1 Luna: Bowery Ballroom, Feb. 25-28 
The New York guitar-pop band hung up its axes after 13 years in four consecutive shows, which got better and better until the bittersweet finale. Now, "23 Minutes in Brussels" is an eternity. 

2 Gris Gris: Kingsland Tavern, Brooklyn, April 9 
Not your ordinary rock night, this crowded show on the stageless floor in the back room of a Brooklyn bar made you feel you were seeing something extraordinary, as the folk-noise act traded instruments and madly improvised. 

3 Allen Oldies Band: Maxwell's, May 7 
The Austin oldies outfit wins for sheer endurance - performing its high-energy set (including covers of "Maybelline" and "What's New Pussycat?") for more than five hours straight. At one point, tireless frontman Allen Hill switched places with the audience, which climbed on the stage and played all the instruments with the band. It's the fun that rock 'n' roll should be. 
 

4 Gang of Four: Irving Plaza, May 18 
For these reunion shows, lead singer Jon King went into training to get in shape for his furious onstage work. Hearing old faves like "Damaged Good" live was a treat. Even though the arty microwave bashing went on too long, today's post-punk followers finally got a taste of the real deal. 

5 Kaiser Chiefs: Webster Hall, July 21 
Singer Ricky Wilson's old-school punk leaps matched with the Leeds band's endless supply of catchy retro-punk ("Everyday I Love You Less and Less" and "I Predict a Riot") kept the heat on. 

6 Bettye LaVette: Joe's Pub, Sept. 8 
The 59-year-old soul singer, who has the energy of a young Tina Turner, took the songs of women like Lucinda Williams and Dolly Parton, totally stripped them down and passionately rebuilt every note to make the songs her wonderful own. 

7 The Arcade Fire with David Bowie: Central Park SummerStage, Sept. 15 
The Canadian art-pop septet were a thrill just by their own exuberant selves, but when the Thin White Duke stepped up to sing his "Queen Bitch" and Arcade Fire's "Wake Up," the crowd went wild. 

8 Allen Toussaint: Joe's Pub, Sept. 25 
The New Orleans R&B icon, displaced by Hurricane Katrina, gracefully sat at his piano, expressively pouring out instrumental and vocal versions of his hits like "Southern Nights." Elvis Costello even sat in for a few songs. 

9 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Irving Plaza, Sept. 26 
With its latest album, "Howl," the L.A. band traded dark, distorted psychedelic rock for a warm, rootsy sound. At Irving Plaza, the quartet seamlessly made the two modes to make them feel like one. 

10 Lee Ann Womack: Cipriani's, Oct. 4 & Bowery Ballroom, Nov. 11 
At Cipriani's, the retro country singer was glammed up Grammy-style as she did tequila shots and sang weepers like "Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago" and a cover of Patsy Cline's "She's Got You." At the Bowery Ballroom, during the CMAs, she put on jeans, got a rock-sized band and poured her heart out.