1. Strokes Is This It (RCA/BMG)
A rockin' good time, even if somewhat overrated and over-hyped. -Michael McDonald, Halifax NS
It's raw, gritty and sexy. What more could you want? -Melissa Britney, Nepean ON
I haven`t had an album and/or band effect me this greatly since Nirvana's Nevermind. Through the Strokes I also discovered a lot of other great bands like White Stripes and the Pattern. -Dennis Spencer, Kingston ON
2. Radiohead Amnesiac (Capitol)
Maintained their strength and refused to succumb to the band-eating machine that is pop. Kyle Marshall, Victoria BC
Former rockers turned ambient kings. Radiohead's Amnesiac was a full album of chilling noises and thrilling... something that rhymes with noises. -Marcus Lake, Calgary AB
The Pink Floyd, prog-rock superstars of my generation. Dark, moody, and real. The soundtrack to a truly messed up year. Daniel Okorn, Whitby ON
3. Björk Vespertine (Elektra)
Incredible. Her most cohesive and imaginative album, something I didn't even think was possible. -Reg Vermue, Guelph ON
Transcendent meditation that you can move your head to. Bill Hountalas, Whitby ON
Vespertine is the most erotic and emotive sounding record I have ever heard. People talk about Kid A bridging the gap between pop and electronica/IDM but this transcends it. A true modern masterpiece. -Neil Brewer, Fredricton NB
4. Hayden Skyscraper National Park (Hardwood/Universal)
It's a beautiful whole album. Really well constructed as a complete listen, with a perfect opening and closing track. A great return to a more quiet place for Hayden though he clearly never really left it. Scott Stoneman, Hamilton ON
Hayden comes out of hiding, and comes up with an album just as bit intriguing, honest, and just fucking brilliant as the last. He has genuinely grown into his sound, and intensified it with lush string arrangements. Adam Millie, Vancouver BC
5. Fugazi The Argument (Dischord)
Progressive not pretentious. -Chad Collins, Saskatoon SK
Brilliant record by these godfathers of post punk. Emotion, power, aggression, melodicism and invention all wrapped up with subtle social commentary. -Trevor Stark, Burlington ON
6. Nickleback How You Remind Me (Roadrunner)
Can't remember the name of the album, but it's fantastic. -Carrie Grosvener, Ancaster ON
From my experience working at a music store, these guys sold more units in two weeks than some artists have in two months. -Mason Thomas, Sylvan Lake AB
Great sounds. -Tyson McDougall, Perth/Andover ON
7. Joel Plaskett Down At the Khyber (Brobdignagian)
I'm still in love with In Need of Medical Attention, but this one is slowly seducing me. His live shows kick ass too. -Laura Smith, Ajax ON
Largely unnoticed Canadian indie rock masterpiece. -Robert O'Connor, Calgary AB
True Anglophile rock. Never have I heard the Canadian landscape sung with such wonder and conviction. -Chris Sanagan, Toronto ON
8. Tool Lateralus (Volcano/Zomba)
Demands a full listen each time, not just little tidbits here and there. -Neil Keown, Airdrie AB
It was worth the long wait. -Dave Mercer, Waterloo ON
It's Tool for God's sake! -Sean Jackson, Kitchener ON
9 Sigur Rós Ágætis Byrjun (Bad Taste/Universal)
To not have to listen to the words, just feel the emotion from the soundscape they give, is so powerful. Steven Cretney, Edmonton AB
It was a good year for Iceland. David Lamarche, Montreal QC
10. Constantines (Three Gut)
A wonderful album that almost manages to showcase their incredible live show. They should be the biggest band on the planet. -Matt Capel, Waterloo ON
These younguns will destroy rock'n'roll only to bring it all back again. -Shawny Petsche, Pointe-Claire QC
This album gets better with each listen, and the first time I listened to it, it blew my head off! So fucking amazing. I can't imagine a better album ever being made. Long live the almighty Constantines! Rawk! -Wolf Friedlich, Toronto ON
A rockin' good time, even if somewhat overrated and over-hyped. -Michael McDonald, Halifax NS
It's raw, gritty and sexy. What more could you want? -Melissa Britney, Nepean ON
I haven`t had an album and/or band effect me this greatly since Nirvana's Nevermind. Through the Strokes I also discovered a lot of other great bands like White Stripes and the Pattern. -Dennis Spencer, Kingston ON
2. Radiohead Amnesiac (Capitol)
Maintained their strength and refused to succumb to the band-eating machine that is pop. Kyle Marshall, Victoria BC
Former rockers turned ambient kings. Radiohead's Amnesiac was a full album of chilling noises and thrilling... something that rhymes with noises. -Marcus Lake, Calgary AB
The Pink Floyd, prog-rock superstars of my generation. Dark, moody, and real. The soundtrack to a truly messed up year. Daniel Okorn, Whitby ON
3. Björk Vespertine (Elektra)
Incredible. Her most cohesive and imaginative album, something I didn't even think was possible. -Reg Vermue, Guelph ON
Transcendent meditation that you can move your head to. Bill Hountalas, Whitby ON
Vespertine is the most erotic and emotive sounding record I have ever heard. People talk about Kid A bridging the gap between pop and electronica/IDM but this transcends it. A true modern masterpiece. -Neil Brewer, Fredricton NB
4. Hayden Skyscraper National Park (Hardwood/Universal)
It's a beautiful whole album. Really well constructed as a complete listen, with a perfect opening and closing track. A great return to a more quiet place for Hayden though he clearly never really left it. Scott Stoneman, Hamilton ON
Hayden comes out of hiding, and comes up with an album just as bit intriguing, honest, and just fucking brilliant as the last. He has genuinely grown into his sound, and intensified it with lush string arrangements. Adam Millie, Vancouver BC
5. Fugazi The Argument (Dischord)
Progressive not pretentious. -Chad Collins, Saskatoon SK
Brilliant record by these godfathers of post punk. Emotion, power, aggression, melodicism and invention all wrapped up with subtle social commentary. -Trevor Stark, Burlington ON
6. Nickleback How You Remind Me (Roadrunner)
Can't remember the name of the album, but it's fantastic. -Carrie Grosvener, Ancaster ON
From my experience working at a music store, these guys sold more units in two weeks than some artists have in two months. -Mason Thomas, Sylvan Lake AB
Great sounds. -Tyson McDougall, Perth/Andover ON
7. Joel Plaskett Down At the Khyber (Brobdignagian)
I'm still in love with In Need of Medical Attention, but this one is slowly seducing me. His live shows kick ass too. -Laura Smith, Ajax ON
Largely unnoticed Canadian indie rock masterpiece. -Robert O'Connor, Calgary AB
True Anglophile rock. Never have I heard the Canadian landscape sung with such wonder and conviction. -Chris Sanagan, Toronto ON
8. Tool Lateralus (Volcano/Zomba)
Demands a full listen each time, not just little tidbits here and there. -Neil Keown, Airdrie AB
It was worth the long wait. -Dave Mercer, Waterloo ON
It's Tool for God's sake! -Sean Jackson, Kitchener ON
9 Sigur Rós Ágætis Byrjun (Bad Taste/Universal)
To not have to listen to the words, just feel the emotion from the soundscape they give, is so powerful. Steven Cretney, Edmonton AB
It was a good year for Iceland. David Lamarche, Montreal QC
10. Constantines (Three Gut)
A wonderful album that almost manages to showcase their incredible live show. They should be the biggest band on the planet. -Matt Capel, Waterloo ON
These younguns will destroy rock'n'roll only to bring it all back again. -Shawny Petsche, Pointe-Claire QC
This album gets better with each listen, and the first time I listened to it, it blew my head off! So fucking amazing. I can't imagine a better album ever being made. Long live the almighty Constantines! Rawk! -Wolf Friedlich, Toronto ON