Top 50 Albums of 2009, part two (40-31)

40. MUSE: The Resistance

Bigger, bolder, brasher and more ludicrously bombastic than ever before, Muse soundtrack their prophesised apocalypse with tunes the size of mountains. Let's just forget about 'Undisclosed Desires', shall we?

39. NOAH AND THE WHALE: The First Days of Spring

Something of a harrowing listen, 'The First Days of Spring' lays bare the pain and heartache of a particularly messy break-up. Frighteningly, sumptuously real.

38. THE TEMPER TRAP: Conditions

That song. Those vocal chords. These bloody talented Aussies. The Temper Trap's debut album is awash with the kind of lusciously bittersweet indie noise that made The Smiths and R.E.M. the greatest bands in the world in the 80s. For all 'Sweet Disposition' is phenomenal, 'Conditions' is so much more than the one big hit.

37. DANCE GAVIN DANCE: Happiness

In a scene bursting at the seams with knuckle-dragging hardXXXXXcore wannabes, swapping melodies for half-arsed screams faster than you can windmill (the kids love it, don't you know?), it's refreshing to see a band who actually care about the genre and give it the time, patience and effort it deserves. 'Happiness' is a rich, playful album that both intrigues and rocks like an absolute bastard.

36. NOFX: Coaster

The millionth album from Fat Mike and his band of merry imbiciles in the last ten or so years, 'Coaster' proves that the age old adage, 'if it ain't broke...', still rings true. Socio-political indignance and humorous personal experience go hand in hand here, as ever, and it works wonders. Altogether now, 'blaspher-meeeeeeeeee! Blaspher-youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!'

35. SONIC YOUTH: The Eternal

To quote Clash, 'the album shows signs of life and heart-wrenching vitality that secures its makers’ position at the forefront of American rock music.' Couldn't put it any better myself. The fact that Sonic Youth are still making records as thrilling as this after nearly thirty years certainly demonstrates the depth of their talent.

34. THRICE: Beggars

A highly engaging and inventive record that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and simply refuses to let go... just like 'The Alchemy Index' and 'Vheissu' before it. Thrice may want to break free of the 'shackles' of their previous records, but on the evidence of this, let's hope they never do.

33. GRAMMATICS: Grammatics

Despite leaving off their best track, the gorgeous 'New Franchise', Britain's newest arty weirdos still deliver a corker of a debut with this self-titled, highly self-assured effort. And that voice, man... it's sodding heavenly.

32. CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND: Outer South

Once again, Oberst proves that his skill with both the pen and the acoustic is virtually unmatched. Even better, The Mystic Valley Band manage to considerably develop their own sound without overshadowing the star of the show. Probably the best alt-folk-country record of the year.

31. THE DECEMBERISTS: The Hazards of Love

Where other bands write about hanging out down the local with your mates, The Decemberists make concept albums about women named Margaret falling in love with shape-shifting borael forest dwellers. Thankfully, 'The Hazards of Love' manages to be full of glorious pop songs as well as madcap stories, so their excesses seem inviting rather than irritating.