The Stage Names, &c.

[burnunit]

Well, they did it again. Like 2005's Black Sheep Boy, Okkervil River has made an album I want to listen to again immediately after it ends.

It's been a titanic year for good music. I don't know if anyone else has noticed. Mammoth. Enormous. Wonderful. A cornucopia of delights!
Early contenders for my top ten, roughly in order

Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
White Stripes - Icky Thump
New Pornographers - Challengers

do you see how this is going? That's an embarrassment of riches...

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga
The Rakes - Ten New Messages
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Josh Rouse - Country Mouse City House
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Metric - Grow Up & Blow Away
The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Pela - Anytown Graffiti
The National - Boxer
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna are you the Destroyer?
even Kings of Leon got into the act with something worth listening to at least once.