On the Beat: Top 20 Albums of '09

Peter Bjorn & John live at The Theatre of Living Arts. It was a big year for the Swedish bunch, as their "Living Things" CD was among the top records of the year.

It was a good year for music. No new trends - just piggy backs off the fresh musical habits made to be popular last year. Still, solid records all around. Hip-hop made a return to my year-end wrap-up. Electronic had a strong year. So did just-about-pop indie rock.

Here's On the Beat's Top 20 albums of the year in no particular order:

The Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come

Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

La Roux - La Roux

Felt - Felt 2: A Tribute to Rosie Perez

Boys Noize - Power

Doom - Born Like This

Esoteric - Saving Seamus Ryan

N.A.S.A. - Spirit of Apollo

Dr. Doom 2 - Dr. Doom (Kool Keith)

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight

Peaches - I Feel Cream

Passion Pit - Manners

Peter Bjorn & John - Living Things

Simian Mobile Disco - Temporary Pleasure

The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa

Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People ... Lazers Do!

Maserati - Passages

TigerCity - LP1