Counting down 10 titles is tragic, since it means that deserving discs by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Raphael Saadiq , Coldplay and Of Montreal bubble just under this list. But again, the bracing diversity of 2008’s best disc is proof that great music of all stripes is out there, just beyond mainstream radio’s desire to embrace it.

1. TV on the Radio "Dear Science” (DGC/Interscope)...