Toronto's indie rockers Tokyo Police Club have hacked their way into the indie rock arena with stylistic chord chunks that emulate the edginess of The Strokes and the story-telling appeal of bands like The Decemberists. While their 2006 EP Lesson in Crime put Tokyo Police Club on the indie rock map, it was their 2008 album Elephant Shell that caught the attention of many fans, bloggers and the established rock media.

Apart from being featured in an Apple commercial, The Submarines released a wonderfully ambitious and enjoyable album this year, as did fellow indie artists like San Francisco's The Botticellis, Swedish indie pop sensation Lykke Li and Syracuse, New York's exuberant pop masters Ra Ra Riot.

"In A Cave" by The Tokyo Police Club from Elephant Shell

"I'm Good, I'm Gone" by Lykke Li from Youth Novel

"Old Home Movies" by The Botticellis from Old Home Movies

"You, Me & The Bourgeoisie" by The Submarines from You Me & The Bourgeoisie

"Dying Is Fine" by Ra Ra Riot from The Rhumb Line

Labels: Best Indie 2008, Indie Lists 2008, Lykke Li, Ra Ra Riot, The Submarines, Tokyo Police Club