1. gruff rhys, yr atal genhedlaeth: I like it. I like it a lot better than the decent (worst, as well) SFA album that came out this year. If you have to choose between his or his band's album and you're open to a little lo-fi weirdness, check this out instead. It's touching, fun, and rather brief. Hopefully he'll slap some sense into his bandmates next time they go into the studio because I don't need another "The Horn."
2. deerhoof, the runners four: The only Deerhoof album I've enjoyed, but there's a reason for that. I've always found them appealing, but all of their albums annoyed me pretty early on. That doesn't happen here.
3. british sea power, open season: This isn't even that great, but their live show in support of the album was so visceral and perfect that I can't help but have respect for the band . Still, not exactly the greatest album ever; nor anywhere near The Decline Of...
4. fiona apple, extraordinary machine: Admittedly, the new version is pretty close to being terrible, but I'm blinded by how much I like her. Fortunately, the Brion version exists and I consider that a valid official release. So as far as that goes, Extraordinary Machine is pretty good. I don't like it as much as her first two, but Fiona Apple is better than most bands/songwriters out there.
5. Ry Cooder, Chavez Ravine: No surprises, but very solid. At least he's Ry Cooder.
6. Julien Neto, Le Fumeur de Ciel: Unexciting ambient music that's managed to hold my interest over the months. Recommended because I'm out of albums.
Okay:
1. sleater-kinney, the woods: I liked this a lot when it came out, but Corin Tucker always outstays her welcome after a week or two of repeat listens to anything she sings. I have to commend David Fridmann's ear-fucking production to a degree, but it does in ways make Corin Tucker even more annoying.
2. super furry animals, love kraft: I make no secret that these guys are better than anyone out there. Yeah, they're better than Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and whoever else you think is the best band in the world. But they sort of messed up with this album; it's just not all there, and it's pretty easy to see why. Everyone in this band is a great, talented musician, and doubtless they've all contributed great things to music SFA made before Love Kraft. But by giving individual band members lead songwriting duties for every couple of songs and taking the focus away from Gruff Rhys, the band made an album that just isn't that great. Regardless, there are a few pretty great highlights, and I can't ignore that.
3. silver jews, tanglewood numbers: More mediocre than good, but the first song has funny lyrics.
4. sufjan stevens, illinois: It's like Michigan.
Mediocre:
1. New Pornographers, Twin Cinema: Whatever. It's disposable, it's vapid, and once in a while it's fun. I can't really say much one way or another.
2. The Microphones, No Flashlight: This would go under "terrible" if I cared enough about this annoying hack's bullshit music.
3. Supergrass, Road to Rouen: Like watching grass grow, which really isn't very super (LOL!). This is definitely a sign of a once-great band giving up.
Terrible:
1. mars volta, francis the mute: Garbage. I can't recall a note, but I promise you I listened to the whole thing. This couldn't have been any worse.
2. decemberists, picaresque: I hate this band.
3. xiu xiu, la foret: Shit. Xiu Xiu is shit. Jamie Stewart sings about diseased assholes because he envies diseased assholes. He wishes he were as talented as a diseased asshole.
4. clap your hands say yeah: Kill yourself if you consider yourself a fan.
5. mercury rev, the secret migration: They've become such a joke. I even kind of liked this for a week or so, and then I realized this is worse than Enya.
Under consideration:
John Cale, Black Acetate: I hear it sounds like Hobosapiens, and that's all right with me. I like Hobosapiens.
