When it comes to a band that really just floored me from the get go, and one I could not stop listening too, and still can't, it's definitely

The xx



Their debut album is the sound of 2009 in my opinion.

Who was yours?

I can't totally agree that their sound was the sound of '09. The xx certainly were hugely influenced by shoegaze/electronic music of their childhood years, but I think generally that more blissed-out/chilled out music is being made as a collective sigh from enduring a stressful decade. Washed Out, Memory Tapes, Deerhunter/Atlas Sound, Animal Collective, Bibio, Universal Studios Florida along with other "rock" bands using shoegazey/electronic elements to create a laid-back vibe. The ambient feel goes for all of the indie-folk out there as well.

Remember the early 2000 - 2004 when dance punk was all the rage? 2009 may have been the peak of chilled-out tunes.

I can't really think of a brand-new band that did much for me this year other than The Big Pink.

cymbals eat guitars.

weren't they the band that sounded like Modest Pavement Mouse?

I agree D.

health


don't get The XX

Sonny & the Sunsets
Brazos

MONSTERS OF FOLK

muahahahahhahaha

telekinesis put out a great debut, as did we were jetpacks

otherwise i found that bands like antlers, avetts, soulsavers really strengthened their cases

girls
we were promised jetpacks
mi ami
dead man's bones
discovery
willie isz
harlem
bear in heaven
clues
mayer hawthorne
florence + the machine
freddie gibbs
the strange boys
obits

Times New Viking.

Probably The Love Language followed closely by Girls for me.

their bio tells me they've been around since 2003, but I discovered The Strange Boys this year and rather enjoyed their album.

It was Ape School for me.
Plus The Long Lost.
And Nosaj Thing.

Definitely the XX. Second place is Nosaj Thing.

Oh wait, "new". TNV have been around since at least 2005.

Favorite new artist of 2009 for me was Ganglians.

Others I really enjoyed:

Neon Indian
Real Estate
Cymbals Eat Guitars

My memory recall is shit unless it's jogged. Nosaj Thing and Bear in Heaven were both new artists doing something interesting.

I think the album that Bear in Heaven put out last year was their second, but I like it a lot.

You're right Drinky. I guess it was "new to me".

Benjamin Finger put out a pretty great album for his first solo effort, definitely looking forward to more from him.

I think for someone new though I was most impressed with Heather Woods Broderick. She had a lot to live up to given the hype that brother Peter has received over the past 12 months (not to mention take out the big names like Marcia Bassett, and Christina Carter and Grouper, and the crossover classical/ambient world is still largely a boys club) and she put out a really nice little record. There's that fragile voice that I love (Joanna Newsome, Sharon Krauss, Marissa Nadler, Vashti), some stunning cello work, traditional waltz pieces, a little spaced out guitar here and there, mixed with some gentle piano and acoustic string work. About 30 instruments randomly pop up to add texture to the pieces. She really shows herself as a more than competent composer and songwriter, in a different realm than Peter works in, but still finds that same balance he has shown to produce a more pop side as well as cater to the crossover classical crowd. I am very much looking forward to seeing where she goes next, and think she is definitely an extremely exciting artist.

Avett Brothers

The xx is my pick but also:

Washed Out
Japandroids
Miike Snow
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

last year Glasvegas

this year The xx

hahaha really?

i dunno, maybe Sleigh Bells but that shit should be old already. so much fun on headphones though!

i didn't really think 09 had much to offer in the way of new bands, but lots of sweet culminating moments (AC, Veck, WAP, etc.).

edit: CEG comment was more of an enthusiastic thing

For me:

Heat-Ray and their debut album "Loveallover".

Best shoegaze i've heard in a long time. Hooked me right away.

RIYL: The Sky Drops, Gliss, Fleeting Joys.

MP3: "Come Closer"
MS: http://www.myspace.com/heatray77