Maybe I'm not buying as much music as I used to...
Maybe the music isn't as gripping...
Maybe I'm getting old...
Maybe I just like the lucky number 13...

But for whatever reason, here's my top 13:

1. Eugene Edwards "My Favorite Revolution" 
[not a dud on the entire album]

2. Sam Roberts "We Were Born In A Flame" 
[one hell of an amazing live show]

3. The Candy Butchers "Hang On Mike" 
[deeply personal and moving album]

4. Elliott Smith "From A Basement On The Hill" 
[first 7 songs are chilling, production is fabulous]

5. Jason Falkner "Bliss Descending" 
[an EP, so not really sure if it qualifies, but I love Jason]

6. Cliff Hillis "Better Living Through Compression" 
[I'd heard a few of these from Cliff's Starbelly days.  Is that some John Faye influence I'm beginning to hear?]

7. Cloud Eleven "Terrestrial Ballet" 
[Rick is magical.  His B-sides are better than most peoples top stuff]

8. Adam Marsland "You Don't Know Me" 
[Adam's evolution as a songwriter and singer warms me.  With a bullet and rising]

9. Owsley "The Hard Way" 
[only a couple of the songs come even close to the masterpiece that was his debut.  C'mon Will...]

10. Northey Valenzuela "Northey Valenzuela" 
[Craig Northey of Odds new project with the Gin Blossoms guitarist.  Interesting Rock/Adult Contemp/Pop experience]

11. Velvet Crush "Stereo Blues" 
[never listened to these guys before this album, now i'm hooked]

12. Dada "How To Be Found" 
[I've heard it all before done better on previous albums, but still...any time's a good time for Dada]

13. Scott Bennett "The Dotted Line" 
[definitely has its moments, but like its name, its quite dotted]


Most Disappointing: 
Matthew Sweet "Living Things"

2nd Most Disappointing:
Owsley's "The Hard Way"  -- yes it made my list, but for as many years as we were kept waiting, I felt the album was much weaker than he's capable of.

Verdict is still out:
Alva Star "Escalator"