There's a Radio in the Corner, It's Dying to Make a Scene

Given a few more spins and a few less podcasts, I'm sure Tegs & Smush, Passion Pit, Pete Yorn, and The Swell Season could've made this list, but here's my Top 10 Songs Added to my Library in 2009 (again, with the caveat of one song per artist):

10. CSS - Move
I suppose I was a bit late to the game with these iTunes darlings. Regardless, I spent a good chunk of the early part of the year listening to chick-infused dance pop a la Ladyhawke and The Ting Tings, and I probably like this song the most.

9. The Temper Trap - Science of Fear
Like, The Stills' Rooibos last year, I'm a sucker for songs with a sense of urgency.

8. Manchester Orchestra - Shake it Out
No matter what I do, I can't seem to see these guys live (I think I'm ohferfive). Another song with a sense of energy and a great bridge. Probably the best running song of 2009 too.

7. MuteMath - Spotlight
I'm probably fudging a bit here since this song came out on 2008 on the Twilight soundtrack, but it's handclaps will continue long into the new decade.

While we're here, a brief note of thanks to the great drummers of 2009. Thomas Hedlund of Phoenix, Grant Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit, and Darren King of MuteMath...thanks for making life more fun. Keep up the good work.

6. Kings of Convenience - 24-25
Ahhh. As Luke said, what year was this shot, 1979?

---Now begins the real powerhouse tunes---

5. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Edmonton
Pretty fun little find here after reading about them on some blog about the smaller buzz bands featured at SXSW. Fun fact, they toured the U.S. later in the year in a mid-1990s 4x4 Mazda MPV.

4. Phoenix - Lisztomania
Throw in 1901 here if you want, I won't argue. All I know is when Lisztomania comes on the iPod randomly, I'm smiling.

A timeout to highlight my three favorite live shows this year (a banner year, really, where I saw 9 shows from some of my top live bands over a 6 week period towards the end of the summer):

- Fleetwood Mac (5/28 at Staples Center): still bringing and playing all the hits. A solid way to start off a great 30th birthday weekend.
- Phoenix (6/28 at The Wiltern LG): Too.Many.Hits. A night where I felt I was part of a moment.
- MuteMath (10/10 at Club Nokia): these guys continue to melt faces with their live show. I mean, HONESTLY (!!!).

3. We Were Promised Jetpacks - It's Thunder and It's Lightning
Impossibly young looking, but still...best opener ever. Absolutely killed it. Can't wait to see what they do next.

2. Jars of Clay - Scenic Route
Yeah, ok, I have a bit of a soft spot (mancrush?) on these dudes, but no other band gets me thinking like them. After a challenging album with a theme of examining the darker side of human nature, Jars came back with an 80s pop-infused album centered on community and relationships...and it rocked. While Heart might just be the sound of Jars reaching their potential, Scenic Route is utterly listenable and features such lyrical gems as: "We're just sitting like novels we've picked up but never read through, you think you know my ending, I think I know yours too."

1. Frightened Rabbit - Old, Old Fashioned
My favorite band, album, and greatest find of the year. I can't recommend these guys highly enough.