Top 50 Albums of 2009, part one (50-41)

Welcome, dear reader, to the Screenaged Kicks 'Top 50 Albums of 2009'. I will be posting this over the course of the next week in five separate instalments of ten records each. Today, I present you with positions 50 to 41. Check 'em out!

50. THE APPLESEED CAST: Sagarmatha

A wonderfully bizarre record that burrows into your psyche with mischevious abandon. Fascinatingly dense and gloriously sprawling.

49. IN CASE OF FIRE: Align the Planets

Sounding the like the demented love-spawn of Jared Leto and Matt Bellamy, In Case of Fire manage to make a 30 Seconds/Muse cross-over actually sound majestic. Debut album 'Align the Planets' demonstrates exactly how to do epic without lapsing into contrivance.

48. WEEZER: Raditude

It may be far from their best effort, but 'Raditude' still manages to be a bloody infectious record, chocked to the brim with stellar hooks and absolutely ridiculous lyrics. This is the sound of Rivers and co. getting away with murder and loving every minute.

47. THURSDAY: Common Existence

A surprisingly confident record from the post-hardcore noiseniks and one that manages to make potent socio-political comment without ever seeming heavy-handed.

46. TEGAN & SARA: Sainthood

'The pop album of the year' according to the Jimmy Eat World Twitterfeed and it's hard to argue with 'em. Glitzy, melodic, bloody addictive.

45. ALEXISONFIRE: Old Crows/Young Cardinals

Alexisonfire make a concerted effort to dump their screamo side on the sidewalk and the results are mightily impressive. From the heads-down intensity of the opening duo to the scathing aggression of 'Accept Crime', this is an album with something to prove. Thank God it manages it.

44. JAPANDROIDS: Post-Nothing

The Zeitgeist is all over 'em like a bad rash but don't let that put you off. 'Post-Nothing' is a brilliantly messy debut, dominated by fuzzy guitars and distorted vocals. Endearingly ramshackle.

43. DINOSAUR JR.: Farm

Proving that they're as relevant now as ever, 'Farm' is yet another top notch effort from one of the most consistent groups that the American music machine has ever spat at us. Full of cumtastically good riffs and urgent, aggressive guitars.

42. CAMERA OBSCURA: My Maudlin Career

Another album of painfully beautiful melancholia from one of the UK's best kept secrets. If only heartache actually felt this euphoric.

41. THE FLAMING LIPS: Embryonic

'Embryonic' finds The Flaming Lips as stark raving bonkers as ever - this time over two CDs! - and we really wouldn't have them any other way. Utterly absurd and unashamedly self-indulgent but all the more uplifting for it.