It's November, which means that the vast majority of albums that are going to be released this year are out, and everyone (who's into this sort of thing, of course) should start making out preliminary album of the year lists.

Right now Nas' Untitled and the Cure's 4:13 Dream are near the top of my list, with A Silver Mt. Zion my biggest surprise of the year.

Discuss yours, mine, albums still to come out that you're waiting ot hear before making final predicitions, etc.

It was a pretty weak year compared to last I feel, but I did like some stuff:

Elvis Costello and the Imposters - Momofuku
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Nas - Untitled
Beck - Modern Guilt
Van Morrison - Keep It Simple
Jackson Browne - Time the Conqueror
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

In no particular order (at least yet).

I haven't really listened to much new stuff this year. The only new release albums I bought all year were Ben Folds, Weezer, and Metallica. Way to Normal by Ben Folds is a strong release from him, Death Magnetic turned out to be Metallica's strongest album since ...And Justice for All, and the Red Album from Weezer was a lot of hit or miss (mostly miss).

I almost hate to admit it, but I'm gonna go with Kings of Leon.

Anything on that list something I should really set aside time to listen to on Rhapsody?

God, my old roommate listened to those guys until I wanted to puke. They're not horrible, but once you've heard a couple of their songs, you've heard them all. And when you've heard them all, multiple times, you want to shoot yourself.

Fleet Foxes and Jakob Dylan's solo disc were both excellent debuts I would check out if you're into mellowed out stuff. If you're a fan of either Van or Jackson Browne you will like their new ones. Beck is Beck.

I have been known to dig Jackson Browne in the past, so I should give his new disc a chance. I'm surprised to hear that Jakob Dylan's album is that good, considering he hasn't struck me with anything since the Wallflowers hit it big in '96. I tend to like mellow stuff, so I'll give them a shot.

I would generally agree. Which is why this is odd.

No one else showing any love for the Cure? That's kinda sad, guys. It's a really great record, kind of a nice mid-point between their Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me and Wish style happy stuff and the sadder stuff off of Disintigration and Bloodflowers.

Also, I forgot to mention NIN's Instrumental record(s) Ghosts I-IV. It's not going to top my list or anything, but it's seriously pretty epic.

Shogun by Trivium

That's basically all I got.

The Main Chickie loves those guys. We went to see them, live, about two weeks ago. Their songs are all built about one simplistic riff, repeated ad naseum.

In this day and age of instant fulfillment and single-song downloads, not much stands out on my radar. So I'll say "umm..that one hip-hop song with that big fat guy".

The Cure just aren't my cup of tea. Haven't heard any of the new NIN stuff as I'm not a huge fan. I don't hate them, I'm just pretty indifferent to them...

As far as disappointments this year go, Weezer's red album, new Melvins, and Del's Eleventh Hour are topping my list.

I vote for Foo's newest. I can't recall the title right now, and I'm too lazy to look it up.

This year has been dick shit for music, quite frankly. As a DJ, I get to listen to lots of new stuff from lots of different genres, and there has been almost no phenomenal music this year from anyone in any genre. About my favourite two songs to play this year have been Fall Out Boy's cover of Beat It (featuring the awesome guitar licks of John Mayer), and Foo's Let It Die.

As for dance/club/hip hop, there has been nothing worth keeping for another year. Katy Perry (I Kissed A Girl) will be played in the future for the pure humour value of the song. Other than that, I can't think of another solid dance tune that everyone always requested at every show. That's weak.

Anyway, that's my opinion.