The Maria Schneider Orchestra - Sky Blue

Some of the best musicians (and composers in their own right) perform in Maria Schneider's orchestra and have for years and years. Schneider as a composer is really one of America's hidden gems.

Telenovela Star - Love, Lus, Sci-Fi & Monsters

T* is funny, educated, full of people who know how to fucking play, and lyrically diverse. Just check out the track "blmhyl" (which stands for "Baby Let Me Hump Your Leg"). My favourite song on the album is a tie between "Antonio's Home" and "Sucker."

theSTART - Ciao, Baby

While not theSTART's best album (that honour goes to Initiation), this one lays the sci-fi pop on damn thick and pulls together a great album with standout songs. Take a listen to "Runaway" or "Master Plan."

Modern Life is War - Midnight in America

This album is worth it just for the song "Fuck the Sex Pistols."

Dax Riggs - We Only Sing for Blood or Love

I had no notion of who Dax Riggs was before a couple of months ago. It's a fantastic album with everything I feel is missing from the singer-songwriters to which he's been compared.

Midnight Creeps - Give the Night a Black Eye

Not as much fun as 2005's "Doomed from the Get Go" and seriously lacking in the Heather Mars as guitarist department, still, "Give the Night a Black Eye" is everything you should hear in punk music RIGHT NOW.

Tegan and Sara - The Con

With this album Tegan & Sara have finally broken out of cutesy and into mature. Not only does The Con get progressively better as the album plays, but it gets progressively better each time you listen to it. Also, could reviewers please stop mentioning that they're lesbian twin sisters? I mean, come on, it's always mentioned that they're lesbian twin sisters. Maybe we could have some mention of Tegan and Sara without the mention that they're lesbian twin sisters?

Man In Gray - I Can't Sleep Unless I Hear You Breathing

Probably the best barely-known punk rock album of the year after "Give the Night a Black Eye."

Jette-Ives - In the Presence Of...

This band is no longer together, though the main forces behind the group, Jette Kelly and Holmes Ives, are still working separately. This is a compelling mix of jazz and trip hop with a nice dash of sex thrown in. 

Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

Better than Rated R, better than Songs for the Deaf, positively pisses on Lullabies to Paralyze. Thanks for not including your baby-mama and her friend Shirley Manson on this one Mr. Homme. Too bad about Nick.