History's Best Selling Music of 2009

Hats off to 2009! Few music commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as The Underfall Yard. Alongside sensationally popular hits like Kendrick Lamar and essential classics, consumers eagerly embraced the Y2K fever and early digital revolution. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like Big Big Train and Kendrick Lamar set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. The Underfall Yard

   Released in 2009 by Big Big Train, English Electric Recordings

   On December 15, 2009, the English progressive rock band Big Big Train released "The Underfall Yard," an album that would mark a significant turning point in their career. It was their sixth studio album but the first to feature vocalist David Longdon and the first to fully establish the narrative-driven, pastoral, and historically-themed brand of progressive rock that would define their modern era. Released independently, the album's arrival wasn't a mainstream event, but within the progressive rock community, it was a watershed moment. It signaled a creative rebirth for the band, moving them from a well-regarded but niche act to one of the leading lights of the genre's modern revival, earning them critical acclaim and a dedicated global following.

2. Kendrick Lamar (EP)

   Released in 2009 by Kendrick Lamar, Top Dawg Entertainment

   Released on December 31, 2009, the Kendrick Lamar EP served as both a closing statement for the decade and a powerful mission statement for the future. Dropping on New Year's Eve, the project marked the official retirement of his 'K-Dot' moniker and his re-introduction to the world under his birth name. This was a deliberate, symbolic act. By shedding his alias on the final day of the year, Kendrick signaled a profound shift towards a more personal, vulnerable, and authentic artistic identity. It wasn't just a new project; it was the public birth of the artist who would come to define the next era of hip-hop.