Van Hunt's self titled debut.

This guy didn't get nearly enough recognition this year in my opinion. He's soulful, eclectic, and thoughtful without ripping off any of the old-schoolers (although it's apparent he's a fan of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye). Plus I gotta support the fellow Atlantans.

edit: oops, about the album... it's a mixture of funk, r&b and sexy soul. The album opens up with a real mover called "Dust" (tell me you aren't bobbing your head and sliding across the floor to this one), then segues into some quieter, bluesy "love songs" ("Seconds of Pleasure," "Precious") and then ramps back up to some Sly-style funky numbers ("Anything to Get Your Attention"). A bit on the contemporary radio-friendly side, but still a nice diversion from the usual independent stuff I listen to.