1. LORETTA LYNNVan Lear Rose (Interscope)
"Forget the shit they play on your mainstream country channels that you're probably just as likely to hear on the pop channels. Loretta Lynn is the shit, no two ways about it." Josee Lacroix, Gatineau QC
"I'd like it even if Jack White had nothing to do with it. Sadly, it doesn't seem like a lot of my age group can honestly say the same thing." Kevin O'Brien, Kitchener ON
"Beautiful collision between the old and the young." Ian Jack, Port Hope ON
"It's always fun when my father and I love the same album." Louis-Nicolas Dolbec, Beauharnois QC
"I bought this CD for my mom, then stole it from her." Bobby Hiltz, Chester NS
"Like Johnny, Merle, and Willie before her, Loretta demonstrates how age improves country like the whiskey that inspires it." Christopher Bussmann, Montreal QC
2. IRON & WINE
Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop)
"If Sam Beam underwhelms, it's the fault of the listener, not the artist. Our Endless Numbered Days is a slow sleeper of an album, and it takes many listens to appreciate it fully. Thankfully, it's well worth the effort." Liam Mitchell, Toronto ON
"Haunting, sad and beautiful." Alfred Holmes, Leduc AB
"Mortality and acoustic guitars. Whispered wisdom and reverence. Campfire stories around a world on fire. A man strumming sincerity while scattering his loved one's ashes around the yard. Civil War tunes from the warm mountain of the digital age." Rick Medland, Carleton Place ON
"Sam Beam whispers over gentle guitars to create an amazing album. Sounds like summer afternoons laying in the sun, feeling the coolness of the lawn on your back as the phone rings over and over wondering why you haven't come into work." Caley Middleton, Kelowna BC
3. NEKO CASE
The Tigers Have Spoken (Mint)
"Quite possibly the first live album in history that is a must-own. Nearly all the songs are unavailable in any other versions, for one thing. For another, her voice is an incredible force against all those lip-syncing scandals." Kevin Cardoza, Ottawa ON
"Simply beautiful and aching in a great way." Brad Black, Toronto ON
"Neko is a goddess. 'Nuff said." Daniel Tervoort, Winnipeg MB
4. THE SADIES
Favourite Colours (Outside)
"There I was sitting at the Horseshoe, downing my third cider and contemplating going into my wallet to figure out if I even have enough money to cover it, when over the speakers...What the fuck is this?! Time and time again, consistent as hell." Kevin MacDonald, Toronto ON
"The Sadies rule. They are one of the most solid bands around with the best live shows." Barri Biederman, Toronto ON
"Oh my God. I love everything the Sadies have ever put out but this is in a different league. I can't even compare it to their other stuff. This album is an 11 out of 10 and my favourite album of the year (and century so far)." Joe Smiglicki, Toronto ON
5. DEVENDRA BANHART
Rejoicing In the Hands (Young God)
"Superb voice and a songwriter augmented by stellar musicianship." Raymond Auffrey, Moncton NB
"It's a torch that [Devendra and Joanna Newsom] carry right now... they are the light." Brian Rehus, Thunder Bay ON
"My favourite album in some time original, obscure lyrics accompanied by a variety of catchy as hell guitar riffs. So good." Gregg Muller, Calgary AB