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These ten albums led of a widely innovative year by blasting, bumping, and ripping their way through the modern rock and pop landscapes.  The cumultative leap taken by these artists is impressive and keeps the bar high for next year's releases.
 
10 Sufjan Stevens
The Age of Adz
The eccentric and sophisticated mastermind delivers his most daring work to date, blending flowing harmonies with spell-binding electronics.
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9 Grinderman
Grinderman 2
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds turn a different direction with Grinderman - again - in a noisy, violent outing with devilish sophistication.
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8 Spoon
Transference
The band’s track record has been consistent and Transference continues that trend with sharp, echoing indie-rock that works better & better after each spin.
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7 Deerhunter
Halcyon Digest
This rock gem reflects a scene of ether flowing throughout a garage and the image is highly impactful.
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6 Yeasayer
Odd Blood
The result of a massive acid trip in New Zealand, Odd Blood is bathed in the preternatural sunny hedonism that recalls The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds or, for the more contemporary-inclined, Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion.
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5 The Black Keys
Brothers
The gritty, lo-fi rock duo's finest hour to date; this album soars with handcuffing melodies and foot-stomping rhythms.
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4

Gorillaz
Plastic Beach
This powerful and innovative band hands us a cunning and charismatic mix of decadent rock and dangerous electronics.

     
3 LCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening
Their most driven effort to date, this album reigns in the dance-rock outfit's trailblazing energy and builds upon the churning rhythms they're masters at.
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2 The National
High Violet
No band does tragic rock quite like The National:  The classical training of the brothers Dessner & Devendorf combines with Berninger's deep baritone for a powerfully reserved epic.
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1 Arcade Fire
The Suburbs
This album captures the ennui of middle-class suburban life:  the frustration & apathy and the despondency & tedium, as Butler's apathetic passion chills the listener to the bone, and The Suburbs leaves an indelible mark as the band's stark snapshot of American society.
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