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.

Japandroids played the last show of their U.S. tour at Chop Suey last Tuesday evening to an enthusiastic crowd. Before starting the set, guitarist Brian King asked the audience to “come down here and get wild.” If the crowd was a little hesitant at first, King and drummer David Prowse more than made up for it with “The Boys are Leaving Town”, complete with head-banging and a wind machine that made King look as if he was in the midst of a photo shoot.

Oh man, this takes me back to the gritty rock of the late 90s. Following the loud, raucous punk-ish path of groups like No Age, Japandroids feature wild guitars, intense percussion, and dual screams. The band is Brian King and David Prowse and their music is Canadian genius. “Young Hearts Spark Fire” is absolutely brilliant.