The 20 Best Albums of 2009… So Far

Amadou and Mariam’s Welcome to Mali is number 6. The review by Spin’s Lindsey Thomas:

In 2005, Dimanche a Bamako served as this blind Malian couple’s international breakout, but producer Manu Chao’s contributions — found-sound snippets, liberal use of his own vocals — sometimes overshadowed them. The follow-up (without Chao) is a more straightforward Afro-pop record, with a few exceptions: Damon Albarn mans the controls for “Sabali,” a wonderfully strange bit of electro pop that floats Mariam’s voice high above waves of synth arpeggios; and on “Africa,” Somali rapper K’naan ogles his homeland’s curves over Amadou’s buoyant guitar line.

The full list is here. HT to Sean Jacobs of Africa is a Country.