[MrGaryy]

Made this last night and posted on all the forums I use and stuff. Hope you enjoy. [I also included a list of the tracks you need to hear before you die that each LP has, which for me is what makes a great album]

20. Mariah Carey - Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel



Truth is, this isn't near as good as the Emancipation of MiMi, nor is it as good as E=MC2. However you gotta give Mariah props, 20 years in the business and she still writes and produces all of her records and although there are some seriously dodgy tracks in here there are a few diamonds that make up for it. H.A.T.E.U is probably her best ballad since We Belong Together and her Eminem diss track Obsessed is one of her best songs in years.

Tracks to hear: Obsessed, H.A.T.E.U, Candy Bling, Angels Cry, Up Out Of My Face

19. Muse - The Resistance



Muse returned this year for their fifth studio album which is possibly their most experimental and risky body of work yet. At times it does suffer from being a tad too experimental but when it manages to get it right it does it oh so well. Anyone else think the Uprising intro sounds quite like Christina Aguilera's Keep Gettin' Better though :P Regardless this is perhaps, artistically their strongest album so far.

Tracks to hear: Uprising, Unnatural Selection, United States of Eurasia, Exogenis

18. VV Brown - Travelling Like The Like



VV Brown was one of the many strong female British acts to emerge this year. Unfortunately, despite releasing one of the finest pop songs of the year, Shark In The Water, she failed to be playlisted by Radio 1 and only managed to crack the Top 40. The album is still a gem though packed with quirky sounds and doo-wop vibes. It suffers a tad from being a little too long but that doesn't hinder the quality

Tracks to hear: Travelling Like The Light, Leave!, Shark In The Water, Crying Blood, Game Over, Bottles

17. Allison Iraheta - Just Like You



I downloaded this album having watched very little of this year's American Idol. I liked the look of Allison and thought her debut single Friday I'll Be Over U was pretty catchy. I think this album is a really strong debut for Allison with plenty of catchy hooks and a few great ballads too.

Tracks to hear: Friday I'll Be Over U, Don't Waste The Pretty, Holiday

16. Mika - The Boy Who Knew Too Much



Mika burst onto the scene in 2007 with his Freddie Mercury like performances and child like debut album. This year he returned with a more sombre affair focusing on his teen years. In truth, it's not as good as his first album but songs like We Are Golden and Rain prove he's still a damn great popstar. Plus he looks pretty hot in the We Are Golden video.

Tracks To hear: We Are Golden, Rain, Toy Boy

15. Cobra Starship - Hot Mess



I first really got into Cobra Starship when I heard their single Good Girls Go Bad with one of my obsessions, Leighton Meester. I fell in love with it straight away so I downloaded their previous album and their latest one. They're quite hit and miss but the album has some solid, fun electro punk tracks with cheeky lyrics and catchy choruses.

Tracks to hear: Good Girls Go Bad, You're Not In On The Joke, I May Be Rude But I'm The Truth

14. Miike Snow - Miike Snow



Miike Snow, the side project of Toxic-hitmakers Bloodshy and Avant, are one of the most underrated bands all year, their debut album a breezy and intriguing affair with laid back verses and chilled beats. The Swedish duo have very much proven themselves as artists in their own right, even though they may not have matched the success of those they've produced for.

Tracks to hear: Animal, Silvia, Burial, Faker

13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!



For their third album, Karen O and co took a slightly different direction. In keeping with 2009's surging electropop trend they grabbed themselves a synthesizer and created another fabulous record. Short but sweet the album has some of the strongest disco clash music I've heard in a very long time, Karen's vocals surpassing themselves and they haven't lost their knack for feel good choruses or eerie midtempos either

Tracks to hear: Zero, Heads Will Roll, Dull Life, Skeletons, Soft Shock, Shame and Fortune

12. Passion Pit - Manners



One of the most exciting new acts for me this year has been Passion Pit. Their debut LP is one of the finest electropop records I've heard in a long time. So many feel good tracks like Little Secrets, Sleepyhead, The Reeling, Moth's Wings, their debut is strong and a lot of fun to listen to. I hope to hear from them again soon.

Tracks to hear: Little Secrets, Sleepyhead

11. Shakira - She Wolf



Shakira has never been one to stay in her comfort zone as shown on her latest album which is almost totally departed from the exotic feel her last album had. And she hasn't failed to deliver, providing us with some of the finest pop albums all year. She plays around with a variety of sounds and genres on the album and the end result is a smash hit.

Tracks to hear: Spy, She Wolf, Did It Again, Men In This Town, Gypsy

10. La Roux - La Roux



One of the most highly anticipated albums of 2009, La Roux is made up of ginger quiffed Elly Jackson and bandmate Ben. Their debut offering is short but sweet, full of synths and stonking choruses. We even get a moment of serene vulnerability on Cover My Eyes, to accompany the brash and feel good smash hit Bulletproof and In For The Kill.

Tracks to hear: Colourless Colour, In For The Kill, I'm Not Your Toy, Reflections or Protections, Bulletproof

9. Florence + The Machine - Lungs



Having won the Critics Choice Award at this year's BRIT Awards, Florence had a lot of hype to live up to. But she's actually managed to surpass it with this stunning debut, filled to the brim with enchanting melodies and intricate lyrics. Listening to this album takes me to a new state of mind, it is simply beautiful.

Tracks to hear: Cosmic Love, Kiss With A Fist, Howl, Drumming Song, Hurricane Drunk, You've Got The Love

8. Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment



American Idol runner up Adam Lambert is possibly the most exciting thing to ever come from the show. Besides a controversial AMAs performance this is a fantastic debut for Adam full of fun dance tracks, classic glam rock ballads and eery electronica beats. His vocals shine through out and with help from the likes of Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, Lady GaGa and P!nk, Adam's really broken the AI mould.

Tracks to hear: Fever, Strut, For Your Entertainment, Sleepwalker, Music Again

7. Rihanna - Rated R



I hated Rihanna. Like, really thought she was just another vacuous, RnB singers with no talent. Then she comes and produces this gem. I honestly like every song on this album with the exception of G4L. She shows she is more than a cookie cutting pop starlet with tough and catchy stompers like Hard and Wait Your Turn but shows she can still produce some mighty fine pop ballads with the likes of Fire Bomb

Tracks to hear: Rockstar 101, Russian Roulette, Hard, Stupid In Love, Wait Your Turn, Fire Bomb

6. Little Boots - Hands



Having topped this year's Sound of 2009, YouTube sensation Little Boots had a lot of pressure on her shoulders.She proved she can match the hype though with this electropop masterpiece. Truly nobody else can do electropop quite like Little Boots [yeah GaGa, Lights, La Roux - I'm talking to you]. The album contains many the sing along choruses and funky beats, it's one of the strongest albums of 2009.

Tracks to hear: New In Town, Meddle, Remedy, Earthquake, Click, Mathematic, [bonustrack] Not Now


5. Dan Black - {{Un}}



Dan Black is basically a superior Frankmusik. He does electropop music like no other male popstar at the minute and manages to give it this serene, peaceful feeling. Unfortunately, like VV Brown, he didn't manage to trouble the charts this year, despite being shortlisted for the Sound of 2009 and sampling Rihanna on his debut single. His album remains one of my personal faves all year however.

Tracks to hear: U + Me =, Yours, Alone, Symphonies, Pump My Pumps

4. Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster [deluxe edition]



think of 2009 in music and you couldn't not think GaGa. She literally exploded onto the airwaves this year, releasing hit after hit after hit. This double album is the perfect combination of her raw emotion sewn into sleek electronica tracks with dark undertones and her fun, superficial look on life and fame mixed with synths. She truly is a fantastic popstar and looks to be here to stay.

Tracks to hear: The Fame, Just Dance, Paparazzi, Beautiful Dirty Rich, Monster, Dance In The Dark, Summerboy, Bad Romance, LoveGame

3. Ashley Tisdale - Guilty Pleasure



In all fairness, Ashley is no great singing talent, we all know that. And Headstrong was nothing to write home about. So thats why I think many were taken by surprise when she comes along and delivers this chunk of pop gold. I can listen to almost every song, it's full of sing along choruses and cute lyrics, it's a huge shame the album got such little promotion because really, it has the making of a smash hit.

Tracks to hear: Hair, Hot Mess, Masquerade, Erase and Rewind, I'm Back, Guilty Pleasure, Crank It Up

2. Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You



Lily Allen first arrived in 2006 with her Mark Ronson produced, ska/indie/pop tunes and her chirpy cockney accent. She made her comeback this year, having ditched Ronson and her retro ska sound and replaced it with cool electropop showing her vulnerable side with this classic pop record. I love absolutely every track and 10 months on, I still play the record all the time. A modern masterpiece.

Tracks to hear: The Fear, **** You, Everyone's At It, Him, Back To The Start, 22, Not Fair, He Wasn't There

1. Taylor Swift - Fearless [Platinum Edition]



I was first introduced to the lovely Taylor with her Romeo and Juliet inspired single, Love Story. She soon became the first artist of 2009 to sell 1 million records, for this album in question. I adore every single song and can honesty say I have listened to it every single day since I bought it, spending weeks being obsessed with one song before moving on to the next. Not since Christina Aguilera's Stripped have I connected and adored an album as much as this. She deserves all the success she's been awarded.

Tracks to hear: Forever and Always, You Belong With Me, Tell Me Why Jump Then Fall, Our Song, Change, White Horse, The Way I Loved You

My Ones to Watch in 2010: 2010 is set to be an equally as great and diverse year for music. I am personally looking forward to new releases from No Doubt, Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Marina and The Diamonds, Ellie Goulding, Scissor Sisters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Amy Winehouse, Hurts, Ke$ha, Heidi Montag, Britney Spears and Leighton Meester!

[CaraRawr]

I approve of the Cobra Starship, Muse and Rihanna lovin'. <3

[Novo]

Can't say i approve of any

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by .Andy.

Can't say i approve of any

can't say you've heard half them either, can you?

[Novo]

No

[Vladimir]

RiRi, Adam, Shakira, Cobra Starship <3

[Damaris]

Passion Pit and Yeah Yeah Yeahs <3

Also La Roux <3

Dan Black,Little Boots and Mika????? Their albums were really dissapointing )=

And Taylor Swift at Number 1? ew.

Have heard Fever ray's album?

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by Damaris

Passion Pit and Yeah Yeah Yeahs <3

Also La Roux <3

Dan Black,Little Boots and Mika????? Their albums were really dissapointing )=

And Taylor Swift at Number 1? ew.

Have heard Fever ray's album?

Mika's was disappointing admittedly but I really enjoyed Little Boot's album, or at least the first half. and I loved Dan Black's album.

no I've been meaning to check her out for months now, any good? I've heard great things.

oh and I absolutely adore Taylor and Fearless is probably my most played album of 2009 after The Fame.

EDIT: I just checked, it's my third most played, Lily is also ahead of it :P

[Damaris]

Originally Posted by MrGaryy

Mika's was disappointing admittedly but I really enjoyed Little Boot's album, or at least the first half. and I loved Dan Black's album.

no I've been meaning to check her out for months now, any good? I've heard great things.

I found Little Boots to samey tbh (=

Dan Black- I loved Symphonies,Alone and Yours but the rest of the album wasnt as good.

And Fever Ray is amazing its quite an acquired taste.But i think its a beautiful album <3

I would also have included Patrick Wof,The Horrors,Micachu and a few others.

But i love your list X)

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by Damaris

I found Little Boots to samey tbh (=

Dan Black- I loved Symphonies,Alone and Yours but the rest of the album wasnt as good.

And Fever Ray is amazing its quite an acquired taste.But i think its a beautiful album <3

I would also have included Patrick Wof,The Horrors,Micachu and a few others.

But i love your list X)

I'll probably download her album soon.

I can see how Hands is a little samey but I guess I really *****d it when it first came out so I had to include it.

Dan Black - I like all of those but U + Me = is my fave, absolutely love that song.

I had a really long list so I had to cut a lot and Patrick as one of them. shout outs to The Saturdays and Leona too . [altho Leona never stood a chance LOL].

[Callum]

Yay at Taylor being number 1. Phenomenal album, definitley my fave of 2008.

[Shaun]

gurl there's some real **** decisions here [Taylor, Mariah, La Roux] but the majority of what I know from it is fierce.

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by Shaun

gurl there's some real **** decisions here [Taylor, Mariah, La Roux] but the majority of what I know from it is fierce.

La Roux is an acquired taste and you can quite frankly eff off on Taylor because a) you only have about 6 of her songs and b) just because she's tween orientated doesn't mean she isn't really talented. She did after all write her whole album and play guitar on most tracks. sfsad.

[Shaun]

I don't diss her on any of those respects, I just find her music a bit boring. It's nice, but dull.

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I don't diss her on any of those respects, I just find her music a bit boring. It's nice, but dull.

fair enough. now leave me be to listen to Fearless s0b.

[Z]

Nicely compiled list Gary, I don't know a few of the artists mentioned, but I look forward to getting linked to them on MSN .

[Billy]

Gutted for Lisa Mitchell and Polly

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by Billy

Gutted for Lisa Mitchell and Polly

I know it killed me to have to leave out Lisa in fact I might put her in I like her album more than Mika and Muse's. Polly Scattergood, I kind of went off her tbh.

[Rory]

Muse, VV Brown, YYY, Passion Pit, F+TM, Little Boots, Dan Black, Lily Allen <3

[M X]

Yeah i love a lot of those albums. But you know Mark Ronson has only ever worked with Lily one one song. Littlest Things.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by MichaelSpears

Yeah i love a lot of those albums. But you know Mark Ronson has only ever worked with Lily one one song. Littlest Things.

two including Oh My God, but that's not an album track so...*shuts up*

[Rory]

Do I hear mentioning of Lisa Mitchell? Coin Laundry <3

[MrGaryy]

Originally Posted by MichaelSpears

Yeah i love a lot of those albums. But you know Mark Ronson has only ever worked with Lily one one song. Littlest Things.

yeah I do, I was just making the point that the entire album had a Ronson, throwback feel.

[Jords]

Rihanna Rated R is fantastic! I love 'Photographs' by her too

[Tom4784]

I'm not gonna lie because I adore you but as an overall Best Albums list, it's quite shocking in parts. But as a pop based album chart it's quite good, although I dunno what you were sniffing when you listed Mika

That being said I liked pretty much all of it except Mika, Ashley Tisdale (insert Shaun's 'JLSWTF' sound) Taylor Swift (but you know I don't like her anyway) and Mariah Carey.

Apart from those mis-steps, not bad at all It was an enjoyable.