1. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere 
Simply the quirkiest and funk-a-fied pop album to come out this year. Whether it is the inescapable ‘Crazy’ or the hypnotic ‘Smiley Faces,’ Gnarls was everywhere this year. To steal from Nathan’s review Gnarls Barkley harpoons any conventions of hip-hop and R&B and locks them in the trunk. The album borrows from gospel, funk, rock, disco, and just about any other genre that’s been around in the last 30 years … Perfect.
2. Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds 
I really want to know what sort of unholy blood pact this little Memphis mousekeeter made with the devil. There’s just no other way to explain how this ex-Nsync member could garnish this much critical approval. Even though it reeks of Timbaland’s infectious production, you cannot deny that this is a great record, created by a driven artist. The fact that this man wakes up to a stunning actress every morning and is still able to pen the penultimate break-up song – ‘What Goes Around’ – make this man’s talent that much more impressive.
3. Shout Out Out Out Outs – Just Saying/Not Saying 
So if you took an industrial blender and then mixed Primal Scream, the Go!Team, Daft Punk and MSTRKRAFT you’d get the Shout Out Out Out Out’s début album. A fantastic dance album fused with the energy of a bunch punk rockers. I hate to admit this, but Not Saying/Just Saying is probably the single greatest thing to come out of Edmonton. (read our review)
4.) Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – Rabbit Furcoat 
With the sultry Watson twins to guide her, Jenny Lewis dives head first into the world of American gospel/country. On Rabbit Fur Coat, she’s woven a beautiful tapestry of songs filled with heartache, sorrow, revenge and melancholy. Proving, furthermore that there is plenty of tales of misery to be written in the world of country music. (read our review)
5.) Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor 
This record was supposed to shake the foundation of the hip-hop world. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite do that. But if you manage to venture past the hype, you’ll find a laid back skater kid from Chicago spitting out his takes on life over a weird Startship/Trooper intergalactic vibe. It is probably one of the most casual and important rap albums since the release of Midnight Marauders. (read our review)
And the Worst … Deftones – Saturday Night Wrist 
The Deftones finally achieved what they were destined to do – create a heavy metal album that is elegant, ferocious and artsy. They finally bridge the gap between the ambient sounds of White Pony and the intensity of Around the Fur. Then they torpedo the entire album by including the senseless track ‘Pink Cellphone.’ A track that is pointlessly shocking, disruptive and repulsive. Nice job guys. (read our review)
