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, 2008 and November 30, 2009. 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: The debut album from Lincoln, Nebraska’s UUVVWWZ and the long-awaited sophomore album, Some Kind of Salvation, from Tennessee’s The Features find their way into the Top 20. Meanwhile, two solo female artists get the short end of the deal. Lily Allen’s It’s Not You, It’s You and St. Vincent’s The Strangers get nudged off the list.

1. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns (Saddle Creek)
2. Psapp The Camel’s Back (Domino)
3. The Decemberists The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
4. The Mars Volta Octahedron (Warner Brothers)
5. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest (Warp)
6. M. Ward Hold Time (Merge)
7. Neko Case Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
8. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Lightning Rod)
9. Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
10. Handsome Furs Face Control (Sub Pop)
11. Electric Owls Ain’t Too Bright (Vagrant)
12. Chali 2na Fish Outta Water (Decon)
13. UUVVWWZ UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek)
14. P.O.S. Never Better (Rhymesayers)
15. N.A.S.A. The Spirit of Apollo (Anti-)
16. Gossip Music for Men (Columbia)
17. The Features Some Kind of Salvation (429)
18. Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)
19. Peter Bjorn & John Living Thing (Almost Gold)
20. Heartless Bastards The Mountain (Fat Possum)