Digging Into Music 2009....

While I'm still dreadfully behind in transferring all my music from my old PC to the new one (I'm in the middle of the O's...), i did make my first rough draft of the best cds to come out this year so far. My first list has 36 albums on it, though to be fair, 4 of them are not out yet, and another 7 I'm still in the process of acquiring.

Favorite Releases of the year so far:

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone: It's hard to imagine a better album coming out this year, but then again we arent even at the halfway point. Neko impressively made a disc better than 2006's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. Hard to believe.

U2 - No Line on The Horizon: Not my favorite U2 album but nothing is ever likely to beat Achtung Baby. That being said, U2 does feel like they are stretching their legs a bit more on this album compared to the last two. I think it will make for some good live shows in September.

Silversun Pickups - Swoon: More consistant than their debut album and a staple in my car so far this summer.

Glasvegas - Glasvegas: Im not quite sure how you mix wall of sound/showgazer type sonics, with 60's pop song writing, and Scottish vocals and cursing, and make it work this well, but hats off to Glasvegas for doing it.

Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing: This album really impresses me. I wasnt a huge fan of their first album, as it always seemed like a step backwards from the EP that proceeded it. This album however is many steps forward in many different directions. A lot of great songwriting that will take much more of the year to absorb appropriately.

Mono - Hymn To The Immortal Wind: These guys came to Buffalo *twice* in 2007 and i stupidly found reasons to miss the show both times. Here's hoping they come back this year and play a few of these new tracks so i can right my previous scheduling missteps...

Metric - Fantasies: Still feels like their weakest album to me, but when it's on, it's ON.

Cant Wait for....

Davis Bazan - Long awaited full length. Supposedly ear marked for release on my birthday. Happy Birthday to me.

Wilco The Album - This will be out next month, and then in July 3 row center seats at Artpark. My first Wilco show! =)

Viva Voce - Rose City. The Robinson's never disappoint, and they are even coming back to the bug jar in Rochester.