Now for the first annual end of year Bender Melon picks. I wouldn't normally do this, but I don't agree with most of the ones I've read, or if I agree, I think they missed some important music. Also, I'm sure my favorite album of 2009 will become apparent to me in 2012 as there are a couple here from 2008. In any case here goes and not in any order of importance or greatness because they all make life better...

• Ciao My Shining Star - Songs of Mark Mulcahy
  I can't stop listening to this, which makes sense, because I had that problem with Pursuit of Happiness too. It comes off as a fantastic mixed tape even though all the songs are written by Mark. It's also a nice introduction to some of the lesser known Western Massachusetts and New Haven artists such as Spouse and Lo Fine. The digital only tracks on the 'Deluxe Edition' are some of my favorites, so I recommend downloading the 20 extra tracks or getting the whole package digitally to save money, but keep in mind all the proceeds go to benefit him and his family so buy lots of copies to give away...
• Robbie Fulks - 50 Voice Doberman
  50 songs written in a year and none of them suck. I'm still finding new things to like about it and I've had it since March. That doesn't mean I don't check his blog every day for the upcoming Michael Jackson cover album.
• Noah Preminger Group - Dry Bridge Road
  This was a New York Times recommendation in the CD picks earlier this year. For me, Ben Monder's guitar playing is the reason this album has lasted, but the playing and compositions all around continue to make me squint.
• Danny Barnes - Pizza Box
  I was worried about what influence Dave Matthews and his band would have on the music, but this is now one of my favorite Danny Barnes recordings. And the live extra disc with the DMB makes me bang my head on things involuntarily... in a good way.
• Skeletons - Money
  This came out in October, 2008 but I don't care I heard it in 2009 for the first time after seeing them at EMPAC. I like it because they make noise and then groove and I don't care what you say.
• Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
  This is on a lot of top 100 lists and I like to be different but any YLT album will always be on my list. How they can turn 15 minutes of drone and feedback into something interesting, I'll never know. I have to listen to this every day.
• Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
  Another one everybody says is a top 100 and it has to be. They're doing something new, interesting and accessible (unlike Skeletons who are doing something new, interesting and inaccessible) and deserve recognition for it. I prefer Rise Above but love this one too.
• Andrew Bird - Noble Beast/Useless Creatures
  Yet another one off the common top 10 lists, but his facility with music and word blows me away so put me down as conformist.
• Buffalo Collision - (duck)
  Tim Berne is another musician I would always add a release as a favorite of the year. I'm a sucker for crunchy dissonance and groove.
• Christian Laviso - Timoun a Lafrik
  Another 2008 release heard this year. He's been added to my list of favorite guitar players ever since hearing him with David Murray's Gwotet. It's also been a nice parallel in the rotation to the afropop influence in Dirty Projectors / Skeletons.