Favorite albums so far this year...

[jbissell]

I liked the new Richard Swift, Walkmen, David Vandervelde

I agree with you on the Walkmen, that album is a real grower.

I wasn't too into that band until at one point I was writing a paper and put Bows and Arrows on repeat.  Now I like them quite a bit.  I wonder how many other bands there are that just need like 5 listens to stick?

The National is very much that way for me.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

im listening to "Lost in Boston" right this very second; it's a Walkmen track that had me hooked instantly.

other favorites:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Margot & The Nuclear So And So's- Animal
Radiohead- In Rainbows (after seeing them in SB, it's been reignited)
Why?- Alopecia

albums i wanted to be my favorite, but alas:

Death Cab
Cat Power
Chris Walla

[jbissell]

Yeah, I like Cat Power but that album was just boring (the first covers album is solid).

[Andy]

I would uld say that most albums need 5 listens to tell if you really like them.

[Beth]

Ilya Monosov- "Seven Lucky Plays, Or How to Fix Songs for A Broken Heart".

I finally got a copy of this after having only one track for months. It's a really beautiful record.

[yesno]

I would uld say that most albums need 5 listens to tell if you really like them.

I would uld say that too, but I guess what I'm talking about is albums that didn't really even have much of a hint that I would like them at all.  I agree about the National, everything about them strikes me as really boring but after a few listens I tend to get it. 

On the other hand is when certain bands have a really fresh or new sound and I fall into the trap.  Then two months later you realize it's garbage.

[Beth]

Oh, and I don't think anyone's mention Bon Iver's album "For Emma, Forever Ago".  Really pretty stuff.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

On the other hand is when certain bands have a really fresh or new sound and I fall into the trap.  Then two months later you realize it's garbage.

argh.  i hate it when that happens.

[dave from knoxville]

Dig, Lazurus, Dig!

[Omar]

Dig, Lazurus, Dig!

What about King's X - XV?!

[Spoony]

Dig, Lazurus, Dig!

I'm with you Dave. I'm still going back to that album. I have tickets for next month and I'm going blind with anticipation.

[jbissell]

Dig, Lazurus, Dig!

I'm with you Dave. I'm still going back to that album. I have tickets for next month and I'm going blind with anticipation.

Seriously, he's been at the top of my to-see list for years.

[gedgengras]

my tops so far

Portishead - 3rd (far and away their best record, and i was fully prepared to hate it)
Cold Sun - Dark Shadows (an amazing dark desert psych record that almost never saw the light of day... One acetate made at the time of recording and a tiny repress on Rockadelic in the mid '90's made this a very expensive proposition, thank god World in Sound is bringing it back to CD and LP, from the master tapes and with bonus tracks!  The BEST Texas psych record EVER! DON'T SLEEP!)
JW Farquhar -  The Formal Female (on Shadoks records, bizarre private press oddity from '72 with fuzz, drum machines, and long conceptual suites on marrage and the materialism of women)
Amanaz - Africa (also on Shadoks, a mellow guitar psych masterpiece from '70s Zambia)
Jay Reatard - Matador Singles and '06-07' singles collection
Social Junk - Concussion Summer (Not Not Fun records, bizarro scummy tapelooping and instrument trashing fury)

[deeptone500]

!!!the Barbaras!!! thanks.

Seconded:
Women - s/t 
Vivian Girls - s/t
Gentleman Jesse - s/t
Shearwater - Rook

Firsted:
Zomes - s/t
Au - Verbs 
Thee Oh Sees - Thee Hounds Of Foggy Notion
Nice Face - Thing In My Head 7". -can download free from myspace

And reissues:
VA - Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels (Numero)
Sir Victor Uwaifo - Guitar Boy Superstar (Soundway)
Orchestre Régional De Kayes - The Best Of The First Biennale Of Arts And Culture For The Young (Mississippi)

http://www.last.fm/user/av_assistant

[gedgengras]

Sir Victor Uwaifo - Guitar Boy Superstar (Soundway)

indeedy that's a really good one.