Neon Limelight’s 24 Essential Albums Of 2009

A new year and new decade is upon us, but we’re still thinking about 2009. Partly because we procrastinated putting together year-end lists, and partly because we’re feeling nostalgic. So, allow us to do a bit of dwelling in the past to bring you our list of the 24 essential album of 2009. We’re not pretentious enough to say these albums are the best the year had to offer, but these are albums we feel made a big noise, were important to pop culture, and/or were just damn awesome.

Neon Limelight’s 24 Essential Albums Of 2009

• Susan Boyle – I Dreamed A Dream: Susan Boyle became a YouTube sensation in 2009 when her audition on Britain’s Got Talent sent shock waves throughout the internet. She became a megastar when she released the little album that could, I Dreamed A Dream. The set beat everyone’s expectations and gave Taylor Swift some steep competition for best selling album of 09.

• Paramore – Brand New Eyes: “Decode” from the Twilight soundtrack solidified Paramore’s status as the band to go to for teens with a taste for emo-pop/rock, but Brand New Eyes put the band in a new, mature light. With tunes both catchy and replete with depth thanks to frontwoman Hayley Williams’ angry-yet-vulnerable pen, this album proves Paramore will only get better with each album.

• Melanie Fiona – The Bridge: Some new artists come and quickly disappear. Others come onto the scene and you just know you’re watching a legend being born. Melanie stamped her place in R&B history with a near flawless debut album, scoring herself a No. 1 r&b single and Grammy nomination along the way.

• Muse – The Resistance: The best band ever? Eh, maybe not but Muse certainly put rock on the map in 09. On their fifth album, they scored legions of new followers, mostly from their smash single Uprising.

• Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night: His sparkling presence alone could save a lackluster awards show ala the BET Awards. Maxwell lit the same spark to the dying r&b genre in 09 when he made his long-awaited return to music and quickly soared to No. 1 with an album packed with smooth gems.

• OneRepublic – Waking Up: The band mostly known for a little No. 1 song called Apologize made no apologies when they went for a more dramatic sound on their sophomore album. The result was pure magic, with lead singer and writer Ryan Tedder writing some of his best works to date.

• Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day: Rap had a good year in 2009. Among the ringtone-focused rappers making a bad name for the genre, a few real deals emerged. One of them being Cleveland-born, Kanye West protege Kid Cudi. His mix of substance, singing, and swagger on his debut album is just what rap needs to keep it alive.

• Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You:  Lily Allen started her tabloid-heavy year with this snarky, a bit cocky, and somewhat political album. Her increasingly bizarre behavior online might have overshadowed the set, but an album containing a song as punchy as “F*ck You” can’t be forgotten.

• Mario – D.N.A.: Contemporary r&b mixed with a little bit of pop gives Baltimore boy Mario’s latest disc some mainstream crossover flare. It also gives its listeners some nice baby making music.

• LIGHTS – The Listening: She’s the keytar playing, synth loving goddess you’ve probably never heard of but you’d fall head-over-heels with once you do. LIGHTS delivered her electro-pop infused debut late in 09 and proved she is definitely one to watch in 2010!

• Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster (EP): Lady GaGa dominated 09 with songs from her debut album, The Fame, that was released in 08. When she treated her little monsters to an eight-track follow-up of sorts, she ended up with material so hot, it could extend her musical domination well into 2011.

• Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted: After a quick visit to the land of all things dark and edgy on her third album, My December, she made a much welcomed return to pop music on her fourth. With this pop/rock masterpiece under her belt, she spent most of the year slaying anyone who even dared to make an album with a similar feel.

• Drake – So Far Gone (EP): If you didn’t know Aubrey “Drake” Graham as Jimmy Brooks from Degrassi: TNG, you knew him as the incredibly talented new rapper from the mixtape, So Far Gone. After the mixtape’s unexpected success landed him a recording contract, he re-released it as an EP that once again exceeded all expectations.

• Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3: Hova wrapped his Blueprint album trilogy with a set that not only took rap back to a place where musicality and lyrics mattered, but also demonstrated the approach can sell and make hits. Big hits. “Empire State of Mind,” anyone?

• Alicia Keys – The Element of Freedom: Alicia Keys broke down personal walls to make an album that gives her fans every piece of herself. Raw emotion and a pure sense of freedom propels this project, making it a clear career highlight.

• The Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.: The energy never dies for BEP and apparently neither does the hits. The E.N.D. produced two of 2009′s longest running chart toppers with “I Got A Feeling” and “Boom Boom Pow,” and, believe it or not, the album is filled with songs just as good — if not better.

• John Mayer – Battle Studies: John Mayer’s last album, Continuum, was close to perfect in every way. It was political without being preachy. Soulful without being forced. Following it up would be tough, but, luckily for Mayer, he only gets better with time. Battle Studies focuses more on John’s soft-rock side, with subtle hints of soul and just enough pop to keep his fans across every spectrum wanting more.

• Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment: He lost American Idol, but won our hearts with his daring fashion sense and incredible voice. FYE proves he can tackle any genre from Euro-dance, soaring rock ballads, 80s-tinged pop tunes and everything in between with the mastery of artists twice his age and experience level. Oh, did we mention that voice?

• Demi Lovato – Here We Go Again: On album number two, Disney darling Demi Lovato wanted to produce a more mature sound. By recruiting the likes of singers John Mayer and Jon McLaughlin as writing partners, Demi accomplished her goal on this stellar yet sorely underrated set.

• Chris Brown – Graffiti: The road to redemption is a long and bumpy road, but CB was determined to put the focus back on his music after a rough year. Proverbially beaten down by the critics, Graffiti, sadly, may never receive the respect it deserves, but to an objective ear, it’s clearly his best work yet.

• Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown: For two decades, Billie Joe Armstrong and the gang have made music that fans of punk, rock, and every other music genre gobbled up hungrily. 21st Century Breakdown, the band’s eighth studio album, which features the classic-in-the-making “21 Guns,” is no different.

• Gavin DeGraw – Free: Free was released quietly in March of 2009, but made a loud statement for DeGraw. The painfully underrated singer/songwriter took a step back from making hooky pop songs to deliver a stripped down, lyric-driven album that showcased what an impeccable musician he is.

• Rihanna – Rated R: Rihanna surprised many by ditching her star-turning pop sound for a darker, more reflective album, but judging by the turn her life took in 2009, who could blame her? The great news is she made perhaps her best album yet. Still offering some commercial appeal, Rihanna broke free from being a one-dimensional pop tart into an artist with depth, passion, and substance.

• Keri Hilson – In A Perfect World…: Months of delays and some commercially unsuccessful singles almost put Keri Hilson in the one-hit-wonder category. But a well-placed feature by Lil Wayne on “Turnin’ Me On” finally got Keri where her talent rightfully should be: on top the charts. The album, which crosses genres like pop, R&B, and hip-hop, packed a few more punches like “Knock You Down” with Kanye West and Ne-Yo, and the sizzling “Slow Dance.” Keri’s world didn’t have a perfect start, but it was an epic finish.