Dec. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Beyonce Knowles, having got tired of being sexy, decided to imagine she was a guy. The Drive-By Truckers used blistering rock to document the lives of people who were already hurting well before the recession struck.

They were among those in 2008 to make American records that have great merit. Any of them would make surprising gifts.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR: BEYONCE, “IF I WERE A BOY” (Sony). Taken from the album “I am… Sasha Fierce.” I listened to this through November and December to appreciate Beyonce’s soaring vocals, gender-bending lyrics and fabulous mix.

This is the sound of an artist in full flight, in control of her material and loving it. Fans should not miss DJ Earworm’s “If Were a Free Fallin’ Boy” mashup.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, “BRIGHTER THAN CREATION’S DARK” (New West). No band shook me the same way this year. This smorgasbord of rock and ballads contains eloquent snapshots of people living life on America’s margins.

To suggest this is “three-chord rock” is to miss the point. The Truckers’ near-punk passion is what makes them great. The versions performed at a concert in London at mid-year eclipsed the recorded songs.

ESPERANZA SPALDING, “ESPERANZA” (Heads Up). The second album from the Portland-born jazz artist has smooth singing, assured bass playing and wide-ranging material, including Brazilian, pop and straight-ahead jazz.

TEDDY THOMPSON, “A PIECE OF WHAT YOU NEED” (Verve Forecast). The Los Angeles-based son of British star Richard Thompson knows the value of strong choruses and catchy refrains. “In My Arms” was one of my favorite songs of the year.

MATES OF STATE, “RE-ARRANGE US” (Barsuk). This husband and wife duo from San Francisco sure know how to fill up their music with cascading harmonies, thundering drums, hammering keyboards and happy lyrics. “You write the good songs baby,” they sing on “Jigsaw,” and they do.

CHARLIE HADEN, FAMILY AND FRIENDS: “RAMBLING BOY” (Decca). The most unexpected offering from the venerable jazz bassist was one of this year’s most heartfelt Americana albums, a roots record to place alongside the soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” This is a great reflective album featuring a cast of stars: Elvis Costello, Bruce Hornsby and Roseanne Cash.

FLEET FOXES, “FLEET FOXES” (Sub Pop). One of the most perfectly formed roots-rock albums to appear since The Band’s “Music From Big Pink,” Fairport Convention’s “Fairport Convention” or Los Lobos’ “How Will The Wolf Survive?”

Brian Wilson harmonies are mixed with a Phil Spector Wall of Sound and haunting lyrics. It’s like your 1955 Plymouth breaks down in a snowdrift and all you have is “White Winter Hymnal” and “Ragged Wood” to guide you back to a pay phone.

RANDY NEWMAN, “HARPS AND ANGELS” (Nonesuch). Newman’s non- film work is getting rarer. We can only marvel at many of the 10 tracks, including “A Piece of the Pie” and “Losing You.”

LINDSAY BUCKINGHAM, “GIFT OF SCREWS” (Reprise). Buckingham was always the most interesting of the Fleetwood Mac gang. “Did you miss me?” the guitarist sings in the song of the same name. Yes we have.

KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON, “RATTLIN’ BONES” (Sugarhill). This is roots music from two Australians with an American feel. They roam across a wide, dusty terrain, with harmonies and country-folk that drifts through broken relationships and the hope that a better life can exist somewhere down the road (“Jackson Hole”).

KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS, “KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS” (Sunday Best). These teenage siblings from London pay homage to the motherland of Elvis Presley, R&B, rockabilly and country. They bring a fresh vibe to “Mohair Sam” and “Going Up the Country.”

Other records I liked a lot in 2008 include the Pretenders’ “Break Up The Concrete,” Paul Thorn’s “A Long Way From Tupelo,” David Byrne and Brian Eno’s collaboration on “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” BB King’s “One Kind Favor,” Plush’s “Fed,” TV on the Radio’s “Dear Science,” the Hold Steady’s “Stay Positive,” Lila Downs’ “Shake Away,” Conor Oberst’s self-titled record, Neil Diamond’s “Home Before Dark,” Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago,” Neil Young’s “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968,” and Todd Snider’s “Peace Queer.”

The albums are priced about $18.98 and singles $2.99. Download fees vary across services.

(Douglas Lytle writes for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Douglas Lytle in Prague at dlytle@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 21, 2008 19:00 EST