The year's top 10 rock albums:

1. "In Rainbows," Radiohead: The much-ballyhooed online release of "In Rainbows" in some ways obscured what an excellent album it is. With Radiohead, you're always on guard for the crash, the shattering of brightness -- but on "In Rainbows," they let the light linger.

2. "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank," Modest Mouse: There is so much to gather from this sprawling, schizophrenic album. On this, the band's best disc since 1997's "Lonesome Crowded West," the rollicking id that is Isaac Brock surfs through nautical themes, carbon stealing and little motels -- and it all adds up to a fascinating mess.

3. "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga," Spoon: Fans of this Austin, Texas-based band have been waiting for Britt Daniel and company to make the album they always had in them. Well, this is it.

4. "Person Pitch," Panda Bear: This album sounds like the future. Working alone on his computer, Noah Lennox builds loops and layers of psychedelia around his ethereal, sun-drenched melodies.

5. "The Reminder," Feist: Ubiquitous iPod commercials were the only thing that detracted from this gorgeous, lilting album. The intimate production makes you feel like Feist is playing just for you.

6. "Sky Blue Sky," Wilco: The latest from Jeff Tweedy's Chicago outfit is an unusually normal album -- a kind of conservative rebellion against the band's earlier classic "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." Instead, these are wistful, straightforward songs, enlivened by Nels Cline's expert guitar work.

7. "Under the Blacklight," Rilo Kiley: It takes less than a minute of "Blacklight" -- when Blake Sennett lays down the most ticklish guitar lick of the year -- to remember the importance of the band. Fleetwood Mac fans, there is another.

8. "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse: If you've been distracted by Amy Winehouse's perpetual tabloid troubles, go back and listen to the last track on "Back to Black," "You Know I'm No Good," to remember why everyone knows she's plenty good.

9. "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" Of Montreal: You, too, might be hesitant to embrace makeup-heavy glam bands or album titles that address plantlife skeptically. The band that began as part of the Elephant 6 collective has never made a better record. And it's funky, too -- especially the closer: "We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling."

10. "Friend and Foe," Menomena: On their third disc, the Portland, Ore., indie band Menomena has created one of the year's most percussive albums. Menomena might also be the best baritone sax rock group since Morphine, which is kind of a cool club.

By The Associated Press

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