This was NOT easy, let me tell you.

TOP TEN MUSICAL RELEASES OF THE YEAR (In my humble opinion):

1. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
2. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
3. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Pig Lib
4. Cave-In -Antenna
5. Thursday - War all of the Time
6. The Strokes - Room on Fire
7. The White Stripes - Elephant
8. The Postal Service - Give Up
9. The Bad Plus - These are the Vistas
10. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

RUNNERS-UP

The Books - Thought for Food
The Shins - Chutes too Narrow
Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism