With the Grammys coming up fast, all the entertainment buzz is about who will take home the awards for everything from the somewhat obscure Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals to the coveted Album Of The Year. Continuing the Gargoyle's best of 2008 series, we present our picks for the top 10 albums of the year, blissfully free of whiny pop princesses and sneering metalheads, with our highest recommendations. Enjoy.

10. "19"
Adele
Think of some of today's best female vocalists: Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, and, yes, Amy Winehouse. But none of those artists comes close to the sheer skill that Adele Adkins displays on her acclaimed debut album. Nominated for four Grammys, Adele has a vocal power that is simply amazing. She just might be the next great singer of our generation.
Listen to iTunes samples of Adele's “19” here.

9. "Day & Age"
The Killers
If you listened to the radio for more than a minute this fall, chances are you heard the single "Human." Its catchy dance beat spawned a new nation of Killers fans in dance clubs and parties across the nation. Fortunately for the rest of the world, however, The Killers have more to offer than just electronic pop. "Day & Age" features other great tracks like the slower "Spaceman" and almost comic "Neon Tiger." Victims, rejoice, because "Day & Age" comes in at No. 9 on our list.
Listen to iTunes samples of The Killers' “Day & Age” here.

8. "In Rainbows"
Radiohead
Though this album actually dates from October 2007, we couldn't resist adding it to our list (and it was nominated for Album Of The Year in the upcoming Grammys). This is definitely prime Radiohead. It starts out slow, and at first it's hard to even see this as the followup to 2003's release of "Hail to the Thief." But a few tracks in, it's easy to see they've definitely hit their stride. Radiohead's typical driving beat overlayed with a spacey guitar is in strong attendance on most songs, but tracks like the single "Bodysnatchers" really stand out with more acoustic roots and only light bass. "In Rainbows" is easily one of the best albums around.
Listen to iTunes samples of Radiohead's “In Rainbows” here.

7. "Folie a Deux"
Fall Out Boy
The Chicago alternative rockers are back with their third major-label album, "Folie a Deux," and they don't care what you think about it. The almost saintly clean band has come out with their grittiest work to date, drawing the help of grunge-sounding guitars and hip-hop hit master Lil Wayne. Definitely a new turn, but exactly what they needed to be considered one of the best rock bands of the past decade.
Listen to iTunes samples of Fall Out Boy's “Folie a Deux” here.

6. "Tha Carter III"
Lil Wayne
Weezy is No. 1 … at least on the Billboard Top 100. One of the most anticipated hip-hop albums in history does not fail expectations; with Lil Wayne's hypnotizing voice and countless collaborations, it's no wonder that the New Orleans native is on top of the music world. Wayne was able to please almost all listeners with his barrage of hits, including "Lollipop," "A Milli," "Got Money," and "Mrs. Officer." An almost lock-in for at least one Grammy, "Tha Carter" comes in at No. 6 on our list.
Listen to iTunes samples of Lil Wayne's “Tha Carter III” here.

5. Nas (Untitled)
Nas
It's refreshing to hear social commentary and complicated rhymes from one of the best lyricists in hip-hop at a time when the No. 1 song talks about licking "lollipops." Nas takes on many interesting topics from biased news networks to an infatuation with fried chicken, which makes this one of the most thought-provoking albums in a long time.
Listen to iTunes samples of Nas' untitled release here.

4. "Vampire Weekend"
Vampire Weekend
The debut album from these New York City friends, including lead singer/high school teacher Ezra Koenig, has one of the more original sounds this year, drawing on ska/new wave and highlighted by melodic guitars. "Vampire Weekend" is a great piece of music drawing on many different inspirations. For now, the sky's the limit for the boys from Brooklyn.
Listen to iTunes samples of Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut here.

3. "Narrow Stairs"
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie, known affectionately to their fans as simply Death Cab, has definitely thrown a curve ball with this album. Though they rose to their current indie idol status with their probing, melodic insights into life and love, "Stairs" paints a dark canvas of twisted characters and failing relationships. Though far less bright than some of their previous albums, "Stairs" still lives up to the name with a catchy single and a number of perfectly heartbreaking songs. "You gotta spend some time, love" with this album. It's fantastic.
Listen to iTunes samples of Death Cab's “Narrow Stairs” here.

2. "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends"
Coldplay
One of this year's best-selling CDs in the U.S. and around the world, "Viva la Vida" really lived up to the high expectations surrounding its release. Combining a great concept with fantastic singles, it carries both the texture and weight to create a very good sound. "Viva la Vida" is Coldplay's fourth and arguably best album, though its style bears only passing resemblance to its predecessor, "X&Y." These songs are less the clichéd love ballads we've come to expect from the band; instead, they are thoughtful and insightful queries to life in general. Nominated for the Album Of The Year in the Grammys, "Viva la Vida" is definitely worth a listen.
Listen to iTunes samples of Coldplay's “Viva la Vida” here.

1. "Oracular Spectacular"
MGMT
In their first major-label studio album, MGMT's Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden were able to create some of the best dance rock in a decade, with one of the catchiest songs of the year in "Time to Pretend." Almost a psychedelic spoonful that makes you rethink what music is supposed to be, "Oracular Spectacular" has become a cultural phenomenon and the definitive sound of 2008.
Listen to iTunes samples of MGMT's “Oracular Spectacular” here.