Post your (up to 10) favorite music albums of the year so far

[mvd]

For the end of the year, I'll expand it to 20. Just wanted a quick half-way point poll.

My 10 favorites:

The Like - Release Me
The New Pornographers - Together
The National - High Violet
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
Sarah McLachlan - Laws of Illusion (she and Z Berg have voices among the best in music right now)
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Butch Walker - I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
She & Him - Volume 2

some honorable mentions -

Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Age Of Miracles
The Court Yard Hounds - self-titled
Corrine Bailey Rae - The Sea
Jesse Malin - Love It To Life
Marina & The Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms
Amy MacDonald - A Curious Thing
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever (very hard choice between this, Jesse Malin, and Gaslight Anthem for the top 10)
Against Me - White Crosses
Jessica Harp - A Woman Needs
Sade - Soldier Of Love

good, but a little disappointing -

Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away (considering his last 2 albums were among the elite singer/songwriter albums)
Melissa Etheridge - Fearless Love
Jakob Dylan - Women + Country
Tom Petty - Mojo (second half meanders)

just disappointing -

Hole - Nobody's Daughter
Jewel - Sweet & Wild

[MissMillie]

1. There was new music released this year?

:silly:


In my car I only listen to NPR, and at home I listen to what I own. I haven't heard new music in about 5 or 6 years.

[mvd]

2. You can check out what I listed

Maybe you'll find something. :hi:

There's still a lot of good stuff out there, IMO - some, like The Like's album, will appeal to classic rock fans.

[blue_onyx]

3. I haven't bought any albums this year

I've only bought individual songs. The CDs I'm looking forward to are coming out in the fall.

[mvd]

4. What do you think of Christina's new CD?

I thought it's way overproduced. Really the only songs I like are the Sia collaboration ballads, plus "Not Myself Tonight" and "Sex For Breakfast."

Any news on the Mechelle Branch CD? :hi:

[blue_onyx]

5. I didn't like Christina's CD at all

The ballads were ok but nothing special. It seems like most people agree with me since the CD didn't sell well in the first week. It has been a long time since Christina made a song I've liked. Her Stripped CD was pretty good but that was back in 2002.

No, I've not heard anything about Michelle's CD. I heard her new song "Getaway" that she did with Timbaland. The video was released last week. The song was disappointing. If they would have gotten rid of the loud beat, the song would have been better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D47O5-fO_I

[mvd]

11. I don't mind the beat of the Michelle song

Not quite the kind of music she does best, though.

Been a pretty good year so far IMO; hope it ends well. :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I've been enjoying the hell out of Allman brothers Fillmore East this year.

Also have enjoyed the following:

Philip Glass - Akhnaten
Rush - Exit Stage Left
Rush - Snakes and Arrows Live
Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti
Pink Floyd - The Wall (and also Roger Waters' live version from Berlin)
Connie Evingson (can't remember the album name, but it's with the Swedish guys)
Stockhausen - Stimmung
Steve Reich - Tehillim
Glass - Einstein on the Beach

and some Pink Floyd bootlegs.

[retread]

7. So far this year I have been catching up with artists I liked in the past but lost touch with

over the ensuing years.

Richard Thompson - Mock Tudor(How the hell did I miss this gem?)
Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
Billy Joe Shaver - Old Five & Dimers Like Me(Another I can't believe I missed.)
Billy Joe Shaver - The Real Deal(I have more from Billy Joe ordered. Maybe then I'll find a song on an album of his I don't like.)

[SteppingRazor]

8. My entries:

1. The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
2. The Tallest Man on Earth - Wild Hunt
3. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
4. Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do
5. The National - High Violet
6. Sleigh Bells - Treats
7. Janelle Monae - Archandroid
8. The Heavy Pets - The Heavy Pets
9. Roky Erickson and Okkervil River - True Love Cast Out All Evil
10. The New Pornographers - Together

Honorable Mentions:
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
Willie Nelson - Country Music
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Gogol Bordello - Transcontinental Hustle
Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down
Against Me! - White Crosses
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
The Black Keys - Brothers
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
Jakob Dylan - Women + Country
Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down

[Initech]

9. Kind of a disappointing year for music but here's my favs so far:

Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle
The Black Keys - Brothers
Cypress Hill - Rise Up

Man I cant even think of 10 so far that I've really enjoyed.

[likesmountains 52]

10. Best band you've missed this year..Frightened Rabbit. Album is

Winter of Mixed Drinks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY&feature=related