 | Dear Science by TV on the Radio
Buy new: $12.93 / Used from: $0.99 More refined than Return to Cookie Mountain, TV on the Radio drag the listener in with perfect clarity.
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 | 1000 Kisses by Patty Griffin
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $1.80 Mostly a live acoustic performance captured in the studio, 1000 Kisses is emotionally captivating with an appropriately intimate feel.
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 | MUTEMATH by MUTEMATH
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $5.74 Their music videos are more experimental than their music, but both are impressive, especially for a debut.
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 | Continuum by John Mayer
Buy new: $9.15 / Used from: $4.21 If there was any question John Mayer deserved to be compared to the likes of Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King, this album squelched those doubts.
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 | Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $5.99 The British may not know how to spell “favorite,” but this band’s grasp of punk and indie rock is top notch.
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 | Carnavas by Silversun Pickups
Buy new: $12.21 / Used from: $2.16 Fans of Sonic Youth and The Smashing Pumpkins probably own this album already.
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 | The Fragile Army by The Polyphonic Spree
Buy used from: $0.99 Easily the largest band on the list, The Polyphonic Spree use elaborate instrumentation to change the world one note at a time.
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 | Mezmerize / Hypnotize by System of a Down
Buy used from: $1.05 Released separately, these albums are equally essential for any fan. Even the packaging fits together!
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 | Robbers & Cowards by Cold War Kids
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.99 An incredibly unique and impressive debut record.
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 | Leaves in the River by Sea Wolf
Buy new: $13.60 / Used from: $6.49 Alex ChurchÂ’s alias, which has produced two fantastic indie albums to date. This was his first.
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 | Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Buy new: $8.85 / Used from: $0.57 A mix of jazz and pop that has sold more than 20 million copies across the globe.
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 | It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeah's
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $7.67 Karen O and company evolve once again. This time they lean heavily on synths and beat machines.
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 | I Created Disco by Calvin Harris
Buy used from: $3.55 The title might be a lie, but he did create a phenomenal dance album.
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 | Embryonic by The Flaming Lips
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $3.77 This is probably their most “out there” album to date. For them, that’s really saying something.
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 | Confessions by Usher
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.27 This album is certified diamond (10 million copies sold)Â…Yeah!
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 | ... An Education in Rebellion by Union Underground
Buy used from: $0.01 They only released one album, but for metal fans, itÂ’s a good one.
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 | Asleep in the Back (Reis) by Elbow
Buy new: $13.64 / Used from: $3.34 Not as rhythmic as Radiohead, but similar in experimentation and worthy of comparison.
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 | Highly Evolved by The Vines
Buy new: $12.09 / Used from: $0.01 Craig NichollsÂ’ AspergerÂ’s Syndrome doesnÂ’t stop this band from rocking in the studio.
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 | Dangerously in Love by Beyonce
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $1.07 With over 11 million albums sold to date, this album started BeyoncéÂ’s impressive decade.
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 | It's Frightening by White Rabbits
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $3.94 Listen to “Percussion Gun.” It speaks for itself.
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 | Down in Albion by Babyshambles
Buy new: $12.91 / Used from: $11.20 Pete DohertyÂ’s first album after the Libertines. Embracing the drugs side of rock.
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 | The Greatest by Cat Power
Buy new: $12.41 / Used from: $2.21 Chan MarshallÂ’s proof that sometimes dropping out of high school is the right thing to do.
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 | A Bigger Bang by Rolling Stones
Buy new: $12.64 / Used from: $0.01 In their fifth decade, theyÂ’ve still got it.
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 | Once Upon a Time In the West by Hard-Fi
Buy new: $8.55 / Used from: $0.01 British rock for the working man. They arenÂ’t quite The Clash, but theyÂ’re on their way.
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 | We Started Nothing by Ting Tings
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $2.38 Simplistic catchiness at its finest.
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 | Elect the Dead by Serj Tankian
Buy new: $13.55 / Used from: $1.28 System of a DownÂ’s frontman had some additional political opinions to express.
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 | Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2 by Jerry Cantrell
Buy new: $12.45 / Used from: $7.38 ItÂ’s hard to miss Alice in Chains when JerryÂ’s still releasing this kind of quality material.
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 | Cold Roses by Ryan Adams & Cardinals
Buy new: $10.28 / Used from: $5.00 For a guy that released an album or book every year this decade, there were a lot of good ones.
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 | Veni Vidi Vicious by Hives
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $0.01 Tyrannosaurus Hives might be their masterpiece, but this album is what got them there.
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 | Attack and Release by The Black Keys
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $8.31 This is album defines the creative energy The Black Keys are capable of.
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 | Time Without Consequence by Alexi Murdoch
Buy new: $14.33 / Used from: $8.88 Shockingly unknown despite appearing on soundtracks for The OC and Away We Go.
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 | Colorblind by Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Buy used from: $1.71 The finest pedal steel guitar with funk and blues-rock influenced tunes.
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 | Death Magnetic by Metallica
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $3.95 An album for everyone who though Metallica died with “the black album” (Metallica).
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 | Hello Master by Priestess
Buy new: $8.92 / Used from: $0.88 New-age heavy rock following in the footsteps of Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother.
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 | Let It Come Down by Spiritualized
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $0.98 Beautifully orchestrated, thought provoking, genre-crossing, epic compositions.
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 | Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $1.41 Electronic rock with a hint of country, their second and most emotionally invested album.
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 | Fearless by Taylor Swift
Buy new: $9.40 / Used from: $4.48 Cleverly disguising pop music as country, she brought country to a whole new audience.
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 | In Your Honor by Foo Fighters
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $2.96 A double CD, one electric and one acoustic, with something for every type of fan.
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 | Shine on by JET
Buy new: $4.49 / Used from: $0.01 Catchy rock with impressively heartfelt ballads.
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 | Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $0.80 With their fourth album, they perfected the formula that made them huge with Final Straw.
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Listmania!
