My favorites are:

- TV on the Radio, "Dear Science"

It lacks the experimental edge of their last album, "Return to Cookie Mountain," but "Dear Science" is by far the most approachable, immediately engaging music this Brooklyn powerhouse has ever produced. The songs are catchy and immediate, but reveal hidden nuance on repeat listenings. And in a year that was such a downer, I find the song "The Golden Age" really encouraging on some level.

- No Age, "Nouns"

The only thing I don't like about this manic collection of off-kilter post-rock is that it's too short. No other bands I know of right now are creating music this visceral or intriguing, even disorienting. Amazing that it's essentially nothing more than guitar, drums and samples.

- Cut Copy, "In Ghost Colours"

An amazing '80s throwback, and I mean that in the best way possible. This is just unpretentious danceable pop music that's all about fun. And the songs themselves are just really strong, well-crafted and memorable, which I find rare for a band with this sort of electro sound. These guys are what Does It Offend You, Yeah? would be if they got over themselves.

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