10. Kanye West…Late Registration
Though not a huge departure from College Dropout, Late Registration has the one thing that no other album had this year: my theme song. But I ain’t sayin’ I’m a Gold Digger…

9. Andrew Bird…The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Even Mike’s drunk ass couldn’t ruin this concert for me at Café Montmartre in Madison. Okay, so Mike’s drunk ass ruined this concert for me. But I still love the album.

8. Feist…Let it Die
Leslie Feist’s music reminds of me of a graceful combination of Audrey Hepburn and Audrey Tautou.

7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah…Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Even though you can’t really understand what Alec Ounsworth is singing about, somehow you get the sense that he knows what he’s talking about and that you should listen up.

6. Spoon…Gimme Fiction
The first time I heard the intro to The Beast and Dragon Adored, I knew Gimme Fiction would be on my top ten. A great volume-up-windows-down kind of pop rock experience.

5. Bright Eyes…I’m Wide Awake it’s Morning
Conor Oberst may be a whiney bitch, but this album kicks ass.

4. The Hold Steady…Separation Sunday
Gotta love a good story about born again hood rats.

3. My Morning Jacket…Z
I first heard Z in the car on the way back to Peoria from Madison and hated it. But evidently it grew on me. It screams Simply Red, and really, who can resist Simply Red?

2. Wolf Parade…Apologies to the Queen Mary
I’m just about out of comments. All I can say is that I love this album and their New Year’s Eve concert is gonna be a doozie.

1. Sufjan Stevens…Come on Feel the Illinoise!
Anyone that can make me feel sorry for John Wayne Gacy and proud to live in Peoria has to be doing something right. This is the most captivating album I’ve heard in a long time and in my book, Sufjan (that’s Soof-Yawn) can do no wrong. I’m waiting with breath that is baited to see which state he will conquer next.