DECEMBER 14, 2009
The Best Of 2009
Nat Geo Music's Favorite Albums Of The Year
by Tom PryorIt's that time of year again, time for Nat Geo Music's completely subjective, non-scientific, thoroughly biased list of our favorite world and international music albums of 2009.
While some other folks might compile their lists based on sales data or readers' polls or critic's favorites or maybe some complicated algorithm devised by Silicon Valley brainiacs, our holiday elves here at Nat Geo Music are far, far too hungover for all that mess.
So instead we put together a short list, in no particular order, of our own favorite 2009 releases from around the world. Our criteria was simple: we listen to a lot of new albums throughout the year, and these were the ones that that got the most play here in the office.
These were the albums that camped out inside our heads - the ones that were on constant repeat in our iTunes, that lived in our mobile devices and that we eagerly forced upon our reluctant friends and loved ones. In short, these were the records that grabbed our ears and didn't let go.
Of course, in the interest of fairness, we had to disqualify our own Nat Geo Music releases - DePedro's self-titled album and Forro In The Dark's Light A Candle from the running. But that was only because they were so earth-shatteringly awesome that it just wouldn't have been fair to all the other records that came out this year. Seriously, if you don't run out and buy both Nat Geo Releases for your entire family today, then you're truly committing a crime against humanity. We're not biased at all. We swear!
That said, here's Nat Geo Music's top ten albums for 2009. You may not agree with all of our picks, but we guarantee that you'll enjoy them all.
Nat Geo Music's Top Ten Albums of 2009:
Baaba Maal Television (Palm Pictures)
The Senegalese superstar reinvented himself for 2009 with the help of the Brazilian Girls' Didi Gutman and Sabina Sciubba. On Television the old lion re-tooled his sound to embrace the new global electronic cool and the result was a complex, heady album that gets more rewarding with each listen - and one of our sleeper favorites of 2009
Puerto Plata Casita de Campo (IASO)
José Cobles, a.k.a. Puerto Plata, follows up his wonderful 2007 debut, Mujer de Cabaret with another gorgeous release. The octogenarian singer and guitarist is a living treasure trove of classic songs from the mid-20th century heyday of cabaret music in the Dominican Republic. This is old school Latin musicianship from a master craftsman - on par with anything dished up by the Buena Vista Social Club crew.
Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics Inspiration/Information, Vol. 3 (Strut)
The Strut label's innovative Inspiration/Information series continues to foster unexpected musical collaborations between some of our favorite international cult artists. This year the label released two knockouts: one collaboration between Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astartke & hip-hop/jazz instrumentalists The Heliocentrics, and another collaboration between Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen and Finnish avant-wierdo Jimmy Tenor. Both albums knocked our socks off, but The Mulatu/Helicentrics made our list thanks to the funky, Latinate swing of "Cha Cha".
Tinariwen Imidiwan: Companions (World Village)
Touareg desert rockers Tinariwen got back to basics this year with this stunning record recorded in the Sahara desert. Imidiwan is full of deep, mesmerizing guitar grooves that are reflective, elegiac and otherworldly, all at once. This may be visionary founding member Ibrahim Ag Alhabib's lasting legacy for all the young Touareg musicians that follow in his footsteps.
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara Tell No Lies (Real World)
British guitar-slinger Justin Adams and Gambian ritti master follow up 2008's surprise hit Soul Science with another funky exploration of the connections between the blues, r&b, swamp pop and the music of Africa's Sahel region. Together they conjure up an alternate musical universe where Bo Diddley and Robert Johnson get down in Bamako, while Mande griots walk the streets of New Orleans.
BLK JKS Mystery (Secretly Canadian)
OK, so we know that South African rockers BLK JKS' big release this year was actually September's After Robots, but after seeing them absolutely kill it at SXSW and allover town here in NYC, we're still in love with the Mystery EP (which saw its U.S. release this March). Moody, atmospheric and completely sui generis, the vertiginously dizzying guitarwork on "Lakeside" alone still gives us goosebumps?
Grupo Fantasma Sonidos Gold (High Wire Music)
Austin, Texas' very own Grupo Fantasma blew us away two years ago with multiple performances at SXSW, and since then they've build a rock-solid reputation as one of the finest Latin party bands anywhere (their horn section was even tapped by Prince to add some sabor to his live act). On Sonidos Gold the group delived on their promise in spades - hypnotic cumbias gallop headlong into old school funk jams that owe as much to West Coast Latin rockers like Malo, Sapo and Santana as they do to the Fania gang.
Budding Brazilian chanteuse Céu really came into her own this year, with a powerhouse sophomore set of reggae and indie-rock infused originals that showcased her songwriting and performing chops. Bebel Gilberto must be looking nervously over her shoulder right about now.
The Very Best Warm Heart Of Africa (Green Owl)
One of the most eagerly-anticipated records of the year came from transnational popsters The Very Best - who followed up their sensational mixtape debut in 2008 with this buoyant gem of a record. Malawaian singer Easau Mwamwaya sings sweetly over globalized beats from production team Radioclit (Etienne Tron and Johan Karlberg), with a little help from M.I.A. and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig. The result? 21st century pop bliss.
Buika f/ Chucho Valdes El Último Trago (WEA International)
This one really hit the sweet spot: Spain's insurgent new flamenco diva Buika teams up with legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes to take a run at the catalog of Mexican ranchera icon Chavela Vargas, Lush and luxurious arrangements ensconce Buika's raw ache of a voice like a wound staunched with velvet . This may be our favorite release of 2009.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Oumou Sangare Seya (Nonesuch)
2. Los Amigos Invisibles Commercial (Nacional)
3. Tony Allen Secret Agent (World Circuit)
4. Rokia Traore Tchamantche (Nonesuch)
5. Madera Limpia La Corona (Out Here)
6. Shantel Planet Paprika (Crammed)
7. Ocote Soul Sounds Coconut Rock Deluxe (ESL)
8. Bomba Estéreo Blow Up (Nacional)
9. Mamer Eagle (Real World)
10. Mahala Rai Banda Ghetto Blasters (Asphalt Tango)