Alright, I'm pretty sure I've heard all the new music I'm going to hear this year. Either way, I'm ready to commit to a top 20 for 2009:
1.
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Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar -
One Fast Move Or I'm Gone - Collaboration of the front men from Son Volt and Death Cab For Cutie for a Jack Kerouac documentary. (Alt. Country)
2.
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Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band -
Outer South - Bright Eyes front man sharing the vocals with others. (Alt. Country, Folk)
3.
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Monsters of Folk -
Monsters of Folk - "Super Group" of Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward. (Folk, Rock, Alt. Country)
4.
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Patterson Hood -
Murdering Oscar (and other love songs) - Solo effort from Drive-By Truckers front man (Alt. Country)
5.
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A.A. Bondy -
When the Devil's Loose - Second album from former Verbena front man. (Folk, Rock)
6.
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Black Crowes -
Before the Frost....Until the Freeze - 20 new songs recorded live on Levon Helm's farm in Woodstock (Rock, Alt. Country, Folk)
7.
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Drive-By Truckers -
The Fine Print - Rarities and B-Sides from DBT, including covers of Tom Petty, Warren Zevon and Bob Dylan (Rock, Alt. Country)
8.
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The Swell Season -
Strict Joy - Return of the duo who starred in "Once" (Rock, Folk)
9.
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Son Volt -
American Central Dust - Former Uncle Tupelo songwriter continues his Alt. country sound. (Rock, Alt. Country)
10.
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Blakroc -
Blakroc - Collaboration of Black Keys and MC's like Raekwon, Mos Def and Q-Tip (Hip Hop)
11.
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Guy Clark -
Some Days the Song Writes You - Country legend strips it down for new album (Country)
12.
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Jaydiohead -
Jaydiohead - Mash-ups of Jay-Z and Radiohead tracks. (Hip Hop)
13.
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Drive-By Truckers -
Live in Austin - DBT's appearance on Austin City Limits (Rock, Alt. Country)
14.
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The Mars Volta -
Octahedron - Prog rockers latest album (Rock, Prog)
15.
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Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit -
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Former Drive-By Trucker's second solo album (Rock, Alt. Country)
16.
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Grizzly Bear -
Veckatamist - Mix of folksy arrangements and multi-part harmonies (Alternative)
17.
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Doves -
Kingdom of Rust - Underrated British pop/rockers return to form. (Alternative Rock)
18.
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The Dead Weather -
Horehound - White Stripes' Jack White plays drums with this new rock group (Alternative Rock)
19.
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Heartless Bastards -
The Mountain - Southern Rock with a female lead singer (Rock)
20.
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Iron & Wine -
Around the Well - Demos and b-sides from Sam Beam (Folk)
Records I never got to include The Flaming Lips (Embryonic), Wilco (Wilco the Album), Avett Brothers (I and Love and You), Will Johnson & Jason Molina, and Them Crooked Vultures