Gorgeously expanding on their already raw and communal sound, the Arcade Fire trade in the macabre, baroque pop aesthetic for more rock-centric Americana. Stand outs include The Suburbs, Suburban War, Month of May, and Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains).

While the Sound of Silver embraced friendships and optimism, this album shows the ugly side of said friendships with a healthy dose of realistic paranoia. Dance Yrself Clean and Home are the perfect bookends to a fantastic record.

Breaking away from the ethereal post-rock of Sigur Ros, Jonsi lets loose on a pleasantly joyous record. Combining his signature voice with more traditional arrangements and sounds, its the most accessible and well-rounded he's become. A brief moment of gloom on the album, Tornado, happens to be the stand-out track.

Nothing quite knocks you for a loop the first time you hear the opening track Tell 'Em, and it doesn't slow down from there. Other highlights include Kids, Infinity Guitars, and Crown on the Ground.