Usually when we get to the Best Album category we throw up our hands and just agree that when it comes to music, you have your tastes and we have ours, and neither is better than the other, except for ours. This year there is a bit more crossover between the Readers and the staff. But first, the Reader Award for Best Album narrowly goes to Gnarls Barkley for St. Elsewhere, which edged out Justin Timberlake's 2006 effort by a mere 3 percent. Ant, Flea and the boys finished about 10 percent behind that, and the next four finishers are basically tied, between 19 and 26 percent behind the Peppers.

Gnarls Barkley finished ninth in the Calvins, while the Readers' fifth, seventh, and eighth selections finished fifth, first, and sixth respectively among the staff. If you're keeping track, that's four similarities in the top ten, compared to just the one last year - clear evidence that your tastes are improving.

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