The most upbeat album I heard this year - sprightly Afro-pop from an unlikely source: a bunch of college guys from Brooklyn.

After several years of less-then-exciting music, Stipe and company roar back with their most passionate collection since "Monster" - actually it's even better.

One of the best rock songwriters alive, he pays tribute to his punk roots in another impressively strong effort.

Impressive debut from this Brit folk-rocker and his band, The Sussex Wit. Some of the best songwriting I've heard this side of Richard Thompson.

Philly chanteuse with an inspiring backstory (started writing songs while recuperating from a near-fatal accident). Rich and jazzy material - if you like Norah Jones, you'll love her.

Another solid effort from Ben Gibbard and company, with the usual deft balance of the delicate and the crunchy. "I Will Possess Your Heart" is better in the full album version.

The best band out of New Brunswick, NJ since Looking Glass, and I don't mean that facetiously - these guys pay homage to Springsteen thematically while forging their own hearty rock sound. They're going places.

Maybe not quite the roots-rock classic that was their last album, "If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry", but there's still the strong songwriting and stylistic tinkering from the Bielanko brothers that makes this band so much fun.

Before you could say, "Not ANOTHER actress who wants to be a pop star!" this album endeared itself to nearly everyone who heard it. Zooey Deschanel does a fine job as songwriter and winsome singer, with expert support from M. Ward. She's so cute, you can even forgive her rhyming "self" and "shelf".

"White Winter Hymnal" is the highlight of this album from a group with the tightest vocal harmony I've heard since Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Conceived as a follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed "The Stage Names", this album is just as good, with Will Sheff's passionate vocals and literate songwriting. "Lost Coastlines" is a highlight.

Doughty is back with his trademark quirky funkiness, and while maybe not the equal of his previous effort, "Haughty Melodic", it still has a lot to satisfy, even if it does include a re-recording of one of his best songs, "27 Jennifers".