35. Polica, 'Give You the Ghost'

After working together in Gayngs, singer Channy Leaneagh and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Olson teamed up for this electronica and R&B-inflected rock outfit, putting together one of the most provocative debut albums of the year. Icy, tense and featuring some amazing percussion workouts courtesy of the group's two drummers, it's a record that pulls off the tough balance of complexity and sophistication without losing any of its beauty. -- Dan Reilly