Here's a breakdown of what my favorite albums of 2009 were. I tried to include Youtube links for a lot of it so that you can sample it all if you like. You may also be interested in my pop and rock playlists that I made for the year's music.
(all of these are in no particular order)
The Field - Yesterday and Today: What starts out as an ambient album that is a worthy successor to the previous album by The Field From Here We Go Sublime by the end of the second track has opened up and stretched its wings a lot more stylistically, even including some careful use of vocals, making for a really nice listen.
Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone!: This album is a lot of fun and features great drumming and fun vocals, but for me it's the lead guitar that steals the show. The guitar parts are fantastically melodic, for me often more worthy of singing along than the vocals. (try "Some Dresses")
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns: The RAA got a lot of attention when they self-released their album in 2008, in part because of the moments where they sound like Neutral Milk Hotel, but I think it's the less Mangum-influenced tracks that stand out to me the most. "Don't Haunt This Place" and "Drain the Blood" are my most listened to tracks this year, especially in the car on my drives to and from Indianapolis. (try "In the Summertime")
The xx - xx: This is probably the most perfectly minimal album I own. Every bit of it is entirely necessary. (try "Islands")
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone: Neko Case makes fantastic albums and this one is no exception. Seeing her live in Indianapolis this summer was one of the highlights of my year. (try "People Got A Lotta Nerve")
Metric - Fantasies: try "Gimme Sympathy"
Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend: try "You Used To Hold Me"
The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come: try "Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace"
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: try "1901"