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Finally, the results of our end-of-year songs poll for 2009 are in. The top 58 nominees were decided here, and now the final ranking has been determined. The 17 voters who submitted lists were:
ako
Alex D
brose
Charlie Driggs
Chris
Ddiamondd
Henrik
Honorio
John
Jonah
Michel
Moonbeam
Nassim
Nick
Petri
Romain
Rocky Raccoon
sonofsamiam
Stephan
Clearly some poll fatigue set in here.
And off we go! Ironically one of the most popular bands in the world took last place:
58. U2 – Magnificent
10 points, 2 votes, 5 points/vote
Fans : Michel (5), Chris (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 870
Comments: As it turns out, the song didn't quite live up to its title.
I had "Magnificent" at Number 30 out of the 58. It was decent, but not enough to make me interested in the album.
56. (tie) Annie – Bad Times
12 points, 2 votes, 6 points/vote
Fans : Moonbeam (7), John (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: "The Moonbeam Section" is off! His beloved Annie ties for next to last place. Frankly I think this song deserved its placement, it pales in comparison to her other works.
56. (tie) Bat for Lashes – Sleep Alone
12 points, 2 votes, 6 points/vote
Fans: Moonbeam (7), Henrik (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 407
Comments: Bat for Lashes isn't my cup of tea, and I didn't care for this one.
54. (tie) Gossip – Heavy Cross
15 points, 3 votes, 5 points/vote
Fans: Romain (5), ako (5), Moonbeam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 13
Comments: It sounds like they can't decide whether to be Franz Ferdinand or the XX.
54. (tie) Depeche Mode – Wrong
15 points, 1 vote, 15 points/vote
Fan: Romain (15)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 324
Comments: Apparently Romain's opinion of this song is "Wrong!"
Awww, "Bad Times" and "Sleep Alone" are fantastic! Still happy they made it to Round 2, so it's all good.
Awesome photos Alex D!
53. Animal Collective – Lion in a Coma
17 points, 3 votes, 5.7 points/vote
Fans: Jonah (7), Michel (5), Rocky Racoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : Unranked
Comments: Animal Collective are one of the most experimental and groundbreaking acts of the past decade or so; I guess it was only a matter of time before they moved to didgeridoos.
52. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
“And moment, a love / A dream aloud”
18 points, 3 votes, 6 points/vote
Fans: Alex D (8), Moonbeam (5), Petri (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : 73
Comments: Everyone in America knows it as "the song from that one commercial" probably, but continuing from last song's theme, these guys are actually from down under. Petri pointed this one out to us in the recommendations thread.
50. (tie) Girls – Hellhole Ratrace
20 points, 4 votes, 5 points/vote
Fans: Petri (5), Rocky Racoon (5), Jonah (5), Nick (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : 37
Comments: A solid seven minutes of summery, breezy, Beach Boys-esque pop, with a little Thurston Moore mixed in. Jeez, Brian Wilson sure is getting a lot of love these days.
50. (tie) Taken by Trees – Watch the Waves
“Let’s rest in the sun / Watch the waves crashin’”
20 points, 4 votes, 5 points/vote
Fans: Henrik (5), ako (5), Alex D (5), Petri (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: The voice says Stockholm. The instruments say Islamabad. I say pretty awesome combo.
Before you read about any of the large, boldface type below, I'd like to point out that Henrik recommended Taken by Trees' "Watch the Waves" earlier in the recommendation thread.
48. (tie) Drake – Best I Ever Had
“Sweat pants, hair tied, chillin' with no make-up on / That's when you're the prettiest, I hope that you don't take it wrong”
21 points, 4 votes, 5.3 points/vote
Fans: Alex D (6), brose (5), Chris (5), Charlie Driggs (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 86
Comments: One of the summer's biggest hits can only muster 48th place; probably because it was quoted in several million teenage Facebook statuses ca. June 2009.
48. (tie) The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
21 points, 3 votes, 7 points/vote
Fans : Rocky Racoon (11), Stephan (5), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 39
Comments: The piano and baritone are The National-sounding, but the country twist is all theirs.
46. (tie) Prince – Colonized Mind
22 points, 4 votes, 5.5 points/vote
Fans : Moonbeam (7), Honorio (5), Romain (5), Rocky Racoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : Unranked
Photo unrelated, mostly. And here we thought he'd lost his mind after Love Symbol.
46. (tie) M. Ward – Hold Time
22 points, 3 votes, 7.3 points/vote
Fans : Honorio (12), Moonbeam (5), Charlie Driggs (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : 384
M. Ward channels his inner Nick Drake + echo-y voice effect to a marginally successful 46th.
45. Antony & the Johnsons – Epilepsy is Dancing
23 points, 4 votes, 5.8 points/vote
Fans: Petri (8), Honorio (5), Romain (5), sonofsamiam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 680
Comments: I was offended by the title at first; then I listened to the song and remained offended. Nonetheless it comes in at 45.
44. The Heavy – How You Like Me Now?
24 points, 3 votes, 8 points/vote
Fans: Michel (10), Henrik (9), Rocky Raccoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Doesn't really sound like anything else in this round; retro-soul-rock just isn't as cool as it used to be I guess. Michel told us about this one in the recommendation thread.
42. (tie) Bat for Lashes – Glass
25 points, 4 votes, 6.3 points/vote
Fans : sonofsamiam (8), Moonbeam (7), Charlie Driggs (5), Henrik (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 575
Comments: Bat for Lashes doesn't seem to be doing too great thus far, but of course there is always "Daniel" to come.
42. (tie) Fever Ray – When I Grow Up
25 points, 3 votes, 8.3 points/vote
Fans : Michel (15), Nassim (5), sonofsamiam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : 47
Comments: Fever Ray's lowest-ranking song comes in at 42; I suspect this is going to be a pretty good poll for that gal.
41. Fever Ray – Seven
26 points, 5 votes, 5.2 points/vote
Fans: Michel (5), ako (5), Petri (5), Nassim (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 106
Comments: Strangely enough, the more acclaimed Fever Ray songs are showing up lower on the list.
40. St. Vincent – Marrow
28 points, 5 votes, 5.6 points/vote
Fans: brose (8), Moonbeam (5), Rocky Raccoon (5), Jonah (5), sonofsamiam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 181
Comments: St. Vincent is either A. an island B. the patron saint of Lisbon or C. the chick who made this song, with thumping beats and horns that come out of nowhere from an eerie ballad.
38. (tie) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Young Adult Friction
29 points, 5 votes, 5.8 points/vote
Fans: Honorio (8), Petri (6), Nassim (5), Nick (5), Ddiamondd (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 33
Comments: The '80s influence on this decade strikes yet again, with this slice of Sonic Youth-meets-Bruce pop.
38. (tie) Jack Peñate – Tonight’s Today
“I’m ringing church bells, church bells, church bells”
29 points, 5 votes, 5.8 points/vote
Fans: Alex D (7), Henrik (7), Charlie Driggs (5), ako (5), Ddiamondd (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 80
Guy with Hispanic-sounding name makes Hispanic-sounding rock, but turns out to be British; song remains top-notch.
36. (tie) The Big Pink – Dominos
30 points, 5 votes, 6 points/vote
Fans: Rocky Racoon (10), Romain (5), Chris (5), Stephan (5), Nick (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 12
The Big Pink have a big sound and a pretty big contingent of critics who like their stuff; we don't like them quite as much but still put them at 36.
36. (tie) Benjamin Biolay – La Superbe
30 points, 3 votes, 10 points/vote
Fans : Romain (15), Honorio (10), Henrik (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 448
Comments: This list has a decently big French influence in terms of both voters (Michel, Nassim, Romain) and artists (Biolay, Phoenix); this is the first hint to appear so far.
"La Superbe" is a superb song, Top 10 of 2009 for me. Anyway #36 is a good position.
34. (tie) Prefab Sprout – Music is a Princess
31 points, 3 votes, 10.3 points/vote
Fans: Honorio (16), Henrik (9), sonofsamiam (6)
# of Round 1 nomnations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 113
Comments: Well that's a song title we can all get behind. Honorio has pushed Prefab Sprout on this forum pretty consistently, and he accounted for over half the points for "Music is a Princess".
34. (tie) Charlotte Gainsbourg – Le Chat du Café des Artistes
31 points, 6 votes, 5.2 points/vote
Fans : Romain (6), Charlie Driggs (5), Michel (5),
Honorio (5), Moonbeam (5), sonofsamiam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 184
Comments: The shadow of father Serge looms large over this song (and this poll; his influence can be seen in several songs). It's a departure for Charlotte, whose songs aren't usually this French-y (both in lyrics and sound).
33. The xx – Infinity
32 points, 4 votes, 8 points/vote
Fans: Nassim (15), Henrik (7), Michel (5), Moonbeam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : Unranked
Comments: The xx have been on a pretty nice ride lately. Their lowest of 4 songs comes in 33rd, taking a "Wicked Game"-ish sound and mixing in some serious snare drum.
31. (tie) Camera Obscura – French Navy
“I wanted to control it / But love, I couldn’t hold it”
35 points, 7 votes, 5 points/vote
Fans: Henrik (5), Rocky racoon (5), ako (5), Nick (5), Alex D (5), sonofsamiam (5), Honorio (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 36
Comments: Probably the most retro song of this list is "French Navy". It's well-liked, but not very much-loved. It's also the highest-ranked song with 5 points for every vote.
31. (tie) The xx – VCR
35 points, 5 votes, 7 points/vote
Fans: Stephan (10), Nassim (10), Petri (5), Rocky Raccoon (5), Michel (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: I thought this would be a sleeper pick for the top 15-ish; apparently not, but how about that vibraphone!
No offense to those that picked it, but Dominos might be my least favorite song of the past 5 years... and that's including all Black Eyed Peas and Ke$ha songs.
30. Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls
“Kiss me / Lick your cigarette then kiss me”
36 points, 6 votes, 6 points/vote
Fans: Moonbeam (7), Chris (7), Alex D (6), Rocky Raccoon (6), Ddiamondd (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 101
Comments: Praise for FF on AM tends to be limited to "Take Me Out" (at least, without using the word "overrated), but the catchy "No You Girls" has both lotsa fans and hooks galore.
29. Fever Ray – If I Had a Heart
37 points, 3 votes, 12.3 points/vote
Fans: ako (25), Henrik (7), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 66
Comments: If it wasn't for ako, you'd be seeing this song in next-to-last place. I don't think there's a song on that album that deserves that.
27. (tie) The xx – Night Time
40 points, 5 votes, 8 points/vote
Fans: Honorio (13), Nassim (12), ako (5), Michel (5), Henrik (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: Nothing out of the ordinary from xx here, just another slice of excellent, echo-y, quiet duetting.
27. (tie) PJ Harvey & John Parish – Black Hearted Love
40 points, 6 votes, 6.7 points/vote
Fans: Henrik (15), sonofsamiam (5), Michel (5), ako (5), Moonbeam (5), Honorio (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 4
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 188
I don't like PJ Harvey's stuff at all (for the most part) and even I like this.
Great work, Alex !
But I'm afraid there's a little mistake : I gave 10 points to Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart.
26. Lily Allen – The Fear
43 points, 7 votes, 6.1 points/vote
Fans: Jonah (10), Petri (6), Nick (6), brose (6), Honorio (5), Nassim (5), Rocky Raccoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 5
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 18
Comments: Ms. Allen cleaned up the first round with "The Fear" (did anyone expect 5 nominations? I sure didn't) but something about her slightly snarky, very witty and very British take on Hollywood didn't resonate here.
24. (tie) Passion Pit – The Reeling
“And I can feel the madness inch by inch”
44 points, 6 votes, 5.2 points/vote
Fans : Nick (13), Alex D (6), ako (5), brose (5), Ddiamondd (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Stephan (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 29
Comments: Thank you, Acclaimed Music Forum, because of this song, I now greatly enjoy Passion Pit, and their whirring, shimmering synths and cartoony vocals. I owe you one.
24. (tie) Annie – Anthonio
44 points, 3 votes, 12.7 points/vote
Fans : Moonbeam (20), Honorio (14), sonofsamiam (10)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 838
Comments: Here's a familiar face. Moonbeam's proselytizing has won over a few (big) fans of Annie's sultry yet funky brand of electro-pop.
23. La Roux – Bulletproof
“I’m not turned off to love until it’s cheap”
45 points, 8 votes, 5.6 points/vote
Fans : Ddiamondd (10), Chris (5), Rocky Raccoon (5), Nassim (5), brose (5), Alex D (5), Michel (5), Nick (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 9
Comments: And the prize for best hair goes to... Spiky and spunky La Roux not only scored a huge hit with this synth-wrapped single, she won a few supporters in the normally mainstream-skeptical AM world.
Pop, pop, pop in the last group! It's so funny that my favorite of all of the 58 songs in "Anthonio" finishes one point behind my LEAST favorite of all of them in "Bulletproof".
23. Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – Shine Blockas
“Every time I get on this microphone I like to spit / Inking up hit after hit / My penmanship is so legit”
46 points, 4 votes, 11.5 points/vote
Fans: Charlie Driggs (20), sonofsamiam (16), Alex D (5), Chris (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 58
Comments: Maybe it's a byproduct of this forum's love for Outkast, but Big Boi scored very well in this poll with a song I hadn't heard previously. Still, it feels like hip-hop has been dominated by "that other rap song" that did very well in the first round.
22. Fever Ray – If I Had a Heart
47 points, 4 votes, 11.7 points/vote
Fans: ako (25), Michel (10) Henrik (7), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 66
Comments: If it wasn't for Michel, this song would be seven spots lower at #29. (Note: If you see any mistakes, whether I omitted votes, screwed up the math, etc., let me know and I'll be sure to fix it.)
21. Fuck Buttons – Olympians
49 points, 6 vote, 8.2 points/vote
Fans: Ddiamondd (20), sonofsamiam (9), Charlie Driggs (5), Nassim (5), ako (5), Petri (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 170
Comments: Ddiamondd said (if I'm quoting properly) that this song was "massive" and really there's no better way to describe it. Those synths would be huge in a three-minute song, but the fact that this song stretches to ten (and it works!) is mind-boggling.
20. Fever Ray – I’m Not Done
50 points, 3 votes, 16.7 points/vote
Fans: Nassim (25), Michel (20), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: Fever Ray seem to be a love/hate type act. They rack up the big double-digit votes, yet they don't have very broad support (see the 3 votes above). It's sorta interesting considering the love that The Knife get on this forum.
18. (tie) El Perro del Mar – Change of Heart
“But we are all so bitter / And we will never stop”
52 points, 5 votes, 10.4 points/vote
Fans: ako (20), Charlie Driggs (15), Henrik (7), Petri (5), Alex D (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 215
Comments: I can thank Henrik for introducing this one to the world in the recommendations thread; it truly is a great song. I probably would give it more points if I were filling this out now. The piano, bass line, guitars, vocals are all very understated, but they fit together sublimely.
18. (tie) Benjamin Biolay – Brandt Rhapsodie
52 points, 5 votes, 10.4 points/vote
Fans: Romain (30), Michel (7), Charlie Driggs (5), ako (5), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : Unranked
Due in part to the rabid support of Michel (another great recommendation here), we all now know about the "noveau Gainsbourg", although Serge wasn't this good with a drum machine. Two people gave the full 30 points to one song, and this is the first one to appear. (The other one isn't for a while, and if you're the other person who did it, don't spoil it!)
I did not vote twice for I'm Not Done, even though it is clearly the best song of the year for me ^^
There was a three-way tie for 15th:
15. (tie) The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa
53 points, 8 votes, 6.6 points/vote
Fans: Charlie Driggs (15), Rocky Racoon (7), sonofsamiam (6), Honorio (5), ako (5), Petri (5),
Henrik (5), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 44
Comments: I don't really know what style of music to call this. But it's funky, joyous, fresh and yet another cut of Afro-pop making our radar from (in part) one Ezra Koenig.
15. (tie) Annie – Songs Remind Me of You
“And does it hurt to hear those songs on the radio?”
53 points, 6 votes, 8.6 points/vote
Fans: John (25), Moonbeam (12), sonofsamiam (6), Alex D (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 308
Comments: Annie goes icy! She sure packs a wallop between the synths and drums, and the lyrics cut deep for a club track. Ironically enough, it wouldn't hurt to hear this song on the radio, but rather the opposite.
15. (tie) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll
53 points, 6 votes, 8.8 points/ vote
Fans: Charlie Driggs (20), Ddiamondd (10), Rocky Racoon (8), Nick (5), Michel (5), Moonbeam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 27
Comments: For my money, this is better than "Zero"; I think that song is terribly overrated, but this one is right on target. And, rock takes another turn for the dance floor as one of the decade's more acclaimed bands delve into synthrock and sharpen up those hooks.
This group is all indie:
14. The Antlers – Bear
58 points, 7 votes, 8.3 points/vote
Fans: Stephan (19), Nassim (10), Petri (9), Honorio (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 99
Comments: Hospice was a sleeper hit in this forum, where it picked up a lot of steam and did well in our album poll, disproportionately to its critical standing. Most would agree I think, that this is the best and probably most profound track off the album.
12. (tie) Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others
“All your useless pretentions / Are weighing on my time”
60 points, 7 votes, 8.6 points/vote
Fans: Ddiamondd (15), Jonah (15), Michel (10), Nick (5), brose (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Alex D (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 3
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank : 28
Comments: Grizzly Bear, needless to say, have done pretty well this year. The second single off Veckatimest fared better than the first on some ballots, blending Pet Sounds-style orchestration, jazzy drums, Morriseyesque vocals and subtly fuzzed guitars.
12. (tie) Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes
“And I wanna walk around with you”
60 points, 8 votes, 7.5 points/vote
Fans: Jonah (20), Chris (10), Romain (5), Alex D (5), sonofsamiam (5), brose (5), Nick (5), Henrik (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 5
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 38
If those synths were guitars, this could be a Queen song, which might be the one direction you can't see Animal Collective taking. One of the great ironies of this song and Merriweather Post Pavillion is that despite all the futuristic synthesizer tinkering is that it revolves around a simple, timeless chorus.
11. Girls – Lust for Life
“Oh I wish I had a beach house / Then we could make a big fire every night”
61 points, 11 votes, 5.5 points/vote
Fans: Alex D (9), Stephan (7), brose (5), Nassim (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Honorio (5), Romain (5), Petri (5), John (5), Rocky Raccoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 4
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 10
Girls' brand of summery California indie rock is just so darned infectious on this song you almost can't help but be smitten by it. Desperate, sneering vocals? I'd never notice, not with these melodies.
10. The XX – Crystallized
“So don't think that I'm pushing you away / When you're the one that I've kept closest”
69 points, 10 votes, 6.9 points/vote
Fans: Jonah (20), Michel (7), Moonbeam (7), Nick (5), Alex D (5), ako (5), sonofsamiam (5), Romain (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Rocky Racoon (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 5
2009 AM EOY critics’list rank: 11
Comments: In many ways, the dark, atmospheric, amourous sound of xx "crystallized" into one deceptively tuneful single. I hadn't really thought of the song as so until I kept hearing the guitar line in my head for the next week after I listened to it the first time.
Interesting group, not in the least because all five of these artists released (in my opinion) exactly one better song in 2009. Excellent finish for Bear though.
My prediction for the top 9...
9. Gossip - Heavy Cross
8. Bat For Lashes - Daniel
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
6. Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
5. Phoenix - Lisztomania
4. Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
3. Phoenix - 1901
2. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
1. Animal Collective - My Girls
Yes! Go Fever Ray!!!!!!!!!!
9. Fever Ray – Keep the Streets Empty for Me
71 points, 6 votes, 11.8 points/vote
Fans: Nassim (15), ako (15), Henrik (15), Petri (12), sonofsamiam (8), Michel (6)
# of Round 1 nominations: 2
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: Unranked
Comments: The highest-ranked Fever Ray song in this poll ironically didn't receive a single mention in the year's critics' spreadsheet. It's a slow burner, brooding and churning amidst echoing drums and foreboding strings.
7. (tie) Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys) – Empire State of Mind
77 points, 8 votes, 9.6 points/vote
Fans: sonofsamiam (16), Rocky Raccoon (15), Alex D (10), Chris (10), Nick (8), brose (8), Stephan (5), Honorio (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 8
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 7
Comments: Easily the rap single of the year, Jay-Hove's ode to his hometown pulls out a sick piano line and even sicker chorus courtesy of fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys. 40 is the new 30.
7. (tie) Bat for Lashes – Daniel
77 points, 10 votes, 7.7 points/vote
Fans: Moonbeam (15), Henrik (11), brose (10), Chris (9), Honorio (6), sonofsamiam (6), Charlie Driggs (5), Nassim (5), ako (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 6
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 4
Comments: Common sense says that this is one of the year's best songs, but I don't buy it. (It's a bit melodramatic for me.) Nonetheless, the song's beat can't be denied, along with the Middle Eastern influence you don't come across too often on the dance floor.
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
79 points, 7 votes, 10.3 points/vote
Fans: John (20), Rocky Raccoon (16), Nick (13), Moonbeam (9), brose (8), Chris (7), Petri (6)
# of Round 1 nominations: 6
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 8
Comments: "Maps", it ain't, but one of the year's biggest stories was the new Yeah Yeahs Yeahs, for better or worse, and most folks would say better. "Zero" is big, glitzy and danceable (and it has Karen O) so what's not to like?
Alex D, do you dislike every song I like?
5. Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
87 points, 10 votes, 8.7 points/vote
Fans: John (20), Petri (16), Chris (10), brose (9), Nick (6), Jonah (6), ako (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Nassim (5), Moonbeam (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 4
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 5
Comments: One of the year's strangely brilliant tracks was this number from Dirty Projectors, and to be honest I have no idea how to describe it. Freaky, quirky, electronic, indie R&B/pop?
4. Phoenix – 1901
"It's 20 seconds to the last call/ Calling hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
94 points, 11 votes, 8.5 points/vote
Fans: Alex D (16), Chris (15), Stephan (9), Rocky Raccoon (9), Nick (8), Henrik (8), sonofsamiam (8), brose (6), Ddiamondd (5), Charlie Driggs (5), Romain (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 7
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 3
3. Phoenix – Lisztomania
"This is show time"
95 points, 8 votes, 11.9 points/vote
Fans: Stephan (30), Rocky Raccoon (13), Nick (13), sonofsamiam (11), Alex D (11), Chris (7), Honorio (5), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 5
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 6
Comments: "1901" and "Lisztomania" were inextricably linked from the outset. Two singles from the same album, one with huge exposure stateside and another very strong critics' hit, both with a lot of nominations and big votes. They were consistently in the top 5 throughout the poll and changed positions several times, but in the end it's "Liztomania" that comes out on top by a single point, which was a surprise to me.
Brilliant. I didn't even remember giving 30 points to Lisztomania, but it deserves to be above 1901 so I'm glad I did.
Who's ready for a big surprise?
2. Animal Collective – My Girls
110 points, 10 votes, 11 points/vote
Fans: Nick (15), Petri (15), Chris (15), brose (15), Alex D (13), ako (10), Henrik (8), Honorio (7), Romain (7), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations: 10
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 1
1. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
158 points, 16 votes, 9.9 points/vote
Fans: brose (25), Ddiamondd (20), Nick (14), Alex D (13), Chris (10), Petri (10), Honorio (9), Michel (9), Romain (7), Henrik (7), Jonah (7), Moonbeam (7), Charlie Driggs (5), Stephan (5), ako (5), Nassim (5)
# of Round 1 nominations : 9
2009 AM EOY critics’ list rank: 2
Comments: I think the results speak for themselves. I was as surprised as anyone!
Well that wraps it up. Thanks to everyone who participated in the poll!
What a surprise!
158 vs 110
Only three voters didn't give points to Two Weeks.
Thanks for great show Alex D.
With the winning distance taken into account, this is perhaps the most surprising outcome of all the polls we've had. Wow!
Many thanks for a great show, Alex!
Excellent results and excellent presentation. Great stuff Alex.