Top 10

10. AESOP ROCK
None Shall Pass
Rap with a conscience
A lyrical acrobat
Good beats, great music

9. THE HIVES
The Black and White Album
Same time signatures
Performed with alacrity
And some kitschy twists

8. NATHAN LAWR AND THE MINOTAURSS
A Sea of Tiny Lights
A great ensemble
A whimsical lyricist
Insidious themes

7. GEOFF BERNER
Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride
Klezmer gone bad-ass
“Who’s getting the next pitcher”
“You guys are cut off!”

6. ARCADE FIRE
Neon Bible
Converted a church
A logical studio
For such a big sound

5. WHITE STRIPES
Icky Thump
The siblings return
With more shit-kicking anthems
Heard it ev’rywhere

4. THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC
Population
Your friends from Milton
make Canadian suburb
Astrosymphonies

3. RADIOHEAD
In Rainbows
It’s Radiohead
What do you want me to say?
Hell yeah I’m biased

2. GOGOL BORDELLO
Super Taranta!
Quantum mechanics
And a caravan of clowns
Kick ass and take names

1. BRIGHT EYES
Cassadaga
With a steel peddle
A poet peddling sorrow
Finds relative joy