Jim

• Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Listen to the original review, read Jim’s review)
• Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero (Listen to the original review, read Jim’s review)
• El-P, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Listen to the original review)
• Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder (Listen to the original review, read Jim’s review)
• Glenn Mercer, Wheels in Motion (Read Jim’s review)

Greg

• Tim Fite, Over the Counter Culture (Listen to the original discussion)
• The Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse (Listen to the original discussion)
• LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver (Listen to the original review)
• Peter Bjorn & John, Writer’s Block (Listen to the original review)
• Mavis Staples, We’ll Never Turn Back (Listen to the original review)

Jim’s full list (in alphabetical order)

1. Air, Pocket Symphony (Astralwerks)
2. The Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder (Simian/Yep Roc)
3. Arctic Monkeys, Favorite Worst Nightmare (Domino)
4. Battles, Mirrored (Warped)
5. El-P, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Def Jux)
6. Tim Fite, Over the Counter Culture (www.timfite.com)
7. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver (DFA/EMI)
8. Glenn Mercer, Wheels in Motion (Pravda)
9. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead before the Ship Even Sank (Epic)
10. Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero (Interscope)
11. Peter Bjorn and John, Writer’s Block (Almost Gold Recordings)

Jim’s Top Contenders

• Tori Amos, American Doll Posse (Epic)
• The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible (Merge)
• The Eternals, Heavy International (Aesthetics)
• Bright Eyes, Cassadaga (Saddle Creek)
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Some Loud Thunder (self-released)
• Jill Cunniff, City Beach (The Militia Group)
• Fall Out Boy, From Infinity on High (Island)
• The Good, the Bad & the Queen, The Good, the Bad & the Queen (Virgin)
• Ted Leo, Living with the Living (Touch and Go)
• Low, Drums and Guns (Sub Pop)
• Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full (Hear Music)
• Porcupine Tree, Fear of a Blank Planet (Atlantic)
• Rush, Snakes & Arrows (Anthem/Atlantic)
• The Shins, Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)
• Elliott Smith, New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
• Mavis Staples, We’ll Never Turn Back (Anti-)
• Wilco, Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch) [3 stars]
• Wild Carnation, Superbus (Lucky Pig Records)

Greg’s Top Contenders:

• Mavis Staples, We’ll Never Turn Back
• Tim Fite, Over the Counter Culture
• The Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
• LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
• Peter Bjorn and John, Writer’s Block
• Black Moth Super Rainbow, Dandelion Gum
• Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero
• Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder
• El-P, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
• Battles, Mirrored
• The Shins, Wincing the Night Away
• Caetano Veloso, Cê
• Low, Drums and Guns
• The Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
• Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
• Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
• Tori Amos, American Doll Posse
• Comas, Spells
• Sea and Cake, Everybody
• Richard Thompson, Sweet Warrior