I don't have nearly as much time as I'd like to find a new artist every week, as most of my time is devoted to the cinema. With that said, most of my top ten list comes from artists who've affected me in the past, only to bless us this year with another astounding disc.

1. PJ Harvey | White Chalk (Island)
More than any artist I can think of, Polly Jean Harvey has the uncanny ability to give you something you never thought you wanted, but then couldn't live without. And more so than her last two albums, Harvey takes her audience into unfamiliar, haunting territories with the sublime White Chalk, easily this year's best album.

2. Justice | Cross (Downtown)

3. Peter Bjorn and John | Writer's Block (Almost Gold)

4. M.I.A. | Kala (Interscope)

5. Animal Collective | Strawberry Jam (Domino)

6. Scratch Massive, et al. | Broken English OST (Commotion)
Though also including The Pharcyde, I Am Kloot, and Juan Trip (M83 is featured in the film, but not on the disc), the soundtrack to Zoe Cassavetes' film debut is all about French electro duo Scratch Massive, who composed the entire score, including a great cover of Marianne Faithfull's "Broken English." I don't know what it is about daughters of famous filmmakers and their impeccable taste in music.

7. Arcade Fire | Neon Bible (Merge)

8. Montag | Going Places (Carpark)

9. Interpol | Our Love to Admire (Capitol)

10. Kylie Minogue | X (EMI)
It's obvious with X, Kylie's 10th studio album (get it?), that lightning won't strike twice with her (I don't care what you say, but Fever is the best pop album of the decade). With that said, X is a fine album with some special ditties: a sample from Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's "Bonnie and Clyde" and the obligatory cancer song. | Joe Bowman