Top 10

10. THE LEGENDS
Facts and Figures
Johan Angergard is The Legends. He record everything and writes everything. He even manages his own label (Labrador) in Stockholm. This third record since the year 2003 is an electronic pop inspired notably by The Pet Shop Boys, and is in the vein the of twee pop and Swedish pop bands offered up a lot these days. If you are a sucker for catchy, The Legends will blow you away.

9. JOANNA NEWSOM
Ys
Joanna has a very weird voice, if you are new to her. But for those who've enjoyed Coco Rosie for quite a while now will be easily moved by Newsom and her harp. I love the fact that I can actually not get bored listening to a 17-minute track, and be even more amazed each time I listen to her songs. Now I know how it's like to live in the mountains, and it's charming.

8. THE PIPETTES
We Are The Pipettes
I know I should not be loving this, but what else can I do when I put that record on other than just be absorbed? I don't believe a word of what these girls say in their songs, but I just forget myself and obey to those three girls, they're so powerful...oh, and also they have the knowledge of simple and emotional music.

7. THE DECEMBERISTS
The Crane Wife
I have never underestimated Colin Meloy's talent, so I was positive The Decemberists would bring another solid effort this year -- and they will probably continue to do so until the band disbands. A little bit more experimental here, but there's still all the good things that people love about the band.

6. CORTNEY TIDWELL
Don't Let the Stars Keep Us Tangled Up
Nashville, Tennessee's Cortney Tidwell is a very big surprise that made it to my headphones very lately this year, even though it was released last summer. The girl blends country music with shoegaze, electronic and ambient elements, and she makes it wonderfully.

5. JUNIOR BOYS
So This is Goodbye
With just a little more love for clubstyle music, Junior Boys would destroy everything in the charts. Instead, they just make it how they think it would be better, and they don't miss it here. The catchiness of their 80s-inspired electronic music and the nice and simple synthetizer effects makes it lovely.

4. ANATHALLO
Floating World
It's hard to really give good arguments about bands like Anathallo, other than the fact that their music is beautifully orchestrated, whatever that means to you. Comparisons to Sufjan Stevens and Broken Social Scene are hard to avoid here, but there's something wonderful that their music possesses that puts it where it is right now.

3. HAMMOCK
Raising Your Voice ... Trying to Stop an Echo
After bringing us the excellent Kenotic in 2005, which was more of an IDM and post-rock blend, Hammock comes back by showing their love for Icelandic music and putting out a near perfect album for those who like to get in a dreamstate.

2. OCEANOGRAPHER
On Leaping From Airplanes
This is one of the best debut full-lengths that I have ever heard. If you like your music very mellow with acoustic guitars and subtle ambient effects, and noises with great artistic talent, this album is for you.

1. MAHOGANY
Connectivity!
In my opinion, that album has immense potential for future influence, and for that, it's my album of the year. It's a mix of retro, kraut rock, shoegaze, dreampop, classical, electronic, ambient and a special and unique touch by a band whose talent is indescribable.