Are there still year-end lists coming?

[BradH]

2. Panda Bear - Person Pitch - is it possible that Brian Wilson's ghost can possess someone even though he's still alive?

I don't know but I guess I'll find out. I got this album in the mail direct from the record company and didn't even know what it was. Why am I getting free stuff? It's not the first time that's happened either. Remember that singer/songwriter dude that I sent to you and you sent to Audio Girl? Same thing. Weird.

Are you really having jazz adventures?

[jonnyhambone]

Had to give a couple Christmas purchases some spins to see if they passed muster (its not passing Mustard is it?...never knew what that meant).

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch so much already said. the album's brilliance is epitomized with the shift halfway thru Take Pills from this abstract, harmonized, windy beach gurgle to a groove that bubbles through into a head-bobbin' Beach Boys chant.

2. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera Haven't heard this enough to swear it deserves a #2 spot but it is Wyatt through and through. I love most of his work from Soft Machine on, but this feels like it'll outplay most everything else he's done. bit jazzy, just 'off' enough, and gorgeous.

3. Grizzly Bear - Friends ep for the first 4 songs. Little Brother is one of my fave songs of the year (as is Dirty Projectors 'Rise Above' which the Griz-boys had a hand in). Apparently this year is all about the harmonies for me...

4. Joanna Newsom & the Ys St. Band - ep I really love the acoustic-vibe of this album. She's love or hate but if 'Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie' doesn't make you pause and listen, you're heartless and, possibly, deaf. get that checked out.

5. Life Without Buildings - Live @ the Annandale Hotel an out-of-left-field one for me. I'm a long-time fan of the Raincoats, the Slit, Liliput, and the like and somehow never heard of these guys. Not quite as primal or raw but it scratches that same itch.

6. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond what Rae said.

7. Fire On Fire - ep an odd release from Young God. old-timey Appalacian tunes ala' the Carter Family raised up on VU, Wire, and weed.

8. Robert Plant & Allison Kraus - Raising Sand almost a lil' too 'Starbuck-sy' for me but leaves enough dusty grit between my teeth to work. The Allison Kraus-led tunes are incredible and assure this many a late-night, whiskey-sippin' listen.

9. Burial - Untrue this's only grown on me. Bored me at first but after keeping it on the phones in my studio for the last couple weeks, I find myself craving these odd thumping grooves, ghosty voices and wonder what movie is showing in Burial's head 'cause its spooky, lonely, beautiful, probably b&w...

10. mv & ee - Gettin' Gone my wife says this sounds like Creation (funny if you watch Freaks and Geeks). This is odd, questionably played bluesy-stonesy-ness ala' Royal Trux raised in a Vermont commune instead of some rat-hole in NYC (w/ a bit too many nods to Neil Young). It seems like its just genuinely fun stuff to play but just dark and mysterious enough to keep me intrigued.

11. Angels of Light - We Are Him too dark to play very often but I love this band and this is only surpassed by last years Angels of Light Play Other People. This vote includes a big nod to Akron/Family and their Love Is Simple from this year who were part of Michael Gira's backing band for this.

Electralane - No Shouts, No Calls
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Feist - the Reminder ...all pretty darn good but don't get too much play lately.

Haven't heard but suspect I'll really like: Animal Collective, LCD Soundsystem, No Age (ordered this after hearing a couple songs...)

Odd collaboration that works at points: not Kraus/Plant...that didn't surprise me too much and think most every song works, but Vic Chesnutt and A Silver Mt. Zion. This works on a handfull of the songs but falters on a bigger handfull.