Hey all,
Havent posted in some time. Long year... I happen to have a fine answer for this.
2009 gave me an all-time favorite.
The Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
I recently stopped listening to music like a drummer and kinda realized my own potential role as a contributing musician to my band. I started to turn to alot of older style music and gained an appreciation for something different in music. This album was one of the first that I ever really fell for. It is so perfectly organized and produced (bravo Tucker Martine) and of course, in my own opinion, elegantly written and performed.
It is a proper throw back to a classic progressive rock and roll sound typical of the late 60s and early 70s. And, where many bands use a low fidelity approach to capture that sound, Martine and the Decemberists use vintage instruments and analog recording to get a beautifully clear and warm tone throughout the entire album.
This album also had something else beside perfect sound (imo). The Hazards of Love is a concept album that follows a plot song to song. It has 4 speaking characters two of which are played by lead singer/writer Colin Meloy.
(if it makes it any better, the band performed the album in its entirety for the duration of their 2009 tour.)