Absolutely Love & Adore:
The Raconteurs “Consolers of the Lonely” – Another rocking album from a great band. Can Jack White write a bad song or produce a bad album? Not so far! “Old Enough” and “Top Yourself” are my faves. If you get the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it.
Joe Purdy “You Can Tell Georgia” – There’s nothing unexpected here, but it’s all good: lovely lyrics, pretty arrangements, melancholy but not super sad. I mean, except for “Ode to a Sad Clown”. “Can’t Get It Right Today” is also great, even if it is on a commercial.
Meg Hutchinson “Come Up Full” – This album has been on repeat since I bought it, at least once a day, I swear. Can’t get enough. Listen to “Ready” “Home” and “Come Up Full”, then come tell me how you love it.
Joseph Arthur “Crazy Rain” (EP) – Digital, dark, dirty, scratchy. Magnificent.
Joseph Arthur “Could We Survive” (EP) – Very different than Crazy Rain. Choral, thick, harmonic. Insistent.
Fleet Foxes “Sun Giant” (EP) – Gorgeous. Layered. I might actually love this EP more than the full album. CSNY harmonies, but without that country/folk twinge. I’ve heard it called freak folk (?) but somehow I missed out on ever knowing about that genre. Whatevah! I’d call it “Alternapop” myself, ha ha ha ha. (If you like Sea Wolf or even Shearwater, I think you’d like this too.)
Favorite Singles (not on any of the above albums):

• “Buildings & Mountains” The Republic Tigers
  
• “She Loves Everybody” Chester French
  
• “Roadway Hymn” La Rocca
  
• “Dust” Augustana
  
• “Everywhere” (Paul Devro blend…) Fleetwood Mac
  
• “Tick of Time” The Kooks
  
• “Heart of Mine” Peter Salett (old! from a fave flick: “Keeping the Faith”)
  
• “Fighter Girl” Mason Jennings
  
• “New Soul” (Yael Naim cover) Tristan Prettyman
  
• “Rise” Will Dailey
  

Other Albums I Liked:

• The Magic Numbers “Undecided” (EP) – Always love their harmonies.
  
• Duke Special “Songs from the Deep Forest” – Very theatrical and dramatic. Seems like it should be the soundtrack to something. Unusual.
  
• Jason Anderson “The Hopeful and the Unafraid” – Has a very Springsteen/Jesse Malin vibe to it. My faves are the last two “The Post Office” and “The Half of It” that are really, really reminding me of someone else but I just can’t put my finger on it. Morrissey? maybe? Listen and tell me who you hear, it’s on the tip of my tongue…
  
• Girlyman “Remember Who I Am” and “Something Different Now” (Live) – I’m really into the live album, it really captures their energy.
  
• The Submarines “Honeysuckle Weeks” – Boy/girl vocals. Poppy, electronic. Kinda ’80s feelin.
  
• She & Him “Volume One” – This one really grows on you if you give it a chance. Has some very fun, rollicking songs (“This Is Not a Test”) and I’m really into Zoey’s voice. LOVE the Beatles cover.
  
• The Weepies “Hideaway” – Aw, so sweet and melodic. As with Joe Purdy, you know beforehand what you’re getting. But if it’s what you like, you’ll be happy.
  
• Madonna “Hard Candy” – I know it’s cool to harsh on Madonna these days. I guess I’m just not that cool!!! I really like the upbeat dancy rhythms on this album. And the lyrics? Are SUCH a great contrast to the music. It kinda sounds like a breakup album, and you know I’m in a permanent state of breakup. “Miles Away”, “She’s Not Me” and “Incredible” are my faves. Despite what you may have heard, the JT songs are actually not the best ones, to me!
  

Not really for me / but maybe for you!:
Colin Meloy Sings Live! – I love a lot of these songs in their Decemberists arrangements. But I’m just not into it here. All very “one note”: every song sung with exact same level of intensity, same volume on both vocals and guitar, same earnestness. No ups/downs/louds/softs. Kinda boring. (These same songs on Decemberists albums? Not boring at all!)
Counting Crows “Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings” – I like some of the (faster) songs. But it’s a bit much and the second half really drags. On the other hand, it’s their best stuff in years. And I like the live versions I heard on Fuel/Friends a few months before this came out (a lot better).
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:
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin “Pershing” – I like it the few times I’ve had it on..but I’ve barely listened to it. Too much else going on. It’s on my to-do list. 😉