Hall of Awesome: The 2009 Mixtape

Every year, I compile a top ten list of my favorite albums of the year. However, there are a ton of individual songs that deserve some props as well, even if their respective albums didn't impress me enough to make my best-of list. So, without further ado, enjoy these 19 tracks that epitomize the best music 2009 has to offer. As with last year, there's a La La playlist at the bottom of this list (and in the sidebar) featuring all of these tracks, which you can stream in full.

1. How I Became the Bomb, "Action Lady"
A highlight from a solid series of EPs from lovely Tennessee rockers How I Became the Bomb.
2. Imogen Heap, "First Train Home"
3. Girls, "Lust for Life"
4. Andrew Bird, "Anonanimal"
5. Death Cab for Cutie, "Little Bribes"
Further proof that Death Cab can still deliver catchy little pop songs like no one else.
6. Animal Collective, "Bluish"
7. Basement Jaxx, "Raindrops"
My pick for dance anthem of 2009.
8. Camera Obscura, "The Sweetest Thing"
9. Dirty Projectors, "Stillness is the Move"
10. Fever Ray, "If I Had a Heart"
11. Discovery, "I Want You Back"
It doesn't matter how many "tributes" people will be making to Michael Jackson in the coming years. They won't be half as awesome as this cover from Vampire Weekend/Ra Ra Riot side-project Discovery.
12. The Mountain Goats, "Drug Life"
The best track from the Merge covers compilation, with John Darnielle returning to his trademark, bare-bones, voice-and-guitar sound.
13. Helado Negro, "Dahum"
14. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"
15. They Might Be Giants, "Meet the Elements"
They Might Be Giants are no strangers to making educational pop songs, but this is one that can be loved by children and adults alike.
16. Yo La Tengo, "Periodically Double or Triple"
17. The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You"
18. Mastodon, "The Last Baron"
Naturally, this playlist can't end without thirteen minutes of ear-bleeding metal.
19. Bon Iver, "Woods"
With "Woods" and the Jaxx's "Raindrops," we proved Jay-Z wrong about the death of Autotune.

The Hall of Awesome 2009 Mixta...