Scott with his band Skeletons with Flesh on Them ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

[Editors Note: Scott Roots writes and sings advanced pop songs with his band Skeletons with Flesh on Them. As a fellow lover and devourer of music of all kinds, we value how he's always got a new (and often local) band to talk about. As someone who has actively listened to a wide array of what 2009 had to offer, recorded and live, he came immediately to mind when considering guest end-of-year list contributors. Scott's band is playing the Three Imaginary Girls holiday show at Chop Suey, this Wednesday December 23rd with a bunch of other bands. -josh]

My 5 Favorite Albums of 2009

The DoDos - Time to Die (www.dodosmusic.net)
The DoDos pit galloping drums against restrained vocals and deft finger-picking for a foreboding yet colorful effect.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (www.wearephoenix.com)
Phoenix, quite simply, makes me want to party.

The Foghorns - Diamond as Big as the Motel Six (www.thefoghorns.com)
Haunting, lonely folk songs that touch on the kind of sadness you mistakenly thought was yours alone.

Atlas Sound - Logos (www.atlassound.com)
Weird and warmly and understated.

Elba - Don’t Be Discouraged Little Sparrow (myspace.com/elba)
Oscillating between placid and paranoid, a unique and genuine sound.

My 5 Favorite Seattle Shows of 2009

Sunny Day Real Estate at the Paramount (www.sunnydayrealestate.net)
I built this show up a lot. It was even better than I hoped.

Loom at Holy Mountain
A smoke-bomb scare wasn’t enough to stop Loom’s melodic hardcore lightshow.

Champagne Champagne at the Mansion (www.champagnechampagne.net)
Thomas, Pearl and Mark swigging champagne inside an absolutely gorgeous mansion on Capitol Hill.

The DoDos at the Mural Amphitheatre (www.dodosmusic.net)
The subtlety of their music a perfect contrast to the wide open summer evening.

Love is All at Neumos (loveisallright.blogspot.com)
Dissonant, catchy, and cute as all get out.