Why Isn't There a MacDonald's On Every Corner Like In Barrie*

*Barrie being a small city about an hour north of Toronto.

I overheard that quote about a block away from my new apartment, right in the heart of the city.

So yesterday I spent some time reading several "Best Albums of the Year" lists. There was a variety of opinions, but many people believed that the new Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion, was the best of the year. Having only listened to it once in the store while working yesterday I didn't see what all the fuss was about. I think I need to give it a chance, but I'm not really a fan of Animal Collective so that might also play a part. So here's my list of favourite new music in 2009 (in no particular order):

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Wilco - Wilco (the album)
The Obits - I Blame You
The Decemberists - Hazards of Love
Ida Maria - Fortress Around My Heart
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
The xx - xx
K'naan - Troubadour

I've listened to a couple of records by people like the Flaming Lips, Mastodon, Dirty Projectors, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They weren't bad but they didn't stand out to me. After looking at these lists I want to listen to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Camera Obscura, Girls, Raekwon, and DOOM. Lots of fun times in the near future.

I'd also been reading that this was the "year of the woman" in music. The top selling records, several of the critical praised albums, and the most interesting media savvy icons were made by women. Seems every couple of years this term gets used.