2009 in Music Albums 26-30

26. In Flight Safety - We Are An Empire My Dear
Halifax based In Flight Safety released their second full length album earlier this year. It features the song Model Homes which is one of my favourite songs of the year. There are some other great tracks on the album, and they are a fun band to see live. This album possesses more depth than their debut album The Coast Is Clear. It sounds less like Coldplay and more like themselves.

Favourites: Model Homes, Big White Elephant




27. Real Estate - Real Estate
If you ever need an album to just chill out to, get some work done, or do no work at all, this is the album for you. It is made up of dreamlike songs, heavy on reverb. It is easy to listen to this album and not realize you went through it all. Not because of the album's length, but rather the feel of the album.

Favourites: Fake Blues, Beach Comber





28. MSTRKRFT - Fist of God
Electro duo MSTRKRFT drop an album that is heavy on beats, bass, and guests. The album caries a high level of energy throughout its entire duration. Best played at high volumes, with flashing lights, and whatever you need to get your groove on.

Favourites: Heartbreaker, Bounce






29. Volcano Choir - Unmap
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver joined Colony of Bees to create this beautiful album. It features lots of instrumental sounds, reverb, and the distinctive voice of Justin Vernon. It takes some effort to get into the album, and at some moments it seems to drag on. But at other moments such as during Still, it is hard to not get caught up in the beauty of what is happening throughout this album.

Favourites: Still, Island IS




30. k-os - Yes
Toronto based rapper k-os did some creative things with this album. The tour supporting it was a pay-what-you-want all ages tour, allowing show attendees to determine how much they wanted to pay to show, or if they in fact wanted to pay. But not to distract from the album, this album had some enjoyable and fun songs, displaying k-os delivering a variety of genres. Pop songs, rap songs, rock songs. This diversity may take away from the diversity of the album at times.

Favourites: I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman, Uptown Girl, Burning Bridges