Sorry about the lack of posts this weekend.  Between family, friends, food and beer, we were quite busy.  We hope you all had a spectacular Thanksgiving weekend.

Today we’re starting our Best of 2009 list with a few albums that didn’t make our year’s Top 40 (which we’ll start counting down tomorrow).  To make the final list, we both made individual Top 40′s, weighted our results and combined them.  We think it’s a pretty fair and accurate representation of the year in music.  We’re just one of many of these type of lists that have been and will be cropping up, so we’re happy you’re coming to our small corner of the blogosphere to get it.  With that, let’s dive in:

Crocodiles – Summer of Hate
Andy’s Rank: 28 :: Dave’s Rank: Unranked

Wavves led the lo-fi noise-pop charge out of San Diego in 2009 with their curious festival appearances, willingness to feud, and a unique ability to polarize over whether or not their music was actually good.  But while Wavves grabbed headlines, their San Diego counterparts Crocodiles made an album that was equal parts noise and pop, and equally headline worthy.

Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill (mp3) from Summer of Hate

Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard – One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Music from Kerouac’s Big Sur
Andy: 30 :: Dave: Unranked

Not unlike the documentary for which this album was written, this Farrar/Gibbard partnership feels long and winding; it captures in song form a small piece of the uniquely American viewpoint that the open road creates.  The album meanders, takes its time, stops at Scenic Overlooks – and will easily score your next automotive venture into unfamiliar parts of the world.

Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard – One Fast Move Or I’m Gone (mp3) from One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Music from Kerouac’s Big Sur

Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
Andy’s Rank: Unranked :: Dave’s Rank: 34

I truly wanted to love this album yet was ultimately disappointed, though mainly due to expectations. While assuredly polished and concise, it contained little of the feeling so magnetizing in the band’s other efforts. Instead of the usual experimentation of seeing where a Wilco album would meander towards, the record sounded regimented. That is not to say there aren’t moments of brilliance (the attached song being exhibit number one), and after all I did have it within my top forty. But overall I didn’t love it, and Andy was actually further disappointed with it than I.

Wilco – One Wing (mp3) from Wilco [The Album]

Julian Casablancas – Phrazes for the Young
Andy’s Rank: Unranked :: Dave’s Rank: 32

Another album I wanted to love and ended up liking, Julian Casablancas’ solo effort left something to be desired. Often times moments of brilliance mixed in with a steady dose of good makes for favorite record material. Moments of very good mixed with a steady dose of meh makes for what could have been.

Julian Casablancas – Glass (mp3) from Phrazes For The Young

An interesting mix of New Releases kicks off the month of November.  The much-maligned Weezer album is released, along with the soundtrack from the most media-savvy television show ever.  As for what’s interesting, the classic Nirvana show from Reading is released, along with the debut album from Julian Casablancas – better known as the lead singer from The Strokes.  By the way, with Little Joy, Albert Hammond Jr., Nickel Eye and now Casablancas’ album being released, is it time to figure out which one has done the best in his post-Strokes work?

As always, there are a couple tracks to jog your memories after the track listing.  Have a great week, and we hope you find something that you can love.

Carrie Underwood – Play On
Foo Fighters – Greatest Hits
Glee: The Music, Volume 1
Guided By Voices – Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now
Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind [Single]
Joy Electric – Favorites at Play
Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young
Morrissey – Swords
Nirvana – Live at Reading
Say Anything – Say Anything
Shwayze – Let It Beat
The King Khan & BBQ Show – Invisible Girl
The Mary Onettes – Islands
Weezer – Raditude

Say Anything – Alive With the Glory of Love (mp3) from …Is a Real Boy

Julian Casablancas – Glass (mp3) from the forthcoming Phrazes For The Young