Numbers 20-16

20. Hot Hot Heat's Happiness Ltd.
I’m still not sure yet, but this may be their best effort. I always tend to like a band’s newest album the best if it’s even close to as good as the other ones, but it does seem like this one landed a little further ahead. There are elements of maturity here that weren’t present on the first two. And I’m not just saying that because this is the first time they’ve limited their happiness in any way. It did seem to be a jaded year in music, but I guess seven years of Bush could do that to anybody. Sure did it to The Arcade Fire, and they’re not even from this country. But it’s not just a jaded maturity, tracks like Harmonicas & Tambourines and So, So Cold have really stepped up the par. It’s not just dance music anymore, these guys are really good.
19. The Cloud Cult's Meaning of 8
This album would have been higher had they just dropped a couple of tracks. It really started to drag about half way through, and it’s a shame because there’s some great stuff here. I mean, the first four tracks are just unstoppable. No one’s expecting them to keep up that sort of pace, but they almost lost me before the end. A Girl Underground and Alien Christ are the only ones that really stand out to me on the second half. Nevertheless, the good was good enough to earn them a place on the list.
18. Menomena's Friend and Foe
This is exactly the sort of emotion I look for in music. It’s deeper than just the vocals, all three of the guys in this band play all sorts of instruments and contribute lead and backing vocals alike. It’s really a group effort and you can feel that sort of homogeneity in their music. The first half is where the action is. The second half is nice, but not nice enough to land higher. I see big things for you though, boys. Three is the magic number.
17. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew's Spirit If...
Well, I guess the difference here is it’s all Kevin, all the time. In effect, the music loses some of its mystery, but makes up for it in earnestness and intimacy. Now, a lot of times I’m confused when bands decide to come out with a self-titled album a few long plays into their discography. Like when Razorlight brands their second, clearly inferior release as what they’re all about, I guess. Or when Pearl Jam, after releasing several potential this-is-us albums comes out with possibly their last, and certainly not their best effort as their official mark. But with Broken Social Scene it made sense. Their self titled really felt like a finale to everything they’d been about in their first three albums. A bombastic summation of atmospheric energy. I guess The Big Bang would have been a good pick too. Now as an encore, the other 18 or whatever take a step back and let the spotlight fall on one. The result is an instantly endearing sure to be classic.
16. Yeasayer's All Hour Cymbals
This album really characterized the difference between atmosphere rock and chamber rock for me. It’s got all the great haunting qualities good atmosphere rock has, but it’s all in the foreground. What’s impressive (for one) is that it’s never overwhelming. These guys are among the vanguard of future rock along with bands like Animal Collective, Architecture in Helsinki and TV on the Radio. This album just has such raw tribal energy that is so rare in modern music. Even as I’m writing this I’m not sure I placed this high enough. Keep your eyes on these guys. That’s all I can say.