Well, it’s coming up to the end of the year and we all know what that means…top numbers all round! So here’s my favourite albums of 2009 (in no particular order, because that would take way too much brain power)…

The Cribs – Ignore the Ignorant

This is the fourth release from the Wakefield (YAY! -Ed) indie rock band and the first album to feature new fourth member Johnny Marr. With the addition of a Smiths legend this album can do no wrong, still maintaining the punky/indie sounds of earlier Cribs offerings but also showing more mature, classic-sounding songs.

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Maybe a contender for ‘Longest Album Title of the Year’, Kasabian’s third album is absolutely mental, yet still manages to sound commercial enough in places to score some big hits such as ‘Fire’ and ‘Underdog’.

Arctic Monkeys – Humbug

A much darker offering than previous albums, ‘Humbug’ was produced by QOTSA’s Josh Homme and the boy did good! A lot of interesting, dark and dirty stuff going on, and the lovely, sleazy Alison Mosshart even makes a little appearance!

Morrissey – Years Of Refusal

Morrissey was back this year with a very surprising album indeed, when most artists get to their 50’s they start on the ol’ middle of the road boring rock pop blah blah, but not our Morrissey, he’s come back with his heaviest album yet!

Manic Street Preachers – Journal For Plague Lovers

The Ninth studio album by the Manics and the first time since Richey’s disappearance that the band have used the lyrics that he left behind. This album goes back to the ‘Holy Bible’ days with raw riffs and screeching vocals, lets hope they stick on this road for the next album.

Sonic Youth – The Eternal

Sixteenth, yes sixteenth studio album by SY! How it still manages to sound incredibly fresh is absolutely beyond me but some how they’re still managing to come out with classic Sonic Youth tracks that just don’t get boring, a highlight for me is they stomping ‘Anti Orgasm’.

Boxer Rebellion – Union

Union is a terrific album absolutely full of spine-tingling melody and big, rumbles of lovely stuff. This is a really beautiful, yet fun album that just grows and grows with every listen. A fantastic band to see live.

The Dead Weather – Horehound

Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Jack White of The White Stripes, Dean Fertita of Queens Of The Stone Age and Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs. How could this be anything but amazing? If you haven’t heard it, you need to…now.

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight

This album includes all the usual catchy, poppy, dancey-ness that we expect from Franz, but now with a little dark synth thrown in. Its odd in places, commercial in others and goddamn funky all round!

Lets hope some more good music rears it’s scruffy head in 2010!

By Laura Barnes