Guess (Deadline = 25th) the Top 3 of the first 2009 Mega-Critic-Chart (Publication = 30th) and enter the chance to win one of the three CDs.

At the moment (January 21st) the following seven acts (in no specific order) have the best chances to figure in the Top 3 :

Clues to Act 1 : Singer/Songwriter from Chicago / Violin Virtuoso / Trademark Whistling

Clues to Act 2 : 2008 Release / London Synther/Songwriter / Balladisco, Songtronica, Bleepadour

Clues to Act 3 : Sticksman of 2008´s most lauded Beardies / Lo-Fi and sparse / Hometown : Seattle

Clues to Act 4 : Mercury Prize winner / Andro-Giant / Ghostly and tremulous / Kazuo Ohno

Clues to Act 5 : Spooked and witchy / Electronica / Brooklyn female Duo / Debut Album

Clues to Act 6 : Glasgow Indie-Rock / Brit-Award winners / Archduke

Clues to Act 7 : Indie-Rock from Baltimore / Exhilarating and exhausting / Choral-Clerical resonances

And Yes !!! : The Top 3 will without much doubt be in alphabetical order of the Acts !!!

Good Luck !!!

1. Animal Collective
2. Antony & The Johnsons
3. Andrew Bird

Same for me, but Elton was faster

1. Animal Collective (act 7)
2. Anthony & JOhnsons (act 4)
3. Andrew Bird (act 1)

1. Animal Collective
2. Antony & The Johnsons
3. Franz Ferdinand

It's pretty much already posted:

1. Animal Collective
2. Antony & the Johnsons
3. Andrew Bird

1)Antony & the Johnsons
2)Animal Collective **my favourite)
3)Franz Ferdinand

You guys are probably right, but for the purpose of individuality:

1) Animal Collective
2) Antony
3) Fever Ray

1. Animal Collective
2. Antony and the Johnsons
3. J. Tillman

From the way it looks, it will be very hard for Animal Collective to lose 1st place as the year goes on.

1) Animal COllective
2) Anthony & The Johnsons
3) Franz Ferdinand

Err, I just saw that the Fever Ray release date I saw was only for a single, the actual album comes out in March.

Ok, go with Springsteen at #2, Antony at #3 for me, still AC at #1.

I'm gonna join Nassim and Mitchell Stirling:

1) Animal Collective
2) Antony & The Johnsons (not Anthony)
3) Franz Ferdinand

And thanks for the hint, Stefan.