So for my first post, I’m going to jump on a bandwagon. I really hate top 10 lists, and I can’t rate stuff for shit. But this year’s been a good one for tuneage. This is in no order. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy Continuing with the vintage keyboards/angst vibe of their previous release, Will Sheff does some hollering and busts out some pretty awesome songs. Catch them live if you can.

The Decemberists - Picaresque I guess it goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Not quite as good as Her Majesty, but nevertheless chock-full of the pop goodness and hyper-literary lyrics we’ve come to expect from Portland’s finest.

Spoon - Gimme Fiction I really like the way they always sound like they’re about to rock, but they’re holding back. The resulting tension (and Britt Daniel’s voice) is what makes Spoon so sexy.

Bastro - Antlers Live 1991 I’d say this counts as “new” as it contains unreleased material. Furious instrumental math-rock pounds you between the eyes. Can anyone rock the drums harder than John McEntire? I think not.

Sam Prekop - Who’s Your New Professor? Speaking of sexy, nobody can croon like Sam. Joined by bad-ass rhythm section Josh Abrams and Chad Taylor, Sam has once again created a perfect seduction soundtrack.

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois OK, I was going to write him off because a) he’s trendy with the indie-rock kids and b) he dissed some of my favorite artists (Wilco, Jim O’Rourke, etc.). But this album is epic and fantastic. To hell with nay-saying.

Andrew Bird - Mysterious Production of Eggs Chicago’s most talented violinist/whistler sings about drilling holes in people’s heads and other tangled situations. Wit, charm, eclecticism, and, of course, whistling make for an unclassifiable delight.

Smog - A River Ain’t Too Much to Love I could listen to Bill Callahan sing about poop. Here he muses on sorrow, love, war, and redemption in his inimitable baritone - and he actually sounds a bit hopeful for once.

Son Volt - Okemah and the Melody of Riot Jay Farrar revives his rock persona for some more stolid roots-rock. No surprises here, except for some unusually political lyrics, but it’s good comfort food.

Iron & Wine - Woman King It’s just an EP, but whatever. Sam Beam has yet to disappoint me.

Hopefully the second half of 2005 will be as good as the first half. We shall see.