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When musicians have too many ideas, they always have the option of a side project.  Some can be ill-advised, but some can really shine.  Here are our favorites of the latter this year:
 
10 Apparatjik
We Are Here
Mew's Jonas Bjerre, A-ha's Magne Furuholmen, and Coldplay's Guy Berryman deliver an invitingly crisp, and modern blend of electronics and rock.
Read review 		Apparatjik
     
9 Brandon Flowers
Flamingo
The Killers' lead singer sheds light into his personality with swooning, uplifting pop.		 Brandon Flowers
     
8 Junip
Fields
Jose González's side project puts out their first material in five years and it's decidedly worth the wait. Low-key, yet complex, acoustic jams abound.
Read review 		Junip
     
7 Gayngs
Relayted
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver lent his talents to this Minneapolis-based supergroup and the entire album thoroughly exudes cool.
Read review 		Gayngs
     
6 ceo
White Magic
Tough Alliance's Eric Berglund adds a clever new dimension to his other band's eccentric electro-pop.		 ceo
     
5 Admiral Radley
I Heart California
These Earlimart and ex-Grandaddy members have known each other for a long time and it shows on their melancholy, but fun, debut.
Read review
 		Admiral Radley
     
4

Big Boi
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Half of Outkast gives us a full-fledged, hip-hop gem and ups the ante for Andre 3000.

Big Boi
     
3 Broken Bells
Broken Bells
James Mercer from The Shins and Dangermouse from everything else produce a stylishly dark set of ethereal robot rock.
Read review 		Broken Bells
     
2 Jónsi
Go
The Sigur Rós frontman shows he has plenty to offer on his own with a shimmering, effervescent collection of hyper-organic pop.
Read review
 		Jónsi
     
1 Grinderman
Grinderman 2
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds turn a different direction with Grinderman - again - in a noisy, violent outing with devilish sophistication.
Read review 		Grinderman

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