Joel Cheesman

1. The Black Keys, El Camino - Dripping with whiteboy funk, Akron’s-own deliver big time. Move over Kings of Leon, America has a new “most important” band.
2. Kasabian, Velociraptor! - This was on autoplay for about a month. Great balance and freshness for a band who looks to the past so often for its muse.
3. Arctic Monkeys, Suck It And See - Aside from the year’s best album title, the boys brought back the sound that made me fall for them in the first place while still evolving. Also delivered the year’s best tune with “Library Pictures.”
4. The Horrors, Skying - As a former card-carrying member of The Cure Fanclub, this album was a welcome addition to 2011. They also brought us the album I wish Radiohead would’ve made.
5. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds,  Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - In the rubble of Oasis’ 2009 break-up (I’m still in therapy over this, by the way), big brother Noel gave us the most listenable record of the year. A road trip must-have. He’s still got it.
6. Sleeper Agent, Celebrasion - A youthful energy that’s hard to describe. If you love bands that sound like they make records in the garage - or in this Kentucky native’s case, the front porch - then Celebrasion is for you. Think Jack and Meg’s younger, less serious siblings.
7. The Knux, Eraser - Rock attitude and knee-deep in the funk, The Knux followed-up their debut with a record that makes you want to dance and pump a Billy Idol-inspired fist in the air while still still sipping Cappuccino.
8. The Vaccines, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? - One part old-school R.E.M, one part Ramones and a healthy scoop of Brit Rock, this was the UK’s best debut.
9. Noah and the Whale, Last Night on Earth - The list’s most diverse record. Poppy, rocky, mellow and everything in between, it made the hot Phoenix summer go by a few degrees cooler.
10. Yuck, Yuck - If you enjoy early ’90s indie (think Smashing Pumpkins before the electro phase) - and who doesn’t? - checkout Yuck. Throw on some flannel and revisit the days when grunge ruled the world.

Take the list for what it is: The creation of an old dude with two young kids. I’m not a critic. I just love tuning in as much as I can and therapeutically writing about it.

Here’s to a rockin’ 2012.