2009 is a tough year to judge. I’ve checked out more albums this year than any year in the past. Well over 1,000. And there have been quite a few great ones as well. When this list began, it had 110 albums. I abandoned my top 33 and 1/3 for 45, and then said “screw it” and upped the number to an even 50. These are the top notch albums of the year, all worthy of praise.

Upon first hearing “Old Lives”, the opening track to Daniel Francis Doyle’s upcoming LP, We Bet Our Money On You, I contemplated what the chances were that Doyle was actually Dismemberment Plan’s Travis Morrison backed by Battles. Doyle certainly has a Morrison-esque vocal styling; that perfect pitch that sounds just a bit off-kilter. And his percussion and accompanying guitars absolutely have the math-y noise elements of Battles.