1. the Hold Steady*Almost Killed Me
2. the Blow*Poor Aim: Love Songs
3. the Comas*Conductor
4. Electrelane*the Power Out
5. Old Crow Medicine Show*O.C.M.S.
6. Rilo Kiley*More Adventurous
7. the Faint*Wet From Birth
8. Spaghetti Western*Do Right By People
9. the Streets*A Grand Don't Come For Free
10. Loretta Lynn*Van Lear Rose
11. Bj�rk*Medulla
12. PJ Harvey*Uh Huh Her
13. DJ Danger Mouse*the Grey Album
14. Lockgroove*Calm Right Down/Drugmoney*Mtn Cty Jnk
15. Paul Westerberg*Folker
16. Le Tigre*This Island
17. Patty Griffin*Impossible Dream
18. Air*Talkie Walkie
19. Tom McRae*Just Like Blood
20. Mos Def*the New Danger

Honourable Mention:

Secret Machines' "Now Here is Nowhere," William Shatner's "Has Been" [[no, REALLY. i mean it. it's crap. but it knows it's crap. and it's fantastic.]], Kayne West's "the College Dropout," the Killers' "Hot Fuss," Morrissey's "You Are the Quarry," the Drive-by Truckers' "the Dirty South," and just because everyone else is saying it [but i can't really get into them....] Modest Mouse's "Good News for People Who Love Bad News," Green Day's "American Idiot," [a surprisingly good, solid release... i bet they's back on the drugs.] Interpol's "Antics," and maybe... if i lived in SoCal... or in a van... or was fond of weddings on beaches... Brian Wilson's "Smile."

and finally, the albums about which i wished i felt strongly enough to mention in either of the top two lists: !!!'s "Louden Up Now," Wilco's "A Ghost is Born," Snow Patrol's "the Final Straw," and my favourite Australian's, Kasey Chambers' "Wayward Angel."