Portishead comes back after an 11 year silence and releases one of the most acclaimed albums of '08. "Machine Gun" is it's best track.

There's not much more intimidating then a 20 track experimental electronic record. It's not for everyone, but it's personally one of my favorites so far this year.

Some M83 fans were upset by this release, as it was a departure from the bleak and dark shoegaze they fell in love with on Before the Dawn Heals Us. Instead, Saturdays=Youth is built around 80s nostalgia. Yeah, it's cheesy at times, but it's also heartfelt and sincere. And of course, the music is pretty good too.

Another young band with some decent buzz released their debut full length. A very solid album, but there's some definate room for improvement. Update: It's grown in to one of my favorite albums of the year.

I bought this album just for the opening track, "Time to Pretend". It's not a very consistent record, but it shows that these two have a ton of talent and potential.

I haven't heard all of this record yet, but from what I have heard, these guys have a very bright future in the indie scene.

Sub Pop brings up another awesome indie group. They should end up having a pretty good year (both Sub Pop and No Age). It's basically shoegaze/noise pop with a punk attitude.

The solo project of Bradford Cox, lead singer of Deerhunter. This is some of the most compelling music he has yet made. The critics were won over, too.

The physical release of the poet/rapper/actor/screen writer's 3rd lp includes 3 new songs. Some people can't really get in to him, but I thought this cd was incredible. I'm not a big NIN fan, but Trent Reznor deffinately brought a lot to this album.

I thought I was going to hate this album when I heard the first song, but luckily it quickly abandons that sappy soft prog for the loud and heavy prog that has made them one of the most prominent metal bands.

What's up with the Notwist? They made one of the most aclaimed albums of the decade with Neon Golden, yet they get very little attention. This album didn't really match the previous one's acclaim, but it was still very impressive.

No, they could not match their classic debut (I blame all the side projects) but this is still a very solid album.

Last year's Stage Names was actually supposed to be a double album, but the Okkervil River (band names should be plurals!) were persuaded to hold the second disc for a future release, and here it is! It's an impressive follow up to an even more impressive album, but I think had they been released as the double album they were supposed to be, then it would be a classic.

Definately one of the more bizarre dance records of the year, as it can be kind of abrasive at times. But it's a lot of fun and "Vanished" is impossibly catchy.

Incredible pop album. Similar in intention to Saturdays=Youth, but more exciting and energyzing in execution.

Why have some critics decided to attack Mogwai? Pitchfork doesn't give any good reasons for scoring it so low. I liked it a lot, though. They're obviously not going to recreate Young Team, but that doesn't mean they're done.

Yes, Damon Alburn, of Blur and Gorrilaz fame, has composed an opera based on a Chinese myth about a monkey and a pig or something. And yes, it is sung in Chinese (thankfully, the booklet translates much of it). But it really is much better and more accessible then you're probably thinking.

I had a hard time getting in to Friend Opportunity, so imagine my surprise when I took a chance on Deerhoof's latest and found my favorite album of the year. Just hear it.

I know, I want new Grizzly Bear music too. But trust me, this album from the same guys (minus one) is arguably just as good.

Their third album is spectacular. I liked Cryptograms, but it seems like they finally lived up to the hype here.