The Top 10 Albums of 2009 So Far, Starring Wildbirds & Peacedrums

The Snake, the amazing second album by Swedish husband-and-wife duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums, has just gotten an official North American release date: August 29, on the Control Group. Released in Europe and Australia in April on the Leaf Label, The Snake has been showered with acclaim, and for good reason. The LP finds the pair using their stripped-down sound —the drums of Andreas Werliin, the voice Mariam Wallentin— to craft a stirring, majestic set of modern-age spirituals.

The Snake is certainly one of the brightest musical highlights of the year, and, with that in mind, and the mid-point of the calendar imminent, I thought it high time to put together a list. The 10 Best Albums of 2009 So Far!

Assembling such, I came to a realization: it's been a killer year for music thus far. Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear... it's a good time to own a set of ears. We can only hope the second half of the ought-nine is just as fruitful.

Photo © [Jonathan Leijonhufvud]