I’m not sure when it happened—possibly March—but at some point after the 2009 Times Square ball came crashing down, my musical palette suddenly became narrowed down to one style: wimpy. With that in mind, folks, make sure your chamomile tea and floral needlepoint are close by to maximize the impact of these largely sentimental titles.

Lightning Dust
Infinite Light
Admittedly, I was a little late in jumping on the Lightning Dust celebratory wagon, but now that I’ve scrambled aboard, I can’t say enough about the moody indie lullabies spun by the darling Vancouver duo.

Lightning Dust's "I Knew".

The Dutchess and the Duke
Sunset/Sunrise
My checklist for a suitable mate not only starts with gorgeous dimples and an uncanny ability to spell words like sesquipedalian, but also includes a love for this Rolling Stones–inspired masterpiece. Weaving gorgeous tales heavy with heart-wrenching emotion and timeless melodies, the Pacific Northwest outfit stands as the most promising act on the block today.

The Dutchess and the Duke's "Hands".

Timber Timbre
Timber Timbre
Forget about what you learned in high-school geography: Kirk Taylor’s Mississippi-flavoured organ and spooky blues-based swagger prove that the Timber Timbre mastermind is a bona fide southern man, despite the fact that he calls downtown Toronto home.

Timber Timbre's "Demon Host".

Real Estate
Real Estate
If you’ve ever wondered what pure happiness sounds like, this is it. Valium, Prozac, Ativan: none of these modern-day bliss makers can offer up the contentment guaranteed in listening to these lo-fi New Jersey popsters.

Real Estate's "Beach Comber".

Reigning Sound
Love and Curses
What would 2009 be without a good breakup album? Ringleader Greg Cartwright casts himself as a lovesick troubadour, putting sorrow and romantic misgivings to countrified tunes that will soothe your weary heart.

Reigning Sound's "Banker and a Liar".

Pink Mountaintops
Outside Love
The follow-up to 2006’s Axis of Evol presents itself as a bit of a mind-fuck. Tracks like “The Gayest of Sunbeams” feel like an open invitation to strip off your clothes and straddle your lover atop a bearskin rug, whereas sombre numbers like “Vampire” tempt you to thumb through old Polaroids of long-lost flames. Either way, Stephen McBean and the gang are onto something, and it’s up to you to make the most of it.

Pink Mountaintops' "Vampire (Let The Right One In)".

Earthmen and Strangers
Earthmen and Strangers
Long before Jay Reatard became a Matador Records cash cow, he played in the trash-punk outfit the Reatards with Earthmen and Strangers head honcho Ryan “Elvis Wong” Rousseau. It seems Rousseau is now after his own piece of the mainstream pie, and this catchy U.K.-punk-leaning, pop-tinged debut might just get him one.

Jacques Dutronc
Et Moi et Moi et Moi, 1966–1969
Parlez-vous franí§ais? Well, even if you don’t, this playful compilation of dazzling ’60s French pop is the perfect pick-me-up.

Jacques Dutronc's "Les Cactus".

Thee Oh Sees
Dog Poison
The second of two LPs released by the freaky San Francisco folksters this year, Dog Poison takes top honours on account of its major kook factor. Frontman John Dwyer easily defends his title as garage rock’s reigning messiah with a never-ending supply of cockeyed psych melodies.

The Intelligence
Fake Surfers
The bus, your ex-girlfriend, the B.C. Liberals—you can’t count on any of them. Thankfully, though, Seattle lo-fi masters the Intelligence never disappoint. Fake Surfers is solid through and through. It also happens to boast one of the most incredible song names of the year: “Thank You God for Fixing the Tape Machine”.

More contributors' picks for the best albums of 2009:

Read John Lucas's picks for 2009.
Read Mike Usinger's picks for 2009.
Read Adrian Mack's picks for 2009.
Read Alexander Varty's picks for 2009.
Read Steve Newton's picks for 2009.
Read Jenny Charlesworth's picks for 2009.
Read Tony Montague's picks for 2009.
Read Gregory Adams's picks for 2009.
Read Lucas Aykroyd's picks for 2009.
Read Martin Turenne's picks for 2009.

View all ten contributor's picks on a single page.