#1: DIRTY PROJECTORS "Bitte Orca" Offbeat afrobeat art rock from Brooklyn with David Byrne as a witness (and collaborator).

#2 TOR SUFJAN STEVENS "Illinoize" Heady indie folk remixed with old school emcees (Grand Puba, Outkast, Pete Rock) makes for the best mashup ever.

#3: PASSION PIT and MIIKE SNOW It's a tie! Both debut indie-electro artists with incredible beats and falsetto vocals.

#4: WILCO "The Album" Some say it borders on being "adult contemporary" but that just means it's a "timely album for grownups."

#5: KINGS OF CONVENIENCE "Declaration of Dependence" Who would've thought the most romantic dudes on earth were from Norway.

#6: BLAKROC Real life mashup of The Black Keys and NY's finest emcees including Mos Def, Ludacris, RZA...

#7: ANTONY THE JOHNSONS "The Crying Light" Shivering-yet-powerful, indie-yet-classical.

#8: JOHN MAYER "Battle Studies" It's not a love/hate thing, more like love/jealous thing I have with him.

#9: EL MICHELS AFFAIR "Enter the 37th Chamber" Live instrumental versions of Wu-Tang Clan songs is by far the best concept album of the year.

#10: PHOENIX "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" Breakthrough French pop/rock group makes proverbial waves across actual seas.

#11: WOODEN BIRDS "Magnolia" Not just cuz I interviewed them, this is really one of the best albums of the year.

#12: MAXWELL "BLACKsummers'night" Sometimes you just need some Smoove B style R&B to get you in the mood.

#13: SILVERSUN PICKUPS "Swoon" Yeah they sound like the Smashing Pumpkins, but that's a compliment.

#14: KID CUDI "Man on the Moon" Impeach Kanye! And make Cudi hip-hop's new president.

#15: JULIE PEEL If you like moody indie folk (i.e. Cat Power) you'll love Peel's debut album "Near The Sun."

#16: VOLCANO CHOIR "Unmap" - Bon Iver side project that's more ambient, equally as haunting.

#17 TORTOISE "Beacons of Ancestorship" The all-star collective takes instrumental post-rock to another level, once again.

#18 HONEY CLAWS Electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin.

#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" If you're into sensitive beard rock for hipsters, check out Sam Beam's double disc of rarities.

#20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" The best folktronica album of the year, if there is such a category.

Listen to the Best of 2009 albums and watch exclusive interviews here

#6 Stay tuned...

#7: ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS "The Crying Light" - Shivering-yet-powerful, indie-yet-classical.

#8: JOHN MAYER "Battle Studies" - It's not a love/hate thing, more like love/jealous thing I have with him.

#9: EL MICHELS AFFAIR "Enter the 37th Chamber" - Live instrumental versions of Wu-Tang Clan songs is by far the best concept album of the year.

#10: PHOENIX "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" - Breakthrough French pop/rock group makes proverbial waves across actual seas.

#11: WOODEN BIRDS "Magnolia" - Not just cuz I interviewed them, this is really one of the best albums of the year.

#12: MAXWELL "BLACKsummers'night" - Sometimes you just need some Smoove B style R&B to get you in the mood.

#13: SILVERSUN PICKUPS "Swoon" - Yeah they sound like the Smashing Pumpkins, but that's a compliment.

#14: KID CUDI "Man on the Moon" - Impeach Kanye! And make Cudi hip-hop's new president.

#15: JULIE PEEL - If you like moody indie folk (i.e. Cat Power) you'll love Peel's debut album "Near The Sun."

#16: VOLCANO CHOIR "Unmap" - Bon Iver side project that's more ambient, equally as haunting.

#17 TORTOISE "Beacons of Ancestorship" The all-star collective takes instrumental post-rock to another level, once again.

#18 HONEY CLAWS - Electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin.

#19: IRON & WINE "Around The Well" - If you're into sensitive beard rock for hipsters, check out Sam Beam's double disc of rarities.

#11 Stay tuned...

#12: MAXWELL "BLACKsummers'night" Sometimes you just need some Smoove B style R&B to get you in the mood.

#13: SILVERSUN PICKUPS "Swoon" Yeah they sound like the Smashing Pumpkins, but that's a compliment.

#14: KID CUDI "Man on the Moon" Impeach Kanye! And make Cudi hip-hop's new president.

#15: JULIE PEEL If you like moody indie folk (i.e. Cat Power) you'll love Peel's debut album "Near The Sun."

#16: VOLCANO CHOIR "Unmap" - Bon Iver side project that's more ambient, equally as haunting.

#17 TORTOISE "Beacons of Ancestorship" The all-star collective takes instrumental post-rock to another level, once again.

#18 HONEY CLAWS Electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin.

#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" If you're into sensitive beard rock for hipsters, check out Sam Beam's double disc of rarities.

For 20 days in December, I'll be revealing a new artist every day for the Best of 2009. Bookmark this page or follow me on Twitter for the latest entries.

#14 Stay tuned...

#15: JULIE PEEL If you like moody indie folk (i.e. Cat Power) you'll love Peel's debut album "Near The Sun."

#16: VOLCANO CHOIR "Unmap" - Bon Iver side project that's more ambient, equally as haunting.

#17 TORTOISE "Beacons of Ancestorship" The all-star collective takes instrumental post-rock to another level, once again.

#18 HONEY CLAWS Electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin.

#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" If you're into sensitive beard rock for hipsters, check out Sam Beam's double disc of rarities.

#20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" The best folktronica album of the year, if there is such a category.

From December 1st to the 20th we'll be revealing a new artist every day for the Best of 2009. Bookmark this page or follow the entries on Twitter.

#16 Stay tuned...

#17 TORTOISE "Beacons of Ancestorship" The all-star collective takes instrumental post-rock to another level, once again.

#18 HONEY CLAWS Electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin.

#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" If you're into sensitive beard rock for hipsters, check out Sam Beam's double disc of rarities.

#20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" The best folktronica album of the year, if there is such a category.

From December 1st to the 20th we'll be revealing a new artist every day for the Best of 2009. Bookmark this page or follow the entries on Twitter.

#17 Stay tuned...

#18 HONEY CLAWS electro hip-hop with an emcee who sounds like Q-tip but he's a white boy from Austin

#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" sensitive beard rock for hipsters

#20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" the best folktronica album of the year, if there is such a category

#18: Stay tuned...
#19: IRON WINE "Around The Well" sensitive beard rock for hipsters
#20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" the best folktronica album of the year

For the next 20 days we'll be revealing a new artist for the Best of 2009. Click on the link below to follow on Twitter or check back here for the daily entry. And feel free to chime in with your picks in the comment field below.

Best of 2009 #20: JAMES YUILL "Turning Down Water For Air" the best folktronica album of the year, if there is such a category

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In the months leading up to Festival 8 (Phish's first festival west of the Mississippi), fans were anxiously guessing what album they would cover on Halloween night. The wide range of rumors ranged from '70s rock classics like David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" to modern epics such as Radiohead's "Kid A." But by Halloween morning, all bets were settled when the show's program guide officially revealed The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main St." The 1972 double LP had a major influence on the band (Phish has been covering "Loving Cup" for years) and on Saturday in front of 40,000 people, the concept of covering the entire album became a reality. All four members (Trey, Mike, Page and John) took turns singing Mick Jagger's lead vocal parts, while a 3-piece horn section and background vocals (featuring Sharon Jones) elevated the classics to soulful new levels--while respecting the integrity of the original arrangements. Of course, a few of the songs were extended Phish-style, yet they jams were tasteful and never too noodle-y. Keep in mind: there are 18 songs on "Exile" plus they played two other regular sets that same night.

More coverage and photos

If you haven't heard of The Wooden Birds, maybe you know Andrew Kenny from his other band The American Analog Set. Or perhaps Matt Pond from Matt Pond PA? If you haven't heard of any of these guys, well, you have some catching up to do on your indie rock.

We met up with the new quartet when they stopped by the CBS Interactive studios. They shared some thoughts and tunes from their new LP "Magnolia." The lineup features Andrew Kenny on lead vocals and guitar; Leslie Sisson on vocals; Sean Haskins on drums; and, as an unexpected bonus, Matt Pond on guitar.

Watch the exclusive video on Last.fm

Enter your band to win the opening spot on the Van Wilder tour or if you don't have a band maybe you can win a guitar and start one.

Tickets for the Van Wilder Tour featuring Everclear and Johnny Lives! are on sale now.

Listen to the soundtrack now, free, on MP3.com