5. Sondre Lerche: Two-Way Monologue

Buying this album was the year's best recommendation from a music seller working in a chain bookstore. (Courtesy of the bad boys of Barnes & Nobles. Sorry, Borders.) While it's usually a good move to be skeptical of advice given to you by a man wearing a laminate, after slapping on the listening station headphones, I found myself having a recreation of that scene in Garden State when Natalie Portman transports Zach Braff into a chill headspace by making him listen to a song on her headphones. Well, minus the view of Natalie Portman's angelic smile.