by James Hamel

Created on: December 06, 2009

The world of pop music can embody many different styles of music. As different sounds have crossed over into different genres the term pop music doesn't really mean that much anymore. It pretty much boils down to popular music, or music that people actually buy. So by that terminology it is a musical style that is all inclusive.

But there is a dark side to pop music. You aren't supposed to like it if you want to be a hipster or cool. Thankfully, I am neither of these things. Here are the top ten pop albums of 2009. Isn't that a fun word to say? Pop!

Lady Gaga (The Fame Monster) Like some sort of wacky, hyperactive, fashion obsessed eight year old, Lady Gaga descended upon us like a force of nature determined to make us have fun. Will the hits ever stop coming from this pop music wunderkind? No matter what type of music a person likes there is at least one Lady Gaga hit they enjoy and that is very difficult to pull off when you are at your roots a dance artist.

From the Abba-tinged vibe of Alejandro to her Grammy nominated Poker Face to her first hit Just Dance there has been one thread that connected all of these songs lyrically. Besides the tongue in cheek (get it?) come-ons are little one liners just to let us know that there is a witty and intelligent young woman lurking underneath all the costumes. Don't discount Lady Gaga as this year's flavor. We may have finally found your replacement Madonna. And I think you know it.

Susan Boyle (I Dreamed a Dream) This album is shockingly, club you at the knees good. Like a breath of frumpy air from the East, Susan Boyle went down a storm as an overnight worldwide sensation when she performed the Les Miserables theme I Dreamed a Dream on the UK's Britain's Got Talent. Then, unfortunately, the thunderous pressure of fame broke down on her and she had a nervous breakdown. It also came out in the British tabloids that she was a bit surly and liked to give people two fingers (exactly like the middle finger here).

Thankfully, all these very human attributes were forgiven by the American buying public who bought so many copies of her record the first week (over 700,000) that it set a record. (Personally I like that she is a bit of a human diva. No one asked Shirley Bassey or Rosemary Clooney to tone it down and be nice.) Aside from your usual standards and a new version of I Dreamed a Dream, there are a number of surprises on this disc.

The opener is a lush and sorrowful cover of The Rolling Stones Wild Horses that

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