Essential Albums of the Mid-Point of 2009 (a work in progress and delay)

Well, I certainly have not upheld my end of the bargin thus far, but technically all of June will serve as the half-way point for this blog. That being said, I have taken more interest in the songs that have deemed themselves 'most essential' thus far and the albums, well we will address them again at length at the end of the year.

For now I'll keep the songs working in the playlist on the sidebar here, keep dumping off ideas here if you have anything to share.

I am headed to Bonnaroo this week so I wanted to get something up before I skipped town and checked out of reality for a while. I'll hold off on the 'Acts' of the year until after the fest, but based on the texts I was getting last night from the guys in Atlanta, Bon Iver and Elvis Perkins are going to be tough to top....we'll see.

For now, here is what I have found most Essential in 2009. Note, 'Essential' doesn't nesecarily mean "best" or "most important/amazing," it just take in consideration the hype, the artist, the moment, the feel, the production, the reviews, the worth, etc. Swirl that all up with my reactions and then LTME decides how Essential it is.

So, now LTME gives you the albums of the Mid-Point (Half Way) of 2009. (Yes I know 28 is an awkward number of albums to review, but it's just kinda been one of those years).

1. Veckatimest– Grizzly Bear
2. Merriweather Post Pavillion – Animal Collective
3. Manners – Passion Pit
4. Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Elvis Perkins in Dearland
5. Face Control – Handsome Furs
6. The Mountain – Heartless Bastards
7. Invitation Songs – the Cave Singers
8. Keep It Hid – Dan Auerbach
9. Dark Was the Night – Various
10. Welcome to Mali – Amadou and Mariam
11. Get Guilty – AC Newman
12. Bromst – Dan Deacon
13. Noble Beast – Andrew Bird
14. Lost Channels – Great Lake Swimmers
15. Midnight At the Movies – Justin Townes Earle
16. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
17. It’s Blitz – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
18. Invisible Cities – Nomo
19. To Willie – Phosphorescent
20. Hold Time – M. Ward
21. Tight Knit – Vetiver
22. Constant Hitmaker – Kurt Vile
23. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic
24. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free – Akron/Family
25. March of the Zapotec and Realpeople: Holland – Beirut
26. Now We Can See – the Thermals
27. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits
28. Wilco (The Album) – Wilco

There will be discussion of these albums once I return from Roo and see some of this live in person.

Albums worth note, but LTME has yet to listen to: Maccabees, St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors, SunO))), Fever Ray, Pink Mountaintops, Sunset Rubdown, Eels, Swan Lake, Manchester Orchestra etc.

Give me some feedback, love to hear some response, maybe even some of those > <.

Wish me luck at Roo.