So you may remember me offering up a list of “albums other people had in their top 10s that made me wonder…” as part of my overall 2006 music report. As you SHOULD have expected, I went out shortly afterward and bought all of them, except one that I haven’t been able to track down either on iTunes or in physical stores (Hello, Camera Obscura, do you really need to be that obscure?). Here’s how I feel about them at this point.

Really REALLY Like:
Ghostface Killah “Fischscale” – great fucking album. GREAT.

James Hunter “People Gonna Talk” – jazzy. awesome. cannot believe it’s a skinny white dude singing. close your eyes and you’ll be thinking it’s Solomon Burke.

Jim Noir “Tower of Love” – Beatlesque goofy love lyrics, Beatlesque sounds. Happy!

The Rapture “Pieces of the People We Love” – I kept reading about this one and forgetting to buy it. Idiot! They’re this year’s (2006’s) Franz Ferdinand/etc. (hello Michelle, that’s a note to you [not you, Michele G.!]. I know you get mad when people don’t tell you about albums you would like!)

Like (Perhaps a Lot) But Not Top 10ers:
The Mountain Goats “Get Lonely” – this is really quirky and sometimes very quiet & one-man-bandish. But it grows on me more and more.

Josh Ritter “Animal Years” – I don’t think it’s QUITE that amazing. But I like it. Solid songwriting and musicianship, interesting lyrics.

Neko Case “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” – I really enjoy this album, but I don’t find myself wanting to listen to it over and over. Best in separate doses. Don’t think she’s quite as compelling as, say, Cat Power or Rosanne Cash, two people who albums DID make my list (see link above).

Lily Allen “Alright, Still” – This is a super fun album. She’s the British PINK!!! But I don’t listen to it that often…because sadly I am an old lady now and its subject matter is a little juvenile. Good lord, did I just say this is too young for me? Oh sad day.

Like Well Enough:
Destroyer “Destroyer’s Rubies”, Dresden Dolls “Yes, Virginia” and Silversun Pickups “Carnavas” – These albums are all very redolent of Smashing Pumpkins to me and all have similar sounds to my ears. Dresden Dolls is a little Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs with the girl punk feel. Destroyer I liked, but don’t get an urge to listen to. Silversun Pickups I like the best of the three, but is so Pumpkin-ish that it doesn’t have a standout/recognizable on its own sound to me. So they’re all fine, but I only put Silversun Pickups on the Pod and I probably won’t be listening to these much.

Didn’t Like:
TI “King” – just not the kind of rap I like, I guess (it’s not Ghostface Killah, that’s for sure). only two songs I outright enjoyed.

Grizzly Bear “Yellow House” – I will try to give this one more listen JUST IN CASE. But first impression was “Eh? No thanks.”

Haven’t Listened to Yet:
Birdman & L’il Wayne “Like Father, Like Son”
Lupe Fiasco “Food & Liquor”

Have Not Yet Found ANYWHERE:
Camera Obscura “Let’s Get Out of This Country” – no idea where I found the single which I bought ages ago, but haven’t been able to find this album on iTunes (only their previous one which I already have) nor at Tower, nor at Virgin…