musicOMH has reviewed nearly 700 albums released during 2009. A great many of them tugged gently at our sleeve wearing a pleading look that negated any need for words. "I'm a Top 50 Album Of The Year, aren't I?" is what that look says, all big eyes and trembling lower lip.
Our writers all had their personal favourites; as we cover everything from commercial pop to wistful folk via hip hop, drone metal and contemporary classical, it's arguably more difficult for an album to reach our Top 50 than it is for almost any other comparable list.
Those who deigned to vote - 36 writers in total - offered up their ordered picks of the year from a longlist.
The longlist lived up to its name, consisting as it did of everything we've awarded 4, 4.5 or 5 stars to, plus Mercury nominees released in 2009 and selected albums saved from lower ratings at the suggestion of writers. So yes; long. Compilations and live albums weren't eligible, but that still left nearly 300 of that 700, to be precise-ish.
There was then a second round (still listening at the back?) to pare that longlist down to a 'mediumlist' of a mere 100 titles, from which the shortlist that makes up the Top 50 was devised. This stage was painful; some fantastic albums fell by the wayside. Those that didn't make it through to the final 50 suffered from no quality deficit. The only conclusion to be drawn is that 2009 was a very fine year for albums.
31: Tinariwen - Imidiwan: Companions
