When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2007 and November 30, 2008. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album or albums break into my Top 20.

Update: This week there are two additions to the Top 10 - Death Cab for Cutie’s long-awaited second major-label album Narrow Stairs and Shy Child’s Noise Won’t Stop. Meanwhile, Flowers Forever’s self-titled album and Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War fall out of the Top 20.

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL)
2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic)
3. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)
4. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks)
5. The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)
6. Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
7. Dizzee Rascal Maths & English (Definitive Jux)
8. Death Angel Killing Season (Nuclear Blast America)
9. Shy Child Noise Won’t Stop (Kill Rock Stars)
10. Portishead Third (Mercury/Island)
11. The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely (Warner Brothers)
12. MGMT Oracular Spectacular (Red Ink/Columbia)
13. The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride (4AD)
14. Man Man Rabbit Habits (Anti-)
15. The Kills Midnight Boom (Domino)
16. Santogold Santogold (Downtown)
17. The Mars Volta The Bedlam In Goliath (Universal)
18. Wu-Tang Clan 8 Diagrams (Universal Motown)
19. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Real Emotional Trash (Matador)
20. The Roots Rising Down (Def Jam)