1. The Black Keys, Attack & Release
(The Akron blues-rock duo collaborates with Danger Mouse for an album that is more textured and expansive without losing touch of their raucous tendencies. It's also really good.)

2. The Roots, Rising Down
(The best live band in hip-hop continues their recording winning streak with a darker but still tuneful exploration of rhyme.)

3. Death Cab For Cutie, Narrow Stairs
(In many ways, better than their last album. These emo heroes seem to have discovered their proper balance between going mainstream and still keeping it very moody.)

4. The Black Angels, Directions to See a Ghost
(Fuzzed-out indie-rock, on the Austin band's second LP, doesn't get more catchy than this these days.)

5. Robyn, Robyn
(Forget the new Madonna record, this is the real hard candy. The 90s dance-pop diva spices things up with smart and literate bubblegum grooves.)