10
Belle and Sabastian ... The Boy with the Arab Strap
Jeepster/Matador Records

Give me another month to work on this and I'm sure The Boy with the Arab Strap would climb higher on this list. That is, the more I hear it, the more I like it. It's... understated. I can't think of one other album I've ever listened to that I could say that about, but "understated" perfectly sums up the magic behind Belle and Sabastian's effortless charm. The music: light, the instrumentation: quirky, and the voices: airy; but it all compounds the alchemy until these pop songs stick to you like a flawless spring day. Kudos: Quietly dreamlike, the mood often disguises the pain and suffering just under the surface, turning simple songs into mighty metaphors.