very nice job DJ, good range, concise, apt descriptions - thanks!

very cool list - like the categorization.

I liked parts of the Nirvana box set. Interesting how little your list matches with the Grammy nominations.

TY

I might have to post my review of The Grammy noms from last year... this year's list might be worse. I think it's sweet they are going to turn this into a Ray Charles memorial, but some of those other nominations are just godawful.

At least next year's should be better: U2 will rack up big time (the Grammy eligibility rules don't run from Jan-Dec) so U2 won't be eligible until next year.

dude, you've got so much going on in the code I can't figure out how to close the font tag - could you do it please so we don't bleed over - thanks

I know REM's latest has taken quite a few pot shots in the press, and I've taken it on as something of a personal mission to defend it.

Around the Sun may not be REM's greatest work, but I find it to be a sweet and yearning and soulful listen from start to finish. Songs like "Wanderlust" and, as you mention, "Leaving New York" are among the best the group has ever put out.

Further, I sense an energy and direction missing in the band ever since drummer Bill Berry departed for greener pastures. This is by far their best work since New Adventures in Hi Fi, which I consider to be their best work to date.

Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com

I'll somewhat-second Eric B. - Around the Sun is anything but awful. It's not a favorite, but it's got some of my favorite songs of the year on it. (If that makes sense.)

I have to disagree with the inclusion of the new Helmet in the "surprise of the year" category: I can't stand this album. I've given it my obligatory five-spins-before-judgement and there's nearly nothing that makes me want to give it more. This one makes my personal "disappointment of the year" list.

That new Tears For Fears album, however, is one of the best releases of the year and my list will favor it strongly. Why it seems to be going as ignored as it is, I'll never understand. It's as good as, if not better than in some regards, their earlier albums.

I'm actually very surprised at the division about the Clapton album. I think he did a very good job of keeping the attitude of the originals while incorporating a full band into the mix. I really can't imagine what else I'd have asked for out of the project. The Sessions for Robert J sheds a bit more light on it, too, and is quite a bit less polished then the album proper. I can see through the polished performance of the album and hear Clapton's sheer enthusiasm for the music.

Thanks to all who checked out the list and offered some thoughts and opinions.

As I read your feedback, it stirred a few thoughts and I thought I would toss them up here...

1 - Helmet: Certainly not album of the year material and it's not as good as their vintage stuff, but I was pessimistic when I heard they were 'reforming.' I really like "Throwing Punches" and "See You Dead." The rest? It's... all right.

2 - R.E.M.: I still think "Leaving Las Vegas" was the only thing worthwhile on the album, but that song was just fandamntastic. I was joking with a friend of mine last night about it, as a matter of fact: "That's not a moog you hear, that's people snoring." I think they are still rudderless since Bill Berry left. My friend likes the album a lot more than I do, too.

3 - Clapton: Good point on the fact he had to create full-band arrangements for songs that were solo acoustic performances originally. But to me, Robert Johnson's songs are worth listening to mostly because of the raw emotion they evoke. Clapton's treatment of these songs replaces raw emotion with a rollicking sense of fun. That's not necessarily wrong, and I don't hate the record (I might have come across sounding a tad too harsh). But I think I would have enjoyed hearing him give a more faithful or (in my opinion honest) interpretation of the music.

Again... thanks for checking out my list and thanks for posting your thoughts.

P!nk was the best for this year!!!

Good choices