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: Take Me to the Sea, the debut release from Jaguar Love (the band made up of former members of The Blood Brothers and Pretty Girls Make Graves) finds its way on the list. Meanwhile, Heretic Pride, the latest from The Mountain Goats gets bumped off. And Lykke Li’s Youth Novels and The Game’s LAX fall just short of making the Top 20, but will surely find a spot in the Top 40 at the end of the year.

1. My Morning Jacket Evil Urges (ATO)
2. Conor Oberst Conor Oberst (Merge)
3. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL)
4. Adele 19 (XL/Columbia)
5. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic)
6. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)
7. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks)
8. The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)
9. Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop)
10. Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
11. Dizzee Rascal Maths & English (Definitive Jux)
12. Death Angel Killing Season (Nuclear Blast America)
13. Shy Child Noise Won’t Stop (Kill Rock Stars)
14. Beck Modern Guilt (Interscope)
15. Disturbed Indestructible (Warner Brothers/Reprise)
16. Jaguar Love Take Me To the Sea (Matador)
17. Portishead Third (Mercury/Island)
18. The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely (Warner Brothers)
19. The Hold Steady Stay Positive (Vagrant)
20. MGMT Oracular Spectacular (Red Ink/Columbia)