When we talked to Gillis back in 2007, we spoke of the culture clash he used to experience when he was still spending 9 to 5 as a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, and the multiple lives he inhabited between friends, family and co-workers. "My mom listens to Night Ripper while jogging, and my dad jams it on his iPod while mowing the lawn," he said. This portrait of comfortable dichotomy exists with Animals as well, and its hinted at before you even press play -- the quiet suburban house and its flaming yard intimate the nightlife persona's intrusion into normalcy, but then again, no one ever said this whole thing wasn't about normalcy invading the party scene. Likewise, "Feed the Animals" can be mentally summoned with images of tigers or tabbys, and that subtle brilliance is exactly what has made Girl Talk the benchmark in party music. ...

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.......