I think this is the first list I’ve made where the struggle in constructing the list didn’t come from the quality of music…but on the criteria I set forth in making the list. Coming up with some of the best albums so far this year this easy…but trying to figure out which ones were unknown (or at least lesser known) was a hard to call to make. I have no idea what albums you’ve heard about…so this is really my best guess. There’s the obvious choices like Black Moth Super Rainbow, White Rabbits, Deastro, and Swan Lake who were on the list…but I know people have heard of these bands. To some degree. Right?

The Antlers sounds like someone smashed Radiohead and Sigur Ros together. A very underrated band who has slipped through the cracks for too long. Hot Leg is Justin Hawkins new band…long live glam metal! Samantha Crain is the anti-Neko Case (or at least a better version). The Veils, Papercuts, and Other Lives are the indie equivalent of the bands carrying on the Coldplay/U2 sound. Cymbals, Cut Off Hands, and Magic are some great upbeat indie rock. J. Tillman and Woods are this year’s Fleet Foxes. Yeah, yeah…I know Tillman is in Fleet Foxes.

I hope you discover something new and great with this list….

The 11 Best Albums of 2009…that you’ve never heard:

1. The Antlers – Hospice (Sylvia)
2. Samantha Crain – Songs In the Night (Devil’s In Boston)
3. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why Are There Mountains
4. The Veils – Sun Gangs (Sit Down By The Fire)
5. Woods – Songs Of Shame
6. Cut Off Your Hands – You & I (You & I)
7. Hot Leg – Right Light Fever (Gay in the 80s)
8. Papercuts – You Can Have What You Want
9. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic (Only Pieces)
10. Other Lives – Other Lives (It Was The Night)
11. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues (No Occassion)

Buy these albums now! HERE.