Favorite Spiritual/ Religion Books of 2009

This year has not been a big year of reading books on Christian subjects written from the inside. No self-help and very little on theology or Emerging Church issues. As my spiritual journey has taken some very Bazan-like twists and turns (some of which I will be writing about soon), I have felt myself drawn to books that are more sociological, journalistic, outsider observer or detached. I am interested in Christianity, my faith, as it is seen from the outside and as it is seen sociologically or economically. I am interested in how the other religions, especially those with common ancestry are seen, what we have in common and how we act in the world.

That said, I must say most I read that is straight Christian theologically or on the Christian life is boring me right now. It seems like it has all been written before. That said, there are some Christian books from preachers and theologians I really want to read. I just didn't do it in 09.

I would have read Danielle Shroyer's latest and Tony Jone's Didache book, along with others by Soon-Chan Rah and Jim Belcher (if anyone would like to send a copy of any of these books, I can give you my address). But, for some reason they did not arrive for free on my doorstep and aren't available at my library. As always, these are not necessarily books that came out in this calendar year. I just happened to read them in 2009.

I read the Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing once again. It is still one of the best religion books of the decade to me.

10. What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case For Gay Marriage by David Myers and Letha Dawson Scanzoni -It is a few years old, but I found this book in which they clearly create a compelling, and wholly Christian case for gay marriage, taking the Bible as seriously as anyone on the other side of the argument, the best thing I have read on the subject since John Stott took the other side a few years ago. While I am no expert and personally don't care loads about the issue (sorry to those on both sides), I enjoy reading the differing ideas on this contentious subject, especially when written passionately, but thoughtfully and lacking polemic fireworks or overstatements.

9. Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible by David Plotz- I listen to Plotz weekly on the Slate Political Gabfest so I am predisposed to love his work. If I preached, I would use this resource from a Secular Jew to bring undiscovered (by me at least) insights into Scripture, some obvious, some counter intuitive. To read the OT with fresh eyes would be a wonderful thing. I envy Plotz.

8. Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith by Shane Hipps -As I type this on my blog, I agree with what he says.

7. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller - Keller makes the most convincing argument for orthodox understandings of God and faith I have seen in a while.

6. My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders in the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith by Benyamin Cohen- My Christianity is very Jewish, not in the liturgical sense, but in the way I look at the world around me. Because of this, I find connection with most Jewish writers, especially those coming to the Bible and religion. I found this an insightful look at Christianity by a skeptical, but fascinated friend.

5. The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose - I could point out all the flaws of this book, but one thing stands out to shoo those critiques away. It is not a religious manifesto, but a memoire by a really young writer. Plus, it is infinitely readable. It is hard to put down once you pick it up.

4. The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr - I should have read it a long time ago, but I am finally digging deeper into this. An excellent resource for those wanting to see who they are, why they act the way they do and how to make changes based upon their own personality and inner workings to be better people.

3. How To Win a Cosmic War: god, Globalization and The End of the War on Terror by Reza Aslan- This could be a politics or religion book by the author of the excellent primer on Islam No god but God. Aslan is a great writer and thinker. In some ways I think of him as one of the first postmodern Islamic thinkers, their own Brian McLaren. Aslan's contention is that we should not fight a cosmic war with Islam because it is impossible to win such a war, especially with a belief system not based upon traditional Islam. It gives great insight into the strains of Islam and how awry things have gone ( and how the West has caused much of it). He gives his vision for Islam and religious interaction that is hopeful.

2. The Evolution Of God by Robert Wright- One may not believe, but one can still find religion and belief in God a wholeheartedly good thing, especially when one believes that the concept of God (whether manmade or coming from on high- he is fine with either) is evolving to a kinder more modern expression. Controversial to those that write religion off and to those that would consider themselves foundationalists, it is compelling and provocative, especially his contention that Paul was a 1^st Century Bill Gates building a belief statement out of the needs of people, as opposed to the traditional view.

1. The Case for God: What Religion Really Means by Karen Armstrong- Many find this overreaching and wishy-washy, but I found it refreshing, a historical sweet spirited polemic- if there is such a thing- against the extremes of religion, namely Fundamentalism's ying and its yang, The New Atheism. It is refreshing to read an open minded book that takes God very seriously and makes a case for another way of interpreting religion, modern, yet more rooted in the past than many traditional views.

Underrated Gems of the Decade (25 movies not making top 10 lists that should be considered)

Everyone is making their decade lists of great films and I thought about making my own. The only problem is this; my list would be virtually the same as most critics. I would put Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in the top 3, along with there Will Be Blood. Pan's Labyrinth, The Lives of Others, Memento, Dark Night, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Royal Tennenbaums, Children of Men, City of God, each Pixar flick besides Cars and Traffic would be in contention with a few others for inclusion. I would even make a case for The Departed, 40 year Old Virgin, High Fidelity, Sideways and The Bourne Trilogy.

So, let's forget about the obvious choices. What are the other gems that should be included (nothing from 2009, since I just reported on them). If I were talking about 09, I would add Moon for consideration.

By no means are these the best flicks of the decade (Eternal Sunshine is #1 for me. It affected me deeply). By no means are these an exhaustive list of things you have never heard of, as I try to establish credit as the arbiter of all things cool and underground (if you like movies, you have seen most of them). But, they are great movies of the decade you may have missed or forgotten about, films that should be part of the discussion of any serious film hound when looking back at the Aughts. Just think of this as my own personal Netflix queue for you.

Honorable mentions: Rabbit-Proof Prince, The Quiet American, Amores Perros, L'enfant, The Lookout, Billy Elliot, Inside Man, Junebug, Layer Cake, Undertow, Sunshine State, You Can Count on Me, Once, Osama, 21 Grams and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.

25. No Man's land

24. The Station Agent

23. Persopolis

22. Cache

21. Inside Man

20. Half Nelson

19. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

18. I (Heart) Huckabees

17. Murderball

16. In The Bedroom

15. Devil's Backbone

14. American Splendor

13. The Proposition

12. Dirty Pretty Things

11. Gosford Park

10. Millions

9. Shaun of the Dead

8. Whale Rider

7. Waltz With Bashir- officially a documentary, but not really

6. 25^th Hour

5. Sexy Beast

4. Squid and the Whale

3. Lars and the Real Girl

2. With a Friend Like Harry

1. Bloody Sunday

If we consider documentaries (and I think this was the decade for docs, consider these- some are as good as anything on the "real movie" list), I would put these into my noggin and try to come up with a top 10.

Into the Arms of Strangers, Murderball, Born Into Brothels, Taxi To the Dark Side, Devil's Playground, God Grew Tired of Us, Capturing The Friedmans, The Fog of War, Grizzley Man, The King of Kong, Sicko, The Kid Stays in the Picture, Man on Wire, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Touching The Void, Riding Giants, Spellbound, Bowling for Columbine, Supersize Me, Control Room, the Aristocrats, Hell House, and The Devil and Daniel Johnston (no , I would not add Jesus Camp- it kinda sucked)

 

My list of under-appreciated films from early 2008 (if you want more of these gems)

Best Albums of 2009 (1-5)

I am sure the masses are dying to see my Top 5 of 2009, detailing what one 40ish white boy from a mid-major city that listens to too much NPR has to say about music. I will say that 09 is a slightly better all around year than 08, which was terribly weak musically. The best albums of 2008 were a bit better than 2009, but all around there was better music 1-50 (last year I struggled for a top 50, this year I had 75 albums competing).

Of course, 2008 and 2009 are still no match for 2004-2007 with 07 as the high water mark of the decade. I am hoping, as I did with 2009 that the streak will begin again. With new albums by Frightened Rabbit, Spoon, The National, Arcade Fire, The New Pornographers, Vampire Weekend, Charlotte Gainsbourg (and Beck), Blitzen Trapper, D’Angelo, Amy Winehouse, The Magnetic Fields and BRMC expected in the coming year, things are looking up.

5. American Saturday Night by Brad Paisley- Throw your unused compact discs at me right now all you music snobs. One of your own has gone to the hack infested light, like a moth unaware of his impending doom. Here’s the thing. I fully acknowledge that there are some mainstream albums that should be on this list. I just don’t listen to a lot of that music since I would have to sit through the inanity of most auto-tune infested radio friendly pop, country or rock songs as well as commercials, huckster deejays and American Idol-like shrillness. That said, every once in a while a hugely successful genre artist transcends their boundaries and creates art for the masses and the time capsule, be it Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce or Brad Paisley (yes, even Coldplay and John Mayer are capable). It cannot be dismissed as Walmart Rock (my vernacular- I should share my criteria sometime) by the supposed snobs that listen to another type of corporate rock (Starbucks Rock- looks indie, but really isn’t). Brad Paisley is such an artist. His guitar work is sublime. His lyrics, while hokey at times, are quite smart, his voice is solid and his songwriting is on par with the masters of the genre. He hits his mark on this album, which may be the best of the year (I just can’t fully admit it- not there yet). As a solid Blue Stater, I love the tweaks to the country music clichés he sneaks in, especially his love of diversity and uncompromising optimism about the future (Emerging Christians can learn a lot about him if they say they have a theology of hope). Welcome to the Future (song and video) brought me to the verge of tears on my first listen, reminding me of a U2 anthem of the 80s and Then reminds me that power ballads can be pretty good sometimes (if I like a power ballad, it must be genre busting). As George Michael told us once, “listen without prejudice.”

4. Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors- How does one classify this album? Is it Indie Rock? Is it Indie Soul? Is it something wholly other? I guess it does not matter. It sounds great. Stillness is the Move is the best song of the year, the moment in time Talking Heads meets Mariah Carey, unlike any song I have ever heard. The shifts and dime turns on this album, sometimes it is instrumentation while at other times it is time signature or tempo changes remind me of Toxicity by System of a Down, although 2 albums could not sound any more different. I highly recommend this album for anyone trying to stretch their boundaries while still liking accessibility.

What is interesting about the Top 3, and what separates them in some ways is the emotional resonance I have with the lyrics and music. Each conveys an emotional truth in a way that connected with me greatly, much like Frightened Rabbit did last year and Arcade Fire did in 2007. I am not sure what that means, but I find it interesting.

3. Curse Your Branches by David Bazan- A soundtrack for my life in 2009, I connected deeply with the lyrical content on this excellent album by the former Pedro the Lion leader. Never a huge Pedro fan, I always appreciated and respected their work more than liking it. I found Bazan’s lack of emotion and wry observations brilliant, but cold. Even if I think he is one of the artists best exemplifying an Emerging Christianity, I don’t have too like his voice, do I? And then, unconstrained by the Pedro label and organized Christianity, Bazan finds his voice and releases the best thing he has done. Bazan actually sings on this album. Bazan actually uses interesting instrumentation on this album. Bazan actually creates melodies on this album. In other words, he focuses on the entire songcraft, not just the lyrics. Guess what? The lyrics don’t suffer. In fact, when sung over great melodies the lyrics come alive. And what lyrics they are. Curse Your Branches and Hard to Be speak a poetic truth to the inner working of the soul most of us would dare not speak in public, even to our closest friends. Thank you David for sharing your hurt, disappointment and lack of faith with us, so our similar feelings have words.

2. Hospice by The Antlers- I struggled greatly with #1 and #2, moving between them 3 times while making this list. So, today The Antlers’ Hospice is the second best album of the year, one that reminds us that youth and the creation of great art can be simultaneous. Maybe I get this concept album in which a man loses a loved one to cancer since I work in hospice. Maybe I like the deep emotion over Sigur Ros and Radiohead-like music (2 bands no one will accuse of emotion). For once I agree with Pitchfork in its declaration that this album has the ability to emotionally devastate listeners. Power like that must be weld properly and it is. You can listen to it without letting it overtake you, but if you give this album a bit of your heart, it will move you. This is beautifully harsh music unlike anything I have heard, yet strikingly familiar.

1. Elvis Perkins in Dearland by Elvis Perkins in Dearland- How does one follow up a stunning debut of overwhelming emotion and the best folk album of the past few years? By finding a band and turning up the volume on this at times raucous and wholly unexpected album. Elvis, still reeling from the death of his mother on Sept. 11 finds the hope missing on Ash Wednesday, especially on the escapist Shampoo and the dancing at the end of the world rave up Doomsday (imagine Prince’s 1999 as a folk rock tune). He still knows how to rip you to shreds with a line like “I love you more in death than I ever could in life” on 123 Goodbye, reminding me that in a just world, he would be heralded as the new Dylan, because he shares Dylan’s diversity of musical stylings, proper use of harmonica, ability to stretch his voice beyond its norm and lyrical prowess (yes, I think he is in Dylan’s class as a lyricist)- plus he has a very nice voice (imagine, if you will, Dylan and Jeff Buckley). If Brown University creates Ira Glass and Elvis Perkins, I am pushing my kids there now. And, Anthony Perkins, I want to thank you for more than playing Norman Bates in Psycho. I want to thank you for your son, already on his way to being one of the greats, even if no one is paying attention.

Add his EP Doomsday to the mix for a perfect year.

Best Albums of 2009 (25-6)

I hope you are enjoying my Top 50 albums, or pre-fabricated music experiences of the year (as opposed to live music). Here is 25-6:

25. Manners by Passion Pit- More white Indie Rock kids try their hand at dance music. What’s so special about that? I mean MGMT did it last year and we have all listened to LCD Sound System, Daft Punk and others. Right? True, but this is ridiculously infectious music that will make your body move if you allow it to infiltrate your corridors of coolness and detachment (if it worked on me, it can work on you). The highlights are Little Secret, Sleepyhead and To the Kingdom Come, all of which will be heard on soundtracks, commercials pretty much everywhere pretty soon.

24. Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective- I suppose my credibility card will be revoked for having this album outside the Top 10. It is a good album trying to walk the line between dance rock like the aforementioned Passion Pit and MGMT on one side and the forward thinking rock of Radiohead on the other. Sometime is works wonderfully, while at times it still leaves me cold (like Vampire Weekend). Technically it is probably a perfect album, but I miss the heart. I still think Panda Bear’s solo stuff is better.

23. Wilco (the album) by Wilco- At times I think this return to Wilco-ness should be higher. While it does not reach the heights of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost is Born, it is light years ahead of Sky Blue Sky. Instead of denying its journey while calling it a return, as Wilco did on Sky Blue Sky, Wilco (the album) ventures through the experimentalism of YHF and AGIB in its return to the simplicity of previous incarnations. Plus, the lightness of touch is a pleasant surprise. Kudos for the best self referential lyric of the year, and the best ever by a non-rap artist, “Wilco- a sonic shoulder to cry On, Wilco.” Thanks for being a sonic shoulder, Mr. Tweedy.

22. Far by Regina Spektor- Paste magazine missed the boat on this album. It gets a lot of airplay in my household, even if it does not hold up to the perfection of Begin to Hope. It is sweet, strange and you can dance to it, plus she is one of the best lyricists/ pianists/ songwriters working today, like Tori Amos or Fiona Apple with a happy home life. While some dismiss the album due to the inclusion of the song Machine, I will not disparage an album for an unfortunate chorus that should have been edited out of the final product.

21. Welcome to Mali by Amadou and Miriam- African music is becoming more musically and practically accessible for Americans. Therefore, any list of great albums of the year that does not include African artists is incomplete. If you want authentically African music you can groove to in a club, music that is at once traditional and modern, check into this album with the Damon Albarn produced gem Sabali. I guarantee you will love that song.

20. The Ecstatic by Mos Def- After his last disappointing turn behind the mic, Mos Def is back reminding us why he was a premier hip hop artist before turning his attention to acting (he is a wonderfully appealing screen presence). This is a smooth, funny, deep album full of lightening fast rhymes and music slightly less ordinary.

19. Troubadour by K'naan- I know, I know. I talk too much about K’naan (I am working on a piece for a magazine just to increase the obnoxious obsession). But, besides the guys at NPR’s All Songs Considered, I don’t hear anyone giving him the love he deserves. First of all, this album is not in the league of his debut. Of course, I think The Dusty Foot Philosopher is the best album of the decade bar none, so this was bound to be a disappointment after hearing a man turn such pain into art, like a rapping African Van Gogh. Aside from the unfortunate remake of Rap Gets Jealous (buy his first album and listen to the power of that song and ignore the crass commercialism of the new version), this is a great album giving us pop hits (Bang Bang), stories of Africa we never hear in the popular media (Somolia, T.I.A.) and the emotionally charged and bring you to tears Bob Marley-esque anthems like Waving Flag, a reminder of his 1^st album.

18. A Brief History of the Big Pink by The Big Pink- I have a belief that music perfection must include inordinate amounts feedback, distortion and reverb. In fact, if there is such thing as “too much feedback” I am not aware of this phenomenon. That said, I love BRMC, Spiritualized, Jesus and the Mary Chain and The Verve. Add to the mix a bit of pop song structure and the formula completes itself for a guy like me. Solid album that was my soundtrack for an overcast day walking around NYC.

17. Fantasies by Metric- An album I think got lost in the shuffle when it came to making lists of the best albums of the year, this is apparently an under-heard and underappreciated jewel that is at once aggressive female-voiced led rock and roll and modern pop that is wonderfully open. My entire family loves this album, with smart lyrics dealing with gender issues, power and inner struggles, but in a very singable manner. As you may have noticed I love it when the music is sugar, while the lyrics are bitter. If I can pick one album on this list I can guarantee everyone (besides the snobbish wimpy folkies) will like, this is it.

16. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix- The dance pop album of the year, I dare you to dislike this infectious musical equivalent of Crème Brulee, another irresistible French dessert.

15. Get Guilty by A.C. Newman- The undisputed leader of one of the great power pop bands, the New Pornographers releases his best album and it gets forgotten by everyone. What is wrong with everyone? A.C. Newman is one of the smartest pop songwriters around, like Ben Folds with a guitar and more lyrical discipline.

14. Middle Cyclone by Neko Case- A.C. Newman’s muse released another superb collection of 70s era country songs that my parents would love if country music stations played the good stuff anymore. While not my favorite Case album (it may be #3), even an average work by Neko is going to make everyone’s list.

13. Veckatimist by Grizzly Bear- I acknowledge the greatness of this work, even if it is not my 13^th favorite of the year. I am beginning to like it beyond the “hits” and considering the Brian Wilson worship Grizzly Bear live out, I eventually will love this album on a daily basis, as opposed to the present love of it sonically but not personally. It may be the best sounding album of 2009.

12. I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers- Produced by the incomparable Rick Rubin, The Brothers head away from the rave ups of the past towards a soulful sweetness. It is not the direction I had expected or wanted. In fact, I was disappointed they left much of the bluegrass on steroids and/or acid approach of previous incarnations. But, I need to acknowledge its subtle beauty. It is a gorgeous work, even if I was hoping for something different (not better, though).

11. It’s Blitz by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Given a choice, I would choose Metric’s latest, a similar album by a similar band. However, this effort is a little “more” than Metric’s. It is louder, rowdier, better produced, cooler and showier. But in this case, this is all a good thing. Also, check out leader Karen O’s soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are. It is much more acceptable music for kids to parents that have discerning ears.

10. Elephants by Aaron Strumpell- One of 3 overtly spiritual albums in my Top 10, this is the only one that is expressly “Christian.” A thoroughly original work holding little in common with any other Christian artist (closest thing is Strumple’s work on Enter the Worship Circle projects, Waterdeep, mellow mewithoutyou, Sufjan’s weirdest flourishes and Rich Mullins’ more esoteric stuff), this rumination on the Psalms takes a few dedicated listens and a good set of speakers to allow to grab hold of you. Some say this album wails, which I would agree with and think is good company for Aaron to keep, considering the history of the Psalms and Israel.

9. Reservoir by Fanfarlo- “Belle and Sebastian, I would like to introduce you to The Arcade Fire.” Fanfarlo fits into the sub-genre of literary chamber pop, but with a bit of the cacophonous leaning of Devotchka and Beirut. This is another album I dare you to not like. The moment I heard the opening melodies on their myspace page, I stopped, went directly to song #2, listened for a few seconds and bought the album. Less than 30 seconds in, I knew I would love this album. That happens very seldom.

8. Actor by St. Vincent-Annie Erin Clark used to be part of Sufjan Stevens’ band and the Polyphonic Spree. She has moved beyond their conventions to create something wholly earthy and other, while still reminding most listeners of past musical heroines like Kate Bush and Bjork. While still mellow, there is a focused drive to this album built around tasteful, but intense guitar work (and dark lyrics- imagine that).

7. XX by The XX- Descriptions of this band and album tend to make people run screaming before giving it a listen. I know I ignored it for a while, even though the reviews were great. I gave it a quick listen and found it uninspiring. Then I gave it another chance and noticed that this quiet, 70s inspired male/ female duo was everything I wish Mates of State were. If you like simple, interesting music with little flourish, you may like The XX.

6. The Life of The World to Come by The Mountain Goats- Like Bill Mallonee or Bob Dylan, John Darnielle has a voice for those that like unvarnished, Auto-Tune free, slightly nasally singers that try to stay out of the way, so you can focus on the ridiculously poetic stories in which highly flawed people try to attain their salvation through whatever means they can find, sacred or secular. Unlike many Christian musicians that would take a passage of Scripture and regurgitate whatever their pastor or John Piper told them, Danielle takes a different approach on this album, in which he meditates on specific passages, using them as jumping off points for hard lessons, seekers of salvation and agnostic observations. It is compelling stuff with great lyrics like the prayer ‘send me a mechanic if I’m not beyond repair.” Amen to that. With albums like this I question the need for anything considered “Christian music (of course, I have questioned that for a decade or so).”

Top Albums of the Year (50-26)

My list of top albums or musical experiences is tough for me to compile each year. I want it to reflect my tastes and listening preferences. I think I have good grasp of what makes a song, album or performance great (I have created my own little formula), but know that my experience with rap, top 40 and country, along with jazz is lacking on many levels. Also, those are not my preferred genres, so I will leave it to more knowledgeable souls to decide the top 10 Nashville Country artists and albums (I will add the ones I think transcend their boundaries).

I do not want to be myopic, assuming my little world is the sun around which good music revolves. I understand that Lady GaGa may be one of the best 50 albums of the year. However, I just don’t get her and no matter how many listens I give to her latest, I doubt I will ever grasp its “greatness.” That said, you will see a few mainstream artists on my list, including one very high. Sadly, I know I have missed many extraordinary albums this year due to lack of unlimited time and funds. I know the latest by Cass McCombs, Sonic Youth, Coconut Records, Taken by Trees, Bowerbirds, Jarvis Cocker, Major Lazer, Manic Street Preachers, Kurt Vile, Mariachi el Bronx, Camera Obscura, William Elliot Whitmore, M Ward, Edward Sharpe and mewithoutyou could be superior to anything on my list. I fully acknowledge this and may find out next week that I should have spent the time to get to know each of those albums a bit better (by the way, I loved some of those albums and have no idea why I did not include them on this list).

My last of many caveats is this. I know the long form album is becoming passé. In fact, my favorite band in the world, Radiohead says they have given up (for now) on the form due to its limitations. This year alone, they released a couple of songs that could top this list. Modest Mouse and Bon Iver also released excellent EPs. However, I am still gonna hold on to the album as the ultimate form of rock art until further notice. So, here are numbers 50-41:

50. Dark Night of the Soul by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse- The powers that be have forced this album underground due to licensing issues or as a way to exert power over the artists involved. Don’t let that stop you from listening (the artists encourage people to download it illegally) to this gem from Gnarles Barkley’s genius producer and Virginia low-fi band Sparklehorse. There are many guest stars including Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals on the excellent Just War and Jason Lytle. There should be a film to accompany this soundtrack (there is a slide show).

49. These Four Walls by We Were Promised Jetpacks- An album of raw talent that is yet to be restrained, this could be the advent of the next U2, the next Frightened Rabbit or the next band to disappear while never living up to its potential. I am not sure which one. The songs are here and the it is a fresh approach to post-punk Scottish anthems along the lines of the aforementioned bands and others like Glassvegas and The Alarm.

48. Humbug by The Arctic Monkeys- The haters like to compare them to a British version of The Strokes, but last I checked the Strokes made one of the decade’s best albums. I love the assured voice of Alex Turner, akin to a sweet looking kid on the street corner that could walk you across the street or mug you. The songs are solid and the performance is tight.

47. No Line on The Horizon by U2- Most readers know I hit my U2 wall earlier this year after the ecstatic uncritical late blooming deification of Bono and Company by my friends in the Emerging Church movement. They waited 20 years to bestow such honors on U2 and acted as if their latest overblown James Cameron-esque claw stage was the pinnacle of concert and worship experiences, as if a church should lead its congregants in such a form of “worship.” That said, the music on this album is solid, if unspectacular. There are moments of heights that only U2 can reach, such as Breathe and lines only Bono can sing without sounding like a nincompoop, but there are signs of a band a bit too long in the tooth needing to lurch forward to its next stage of development or just hang it up and become a Rolling Stones-like review of their greatest hits for a bunch of 40 and 50 year olds that think they are still cool.

46. Two Suns by Bat for Lashes- If Nora Jones wrote songs sang them like Bat for Lashes, I would actually like Nora Jones. You have heard this music, which hearkens back to Kate Bush much of the time, but it sounds fresh in BFL’s arms.

45. Beware by Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Will Oldham’s alter ego is not for everyone, but it is for me. A former alt rocker that has embraced is inner Merle Haggard, singing the kind of country music Nashville will not touch. Standouts include I am Goodbye which would sound right on a George Jones album, but would never get play on today’s country stations and Beware Your Only Friend. This is an underrated gem of an album.

44. Wind’s Poem by Mount Eerie- If I had discovered this nugget earlier this year, I have a feeling it would be much higher on my list. If you ever heard the band Microphones, this is the same leader with a new name, just to complicate your life and hide in plain site. He says it is influenced by black metal, but if it is I would call this album a beautifully affecting sonic maelstrom of quiet loudness.

43. Miike Snow by Miike Snow- Yes, I spelled it right. As a kid I loved the X-men. Jean Grey’s alter ego the Phoenix was one of my favorites before going evil and turning into the Dark Phoenix. Now take the band Phoenix, the French pop band from the ipod commercials. They are infectious light pop. Now darken them, a lot. They become Dark Phoenix… and you just rename them Miike Snow. Seriously, I wish I had heard this album earlier this year since it is terribly pop, but with dark as night lyrical content and filled with a love of minor keys. Two of the guys were responsible for hits by Brittany Spears and some American Idols, but they saw the light (or moon) and created something wholly other while keeping their bubblegum sensibilities.

42. Yours Truly, the Commuter by Jason Lytle- Jason is the former leader of Granddaddy, a respected indie pop band. This is nothing new for Jason, but that is not a bad thing. Heavily orchestrated at times, much of the album is whispered, but not quiet. This is a very pretty pop, but not precious album if you like that sort of thing. I would rather listen to this if given a choice between it an Fleet Foxes any day, even if it reminds me of them.

41. Know Better Learn Faster by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down- A fun album full of infectious songs my kids would like as much as me, if I let them hear it (I need to do it). Thao and her band love to change it up, usually in the same song with radical departures, usually just a few minutes in. Sometimes it sounds as if things are about to fall apart, which (if you know me) I consider a good thing in music.

40. Hazards of Love by The Decemberists- With each subsequent album after Picaresque, The Decemberists have proven the law of diminishing musical returns to be true. While others blather incoherently about this 'masterwork" I can only say, it is a solid album with inventive music and great, albeit disturbingly bleak (yeah, I get it... its a story) lyrics.

39. This is For the Light in Your Eyes by The Choir of Young Believers- It is not too hard to imagine the Polyphonic Spree fronted by Brian Wilson with musical direction by Moby. Okay, maybe it is. These songs are symphonic yet catchy with a nice bit of surprising intensity.

38. Imidiwan: Companions by Tinariwen- Not the masterpiece that Aman Iman was, but this Grateful Dead meets Santana is the Saharan desert is still transcendent music, unlike anything else on the planet.

37. Dragonslayer by Sunset Rubdown-It still borders at times on inaccessible, but Dragonslayer is as close as art rockers Sunset Rubdown will ever get to playing to the crowd. I am surprised this has not made more year-end lists.

36. Monsters of Folk by Monsters of Folk-By not making the top 10, this "supergroup" consisting of Conor Oberst, M Ward and Jim James of My Morning Jacket could be considered a disappointment. It is feel good folk pop basking in the goodness of CS&N while keeping close to the identities of the participants... maybe adhering too close is the problem. Still, it is solid and has a gem called Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) that you should download.

35. Now We Can See by The Thermals- I am sure it is considered "post-punk, but it is pure pop rock and roll with inane lyrics, fast guitars and killer hooks. i likey the energy.

34. Blacksummer's Night by Maxwell- Nobody makes classier, sexier, smarter soul than Maxwell and it is about time he returns to the scene (what has it been, 8 years?). It may not be on par with Urban Hang Suite, but I think it still the soul album of the year.

33. Album by Girls- Did you know I like really sunny pop? I do. If you do too, then listen. In a few months, I think this may be in my top 10, but I am not sure yet. It could have staying power.

32. Other Lives by Other Lives- In the vein of Max Richter, this is classically influenced piano rock only possible after Sigur Ros has paved the roads. It can be one dimensional at times, but the use of minor chords and intricate progressions makes this my pick for background music, ala Son Lux from last year.

31. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin by The Low Anthem- I thought it would end up higher, but I don't go back much. Still, the mixture of Fleet Foxes sweetness on some songs while pumping it up with Tom Waits-like dirt on others is a good mix. There are some beautiful pieces, but a less than cohesive whole.

30. Hymns From Rhodesia by listenlisten-The most original album on this list, this is a haunting piece of religious heritage brought to the fore through stark arrangements of lost hymns from Africa.

29. Mean Everything To Nothing by Manchester Orchestra- A loud, angry guy channeling Kurt Cobain and Brand New through an emo lens, but still rocking better than any album I heard this year. If you want to hear what is sounds like to deal with a Southern Christian upbringing as things fall apart, this is your album. Anything I say makes it less appealing that it really is.

28. Technicolor Health by Harlem Shakes- Underrated NYC band that sadly just broke up. Imagine Vampire Weekend, but less technically perfect, but much more warm and real sounding.

27. Embryonic by The Flaming Lips- Strange band takes a strange turn towards its roots and 70s art rock, but that is okay. It is not as accessible as its last 3 albums, but it grows on you.

26. Aim & Ignite by fun.- As an unabashed fan of Nate Ruess' former band, The Format, I was devastated to find out they had broken up in 07. Providentially, he joined with a former member of Anathallo to cook up a piece of dark chocolate that goes down sweet (the music) yet leaves a bitter aftertaste (the lyrics). The dark lyrics are hidden by sugary theatrical pop, part Broadway, part Queen and all Format.

special mention: Not sure how to classify it or judge it against the rest, so I will not try. However, the compilation album Dark Was the Night is one of the better albums of the year and a good non-traditional album filled with positively great works by Arcade Fire, The National, Spoon and Yo La Tengo (could be on any of their latest albums). The gem of the set is You Are The Blood, a 10 minute masterpiece song suite by Sufjan Stevens. It is the best thing he has ever done and if this is an indication of his next phase, let me be the first to express my excitement.