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40

Elsa Jayne
Elsa Jayne
(Independent)

A headrush of lovely vocals, harmonies, and naive (in the best way) Eisley-style indie folk-pop. A truly wonderful debut album.

39

Starflyer 59
Dial M
(Tooth & Nail)

By no means their best work, but it’s a testament to their prolific prowess that one of their worst efforts is still so far ahead of most people’s best.

38

Richard Swift
Richard Swift as Onasis
(Secretly Canadian)

This jumble of basement groans, backyard jams, and instrumental boogies shows that if nothing else, Richard Swift is incapable of repeating himself.

37
Colour Revolt
Plunder, Beg & Curse
(Fat Possum)

Colour Revolt, five young men from Oxford, Mississippi, launch their full-length debut with a head-splitting line: “God is swinging from the liquor tree, licking everything He finds.” The rest of this raw, gritty rock record is just as compelling, from lyrics exploring Southern religion to ear-splitting howls of passion. [Review]

36

House of Heroes
The End is Not the End
(Gotee)

After years of obscurity and speculation, they’ve tossed out the playbook and given us one of the year’s most ambitious post-hardcore albums.

35

Tyler Burkum
Darling Maybe Someday
(Independent)

Proof that latter-day sins are just that and nothing more, former Audio Adrenalite Tyler Burkum channels the spirit of Jeff Tweedy’s … living … spirit.

34

Underoath
Lost in the Sound of Separation
(Tooth & Nail)

After perfecting (and then killing) screamo with their previous two records, the Florida six strike an impressive balance between art and face-crushing force. [Review]

33
Anberlin
New Surrender
(Universal Republic)

From consistently electric live performances to consistently fresh, addictive rock albums, it’s difficult to find anyone who have done more for Christian rock’s credibility than these guys. On their major label debut, front-man Anberlin introduce the world to the muscular riffs and soaring melodies it’s been missing for way too long. [Review]

32
Kevin Max
The Blood
(Dog & Pony)

Arguably the only member of dc Talk to continue mattering post-breakup, the ever-adventurous Kevin Max decided to back his quavering, rootsy singing with organic fusion of organic gospel and indie rock. Only a musician with some versatile talent and genuine soul could pull off an album like this. [Review]

31
Cold War Kids
Loyalty to Loyalty
(Downtown)

Like Delta Spirit backing Jack White at a 4th of July BBQ, the buzzworthy soul boys of Fullerton, CA offer more of the bluesy rock that made them famous, with a little more pomp, a little more maturity, and a little more piano-inspired self-confidence.

30

Thrice
The Alchemy Index, Vol. III & IV: Air & Earth
(Vagrant)

Air & Earth are a true testament to something only age and experience can give you: confidence in your art, and the ability to be proud of where you came from while you remain humble enough to never stop growing.

29

LIGHTS
Lights EP
(Warner Brothers)

God’s gift to cuter-than-heck electro-pop, Valerie Poxleitner was the It Girl of 2008. And though she owes some of that to Old Navy, she owes more of it to her knack for all things accessible and adorable.

28

Rosebuds
Life Like
(Merge)

Their fourth full length in almost as many years, Rosebuds again push their dancy folk-pop agenda gently down our throats.

27

The Welcome Wagon
Welcome to the Welcome Wagon
(Asthmatic Kitty)

We wonder what Sufjan Stevens thought when he first heard The Welcome Wagon. “It sounds like me, but a retro me, but still me, but less over the top, but a little ballsier, but still me.” Probably something like that. Probably something exactly like that.

26
Damien Jurado
Caught in the Trees
(Secretly Canadian)

There’s something vital about Damien Jurado and the full on roots-rock that is Caught in the Trees. The drums keep steady time, Jurado strums away on acoustic guitars, and electric riffs fill the background as he sings about all the regulars—life and love and desperation. This is among the sturdiest work of the year.

25

My Brightest Diamond
A Thousand Shark’s Teeth
(Asthmatic Kitty)

Opting to strip away the trappings of her previous release, Shara Worden’s Diamond takes on a less conventional texturing of strings, bells, and operatic melodies, resulting in an album full of odd, spiraling beauty. [Review]

24
Cotton Jones Basket Ride
The River Strumming
(St. Ives)

When Page France dissolved, there was barely time for the calls of “what next” to be answered before Michael Nau had already moved on to his next project. The River Strumming turns a psychedelic ear to his former band, digging deeper into the past and pressing harder for the perfectly minimal.

23

Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts
Temporary People
(Lonely Astronaut)

Joseph Arthur’s an instinctive artist. After all, he released four EP’s this year before he got around to making Temporary People. On his second album with The Lonely Astronauts (his backing band), Arthur’s instincts led him to mix folk, gospel, and rock. For the most part, it works.

22
Copeland
You Are My Sunshine
(Tooth & Nail)

Copeland’s come of age. They’ve always been kings (if somewhat inexplicably) of vaguely Christian, vaguely indie pop/rock, and they finally deserve it. You Are My Sunshine is a surprisingly cohesive album that gets right to the heart of what the band is good at: vocal harmonies to die for. What they lack in insightful lyrics they more than made up with Aaron Marsh’s voice. This time around, it’s drenched in synthesizers and more effective than ever. [Review]

21

PlayRadioPlay!
Texas
(Island)

The culmination of one-man teenage band Daniel Hunter’s short time at Island Records, Texas is an exercise in hiding his obsession with Ben Gibbard. Which, although not always successful, is delightful.