I am not a fan of top 10 lists.  Mainly because its physically impossible to listen to EVERY FUCKING ALBUM release in any given year.  That is unless you happen to be Robert Christgau.  (The man listens to albums through osmosis.)

Every December, I sit down and plug in what 10 albums I believe represent the most entertaining, original, talented music that was released for the preceeding 11 months.  Its a bit of a folly, come to think of it.  Pretentious, for sure.  Come January or February, I always discover a handful of albums released the year before that could have easily made the list.  (See Yeasayer's All Our Cymbals.)  I can easily be second guessed on it.  Plus, the idea that someone would objectively rank a subjective art form is plain asinine.  Yet, every winter, the race (and debate) is on to declare what the "#1 album of the year" is.

But now I am witnessing a disturbing trend among so called rock "journalists," that being an annual list isn't enough.  Now these hacks have to release their semi-annual lists.   This way they can reveal to you, lowly reader, what you should be listening to. . . just six months into the year! 

I can't wait until they put out their monthly lists, then followed by their hourly lists; each new one forgetting the valueless superlatives thrown out on the one before.

So, in the interest of academic humility, and instead just of spewing out a ranking for these past six months, I will list what albums I have taking a keen liking to (with short Chrisgau-ian summaries) and encourage you all to post yours.   I know I am leaving out some great entries.  Please educate me on what I am missing.

What is being played now (in no discernable order) at the Temple:

The Black Keys, Attack & Release - Dangermouse makes up for his lackluster Gnarls Barkely follow up by producing today's premier blues duo.

Petrograd In Transit, Lifesize Balloon Animals EP -Epic, sweeping, anthemic.  These guys play bigger than their Tampa roots.  Check out the EP . . . for FREE you fool!

M83, Saturdays=Youth - With its take on 80's teen movies, I hope John Hughes listens to this and returns to filmmaking.

Nine Inch Nails, The Slip - I admit it.  I got it because it was free.  However, its Trent's most mainstream effort yet; balls to the walls industrial with fantastic harmonies. 

My Morning Jacket,  Evil Urges - Jim James can be my Kermit the Frog any day of the week.

Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (Actually released 12/18/07, proof that these lists are utter shit.) - Hip hop saved my life too, Lupe.  Just when I think the genre is dead, an album like this (or Rhymefest's Michael Jackson tribute album) comes out and wakes me up.

Fleet Foxes, Ragged Wood (Fleet Foxes) - Beautiful, pastoral, soul sweeping.  Cannot recommend this album enough.

Black Mountain, In The Future - Black Sabbath for smart people.

Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid - Guy Garvey could sing the Taco Bell menu and I would still be enthralled.

The Hold Steady, Stay Positive - I know this isn't out yet.  But shhhhhh!  I have it, and its really fucking good! 

Black Angels Directions To See A Ghost - Psychedelic music can be droning and monotonous.  Black Angels still play that music, but somehow turn those qualities into a positive. 

The Raconteurs Consolers Of The Lonely - A little uneven in parts, but these guys are more than a band.  They are a gang.  Not one wasted part. 

She & Him, Volume One - Now, if only Zooey Deschanel would collaborate with Guy Garvey and Jim James!  Heaven!

Foxboro Hot Tubs (Green Day in disguise) Stop Drop And Roll - fun, dumb, loud garage rock.  MC5 would be proud of Billy Joe.

The Ettes, Look At Life Again Soon - More garage rock (via Winter Park), but with Coco at the helm adding a bit of Nancy Sinatra cooing to the guitar thrashing.

Ghostland Observatory, Robotique Majestique - I make no apologies for dancing to this album in my underwear. . . in the privacy of my own home, of course.

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 During the sausage making process that is this magazine, I sometimes focus too much on the reeling in the big national act fish and lose focus on the best of our rich local music scene.  However, recently, I was fortunate enough to cover emerging Tampa band, Petrograd in Transit for next month's local scene feature.  Their music is what can best be described as anthemic; larger than life sound with space expanding synth, glimmering guitars, and the deftest touch on percussion.  Here is what I wrote back in February after their debut show at New World:

"After last night's show at New World, I want St. Petersburg's Petrograd In Transit to be my personal theme band.  Epic and sweeping, every daily activity--no matter how mundane--would be life affirming with Petrograd behind me.  I could solve life's mysterious while walking the dog, mature beyond my years washing dishes, and remember where I left my walled that one summer in 1996.  Powerful shit.  Influenced by Explosions in the Sky and (a personal favorite) electronic shoe gaze impressario, Ulrich Schnauss, its amazing to believe this was Petrograd's first gig, especially when you consider the genre calls for tight cues.  Twenty minutes became way too short of a set.  Welcome to the scene, boys."

Listening to them live, within the confines of their shoebox rehearsal space (Audio Laboratory for those local musicians familar with the converted storage facility), I was blown away how much they have grown even since February.  The material to their EP, Lifesize Animal Balloons, is based on songs written by lead guitarist Brian Steele.  However, from what I saw, the music is now a complete collaborative effort with rhythm guitarist Ted Flynn (of stpetersblog fame), bassist Doug Nelson, keyboardist Josh Harrington, and drummer Josh Perrotta. 

It took some time to secure their second show, at Summer Jam on June 21, back at New World, but it will be worth it.  Do yourself a favor and download a FREE copy of their EP at Wise Owl Records.  (With $4/gallon gas, FREE is everybody's favorite word!)  

Petrograd in Transit at New World:

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In this case, I'm not even mad.  It actually fits in quite well with the ad.  Who new that salad dressing could be so fun!  In fact, there are whole bunch of commercial uses for the Lips' music.  "Buggin'" could be used for Cutter Mosquito Repellent, Smuckers could abscond with "She Don't Use Jelly," and Honda can sell robots with "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part I." That is, if the robots happen to be, you know, pink. 

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