#10. The Stepford Five - The Art Of Self Defense (ts5)

It's nice when you can forget all things emo for a second and enjoy an album that's a throwback to the early 90's alternative rock scene. Better produced than their promising debut, Mesh, The Stepford Five finally seem to be coming together on The Art Of Self Defense. While tight arrangements and crafty guitar hooks abound, the main theme of this Ohio foursome's albums always seems to be one thing: rock 'n' roll. Besides, how can you not love a band whose liner notes thank The Afghan Whigs, Catherine Wheel and The Cult?

#9. the White Stripes - White Blood Cells (SFTRI)

I have to admit it-- I hated this album when I first picked it up. I had already heard their 2000 effort, De Stijl, and loved it. So I didn't know how to gauge the tremendous hype surrounding White Blood Cells. After letting it collect dust for about four months, I decided to give it another chance. That's when I got its allure. Blood Cells is just an album full of unabashed bluesy, arena rock riffs and great lyrics; and it's not trying to be anything more than just that. Three cheers for being different.

#8. Blake Babies - God Bless The Blake Babies (UNI/Rounder)

There was no way I was expecting the Babies' return to the scene to be as good as it was. Although the music on God Bless The Blake Babies is in no way, shape or form any different than their early portfolio of alternative gems, its lyrics reek of an obvious maturity. And in a good way. It's nice to see a band release an album 10 years after their last one and still connect with their audience. You haven't heard perfect alt-pop until you hear "Brain Damage", guest-starring Evan Dando.

#7. Lenola - Treat Me To Some Life (File 13)

The best band you've never heard switched labels and sounds in 2001. While their affinity for tinkering with samples and sounds sometimes works against them, Lenola seem to have hit their new stride with Treat Me To Some Life. Longing to escape the confines of the My Bloody Valentine comparisons, they abanded the distortion and opted for more traditional song structures and occasional acoustic arrangements. True, at times Treat Me tries way to hard to be a modern day Pet Sounds, but once they work it all out, Lenola will dominate the indie rock scene. They're just too good not to.

#6. Rainer Maria - A Better Version Of Me (Polyvinyl)

Ah, emo. At times utterly annoying, at others brilliant and beautiful. Rainer Maria seem to have harnessed the latter. Combining some of the best lyrics in recent memory with walls of pop distortion and an infectious backbeat, A Better Version Of Me came out of nowhere and bit me on the ass. I was not familiar with their older material and had no idea of what to expect when I purchased it. After hearing "Artificial Light", I smacked myself twice and went out and picked up their older material. Although they rarely stray from their musical formula on Better Version, you will rarely stop playing it. It gets in your head and stays there.

#5. Whiskeytown - Pneumonia (UNI/Lost Highway)

Orignally slated to be released in 1999, a label merger sidelined Pneumonia for two years, causing everyone to wonder just what in the hell was happening with this band. I, for one, am happy as hell they finally released this album. Nobody does (or did, jesus, who knows) alt-country any better than Whiskeytown. You just can't ignore Ryan Adams' lyrics, either on the tongue-in-cheek opener "Ballad of Carol Lynn" or the hopelessly sad "Sit & Listen To The Rain". Kicking back and chilling out to an album has never been any easier.

#4. Pete Yorn - musicforthemorningafter (Columbia)

I slept on this album for far too long. As a matter of fact, I picked it up last week. Don't ask. I got caught up in what everyone was saying, good and bad, and never got around to it. Thank god I finally listened to a recommendation from a friend who was way overdue in that department. Do not be prepared to be blown away by musicforthemorningafter; instead, prepare yourself to enjoy a very complete and memorable debut from this up and coming song writer. Traces of Springsteen's pop abilities can be detected in the Jersey-bred Yorn, whether in the lyrics or the craftmanship. No, there's no brass section or gospel singers, but there are great stories told and songs such as "Strange Condition" and "Black" that will undoubtedly find themselves on repeat in your cd player. Sage words of advice: don't sleep on this album.

#3. Ryan Adams - Gold (UNI/Lost Highway)

Good god. I haven't heard an album so good and so diverse in eons. As a matter of fact, I haven't stopped playing it since I got it. While I loved Adams' solo debut, Heartbreaker, the Adams on Gold is a different man. He seems to be getting over his failed relationship and moving on. And what happens is retrospective rockers like "New York, New York" and "Nobody Girl". But there's still vintage Adams, such as on the desperately beautiful "When The Stars Go Blue". And just how the hell do you get "The Rescue Blues" out of your head? With two discs, there's plenty of Adams to go around on Gold. And plenty of time to catch on before it's too late.

#2. Spoon - Girls Can Tell (Merge)

I can't understand the omission of this album from many writers' top ten lists, although it received many honorable mentions. I can't get enough of Girls Can Tell. Spoon's sound on this album stands apart from anything you heard in 2001. Lead singer Brit Daniel's vocal delivery is wholly original, if not reminiscent of 60's garage rock. The lyrics are smart and relevant, and the song arrangements impossible not to tap your feet along to. I want to call it indie rock, but it truly defies categorization. I really can't say any more except, if you don't own it, BUY THIS FRICKIN' ALBUM ALREADY, YOU DUMBASS.

#1. Death Cab For Cutie - The Photo Album (Barsuk Records)

Holy shit. I honestly thought there was no way these Seattle-based emo-rockers could top 2000's We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes. Damn, was I ever wrong. There truly are no bad songs on The Photo Album, and it's actually far more upbeat than anything they have ever done. Singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard's lyrics are pure genius, and the songs all have a quality and tightness that I can only really compare to Radiohead. Songs such as "A Movie Script Ending" and "We Laugh Indoors" will be in your head for weeks, and "Information Travels Faster" will sink its teeth into your bones. Get this album immediately. Believe me-- you will not be able to stop playing it.

The Strokes - Is This It (BMG/RCA)

I honestly just don't get it. What was all the hype about? Is This It is by no means a bad album, but the second coming of Christ it is not. Sure, the album has a tight, bounce-along beat to it, but so does every Schoolhouse Rock song I've ever heard. I have given this album every opportunity to find itself into my rotation and it refuses to make the cut everytime. Sorry, there's just nothing I can do about it anymore. It'll make a great coaster some day, maybe even better than Goldie's Saturnz Return. Although that's highly debatable.