Here are my favorites ... Just under the wire (I think):

1. IKE - PARALLEL UNIVERSE
2. Matthew Sweet - KIMI GA SUKI
3. Cowboy Mouth - UH OH
4. Fountains of Wayne - WELCOME INTERSTATE MANAGERS
5. Jayhawks - RAINY DAY MUSIC
6. Thorns - S/T
7. Bottle Rockets - BLUE SKY
8. Pete Yorn - DAY I FORGOT
9. Drive By Truckers - DECORATION DAY
10. Guster - KEEP IT TOGETHER
11. The Pills - A FISTFULL OF PILLS

Favorite EP:

The Jain Anchor - JUST WAIT

Favorite re-issue

Clover - UNAVAILALBE


Most of these had been discussed and gotten votes, but I didn't see any for the Cowboy Mouth release.  I think it's one of the strongest, funniest (a few songs are laugh-out-loud funny) hook laden release of the year.  I'm surprised that it didn't get any mention on this list.  It starts with a trippy cover of "Tomorrow Never Knows" but then goes in a different direction from there.  Because most of the songs are written and sung by Fred LeBlanc, it really sounds cohesive - more so than their other releases.  I really liked it.  Plus, they are awesome in concert (I would live to see Fred LeBlanc and Rhett Miller in the same band ... THAT would be fun!).

The long lost Clover CD is terrific, too.  I'm hoping that their other Mercury/Vertigo release LOVE ON THE WIRE finds the light of day someday.  It's even better.

My .02 before I leave for Vegas,

Mike

GO BIRDS!!

np: Jayhawks - RAINY DAY MUSIC