Familiarize Yourself

Since this blog is written by college students, you may have noticed a recent lack of activity on our part. For this, we must all apologize… but to be honest with you, finals KILLED us all this year.

Now that is over, and we want to remind you of the amazing year we had with FYW, with music, and with our favorite artists.

Here’s the list edition of FYW.

Enjoy.

Top 10 Albums released in 2009:

AB’s list:
1. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
2. The xx – XX
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
4. Metric – Fantasies
5. Billy Talent – Billy Talent III
6. The Sounds – Crossing the Rubicon
7. Bad Veins – S/T
8. Spinnerette – S/T
9. Sea Wolf – White Water, White Bloom
10. Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen

James’ List:
1. Karen O & The Kids- Where The Wild Things Are
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It’s Blitz
3. Mew- No More Stores …
5. The xx- XX
4. White Lose- To Lose My Life
6. Metric- Fantasies
7. Jay Reatard- Watch Me Fall
8. Lighting Love- November Birthday
9. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes- Up From Below
10. Miike Snow- Miike Snow

Dan’s List:
1. The Sidekicks- Weight of Air
2. Dear Landlord- Dream Homes
3. Shook Ones- The Unquotable A.M.H.
4. Propagandhi- Supporting Caste
5. We Were Promised Jetpacks- These Four Walls
6. Cobra Skulls- American Rubicon
7. The Swellers- Ups and Downsizing
8. Banner Pilot- Collapser
9. Chuck Ragan- Gold Country
10. Bomb the Music Industry!- Scrambles

Gali’s List:
10. Fall Out Boy – Believers Never Die – Greatest Hits
9. 500 Days of Summer soundtrack
8. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
7. Hotspur - You Should Know Better By Now
6. Cobra Starship – Hot Mess
5. All Time Low – Nothing Personal
4. Jay Z – The Blueprint 3
3. Florence & the Machine – Lungs
2. Super Mash Bros – All About the Scrillions
1. Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You

Top 5 Live Shows We Saw in 2009:

AB’s List:
1. Silversun Pickups @ Lollapalooza (Chicago)
2. Audreye Sessions @ Schubas (Chicago)
3. The xx @ CMJ /the Music Hall of Wiliamsburg (New York City)
4. Hot Water Music @ The House of Blues (Chicago)
5. The Sounds @ The Vic (Chicago)

Jame’s List:
1. Crystal Castles/Chromeo/Boys Noize (Oct 30, 2009) @ Congress Theatre, Chicago
2. Mew (Dec 7, 2009) @ The Metro, Chicago
3. Devendra Banhart (Nov 16, 2009) The Vic, Chicago
4. Metric (Jun 15, 2009) @ St. Andrews Hall, Detroit
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Aug 8 ) @ Lollapalooza Day 2, Chicago

Dan’s List:
1. The Lawrence Arms 10 year Anniversary Show @ the Metro
2. Menzingers/Sidekicks/Cobra Skulls/Copyrights @ Subterranean
3. Fest 8 in Gainesville, FL
4. Windy City Sound Clash @ Reggies
5. Hot Water Music/Copyrights @ House of Blues

Gali’s List:
5. Cavashawn, Hotspur @ Beat Kitchen, October
4. Lights, Stars of Track and Field @ Subterranean, October
3. Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, All Time Low, Hey Monday @ Allstate Arena, May
2. All Time Low, We the Kings, Hey Monday, Friday Night Boys @ House of Blues, November
1. Lily Allen, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head @ Riv Theater, February

Our Favorite Posts of the Year that you should re-read now…(hint, hint)
Beach House
Lightning Love
Chimes & Bells
Fanfarlo, The Dueling Reviews
Stars
Handsome Furs
This is Ivy League
Florence & the Machine
Lights
The Swellers
We Were Promised Jetpacks
The Sidekicks

What and who were some of your favorites in 2009? Let us know!