The Humpty Dance

10. josh rouse - country mouse city house - josh is one of the most underrated singer songwriters around. he never makes a bad song, yet he is unique from album to album. his album 1972 featured songs inspired by the year, while nashville about a city. in this one, he returns to his alt-country roots, and sings happy songs about not so happy topics. "sweetie" "london bridges" and the standout closer "snowy." simple, pretty, good for a rainy day.

9. john vanderslice - emerald city - i never really paid much attention to vanderslice, even though he was label mates with death cab and nada surf. i just never woke up and discovered his talent. this album has one of the best tracks of the year, "kookaburra" and is above all smooth beginning to the calming "central booking" a song that reminds me of waiting in european train stations.

8. eddie vedder - into the wild ost - so i never saw this movie, havent read the book (though they are both on my list for 2008), but this soundtrack is awesome. ive always been fond of mr. vedder, even enjoyed a couple conversations with him during my grocery days at thriftway. this album gives him a chance to step away from the rock pearl jam falls into. a softer side of vedder is seen and a far wider range is revealed. "hot sun" is an awesome anthem, one of the best tracks of the year.

7. aesop rock - none shall pass - ive already boasted about this one. a late year discovery and is the best hip hop album ive heard in a long time. aes has gotten me to love rap again. "none shall pass" "bring back pluto" and "citronella" shine in this one.

6. david gray - a thousand miles behind - an album of live covers; i gotta admit i was a bit skeptical, but then again, much of anything mr. gray touches is gold. the accoustic renditions of bob dylans "to ramona" and "one too many mornings", the bee gees "in the morning" (a spectacular track; goosebumps), and will oldham's "one with the birds." beautiful work here, rumor has it that a david gray album featuring originals is due in 2008. this album is exactly how covers are supposed to be done.

5. menomena - friend and foe - menomena is one of my late year discoveries. a portland band that toured with the national a while back (damn would have loved to be there for that). this album is also up there with radiohead as far as being a complete album. "muscle'n'flo" is the opener and sets the tone well, followed by standouts "duel," personal favorite "rotten hell", and the closer "west" featuring calming piano amongst a hectic album. menomena needs to come to seattle very soon.

4. feist - the reminder - so i was hesitant about this one at first, with all the attention given to it through the ipod commercial ("1234" got in everybody's head). but this album is worth the hype. im not particularly fond of female singers (dont ask why - its just been the way it is), but feist is the first one ive liked since norah jones came around a few years back. i absolutely love "i feel it all" and "past in present" definitely sneaks up on you.

3. radiohead - in rainbows - this was a tough one for me. radiohead has always been one of my favorite bands and this is album blew their last album hail to the thief (minus "there there") out of the water. from start to finish it is one of the most complete albums of the year, hands down. love "all i need" "15 step" and the perfect "reckoner." a must have for anyone who ever liked anything radiohead ever did. cant wait for the box set jan 1st.