2009 was an exceptional year for music. Here is Part III of our best album picks.

Phrazes for the Young by Julian Casablancas
The Strokes' frontman's solo album has received critical and commercial success (US #9, UK #19). Some tracks are reminiscent of the Strokes but the album is infused with a whole lot of indie-rock goodness and a smattering of folky pop. Definitely one of my faves of 2009.
The Filter Picks: "Left and Right in the Dark", "4 Chords of the Apocalypse", "11th Dimension", "Tourist"

Merriweather Post Pavillion by Animal Collective
Heralded by scores of music websites as the best album of 2009, the latest album by NYC-based experimental band, does not disappoint. The track "My Girls" is one of the best songs of 2009, IMO
The Filter Picks: "My Girls", "In The Flowers", "Daily Routine", "Brother Sport"

Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do by Major Lazer
Diplo and Switch's latest collaboration is a fusion of hip hop, reggae, trip hop, and dancehall. The album reminds me of a journey through a Quentin Tarantino movie with "lazer" guns, of course. Major Lazer will be making a Cleveland appearance on April 7th, opening for Bassnectar at the HOB.
The Filter Picks:  "Hold The Line Feat. Mr. Lexx and Santigold", "Keep it goin' louder by Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze"

Psychic Chasms by Neon Indian
The debut album by the Austin, TX band headed by Alan Palomo (VEGA) is characterized by their lo-fi psychedelic dream-pop sound. A fave of music bloggers and industry insiders, Neon Indian's future certainly looks brightly neon.
The Filter Picks: "Deadbeat Summer", "Should Have Taken Acid With You", "Mind, Drips", "Psychic Chasms"

Nights Out by Metronomy
The second album by the British electronic group is inspired by "a half-arsed concept album about going out and having a crap time", according to frontman Joseph Mount. Go out and play these catchy electro tracks and I assure you, you're not gonna have a crap time.
The Filter Picks: "Heartbreaker", "On the dancefloors", "My Heartrate Rapid", "A thing for me"

Love is Not Pop by El Perro Del Mar
El Perro Del Mar (tranlsated as The Dog from the Sea) is a musical project founded by Sarah Assbring. Love is not Pop is an album filled with lush, romantic, and dreamy tracks with Assbring's husky but plaintive and enthralling vocals. Another huge fave of mine.
The Filter Picks: "Change of Heart","Heavenly Arms", "Is It Something (To Have Wept)", "A Better Love"

It's Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The latest album by the Grammy-nominated group has a different, more refined sound than their previous albums. The best alt-rock album of the year IMO.
The Filter Picks: "Zero", "Heads Will Roll", "Runaway", "Hysteric"

A Brief History of Love by The Big Pink
The debut album of the indie-rock duo from London is aptly titled. From the words of Milo Cordell (half of the duo): "Every song is a love song to some degree, about every different aspect of love... The good, the bad, the boring, the exciting, the dreams, the nightmares, the whole thing, and I guess that's what encompasses the whole album.."
The Filter Picks: "Dominos", "Velvet", "A Brief History of Love", "At War With The Sun"

Runner ups:
I Told You I Was Freaky by Flight of The Conchords
Veckatimest by Grizzy Bear
The Resistance by Muse
Sainthood by Tegan and Sara
Humbug by The Arctic Monkeys
Panesian Nights by CFCF
One Love by David Guetta
Ready for the Weekend by Calvin Harris
Temporary Pleasure by Simian Mobile Disco
Bitte Orca by The Dirty Projectors
Music for Men by The Gossip
Album by Girls
Yeah Ghost by Zero 7
Popular Songs by Yo La Tengo
Mind Chaos by Hockey
Everything is New by Jack Penate
Armistice by Mute Math
XXXX by You Say Party! We Say Die!
Let It Beep by Royal Bangs
Wilco (the album) by Wilco
Exquisite Corpse by Warpaint