Top 10

10. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
Challengers
Okay, so you think their other records were way better or some shit. When a band has a reputation for writing easy pop music, it might be simple to critique it upon first listen. But if you dig a little bit, it’s all there.

9. SPOON
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
You'll read plenty about this pretty much everywhere else. I think getting a new Spoon record is like the festive special at Swiss Chalet: you know its going to be thoroughly enjoyable; not a lot of surprises, but it's all about consistency. More gangbang for your buck.

8. THE GO! TEAM
Proof of Youth
If you can make Chuck D sound relevant again, then you get a spot in the Top Ten. Following up a great debut is hard, especially if you now have to let everyone who toured with you actually play and compose your new album. That said, Proof of Youth is still a continuation of some of the most innovative sounds in indie rock.

7. COCONUT RECORDS
Nighttiming
Coconut Records is Jason Schwartzman, aka. That dude in Rushmore and the dude who co-wrote The Darjeeling Limited and the dude who wrote the OC song "California" (all one dude). Anyways, on the odd occasion albums come along that fall somewhere between light pop and hip indie, and Nighttiming does that.

6. BLITZEN TRAPPER
Wild Mountain Nation
I’d say its one of the more interesting combinations this year: Lynard Skynard meets Sonic Youth. Though I might not understand the blitzkrieg of sounds, I pay homage to your musical wit. Good show.

5. OKKERVIL RIVER
Stage Names
Definitely the most depressing on my Top Ten list, but the days are getting shorter and my list of things to complain about is getting longer and so is my chest hair, which means I’m becoming a man with the ability to be comfortable with my emotions. Slacker-poet observations on life for the new millennium. Y’all!

4. DINOSAUR JR
Beyond
Dinosaur Jr. survives extinction and lives another day to fight humanoids with progressive Mission of Burma meets Neil Young battle techniques. Sorta. Anyways, it doesn't matter. They're here. And if music was like popsicles, Dinosaur Jr. would be Popsicle Pete, the original cool, and Beyond would be a creamsicle, it's like a better popsicle.

3. BLACK FRANCIS
Bluefinger
His buddies call him Charles, his fans call him Frank and this may be the best album the Pixies never made. Following a string of albums backed by Nashville studio musicians, Black Francis returns. Eat it.

2. LES SAVY FAV
Let's Stay Friends
In the same amount of time that we’ve seen bands like the Bravery and Maximo Park start, and arguably end, a career, it seems that in the last six years between studio albums Les Savy Fav have been harnessing a massive diaper load of awesome. This load was dropped earlier this year and serves to reaffirm that Les Savy Fav are not only sonically ahead of their peers once again, but that they actually don’t have peers. When you’re in a league of your own you’ll need all the friends you can get. Just ask Geena Davis and Madonna.

1. BLACK LIPS
Good Bad Not Evil
It’s been a banner year for the Black Lips. Since signing to Vice records, the Lips wasted no time dropping the excellent Live in Tijuana experience earlier in the year and then dishing out seconds with their proper full-length Good Bad Not Evil a few months later. Like a hooker after a shower, the Lips have cleaned up a bit but still bring the dirty with a slice of the unexpected. So do yourself a favor, double bag it and get in on this action.