Better late then never… here is my year end list for 2009. All people/songs/things listed below are Handsome.

1. Kid Cudi – Man on The Moon

It delivered on the hype in every way. It is a testament to the quality of this album that a guy who rarely listens to rap/hip-hop these days puts it at number one. I’ve come back to this album many times since this came out and it is still as fresh as ever.

2. Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do

Diplo has been one of the best producers for years, so when I heard he was teaming up with Switch from the UK to form Major Lazer (named after a Jamaican militant with a laser for an arm), I knew the project would be something special. As news slowly leaked that it would be strongly influenced by dancehall my convictions wavered, but upon putting this CD on for the first time, all worries dissipated quickly. This is the soundtrack to a good time.

3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion

This was Animal Collective’s most accessible album to date and my favorite so far. This album blurred the lines between rock, electronica, pop, dance, shoegaze, drug music, IDM, and pushed all music forward while doing so. Some would say you have to be on drugs to enjoy Animal Collective; I would say you would have to be on drugs not to.

4. Tiga – Ciao!

Little known fact: this was the soundtrack playing when I designed Handsome’s Outer Space Series. I would wake up early in the morning, head into the office, put my headphones on, and listen to Ciao! until my ears bled. Tiga once again makes Canada proud by not following any trends and still making flawlessly produced gems. He is electronic music’s answer to Prince (it helps he has a song titled “Sex O’Clock”).

5. Miike Snow – Miike Snow

Not only is it one of the best albums of the year but it spawned some of the best remixes of the year as well. A meticulously produced and beautiful album where almost every song could be a single.

Honorable Mentions: Passion Pit, Discovery, Phoenix, Yuksek, Matt & Kim

1. The Drums – Let’s Go Surfing

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DOWNLOAD: The Drums – Let’s Go Surfing

No song has brought me more joy than “Let’s Go Surfing”. Every time I listen to this song I can’t help but sing along and wish I was actually surfing. You don’t have a soul if you don’t like this song.

2. Yeasayer – Ambling Amp

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DOWNLOAD: Yeasayer – Ambling Alp

“Ambling Amp” was released as a single in 2009 but it has me very excited for Yeasayer’s upcoming album in 2010. The sound is original but familiar and the message is one to live by. It’s appropriate on a really bad day or a really great (and anything in-between… get it? because it’s always good… yeah…).

3. Major Lazer – Pon De Floor

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DOWNLOAD: Major Lazer – Pon de Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel)

“Pon De Floor” did the most to change dance music this year. Not only was it probably the most remixed song of the year but it was the first to incorporate the afrobeats, military snare drums, and techno sounds that would come to define the year. I was lucky enough to hear Diplo drop this before anyone knew that Major Lazer existed and it is my favorite dance-floor memory of the year. One of the few times I saw an entire d-floor collectively lose their minds.

4. Nic Xedro – I’m A Freak

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DOWNLOAD: Nic Xedro – I’m A Freak

No top songs of 2009 list is complete without one that uses auto-tune and Nic Xedro’s ballad to his eccentricities is by far the best of the year. I’ll be saying “Imma Imma Freak Imma Freak” long into the new decade.

5. Animal Collective – My Girls

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DOWNLOAD: Animal Collective – My Girls

The song that most exemplifies the successes on Merriweather Post Pavillion. A perfect mix of novel meandering electronics, a subtle but strong message, and a catchy pop chorus.

6. Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness (Ft. MGMT & Ratatat)

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DOWNLOAD: Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness (Ft. MGMT & Ratatat)

A ridiculously lush & catchy song that is up there with one of the all-time best rock-rap collaborations.

7. Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings

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DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings

An gigantic and moving song that still glistens.

8. Drake – Successful

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DOWNLOAD: Drake – Successful

Who would of thought a Canadian rapper would be one of the biggest names of 2009? With the release of the extremely minimalist “Successful”, Drake ushered in a new era of rap that doesn’t rely on narcissism, gross consumerism, bigotry, and violence.

9. Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire

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DOWNLOAD: Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire

This song brings to mind high school, sunshine, drinking too much, good times, and growing up. All good things that will last well beyond 2009.

10. The Sound of Arrows – Into The Clouds

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DOWNLOAD: The Sound Of Arrows – Into The Clouds

It may exemplify everything that is cheese but that’s just the way I like. This is what my dreams as a child sounded like (or maybe just how I wish they sounded).

Honorable Mention: Boris Dlugosch – Bangkok (Original Mix)

1. Daniel Haaksman – Kid Conga (Dubbel Dutch Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Daniel Haaksman – Kid Conga Feat. Mc Miltinho (Dubbel Dutch Remix)

2. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

3. Blaqstarr & Diplo – Get Off (Jack Beats Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Blaqstarr & Diplo – Get Off (Jack Beats Remix)

4. Busy Signal – Da Style Deh (Douster Dagga Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Busy Signal – Da Style Deh (Douster Dagga Remix)

5. HEALTH – Before Tigers (CFCF Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: HEALTH – Before Tigers (CFCF Remix)

6. Miike Snow – Animal (Crookers Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Miike Snow – Animal (Crookers Remix)

7. Esser – Let’s Work It Out (A1 Bassline Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Esser – Let’s Work It Out (A1 Bassline Remix)

8. Phoenix – Love Like a Sunset (Shuttle Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Phoenix – Love Like A Sunset (Shuttle Remix)

9. Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Burns Rewerk)

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Download: Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Burns Rewerk)

10. Lissy Trullie – Boy Boy (Blunt Laser Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Lissy Truille’s – Boy Boy (Blunt Laser Remix)

Honorable Mentions: Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden – Bonkers (Doorly Remix), Miike Snow – Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix), Miike Snow – Black & Blue (Savage Skulls Remix)