These are my picks for the top non-local/major release, albums of the year. The albums appear in no particular order:
Kanye West- 808’s and Heartbreak
Eagles Of Death Metal- Heart On
Sebastian Grainger and The Mountains- Self Titled
Justice- A Cross The Universe (Live Album/DVD)
Lupe Fiasco- The Cool
N.E.R.D.- Seeing Sounds
The Black Keys- Attack And Release
MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
Beck- Modern Guilt