My Faves in Music This Year

As with the film part, you'll have to forgive me for a lack of synopsis with the lists...the mind isn't quite up to that at this time. Well...perhaps I could, it would just take until February with the state of things upstairs :)

"The Lucky 13" (or 14)

1. The Gaslight Anthem -- Sink or Swim - Who would have thought that the best Springsteen album this year would not be written by Bruce? Frontman Brian Fallon channels The Boss in both voice and spirit. Imagine, Bruce being born in 1982 with somewhat punkier influences; Roy, Nils, and Clarence not existing (sorry); and having the rest of Against Me! (outside of lead singer Tom Gabel) as his bandmates. The songs are tight, relentless, relateable, human, and everything else you would have expected out of a younger Springsteen in this day and age. Whether or not these guys survive is anyone's guess; it's hard to work your way up from the bottom. But this debut is as good as any I've heard. Oh, and of course they hail from New Jersey.

2. Joe Henry -- Civilians
3. The Avett Brothers -- Emotionalism
4. Loudon Wainwright III -- Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up
5. Minus the Bear -- Planet of Ice
6. Maritime -- Heresy and the Hotel Choir
7. Against Me! -- New Wave
8. Patty Griffin -- Children Running Through
9. Sage Francis -- Human the Death Dance
10. Willy Mason -- If the Ocean Gets Rough
11. Shadows Fall -- Threads of Life
12. Iron and Wine -- The Shepherd's Dog
13. Weatherbox -- American Art
13. Chuck Ragan -- Feast or Famine

"Best of the Rest" (no discernable order)

As I Lay Dying -- An Ocean Between Us
Ben Weasel and His Iron String Quartert -- These Ones Are Bitter
Ted Leo (and the Rx) -- Living with the Living
The National -- Boxer
Josh Ritter -- The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Every Time I Die -- The Big Dirty
Bruce Springsteen -- Magic
Radiohead -- In Rainbows
Posion the Well -- Versions
Spoon -- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Band of Horses -- Cease to Begin
Gogol Bordello -- Super Taranta!
The One AM Radio -- This Too Will Pass
Tegan and Sara -- The Con
Jesu -- Conqueror
Thrice -- The Alchemy Index: Vol 1 and 2
Portugal. The Man -- Church Mouth
Ryan Adams -- Easy Tiger
Tiger Army -- Music from Regions Beyond
Big D and the Kids Table -- Strictly Rude
Sundowner - Four One Five Two
The Weakerthans -- Reunion Tour
Rocky Votolato -- The Brag and Cuss
The Snake, The Cross, The Crown -- Cotton Teeth
Foo Fighters -- Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster -- II
Wilco -- Sky Blue Sky
Grinderman -- Grinderman
Manic Street Preachers -- Send Away the Tigers
Aesop Rock -- None Shall Pass
Lifetime -- Lifetime