Personal best of 2009... a year of brilliant pop

So, in no particular order, here are my picks for the standout acts of the year. I've found myself continually surprised at the quality, the inventiveness, and the freshness of pop this year.

Miike Snow - Animal
La Roux - In For The Kill
Friendly Fires - Kiss Of Life
Animal Collective - My Girls
Grizzy Bear - Two Weeks
Pearl Jam - The Fixer
The Swell Season - live at NPR
Ian Brown - Stellify
Wild Beasts - All the King's Men
Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams (live)

With honourable mentions for the oldie's keeping the live rock 'n roll fires a-burning - Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, CSNY, Neil Young, U2, Christy Moore ... all redefining the meaning of contemporary popular music as they maintain an artistic life years and decades beyond their youth.

And a ya boo sucks to the disappointment of the year - Echo and the Bunnymen.