The Entertainer Staff’s Top Records (from the first half) of 2009

By Breanna Murphy | July 1, 2009

Here we are, at the halfway point of 2009 and it’s been a big and busy year for music. For a bit of fun and helpful list-making, some of The Entertainer staff compiled together their favorite releases of the year so far. Not too surprising, but quite a few local bands made our staff’s cut, and should make for some interesting comparisons once we reach December against other lists. Check out what’s been blasting in our headphones and spinning on our turntables since January 1st below (all in no particular order).

Marc Choquette, Editor-In-Chief

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life

Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown

Kyle Smith, Marketing Director

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Passion Pit – Manners

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

MSTRKRFT – Fist of God

Breanna Murphy, Music Editor

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Dan Deacon – Bromst

Crocodiles – Summer of Hate

Wavves – Wavvves

Vampire Hands – Virgin Dust American Lips

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us

Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Elvis Perkins in Dearland

Kurt Vile – God Is Saying This To You…

Andrew Bird – Noble Beast

Derek Emery, Contributing Writer

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

St. Vincent – Actor

Wavves – Wavvves

Fever Sleeves – Soft Pipes, Play On

Lotus Plaza – The Floodlight Collective

Yoñlu – A Society in Which No Tear is Shed is Inconceivably Mediocre

Here We Go Magic – S/T

Nero’s Day at Disneyland – From Rotting Fantasylands

Andrew Wehrung, Contributing Writer

Mastodon – Crack the Skye

White Rabbits – It’s Frightening

Swim Party – Pixie Dust On The Blood Range

Red Fang – Red Fang

Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing

Passion Pit – Manners

Isis – Wavering Radiant

Minus the Bear – Acoustics

The Appleseed Cast – Sagarmantha

Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Mike Baker, Contributing Writer

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid

Morrissey – Years of Refusal

M. Ward –  Hold Time

Mastodon – Crack The Skye

The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

What have been your highlights thus far? Leave them in the comments below.