1. Gillian Welch, The Harrow & the Harvest - David Rawlings is prominent again; every song could be a standard.

2. Tom Waits, Bad As Me - This perfect album manages to be vintage Waits without being redundant. 

3. Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon is the one of the most mature songwriters alive. 

4. Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive - Steve Earle is one of the most mature songwriters alive. 

5. Feist, Metals - The guitar work! The guitar work! The guitar work! The guitar

6. Joe Henry, Reveries - Gets under your skin. It plays like a good jazz recording.

7. Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO - Reminds me of the days when I discovered Ryan Adams.

8. Wilco, The Whole Love - If I don’t like Wilco albums, I assume I’m the problem.

9. Bon Iver, Bon Iver - Proud of this guy; thought he was a one record wonder.

10. Miranda Lambert & Pistol Annies, Four the Record & Hell on Heels - Counting this a two-album release; best Big Nashville act out there.

11. James Blake, James Blake - Most interesting record this year: One part D’Angelo, one part Frou Frou.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Adams (for returning to form), Radiohead (for being Radiohead), Drive-by Truckers (for being Drive-by Truckers), Lucinda Williams (for being Lucinda Williams), Dawes (for writing catchy songs without shame or irony), Emmylou Harris (for being Emmylou Harris).