1. The Notwist, The Devil, You & Me
(German minimalists convert hushed melodies into haunted sounds for their best album in years.)

2. The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing
(An English dance-pop duo that lives up to the hype. Raw and racy, and also better than new Madonna output. Believe it.)

3. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
(The first non-Kanye Top 40 hip-hop record in some time that can unite critics and audiences with equal enthusiasm. Finally, some exciting originality and virtuoso production return to mainstream rap!)

4. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
(If the facial hair in Iron and Wine and My Morning Jacket could get up and walk out, it would start a band like this.)

5. Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer
(Canadian indie-poppers get a little more abstract with big quality coming in as a result. A great album.)