Here's my top 20 for the first half of the year.  The last 6 records could 
easily be replaced by 6 others tomorrow --the first 14 are clear cut 
contenders for the end of the year --

1.  Radiohead
2.  Ted Leo/Pharmacists
3.  Frisbie
4.  Wire
5.  Pernice Brothers
6.  Nada Surf
7.  Dwight Yoakam
8.  The Contrast
9.  The New Pornographers
10. Fountains Of Wayne
11. Blur
12. Absinthe Blind
13. Tractor Kings
14. Michael Carpenter
15. Bettie Serveert
16. The White Stripes
17. Massive Attack
18. Rosanne Cash
19. Midstates
20. Oh My God

On another note -- listened full through to the new Cheap Trick and the new 
Liz Phair.  As for the former -- it's not as good as 1997's eponymous 
effort, and it means something that two of the best tracks are cut from the 
same sinister cloth as that record.  Lead cut "The Scent of a Woman" is 
quite cool.  No big time clunkers, but most of the album is nice without 
real big hooks.  Still, this is well ahead of their most dire period.  
Listening to this, you know there is still more good music in the band.  As 
for Ms. Phair -- while the Matrix stuff is pretty commercial, it's not like 
the Michael Penn produced tracks are raw.  The problem here is that Phair is 
a lyric driven artist -- her music composing has never been as exceptional.  
While her upper range vocals have improved, she sounds less distinctive than 
when she sings in her flat (but intimate) lower range.  There are still some 
nice moments (despite the dumb ass lyrics, the Matrix tune "Rock Me" is 
ultrahooky) -- but, based on the Penn tracks, I think this wouldn't have 
been too hot anyway.

Mike

NP:  Lynchpin -- HAND-PICKED WORDS (what if Glenn Tilbrook fronted early 
Crowded House???)


Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com

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