HONORABLE MENTIONS AND OTHER THINGS...

before i launch into my top ten favorite songs of the year, i just wanted to mention a few other albums that i really loved this year and heartily recommend for your listening pleasure:

→ 'X,' KYLIE MINOGUE. this album probably would've made my top ten were it not released so late in the year. it's all sorts of poptastic. don't be surprised it you hear five singles from it--the songs are that solid and bounteous. but more than anything else, it's just nice to have her around after her battle with breast cancer. i hope she gives us many more albums! key tracks: speakerphone, the one, no more rain, 2 hearts, like a drug, wow, all i see.

→ 'GOD SAVE THE CLIENTELE,' THE CLIENTELE. my favorite band of the last five years. as far as i'm concerned, these chaps can do no wrong and 'god save the clientele' was yet another shiny example of what they're capable of: shimmering melodies, lyrics full of imagery, tight instrumenation, immaculate production. if you've ever wondered what it was like to live in london in fall 1967, spin any one of their records. the violin on bookshop casanova alone is worth the price of admission. key tracks: bookshop casanova, here comes the phantom, i hope you know, somebody changed.

→ 'FANTASTIC PLAYROOM,' NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB. this was probably album #11, just barely missing the top ten. in fact, it could have just easily tied with the shout out louds. but never fear because i can promise you this: they do appear in my top ten songs list. in fact, they almost made it twice. and lou is just oh-so-lovely. i could watch her play keyboards all day. and well, i have. welcome to the 2nd biggiest party album of the year. key tracks: ice cream, the bomb, the get go, tight fit, hiding on the staircase

→ 'DRAMA,' MONTT MARDIE. you're not likely to get more bang for you buck than montt mardie's 'drama.' not only is he a supreme songsmith, he's got a great sense of humor. great songs + sense of humor = awesome. yet another swede who's perfected the art of songcraft. have i mentioned lately how much i hate them all? :) key tracks: changed [a sailor's plea], huckleberry friend, highschool drama.

→ 'HEY HEY MY MY YO YO,' JUNIOR SENIOR. it took a while, but 'hhmmyy' finally got released stateside this year. it's nothing but one irony-free party from start to finish. if you've ever wondered what a genuine, guileless homage to party music sounds like, this is it. it's all about funky basslines, brass sections, handclaps, doo-waps and bee-bops. and it's all brilliant. this is your #1 party album of the year. key tracks: we r the handclaps, can i get get get, i like music [w.o.s.b.]

and some more....

→ 'BEAT BOX,' GLASS CANDY
→ 'SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE,' NEW BUFFALO
→ 'CROSS,' JUSTICE
→ 'NIGHT DRIVE,' CHROMATICS
→ 'NIGHT FALLS OVER KORTEDALA,' JENS LEKMAN
→ 'MOMENTUM,' TRANSCARGO
→ 'WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY,' THE SHINS
→ 'SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS,' SIA
→ 'BENEATH AND BEYOND,' STANDFAST
→ 'FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE,' THE ARCTIC MONKEYS