10. Built to Spill/You in Reverse - Not as avant-garde as some of the earlier stuff, but
more listenable and still inventive and interesting. Television meets Neil Young meets
Dinosaur Jr.

9. Robert Randolph and the Family Band/Colorblind - And genre-blind. For the
first time ever funk and rock really co-exist with dazzling results

8. Sonic Youth/Rather Ripped – Not their best, but it IS a Sonic Youth record
and so it’s on the list.

7. Art Brut/Bang Bang Rock & Roll – Key lyric “And yes. This is my singing
voice. It’s not irony. And it’s not rock & roll. We’re just talking to the kids.”
Ironically, it is rock and roll and it’s great for adults.

6. Somerdale/Friday Nite in America – Over the objections of everyone in the group, I
continue to support this great guitar pop record partially because I’m convinced the late
Greg Shaw would love this record. And if you don’t know who Greg Shaw is your license to
criticize this record is hereby revoked.

5. New York Dolls/One Day it Will Please us to Remember Even This – Among a
handful of great comeback records (see Gin Blossoms and Lemonheads also), this sits alone,
a surprisingly literate, rocking album.

4. Robert Pollard/Normal Happiness – in which the Genius learns the art of
self-editing and turns out an album with one pop gem after another

3. Neil Young/Living with War – Hope and anger combine to create a moving, powerful
record. Get the raw version.

2. Arctic Monkeys/Whatever People Say I Am, That is What I am Not – The
title could refer to what they’ve been called – over-hyped poseurs – but to
my ears they aren’t and this record kicks ass from beginning to end.

1. Drams/Jubilee Drive – Slobberbone meets the Jayhawks. Brent Best at
his most melodic, but is still rocks hard and is filled with great Best lyrics.
A record I can listen to over and over.

Best Tribute Record – Five Way Street – A Not Lame Tribute to Buffalo Springfeild

These are not “honorable mentions,” but they almost made the list - Lemonheads, Gin Blossoms, The Hold Steady, Yo La Tengo, Towers of London, Killers, Rhett Miller, Offramps and Rhett Miller