Absolutely Love & Adore:

Sons of Anarchy: Shelter EP – Yup, another EP from my favorite TV show. Katey Sagal covers “Ruby Tuesday” in a beautiful, heartbreaking rendition. The other songs are good too but that’s the one I can’t stop listening to.

Matt Hires “Take Us to the Start” – YAY I have been waiting for this album since the first time I heard “Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song” (which yay is also on here). He’s definitely someone you would expect me to like, a singer/songwriter-y dude with sort of acoustic, mostly cheery songs. What my cousin calls “WB Music” (i.e., something that would have been used in the background on Dawson’s Creek or Everwood). That doesn’t bother me at all. Other fave song: “A Perfect Day” (LOVE!)

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• “Mary” Patty Griffin – so so so beautiful.
  
• “Fly Me Away” Annie Little – a freebie from Amazon but I still like it!
  
• “Sumatra” Katie Herzig – the second song of hers to become a serious repeat play for me. I should probably check out her albums at this point.
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Shwayze “Let It Beat” – I have no idea why I dig these weird Shwayze albums so much. But you know what? I DO. And that’s all there is to it. They make me wanna dance.
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!: Nada!!

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can’t legitimately offer an opinion:

Mos Def “The Ecstatic” – I dug this dude’s acting in both “16 Blocks” and “Be Kind, Rewind,” and then Rolling Stone gave this album a really enthusiastic review…but I’ve barely listened to it yet. Hey! November was a TOUGH month school-wise.

Company of Thieves “Ordinary Riches” – another victim of my inability to listen to music at the end of last semester when I was writing, writing, writing for weeks (my semester was very back-end-heavy in terms of assignments). Cant’ remember what made me buy it, but I don’t think I’ve made it through twice yet. I will say, the lead female really sounds like Rachael Yamagata. And you know, someday I’ll find time to listen and check it out more!!

Absolutely Love & Adore:

The Avett Brothers “I and Love and You” – I’m sure I have mentioned these guys enough times now that you are not surprised to see them. This album just continues their greatness and they’re getting a much wider release and YAY for them. I can’t really even pick a favorite song or two because everytime I listen I either a) love them all or b) completely change my mind on which one is best!

Sons of Anarchy: North Country EP – Yes, that’s right, my favorite show of the year is also releasing little EP soundtracks. And they’re awesome. This one has “John the Revelator” from Curtis Stigers, the song from the season 1 finale, which is so great. And the “Forever Young” cover by Audra Mae is just lovely.

Glee – The Music, Vol. 1 – I had bought a lot of these as singles as they were released, so I just finished up the album with what I hadn’t already bought. This show is, for the most part, a LOT of fun and so are the covers. I have this random, not well thought out at all, theory that covers are ALMOST ALWAYS good because it’s so hard to ruin a good song. Whereas movie remakes, there are just SO many places those can go wrong. And some of these are not just good or decent covers…some of these are GREAT! Faves: “Bust Your Windows” “Take a Bow” “Push It”

Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• “Hazy” Rosi Golan and William Fitzsimmons – so pretty!
  
• “Single Ladies” (cover) Pampelmoose – you can find it on myspace or somewheres
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• Kid Cudi “Man on the Moon – The End of Day” – Remember back when Kanye was just getting big and dressed like a schoolboy in sweater vests all the time and referred to himself as “Carlton” (from Fresh Prince of LA)? Kid Cudi seems to have taken that personality over for him now that Kanye’s gone all glam. Fave: I really love the song they’re both on here “Make Her Say” (with Common also).
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:

J. Tillman “Year in the Kingdom” – a solo album from a Fleet Fox. Some of this is really pretty – I really like “Earthly Bodies” and “Year in the Kingdom” but I can’t listen to it as a whole album: too overall “on the same note” / too slow and methodical. Needs to shake it up once in a while to keep me going, I just end up fast forwarding… Sorry. 🙁

Shamefully have either not listened to at all, or not all the way through, or so few times that I can’t legitimately offer an opinion:

Sea Wolf “White Water, White Bloom” – I really like this band, I just haven’t given this album much more than a cursory listen. I KNOW. I got it after school started though and listening since then has been very inconsistent. What I’ve listened to sounds pretty but I know their old stuff a lot better.