1. Fiona Apple, 'The Idler Wheel...'

After years of flying under the radar following the troubled release of 2005's Extraordinary Machine, it's as if Fiona needed to make a statement with her fourth album. Idler Wheel is harshly beautiful, piercing deep with her raspy wails and quiet crooning over subdued-yet-intricate arrangements. Simply put, it's stunning from beginning to end, a triumphant comeback that reminds us she's one of the most important artists of our time. Let's just hope it doesn't take another seven years for her next one. -- Dan Reilly