The record that I listened to the most this year. Sure, the comparisons to early Bob Dylan are inevitable, but I don’t mind since I love early Bob Dylan. The record also made me sign up for guitar lessons at the Old Town School of Folk Music so be afraid, ears of people who know me. 
Not only did James Murphy put out an awesome record but he also made an appearance on The Soup with Community’s Donald Glover and that is pretty cool. 
I hate you, Andy Samberg.
The only negative to this record is that it makes me want to dance and nobody should be subjected to that. 
Thank you to 
Two words: Spacehog. Toadies. 
Having a bad day? Need to feel better? I first put this record on 3 months ago and still have a smile on my face. 
See description for #4. Robyn’s show at Pitchfork was one of the highlights of the summer and she ends the year with a bang. 
Sometimes being reminded of high school is okay. 
If my guitar lessons don’t work out, I’m totally taking up the trombone. Pete Zimmerman's Best of 2009
Throughout the month of December we’ll be posting lists of the best music of the year as determined by the volunteers that make CHIRP what it is. Today’s is from CHIRP volunteer, Pete Zimmerman.
- Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
I was on the 22 Clark street bus when another rider asked me to stop singing so loudly. I was listening to “People Gotta Lotta Nerve“ from this album. I wasn’t embarrassed, but looking back on it, I do wish I wasn’t singing, “I’m a man man man man man maneater.” - Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca (Domino) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
Seeing them play at Millenium Park was one of the highlights of the summer of my unemployment. A great experience despite having to look at the building I used to go to every day for 13 years. - Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glassnote) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
They were everywhere this year and it was well deserved. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them peform “1901” on an upcoming episode of CSI. I’d watch that. - Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (Domino) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
A band that I’ve always wanted to like, but never did until this came out. Both weird and accesible, I look forward to what they do next. - Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (4ad) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
During my youth I was a Sarah Records completist and this record reminds me of spending hours and hours in record stores searching for the next great 7”. A cherished memory. - Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light (Secretly Canadian) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
Antony Hegarty has one of the most distinctive voices in music today. It’s fun trying to sing like him. Do it. - Girls – Album (True Panther Sounds) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
In a year with a lot of great debut records, this one stands out. - St. Vincent – Actor (4ad) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
Another artist that I saw play at Millenium Park this summer. It was fun watching parents dancing with their children to “Actor out of Work”. My parents took me to see The Osmonds so you can blame them if you don’t like this list. - Avett Brothers – I and Love and You (Columbia/American) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
I and Love and You and Too - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Self-Titled (Slumberland) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
See #5 and replace “Sarah” with “Slumberland”.
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