Year End Favorite Albums: 2009 Top 5

Here are my favorite 5 Albums from 2009 in order.

1. Turn Me Loose - Ledisi


Since Ledisi's 2000 debut Soulsinger, she's been releasing a catalog of solid albums. This year, she added Turn Me Loose to her tremendous discography. Take a pick from any of the tracks and you're bound to discover just what is so special about Ledisi. This cross genre mix was a breath of fresh air into the 2009 music scene. Favorites include: Turn Me Loose, Higher Than This, Alone, Please Stay, Say No, Goin' Thru Changes, I Need Love, The Answer to Why, and the amazing Buddy Miles cover Them Changes. All and All you can listen to this album straight through without a skip... as one can see by my list of favorites, it's almost the whole album!

2. BLACKsummers'night - Maxwell


In a time where true male vocalists are hard to find, Maxwell came back in 2009 with this solid set that re-solidified his place in neo-soul. Charged with his monster classic hit Pretty Wings, Maxwell road his first of his trilogy to a very triumphant high note. Favorites include: Pretty Wings, Bad Habits, Stop the World, and Help Somebody. While the disk clocks in under 40 minutes, Maxwell gives his listeners a taste of what is coming in 2010 and 2011.

3. The Bridge - Melanie Fiona


While album delays hurt the commercial success that this album could've seen, Melanie Fiona released a very strong 60s/70s Motown flavored debut that has carried her into several Grammy nominations and will have people talking about her well into 2010. Marked by her powerfull ballad It Kills Me, Fiona proves that she is not just a pretty face but is a singer with strong vocals reminiscent of Motown's past. Favorites include: Give It to Me Right, Bang Bang, Please Don't Go (Cry Baby), and It Kills Me

4. Epiphany - Chrisette Michele


An album helmed by R&B hit maker Ne-Yo moves Chrisette Michele from her old-school throwback sound to a more contemporary sound. While many critics and some fans had issue with the more contemporary flavor, I feel as though Chrisette Michele is embracing her generation more and with her instantly recognizable voice, Chrisette Michele adds depth to many of these songs. Favorites include: Notebook, I'm Okay, Another One, Playin' Our Song, All I Ever Think About, and her heart wrenching album highlight Blame It On Me.

5. I Look To You - Whitney Houston


Say what you will about her voice, but Whitney Houston's 2009 album was the most talked about comeback in 2009. Though "The Voice" might not be back yet, Whitney proves on this album why people love her. A good lyric, a great melody, and a voice that only Whitney processes gives listeners a taste of the old Whitney material that they crave. Favorites include: Million Dollar Bill, Call You Tonight, I Look To You, and I Didn't Know My Own Strength.