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20 best albums of 2009

More than 100,000 albums were released this year. What were the best? No one's list is definitive because no one could've possibly listened to them all. And, as always, this year's list could've easily been several times longer. But when forced to choose my favorites, I went with the music that I played the most, the albums that kept revealing new pleasures every time I listened to them. Here they are...

---Greg Kot, Tribune critic

Related:

Top 10 concerts of 2009
10 best songs of 2009
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Each song is its own movie, an orchestral fantasy undercut by diabolical guitars and a sweet, innocent voice that doesn't always say sweet, innocent things. "Actor" is that rare album that manages to both enchant and disturb.

1. St. Vincent, "Actor" (4AD)

Each song is its own movie, an orchestral fantasy undercut by diabolical guitars and a sweet, innocent voice that doesn't always say sweet, innocent things. "Actor" is that rare album that manages to both enchant and disturb.