I've not done this before, but since there was so much good music this year:

10. (Honorable Mention) David Bowie - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
        Certainly not new, but it was new to me. It's one of the few "masterpiece" albums that seems to live up to the hype. Bowie is all over Sirius Radio: Big 80's, First Wave, Classic Vinyl, Specturm, Disorder, The Vault and probably others all claim him. Thanks to Sirius, I've been exposed to all periods of his career. He's changed in my mind from the witch from Labarinth to the rock god he is.

9. Jay Clifford - Driving Blind
        He's mature and comfortable enough to churn out some of that mid-90s alt-rock that's been missing from my life. I will always miss Jump, but this promising solo debut helps ease the pain.

8. Ingrid Michaelson - Girls and Boys
        Is she famous? I'm not sure, but she's definitely lovable. With songs about knitting and lines like "I will live my life as a lobsterman's wife" I'm sure she's topping Missy's list this year. Seeing her open for Matt Nathanson was the most pleasant surprises of my year.

7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
        You've heard it all. Arcade Fire, transforming music, most important band, visionary, blah blah blah. It's a great album. Some people would probably say this is the "best" album on my list. It is great stuff, but my real favorites are below. It's not that I'm saying they are overhyped, but it's my list, isn't it?

6. Avett Brothers - Emotionalism.
        I wish this had made my top ten. We went to a concert with only a vague concept of who the Avett Brothers were. The show was joyous, raw, and, well, emotional. The songs are catchy, clever and heartwrenching, so it's a good album. But apparently a recording doesn't even come close to capturing the acoustic thunder of this band.

5. Polyphonic Spree - Fragile Army.
        Although I was never a huge fan of this band, it made me really sad when I first saw they had changed from faux choir robes to faux military uniforms. Thankfully, the expansive symphonic-rock joy was still there on this album. The highlights of rage and melancholy only served to contrast what makes me smile. I'm glad I got to see them live this year, in both costumes. I hope I get to see them again.

4. Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards
       (actually released in late 2006) The Kids are a shining example in the rebirth of storytelling. The songs draw you into a gritty world and the characters seem too tragic to be fictional. In June, I did my behavioral science lecture on depictions of illness in music. "Hospital Beds" was my inspiration for this.

3. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
       In the last few years, the White Stripes have gone from their blues-garage-alternative formula to some really weird stuff. But looking back, I've loved every single one of their albums. They can do whatever the heck they want. Although I am very glad this new album brought back some of the cheekiness of De Stijl.

2. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
       I don't know if this is so high on anyone else's list, but I loved it. Unlike many albums about depression and heartache, this record is energizing and cathartic. More so than any other concert I've seen this year, theirs left an impression on me. When I hear "Suffer For Fashion" I can see the flashing lights, the dude in spandex, the smiling, grooving crowd. It was glam showmanship on a intimate scale. It meshed perfectly with the music and actually changed how the album sounds now.
 
1. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
       As sad as it is, I'm getting older. But that's OK. This is my first adult album. I'm probably in the minority, but I like it more than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It came at just the right time in my life. I'm not sure if I would have liked the bittersweet songs and the tasty guitar licks as much 10 years ago. It was quite a satisfying return from "out there" to "here and now."