20. David Cook by David Cook
The newest American Idol winner is my guilty pleasure of the year. It is power pop at its finest and proof positive that American Idol can select the right winner every six years or so. I could see him fronting an 80s hair band. This is the lead single “Light On”

19. The Promised Land by Dar Williams
Dar Williams churns out yet another album that beautifully chronicles the human spirit with ethos and passion. She is consistently one of the finest song-writers around. This is the lead single “That’s Alright.”

18. Feed the Animals by Girl Talk
This is very atypical for me. I don’t usually like stuff like this and resisted downloading it for a long time. However, once I did I couldn’t deny its insistence on repeat playing. This is one long extended series of mashups. It’s a kick being able to hear a song that so expertly blends Phil Collins and the Beastie Boys. Part of the fun in listening to this is trying to identify all the songs you hear. Is that Argent? Why, yes it is. This is “What It’s All About.”

17. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
These Columbia grads released a stellar debut album earlier this year. They are able to wed a myriad of influences to produce a raucous and fun album. This is “A-Punk”

16. Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson
I love Ingrid Michaelson’s work. Her 2007 release “Girls and Boys” is stellar and her 2005 debut “Slow the Rain” is an absolute masterpiece. This release, however, is a collection of covers, live tunes and previously unreleased material. It’s still great, though. This is the title track.

15. Fortune’s Favour by Great Big Sea
I’ve long been a Great Big Sea fan. Their latest release is more commercial than previous outings but it is still a great collection of Newfoundland inspired ditties. This is “Love Me Tonight.”

14. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady
This is not the best Springsteen inspired album of the year but it’s close. This album just plain rocks. This is the title track.

13. Mockingbird by Alison Moorer
Man, this woman can sing. Some of the finest pipes you will encounter anywhere. This collection of songs written by other female composers is some of Moorer’s finest work. This is the title track.

12. Backwoods Barbie by Dolly Parton
For all the times she has been the punchline of a joke there should be mention that Dolly Parton is one of the greatest country music songwriters of all time. Her latest effort does not disappoint. This is “Jesus and Gravity.”

11. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog by Various Artists
The internet event of the year was a tremendous blend of humor and musicianship. And that’s not just because Neil Patrick Harris is the coolest man on the planet. This is “My Freeze Ray.”