camera Obscura is one of a long line of Scottish bands I love (Belle and Sebastian, Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad to name a few), and while I had my doubts they'd be able to surpass 2006's Let's Get Out of This Country, they've done it. By a lot. Stand-out track: French Navy.

Honorable mentions: I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers, The Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z, jj n° 2 - jj, Blood Bank - Bon Iver, Midnight at the Movies - Justin Townes Earle