Best of 2009: Honorable Mention

We've reached the end of our Best Albums of 2009 countdown. Still, it's also worth noting the top 10 albums that unfortunately did not make it to our list. All of these efforts were of a high quality, yet just barely missed, so to end off our year here at Animal Noises, please feel free to peruse the list below. We hope everyone has a happy new year, and we'll see you in 2010.

40. Embryonic, The Flaming Lips

39. Phrazes for the Young, Julian Casablancas

38. Unmap, Volcano Choir

37. Loso's Way, Fabolous

36. Dissolver, Iran

35. Real Estate, Real Estate

34. In Prism, Polvo

33. Heavy Ghost, DM Stith

32. Wildlife, Headlights

31. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, Raekwon

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best of 2009: Most Anticipated Albums of 2010]

Best of 2009: Debut Albums

For the remainder of the year (save holidays and weekends, of course), we'll be sharing some additional lists of our favorites in music from 2009. To start things off, our list today consists of our favorite debut albums from the year. All of these are the artists' first full-lengths-- so we're not counting mixtapes or EPs, nor are we considering those who have recorded under another name previously (just for you, the reader's information).

10. Lungs, Florence and the Machine

9. Bird-Brains, Tune-Yards

8. jj n° 2, jj

7. Real Estate, Real Estate

6. Heavy Ghost, DM Stith

5. Tentacles, Crystal Antlers

4. Album, Girls

3. Manners, Passion Pit

2. Man on the Moon: The End of Day, Kid Cudi

1. Hometowns, The Rural Alberta Advantage

[Previously on Animal Noises: Most Prolific Artists of the Decade: #1-10]

Best Songs of 2009: #31-40

Continuing our countdown of the best songs of 2009, today holds numbers 31 through 40. Be sure to look for articles popping up throughout the month about all of these tracks, in addition to album reviews, etc.

40. "Heartbeat Radio" -- Sondre Lerche

39. "Rain On" -- Woods

38. "Animal (Crookers Remix)" -- Miike Snow (via RCRDLBL)

37. "Right Round" -- Flo Rida

36. "Beggar's Bowl" -- Polvo (via Pitchfork)

35. "Island, IS" -- Volcano Choir (via Pitchfork)

34. "Beach Comber" -- Real Estate (via Pitchfork)

33. "All the Pretty Girls" -- fun.

32. "Relator" -- Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn

31. "To the Bells" -- The Swimmers

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Songs of 2009: #41-50]

John's Track of the Week: "Beach Comber"

Song: Beach Comber

Artist: Real Estate

Album: Real Estate

Year: 2009

Real Estate is another prime example of how the internet hype machine can possibly be the greatest thing to ever happen to young musicians. The band hails from New Jersey and are not too far removed from college, yet, due to lead singer Martin Courtney's time in Washington state, have been able to recreate the sounds of the Pacific Northwest for us East Coasters, and the country's mass consumption. Half-woodsy, half-surf rock, their debut is a relaxing trip down the Jersey Shore, without all the negatives of, y'know, being in New Jersey.

The album starts out with sterling opener "Beach Comber." It's a fair introduction to the record overall, and really establishes the mood well. With Courtney's Ben Gibbard-esque vocals, set against a folksy, Cave Singers-type riff, the track leaps and bounds at a pleasant tempo. Noticeably, the track, and the album as a whole, is devoid of self-awareness. The band delivers decisively as old pros, rather than rookies to the game. It's a refreshing jaunt into the freedoms of youth, and in the end, you come out better for it. Check it out below, courtesy of Pitchfork, if you haven't already.

Real Estate -- "Beach Comber"