Books of the Decade and 30 albums for 2009

Here's SPD's list:

SPD Bestsellers 2000-2009

***

Sherman Alexie owns the top spots with a number of Harryette Mullen books in there as well. Also good to see Barbara Jane crack the top 20.

***

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. It's been difficult to choose 30 albums because I like music and my moods vary. For example, I've got stuff I listen to when I'm in the gym, in the car, when I'm writing, and when I'm grading. And often the choices are so disparate. *edit: after much reflection, there's still a tie at the top, but I'm more careful with the rankings.

1. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone


1. Andrew Bird, Noble Beast

2. Various Artists, Dark was the Night

3. St. Vincent, Actor

4. A.C. Newman, Get Guilty

5. We Were Promised Jetpacks, These Four Walls

6. Micachu and the Shapes, Jewellery

7. Taken By Trees, East of Eden

8. The Low Anthem, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

9. Lighting Dust, Infinite Light

10. White Denim, Fits


11. Laura Gibson, Beasts of Seasons

12. Jason Lytle, Yours Truly, The Commuter

13. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest

14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!

15. Great Lake Swimmers, Lost Channels

16. The Flaming Lips, Embryonic

17. Tegan & Sara, Sainthood

18. Son Volt, American Central Dust

19. Fanfarlo, Reservoir

20. Telekinesis, Telekinesis!


21. The Dutchess & The Duke, Sunset/Sunrise

22. Woods, Songs of Shame

23. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

24. The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love

25. Thao, Know Better Learn Faster

26. Coconut Records, Davy


27. Choir of Young Believers, This is for the White In Your Eyes

28. Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career

29. Metric, Fantasies

30. Rain Machine, Rain Machine

OK, so that was quite strange and very unexpected. A couple of things I'd add--Dark Night of the Soul would be one.

Disappointments--BLK JKS. I thought they would put out a fabulous album, but After Robots was overproduced, IMO.

I also wanted to like the Wilco album and the Monsters of Folk album, but I didn't so much.

***

Edited: Had some time to think it over

***

Back to your regular broadcast.

***

Still reading Nicholson Baker's The Anthologist which I'm finding to be funny, heartbreaking, and instructional.

***

Current spin: