ihrtmusique's Top 50 Songs of 2009

So after the extravaganza that was the Top 100 Songs of 2000 - 2009, here's a slightly more stripped down affair, as I give you my choice of the 50 best tracks of this year.

Similar caveat's apply to those I spelled out in the intro to the best of the decade list (so the same link as above), but I definitely challenge anyone to defy the brilliance of most of these tracks (or indeed all of these tracks, in my opinion).

Happy listing...


50. Wale Feat Lady Gaga - Chillin' Listen
A great urban pop hit with a sprinkle of Gaga magic on top.



49. Lily Allen - Not Fair Listen
Lily's best is always when she's singing about the day to day stuff. Such as this mucky ode to disappointing sex.



48. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Contender Listen
Didn't quite live up to the hype, but these Smiths-alikes are worth keeping an eye on.



47. Volcano Choir - Island, IS Listen
Justin Vernon's side project is more ethereal than Bon Iver (if that's possible) but beautiful all the same.



46. Dan Auerbach - Whispered Words Listen
Black Keys man steps into the solo light and delivers a great album.




45. Bob Dylan - Beyond Here Lies Nothin' Listen
Crazy ol' Bob's still got it. Which is more than can be said for his recent Christmas album.



44. Beastie Boys Feat Nas - Too Many Rappers Listen
A too-brief reminder that the Beastie Men still know how to write awesome hip hop. Roll on next year for them.



43. Wilco - Wilco (The Song) Listen
Reliable Wilco deliver again on their Wilco (The Album) album.



42. Richmond Fontaine - The Boyfriends Listen
A heart-wrenching stunner of a song by this Oregon band named after a real person.




41. Mos Def - Quiet Dog Listen
Rapper-turned-actor-turns-back-to-rap-and-does-it-brilliantly.




40. The Soft Pack - Right And Wrong Listen
The Muslims changed their name but still sound brilliantly like The Strokes.



39. Drake - Best I Ever Had Listen
Canadian smoothie takes break from day job as actor to pull out a slick R&B hit.




38. Monsters Of Folk - Say Please Listen
Their name says it all, and Oberst, James, Mogis and Ward come good on this country rocker.



37. Simian Mobile Disco - Audacity Of Huge Listen
I LOVE band names in lyrics, so this was always a winner for me.



36. Music Go Music - Warm In The Shadows Listen
Californians belatedly fill the gap left by Abba and this nine-minuter is a highlight.



35. Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love (The xx remix) Listen
This version of The Source's classic couldn't be more trendy if it moved to Hoxton, but it's still a great cover and remix.



34. White Denim - Say What You Want Listen
Despite this sounding like Monster Magnet, this is a pounding bit of garage rock. Or perhaps that's because...




33. Vampire Weekend - Horchata Listen
Tantalising hint at my most-looked-forward to album of 2010, and it's all about a Mexican milk drink.



32. Leona Naess Feat Ryan Adams - Leave Your Boyfriends Behind Listen
Good to see Adams cropping up on this lovely alt.rock ballad.




31. The Virgins - Teen Lovers Listen
New york hipsters carry on where Neon Neon left off with this made-for-the-dancefloor indie belter.



30. Housse De Racket - Oh Yeah! Listen
Young French duo who surely need a proper push in the UK?



29. Phoenix - 1901 Listen
Speaking of French bands, this lot are still as good as ever.




28. Stagecoach - We Got Tazers! Listen
Surrey wilderness cowboys release the funnest song of the year. Watch this space.



27. The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You Listen
Rick Rubin helmed this one and it's full of earthy country beauty.



26. La Roux - Bulletproof Listen
Sure you know this one. You've probably even thought about copying her hair too.



25. Friendly Fires - Kiss Of Life Listen
Unbelievably they only gave this away as a bonus track on their re-packaged album. Roll on the sophomore effort.




24. The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother Listen
One of the year's best supergroups (and there were a few). Especially props to Mosshart though, here at her sexy, scary, brilliant best.



23. Major Lazer - Hold The Line (LehtMoJoe Remix) Listen
Know bugger all about the remixers but this is cool party music par excellence.



22. Dinosaur Jr - I Want You To Know Listen
Grunge godfathers release surprisingly tuneful, and powerful, album and find at least one new fan (me).



21. The Big Pink - Tonight Listen
They're a bit cocky aren't they? Like a lot of good pop stars.





20. Bruce Springsteen - Outlaw Pete Listen
It's over eight minutes long and opened his new album - the sort of creative control that 65 million sales gets you.



19. Jamie T - Earth, Wind & Fire Listen
The sound of the estates takes himself to more refined levels on his second album. Love the chorus.



18. Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes Listen
Uncut claimed it was the best album of the year - not so sure, but this is a wonderfully weird single.



17. Mariachi El Bronx - I Would Die 4 U Listen
The brilliance of punk-band-turns-mariachi-band was what underpinned this, but throw in a Prince cover and you've got music gold.



16. The-Dream - Rockin' That Shit Listen
Without doubt my favourite R&B track of the year. Lost count of the times I've sung "Girl I'm in love with you baby..." to My Wife.



15. The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea Listen
The finest prog rock for years and showed The Horrors have more to them than comedy punk.



14. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin Listen
Probably the prettiest song of the year, and all about a Godless maniac with a massive beard. Lunacy!



13. Empire Of The Sun - Half Mast Listen
To some this came out in 2008. To me, it's the 13th best song of 2009.



12. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Listen
New York intelligent types* create a lo-fi masterpiece. *I'm only assuming their intelligence because I think one or more of them wears glasses.



11. The Drums - Let's Go Surfing Listen
They disappointed me live but there's no denying how fun and catchy this track is.



10. Girls - Hellhole Ratrace Listen
Still captivating after a million listens. Check out the video too for the complete picture.




9. Bat For Lashes - Daniel Listen
The best song about the Karate Kid ever? You know it.



8. Fever Ray - When I Grow Up Listen
She's crazy, she's from Sweden and she's got two entries in my best of the year (that's her on the track at number 4 too).




7. Florence + The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) Listen
This track never got old - it's just a brilliantly written pop hit from one of the stars of 2009.



6. Bon Iver - Blood Bank Listen
Justin Vernon just keeps getting better. This is so achingly gorgeous, it's almost enough to make you forget it's about scoring at a Blood Bank.



5. The xx - VCR Listen
One of the most interesting new artists of the year. They might look like a Siouxsie & The Banshees tribute band but they sound a thousand times better crafted than that.



4. Royksopp Feat Karin Dreijer-Andersson - This Must Be It Listen
A stunning video coupled with a thrilling pop song makes for one of the best tracks of the year.



3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero Listen
From YYY's best album to date, they look like they've established themselves for a long time to come.



2. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead Listen
It's mental, it's exciting, it's weird, it's fresh. It's everything good music should be. Thank you Passion Pit.



1. Jay-Z Feat Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Listen
The track that ruled 2009 for me. Jigga's on form in every sense - killer rhymes, his well-placed arrogance, and some superb production. Not forgetting of course the awesome chorus line of Jay's fellow New Yorker, Miss Keys.