'obZen' by Messugah AllMusic.com calls Meshuggah the 'masterminds of cosmic calculus metal'. 'Nuff said. This is the best Swedish symphonic progressive death metal album of the year. Opeth's new CD is great, but I'm still warming up to it. That's not unusual: it usually takes me awhile to grow to like Opeth's stuff. But I don't like it enough to displace Meshuggah yet. Listen at Meshuggah's MySpace page.

'The Fruit Fallen' by Edensong I don't know how I learned about this group and their debut album, but I'm glad I came across it. I've had to rely on prog-metal, and mostly death metal, to get my prog fix. But here's a very progressive band that is mostly acousticly based. My goodness! Flutes! Cellos! Violin! Complex arrangements that require repeated listenings! I have to think that is this album was released in the 70's, sitting alongside Kansas, Yes, and Tull albums, this would be huge. But it's 2008 and they're currently obscure. Hopefully not for long. Listen at Edensong's MySpace page.

'In the Future' by Black Mountain Amazing album. Influenced by many 70's artists, including Zeppelin, Neil Young, even Amon Duul II, but their music is by no means derivative. Great rock songs by a great band. (Another new band I'm listening to that sounds like a great 70's melodic hard rock band is Bigelf. You can listen to Bigelf songs here too.) Listen at Black Mountain's MySpace page.

'Gift of Screws' by Lindsey Buckingham First of all, if you like listening to guitar, this is a must. 'Great Day' and 'Time Precious Time', which open the album, contains some of the best acoustic work I've heard outside of Robert Fripp himself. The first two songs set an experimental tone, but the album kicks out 'Did You Miss Me', which would have made a brilliant Fleetwood Mac song. The rest of the songs vary that tension, as Buckingham always does, between experimental and commercial. But the songs are consistently tuneful and melodic, effectively crafted with strong guitarwork. (Buckingham plays almost all the instruments himself, but his clear strength is with the guitar.) Listen at Lindsey Buckingham's MySpace page.

'Flight of the Conchords' by Flight of the Conchords This is a collections of songs culled from the first series of the HBO series, which itself came out of a BBC audio series. One word: hilarious. Hilarious in a way that makes it funnier each time you listen/watch. I've read reviews that criticize that people will probably miss the visual element of the show, but most of the songs from the series are also in the BBC radio series. These songs definitely stand on their own. This album went straight into a metaphorical place on my shelf next to The Rutles CD and The Mighty Wind soundtrack. After a few listens it just gets even funnier and funnier. The rap parody 'Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros' still can make me laugh out loud on the bus. The song 'Inner City Pressure' is a kind of anthem for me. It is kinda heavy with love songs, but 'Business Time', a Prince parody as well as a parody of men in general, is one of the funniest things on the whole CD. Listen at Flight of the Conchord's MySpace page.

Honorable Mentions:

Consolers of the Lonely by The Raconteurs
I've become a real fan of Jack White (The White Stripes). This album is very un-like the band's debut album a couple years ago, which I liked a lot. That album was very controlled and carefully crafted. This album is much more open and looser. The title song, which opens the album, is one of my favorite songs of the year -- a strong song that moves and shifts, containing witty lyrics, shared by the two frontmen. The rest of the songs are great as well. I'm glad that Jack White is not planning on closing out the White Stripes. I'd like for the prolific songwriter to continue with both musicial experiments. Visions of both bands is clear and fascinating. I'm hoping to see where both visions move into throughout the next couple decades or so. Listen at The Raconteurs's MySpace page.

Dear Science by TV on the Radio
I've read good things about this band, and I've listened to them on WOXY.com. This album is being hyped as a clear candidate for Top 10 lists at the end of the year. I can concur with this assessment. No, I'm not absolutely enthusiastic about them yet, but at least a couple of the songs are killer. They're rock and roll, but they're also a mix of many influences, not unlike Beck at his most eclectic. If nothing else, 'Dancing Choose' is one of my favorite songs of the year. Listen at TV on the Radio's MySpace page.

From Heaven by Todd Barry
Todd Barry is one of the funniest men alive right now. He writes in short, spiked comments about society, wrapped into an unassuming persona. I'm listening to this and Medium Energy over and over and I'm still laughing.

Watershed by Opeth
Opeth is probably my favorite working band right now. Odd, though, that I've had to warm up to every one of their CDs so far. This one is no exception. Musically it's fresh, probably due to the fact that there are two new members. 'Coil', the song that opens the set, is unique, as it is a quiet (not unique for them, but noteworthy), melodic song, but with a guest female vocalist and -- strings! The pastoral setting is disrupted by 'Heir Apparent's crushing guitars. This one may move up into the above list of Best Of CDs, but, well, not yet.

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today by David Byrne and Brian Eno
What you might expect from this pairing: excellent songs, great lyrics, wonderful sound. Maybe that's why it's still an 'honorable mention' for me: not out of my expectations. This is the kind of album that takes time to really appreciate though, and it IS worth repeated listenings.

Seven Moons by Jack Bruce and Robin Trower
Here's another for the not exceeding expectations from two great musicians. Again, the songs are great, Trower's guitar is smooth and strong, a great experience, but nothing transcendant.

Mudcrutch by Mudcrutch
Am I a broken record? No. This time it's not two veterans getting together, but one veteran (Tom Petty) with some very old (but not very famous) friends. Again, though, great songs, great guitarwork (but not Petty's), in a great sounding CD.

The Slip by Nine Inch Nails
A great album at a great price -- FREE! Put together quickly (not his usual mode), this is probably my favorite NIN CD, despite the fact (and probably because of the fact) it is not an ambitious work. It's a strong collection of varied songs. Definitely worth paying for, though I didn't have to.

I listen to new stuff at WOXY.com (Internet alternative radio), New Music Express (which features songs and full albums streamed from the website through their Media Player), as well as Sound Opinions (Chicago-based NPR weekly show on rock and roll, which is podcast on the site). MySpace is a good place to listen to music too.

Who knows what the rest of the year will bring?

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