1. M.I.A. - Kala

 

Acclaimed by artists, critics, and listener's alike, M.I.A.'s sophmore release is both experimental and accessible by creating a potpourri of sound that kept listener's scratching their heads as to how she made Wreckx-N-Effect sound clever.

2. Busdriver -  RoadKillOvercoat

Busdriver's sporadic delivery and electronic/hip-hop beats propelled him to return to our Top 10 for a second consecutive year after appearing as a guest artist on Islands' "Return to Sea."

Here's a performance of stand-out track "Kill Your Employer  (Recreational Paranoia Is the Sport of Now), never mind the banter.

3. Common - Finding Forever

Being his most commercial and critical album to date, collaborations with Lily Allen and DJ Premier helped Common gain new listeners while still managing to keep his loyal fan base.

4. Feist - The Reminder

Using college radio as a catapult into the front of the bank line to cash her royalty checks from Apple, Feist cooed her way into the mainstream without modifying her light, electronic tinged indie pop sound.

Now watch Feist conquer the Los Angeles Public Transportation System, one bus at a time.

5. Dalek - Abandoned Language

An mp3 of Dalek's album will be posted soon, but until then here's Dalek (the robot) traumatizing today's youth and hindering future generation's interest in sci-fi films and books.

6. Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch

Sondre stretched his boundaries on this album, (mostly) leaving behind his lush orchestral arrangements for a more raw, My Aim is True-era Elvis Costello-influenced sound. Wearing most of his influences on his sleeves (gladly), on this album we get to hear bossa nova, rock, and even disco.  

7. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release

Riding on the coattails of their highly celebrated remixed track with Justice, SMD kept electronic fans dancing with their synth drenched sound, catchy refrains…

and bi-curious pre-adult fans. 

8. The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth

Though not falling into a sophmore slump, The Go! Team's sound became formulaic but still satisfied fans, garnering them enough requests to place them in our Top 10. Chuck D Approved.

Now prepare to O.D. on special effects.

9. Sea Wolf - Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low EP

Here's Sea Wolf playing on our very own campus, thanks Michelle.

10. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Living with the Living

Ted Leo brings together Folk, Indie, and Punk while still being commercially successful by not alienating it's listeners despite it's political messages and him being pissed after all these years. 

Here's the band taking a cue from the but going one step further.