DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome, this is Oxygen Ashtray. This is the first post in my blogging career so if you are here for this first one, consider yourself part of something epic. I love music, and I need music in my life at all times in order to survive. I know there are others out there like me, so be sure to check out OA for the latest and greatest in music. Skies are the limit.

It's December, and what better way to kick this bitch off then with a recap of music in the year of 2009. It has been quite the year, with a lot of debuts and many smaller groups getting brought into the spotlight. Without further adieu here is a list of Oxygen Ashtray's: Albums O' The Year

1.The Antlers- Hospice
    One of the most moving albums I've ever experienced, Peter Silberman perfectly places lyrics that sink into your inner soul. I was downright depressed after listening to this album, and sometimes that's exactly what you need. Its a piece of art really, every sonic force made on this record seems to strike a chord emotionally in me. I haven't enjoyed an album from start to finish this much in a long time.
Key Tracks: Sylvia  Bear  Two

2.Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
    Phoenix reminds us that while French people might suck, French pop music is AWESOME. Wolfgang would have been the #1 album if Hospice wasn't perfectly put together. Phoenix isn't a new band either, Alphabetical and Its Never Been Like That are both fantastic albums. But Wolfgang beats them all. It's a non-stop dance party from start to finish, its music that just makes you feel happy. There is no doubt that 1901 is the song of the year! Follow them on Twitter Here
Key Tracks: Lisztomania 1901  Lasso


3.Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
   8th and best album put out by this always evolving band. Animal Collective continually re-invents themselves with each album they put out. Merriweather is their most accessible album with sharp melody's and bolder lyrics, AC hit the nail right on the head with this one. Twitter them Here
Key Tracks: My Girls    Summertime Clothes 


4.Passion Pit- Manners
  This is what pop music should sound like. The debut album from PP was huge this year, catchy synths, infectious beats, and non-stop grooving, this album would be the perfect soundtrack to a movie about a night out with your friends. Little Secrets is in contention for song of the year. Perfection! Tweet it up Here
Key Tracks: Little Secrets  Sleepyhead  Seaweed Song


5.Animal Collective- Fall Be Kind EP
   AC brought it yet again in 2009, releasing Fall Be Kind. With a short 5 tracks, they continue exactly where they left off with Merriweather. However FBK is different, it doesn't exactly fit the mold of Merriweather with a 1 minute crazy flute section. But Graze is an amazing track despite its funny midsection. What Would I Want? Sky? is the perfect song, hands down.
Key Tracks:  What Would I Want? Sky?  I Think I Can


6.Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
      There is an unbelievable clarity of sound and vision to Veckatimest, it is very pleasing on the ears. With intense melodies, complex lyrics, and beautiful vocal harmonies this band is leading the way for indi-pop groups in the next decade.
Key Tracks: Two Weeks   Cheerleader  While You Wait For The Others

7.Discovery- LP
   Vampire Weekend front man Ezra Koenig heads this record of crazy digital pop songs. They are perfect. High-spirited synth riffs and toe-tapping beats make this record undeniably catchy. Think MGMT meets Vampire Weekend meets Cut Copy= awesome.
Key Tracks: Orange Shirt  So Insane

8.Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
   This album is easily the best effort by this band yet. Bitte Orca is one of the more purely enjoyable indie-rock records made in a long time. Not only does it have Zeppelin like guitar licks, it also has beautiful ballads. Practically any song could be your favorite.
Key Tracks: Stillness Is The Move  Cannibal Recourse  Two Doves


9.Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz!
    Will you marry me Karen O? pleeeeeeeeeeeease?? Her voice is like no other and there is no doubt that this album is one of the best of the decade. Karen doesn't show much with very vague lyrics and sometimes gets lost in bursts of craziness. This is pop-rock folks, just excellent.
Key Tracks: Zero  Soft Shock  Runaway


10.Monsters of Folk- Monsters of Folk
   Super group of 09 made up of Jim James(My Morning Jacket) Conor Obserst, Mike Mogis(Bright Eyes) and M.Ward. These four played together a few years ago, and finally got around to getting into the studio. They did not disappoint. Dear God has a hip hop vibe to it, with soft lyrics that float over top the beat. Its a wonderful track. His Master's Voice is another stunning track with Jim James's powerful voice behind a soft acoustic guitar.
Key Tracks: Dear God   Say Please   His Masters Voice


11.Matt and Kim- Grand
  2009 was the year for Matt and Kim. The pop/punk/synth/pop duo out of Brooklyn, Grand picks up right where their self titled left off. They hit gold with the smash hit 'Daylight' and continue to make people dance with their upbeat music. Got to see them live in Oct, they love playing for their fans, and playing music live. Kim met with each fan that wanted an autograph, major props! follow them on twitter Here
Key Tracks: Daylight  Good Ol Fashion Nightmare


12.Bon Iver- Blood Bank
   Even though BB is only 4 songs deep, they are impressive... Justin Vernon knows how to put emotions into his singing voice. It's very simple music, but it moves you. Woods is a very interesting track that expirements with auto tune, but it works because its not over used. Even though it only clocks in at 16 minutes, Blood Bank carries its own weight, and deserves to be this high on the list
Key Tracks: Blood Bank  Woods


13.Them Crooked Vultures- Them Crooked Vultures
   Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones leads this super group alongside Dave Grohl and Josh Homme, and they are here to rock! Instantly you notice Grohl on the drums, and he smashes away on every track. JPJ has bass lines that rival Black Dog from the early days! Just good ol fashioned rock and roll!
Key Tracks:  Reptiles Elephants

14.Deertick- Born on Flagday
   It's time to listen to some good folk music people, and Deertick delivers. Hailing from Providence RI. Very nasal sounding vocals and warm guitar chords carry from song to song. Its the type of album i love to listen to on a nice fall day walking around looking at the leaves.
Key Tracks: Song About a Man   Little White Lies

15. Umphreys McGee- Mantis
   More than two years in the making,  Mantis is the first completely in studio album this band has made. And it doesn't represent a departure from the balanced mix of meaningful material. It gives the feel of the album more of a real focus, and the sound that they give off sounds much fuller.
Key Tracks: Mantis  Made To Measure


16.Volcano Choir - Unmap
   Bon Iver side project, this album is very different from his usual efforts. Experimental lyrics don't mean much and Justin uses his voice as a tool to bring the songs more focus. Hyper-repetitive keyboard pulses from modern classical tones, looping drums, this LP sounds like a mix of British and American post rock
Key Tracks:  Island Is   Sleepymouth


17.Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young
   The Strokes front man branches out on his own for his first single debut, and he continues to follow the 09 craze with upbeat, synth heavy, catchy hooks, and drum loops...and it works! Nothing like what The Strokes sound like, he changes up the formula by giving it a 70's disco vibe, but also making it sound oddly futuristic.
Key Tracks:  11th Dimension   River of Lights


18.Dave Matthews Band- Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King
   Some of you may know, or you will soon find out...DMB is my shit. My band to follow around every summer, and you may be shocked that its this far down on the list. Big Whiskey is no BTCS, but it is a good record, and they served Roi right. However i have high standards for this band and i gave this album a solid B. Tim Reynolds makes this the most electric DMB record yet, and even though the album isn't perfect, there are standout tracks. Alligator Pie is a southern swamp rock song from New Orleans, and Danny Barnes banjo is perfectly adding layers in your left ear. Squirm brings the band back to their middle eastern roots, a snake charming sax solo ensues.
Key Tracks: Shake Me  LITHOG  Squirm


19.The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love
    Failed musical turned rock album, this is nothing like The Decemberists have ever done before. 'Isnt it A Lovely Night' has a Nashville vibe to it with extra strings that add layers on top of the faint electric guitars. Jim James also has a guest spot on the album too.
Key Tracks: The Crane Wife   The Rake Song


20.Girls- Album
   Owens reminds me of Buddy Holly mixed with Paul McCartney mixed with Elvis Costello. He sings songs about heartache, and most of this album was written after a bad break up. With titles like Laura and Lauren Marie, you cant help but think there is someone in mind. The music sounds simple like, early Beach Boys tunes. Glorified lofi rock.
Key Tracks:  Lust For Life  Summertime


21.Island- Vapours
   This is the 3rd full album for broken pop project formally known as Unicorn, and it has it all. Immediate hooks, grabbing choruses and and an electric feel to it that makes you want to listen to it on a nice summer day.
Key Tracks:  Vapours   No You Dont


22.Wilco- Wilco (The Album)
   I must admit, i didn't listen to a whole lot of Wilco and i thought this was a great album, and i stand by that. But it doesn't live up to that raw sound that Wilco has in their old records. This is more pop rock then anything they have put out yet, but it's not really a bad thing. This record made me feel comfortable rather then get me really excited. Its a good listen.
Key Tracks: Wilco  You and I


23.Tegan and Sara- Sainthood
   Canadian indie-pop/indie-rock lesbian identical twin sisters put out their 7th studio album this year, and I must admit I didn't know anything about them until a friend of mine put them on a CD for me. They are quiet pleasant and enjoyable. This album is infectious, and i really connect with it.
Key Tracks: On Directing  Alligator


24.M. Ward- Hold Time
   M. ward who collaborated last year with Zooey Deshchanel (She & Him)the title track remind me of The Long & Winding Road, he touches on all the big subjects: love, god, death, heartache. This album is very well constructed from start to finish and is a perfect place for new comers to start.
Key Tracks: Hold Time   Oh Lonesome Me


25.Beirut- March of the Zapotec/Holland EP
    The first half of this EP is influenced by a trip to Mexico, and you can hear it directly in the music. They may sound kind of melancholy, but they also sound of joy. Horns are all over the place! The second half of the EP turns more electronic. Drum machines, beeps and boops, and ambient sounds make it different from the first half but they go so well back to back.
Key Tracks: The Shrew   My Night


26.Real Estate- Real Estate
27.Miike Snow- Miike Snow
28.Iron & Wine- Around the Well
29.Flight of the Conchords- I Told You I Was Freaky
30.Japandroids- Post-Nothing
31.Modest Mouse- No One's First and You're Next (EP)
32.The Drums- Summertime! (EP)
33.Andrew Bird- Noble Beast
34.Neon Indian- Psychic Chasms
35.The xx- The xx
36.Dan Deacon- Bromst
37.Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
38.Toro y Moi ~ My Touch
39.Local Natives ~ Gorilla Manor
40.Conor Oberst ~ Outer South
41.Karen O and the Kids    - Where the Wild Things Are (OST)
42.Fever Ray- Fever Ray
43.Memory Tapes- Seek Magic
44.Jim o' rourke ~ The Visitor
45.Wavves- Wavves
46.Sufjan Stevens ~ BQE
47.Deerhunter ~ Rainwater Cassette Exchange [EP]
48.Coconut Records- Davy
49.Brand New ~ Daisy
50.Sonic Youth- The Eternal
51.Flaming Lips- Embryonic
52.Blitzen Trapper    Black River Killer (EP)
53.Phish- Joy
54.Yim Yames    Tribute To (EP)
55.jj- no.1
56.The Dodos ~ Time to Die
57.Dinosaur Jr- Farm
58.Pete Yorn & Scarlet Johannson- Break Up
59.Jay-Z- The Blueprint3
60.Bob Dylan- Together Through Life
61.Pearl Jam- Backspacer
62.State Radio- Let it Go
63.Avett Brothers ~ I and Love and You
64.Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
65.Muse    The Resistance
66.Bruce Springsteen- Working on a Dream
67.Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon: End of Days
68.The Whitest Boy Alive- Rules
69.Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
70.Silversun Pickups- Swoon
71.Hudson Mohawke- Polyfolk Dance (EP)
72.U2- No Line on the Horizon

Shit I Forgot: The Very Best- Warm Hearts of Africa
                         Freelance Whales- Weathervanes
                         The xx- XX
                         The Sandwitches- How To Make Ambient Sadcake
                         Smith Westerns- Smith Westerns