7. Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day
From my 75 or Less review: Here in the American south, decoration day refers to placing bouquets of flowers on loved ones' grave sites. A more fitting name couldn't be found for this brilliantly crafted collection of songs covering dour and depressing topics with southern boogie, insightful lyrics and country wisdom. Whether it's a song about an incestuous brother and sister ("The Deeper In"), an ode to a father and his advice to an unheeding son ("Outfit") or the reaction to a friend's suicide ("When The Pin Hits The Shell"), "Decoration Day" manages to flesh out its stories while never losing its dignity.
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8. Blackberry Belle, Twilight Singers - Greg Dulli returns with his second Twilight Singers album and focuses on songwriting while bringing in experienced session men to handle the musical load. The resulting album makes me fondly remember the Afghan Whigs, but look forward to Dulli's growth as both a songwriter and arranger. Look for the third Twilight Singers in this spot next December.

9. Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic
Powerpop with an edge, this record was most likely to make my wife ask me to turn down the volume. The band tragically lost of two band members this year in an automobile accident, and they will be missed.
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10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell
This was the most anticipated album of the year for me. Slightly less gritty production (compared to their EP's) actually works in the band's favor, and the band continues to be greater than its estimable parts.

11. Wrens, Meadowlands
It took the Wrens seven years to record the followup to Secaucus, and Meadowlands is worth the wait. Intimate and strong from the opening song to the last, you'll be hooked from the first listen.
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This first appeared on my weblog, Largehearted Boy.