Better Than Most

Well, the year's just about done. Things have been pretty crazy around here. The girls had a three-pronged Christmas celebration: first here on the 25th, when they were over the moon to receive a huge dollhouse and umpteen dolls, clothes, toys and games. Then we went to my mom's that afternoon, where my brother and his family were staying and we spent the rest of the day with them. They came down to visit us the next day and then I took them to the airport on Thursday. A few hours after I got home, Deb's brother Matt and his family arrived and we exchanged presents with them. The kids had fun playing with their cousins and we hung out all day yesterday. They took off this morning because Matt has a ticket to the Pats-Giants game tonight at Giants Stadium.

I got some cool presents: a couple of Cormac McCarthy books, No Country for Old Men and The Road; I'm going to hold off on the former until after I see the Coen Brothers movie adaptation, but I've already started The Road. I also got the classic MST3K DVD of Manos and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, so I'm looking forward to watching those. I also received Michael Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road, so I have a good pile of books on my nightstand. I also got some good running gear and clothes, among other stuff.

The last month or so, the InterWebs have been full of year-end lists of favorite music, movies, etc. (Check out the always-awesome LHB for a comprehensive collection of lists.) Who am I not to join in? Here are my top 15 albums of the year, keeping in mind that I certainly haven't heard everything out there. I don't get free stuff, so I can only go on what I've heard. But I have heard a lot of good music this year, so here we go (with retail and video links):

1. Spoon--Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
These guys have been consistently releasing great music for years and this ridiculously named album is their latest and greatest. Spare arrangements, clever wordplay, and catchy songs. Dig it.
Video: The Underdog

2. Dinosaur Jr.--Beyond
J., Lou and Murph reunite to release a blast of an album that kicks butt while rivaling any of their old classics.
Video: Been There All the Time

3. Grinderman--Grinderman
Nick Cave has been at it in various forms and incarnations over the years, and I have to admit to not being very familiar with his past work. But this is stripped down and nasty. That's a good thing.
Video: Electric Alice

4. Black Francis--Bluefinger
Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black) returns to his Pixies-era persona for this excellent album, which is what a new Pixies album might sound like if Kim Deal was up for it.
Video: Tight Black Rubber

5. Radiohead--In Rainbows
Thom Yorke and the guys have still got it, Internet release or not. Not a radical departure from their last few full-lengths. I would have liked a little more gee-tar, but that's just me. Still, great stuff.
Video: Reckoner

6. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists--Living With the Living
Another artist who consistently delivers great music. He provides some especially timely critiques of the current administration in an age when there is a surprising dearth of protest music.
Video: Bomb.Repeat.Bomb

7. Queens of the Stone Age--Era Vulgaris
Josh Homme brings the rizzock. Heavy enough for your metal side, clever enough for your indie side.
Video: Make It Wit Chu

7a. Mondo Generator--Dead Planet
Some say the aforementioned QOTSA haven't been the same since wildman bassist Nick Oliveri got the boot a few years back. Maybe so, but at least he's still kickin' butt. Not for the faint of heart or eardrums.
Video: Lie Detector

8. Andrew Bird--Armchair Apocrypha
This is an exquisite album that makes the most of Bird's interesting sonic pallette. Definitely should be heard with headphones on.
Video: Imitosis

9. The White Stripes--Icky Thump
The novelty may have worn off somewhat since the Stripes first burst on the scene at the turn of the century, but they can still make compelling music.
Video: You Don't Know What Love Is

10. The National--Boxer
These guys provide low-key, atmospheric, slow-burn rock. Very cool.
Video: Mistaken for Strangers

11. Okkervil River--The Stage Names
I've been digging this for the last month or so. It really grows on you. Will Sheff and crew cover a lot of rock ground on this album. I pick up on something new every time I listen to it.
Video: Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

12. Thurston Moore--Trees Outside the Academy
For his second solo album (and first in 12 years), the Sonic Youth leader goes for a quieter sound than he's known for. And it works really well.
Video: Fri/End (live on Jimmy Kimmel show)

13. LCD Soundsystem--Sound of Silver
A fun combination of dance, punk and electronic sounds. More infectious than the bird flu.
Video: North American Scum

14. Les Savy Fav--Let's Stay Friends
A triumphant return with an album that's all over the map with the indie rock.
Video: Patty Lee

15. The Arcade Fire--Neon Bible
A worthy if overhyped follow-up to their smashing debut of a few years back. Just great, anthemic anthemy anthems.
Video: No Cars Go

Some other good stuff I dug this year:

• New Pornographers--Challengers
• Ray Davies--Working Man's Cafe
• Wilco--Sky Blue Sky
• Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings--100 Days, 100 Nights
• PJ Harvey--White Chalk
• Of Montreal--Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
• The Dears--Gang of Losers
• Bloc Party--A Weekend in the City
• Bad Brains--Build a Nation
• Jason Isbell--Sirens of the Ditch
• The Horrors--Strange House
• Foo Fighters--Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
• Tim Armstrong--A Poet's Life
• Arctic Monkeys--Favourite Worst Nightmare

Damn, I guess I did listen to a lot of stuff, after all.