1 Gogogo Airheart Exitheuxa (Gold Standard Laboratories).  Ok, so I have no idea what that title means but this album is amazing.  The fact that they dip into some dub might make you wonder if they think they are PIL or something.  It's fast, it's choppy, but theyre a band with an unsurpassed energy.  I cant give any good descriptions of the music so just buy it. Its my favorite album of the year for a reason, right?  Buy this CD

2 Bright Eyes Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (Saddle Creek).  Weep weep weep. I cant stop it.  This is some beautiful music that was made official if you caught Bright Eyes on tour this year in support of their new album.  By the way, there were about twelve musicians onstage playing all at once when I saw them.  It's beautifully melodic and incredibly catchy.  This album is about as heart-wrenching as any of his other albums; its just that Conor Oberst is old enough to drink now, so you can just imagine how that makes things a little more interesting.  Buy this CD

3 Black Keys Big Come Up (Alive).  You probably wont find this at Best Buy, thank God.  Finally something is overlooked by the mainstream, and it is magnificent music.  Check this out if you want to delve into your darker side of minimalist R&B.  It's really basic stuff, but you might have to buy it if you really want to enjoy something before you go to hell. Buy this CD

4 Radio 4 Gotham (Gern Blandsten).  Ok, Im a dork. I have a PIL shirt on right now as Im typing this, but this band can make you nostalgic for something you had nothing to do with.  If you would like to be post-post-punk but dont want to start with Cabaret Voltaire, get hip to this record that celebrates NYC in all its glory. Buy this CD

5 Ladytron Light and Magic (Emperor Norton).  Electro-clash me baby, anytime.  These androgynous babies will rock and shock you with their electric grooves that will make you hum their songs all day long.  By the way, thats a good thing.  Buy this CD

6 Missy Elliot Under Construction (Elektra/Asylum).  Hey wait, here is a mid-Atlantic artist who is internationally known and has never sacrificed her musical integrity to sell records.  Shes been a straight shooter since day one and even though Jay-Z is featured on this record, Timbalands shouties to the old school Def Jam posse make up for that.  Buy this CD

7 Hot Hot Heat Make Up the Breakdown (Sub Pop).  Leave the comparisons to the Cure and Joy Divison at the door because you should save those for Interpol.  These Canadian hipsters may have the best fluffy haircuts since At The Drive-In broke up and the best booty-shaking music since Becks Midnite Vultures.  Buy this CD

8 Life Without Buildings Any Other City (D.C Baltimore).  God bless these darlings from Great Britain.  Without them, I would not have been able to wake up every morning as well as I did this past Spring. I think this one's copyrighted 2001; but this is America, and we get things a bit late, dont we?  Buy this CD

9 The Swayback The Voices in My Head Were Right (EP) (self-released).  This is a Denver-based band that should be making it huge-time any day now. They have a really distinct sound. One part Blood Brothers, another part Talking Heads, and another part Motley Crue. Are you ready?   Buy this CD