– I actually think ‘Year Zero’ is much better than ‘The Slip’ although I do like the latter. I wrote off Reznor after The Fragile partly because I needed a break but it’s nice to see him back doing things that are interesting.

– Spiritualized: I don’t share your enthusiasm for the new album. I was really excited to get it, having heard the back story and reading the usual frothing claims about a “return to form” and so forth but I feel like Pierce/J Spaceman has kind of dug himself into a cul-de-sac. As you point out, he uses the same tropes over and over and over (fire, Jesus, light, heaven, etc. etc.) and it feels like I’m buying the same album over and over. He basically has two musical styles: the languid slow song about the hard knocks in his love/drug life or the uptempo pot boiler about his love/drug life. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space’ succeeded because it had the melodies but also because he knew where to find a middle between the two styles and produce a mind-blowing piece of art that seemed utterly real. Same with some of his Spacemen 3 stuff. I still love the guy but I’m not buying anymore of his albums.

– I agree about Nick Cave & TV On The Radio. In spite of all the hype, those are two damn good albums, especially the former. And “I Call Upon the Author” is just fucking brilliant.

Your 11 whatever picks:

– I agree with all of them (especially Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Santogold, Death Cab, Fuck Buttons, and Girl Talk) but have to disagree with Cut Copy who I find absurdly derivative, like a poor facsimile of New Order mixed with bad electro and updated for 2008. I also hate My Morning Jacket but that requires a longer explication. Blah blah.

And, Ivy, Nick Cave is your #1 and you know it! Search inside and you will realize this.

Really cool to see Lindstrom, Jim Noir and Fuck Buttons get mentioned. Cut Copy’s “Feel the Love” is one of my favorite tracks of the year, but I couldn’t get into the album like I wanted…still can’t argue with that pick. Elbow and the 1/4 of the mostly awful MMJ album are especially interesting to see. I’ll have to see which 4 songs you’re talking about.

I love the overall mix of personal picks and critical faves. As Tim & Eric would say, great job!

Here’s mine, in no particular order, (well, there’s sort of an order, but it’s not definite).

1. Cansei de Ser Sexy – Donkey
2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig!
3. Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs – Dirt Don’t Hurt
4. Crystal Castles – Self-Titled
5. Hercules & Love Affair
6. The Kills – Midnight Boom
7. Santogold – Self-Titled
8. MGMT – Self-Titled