IT'S ABOUT THAT TIME OF YEAR, YET AGAIN. AND WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN.

Seeing as I'm leaving town, I thought I'd leave you all on a high note of music. It's about time to start seriously thinking about who to give the album of the year nod to.

As begun last year, or the year before, Elliott Smith will always have an automatic selection on the list. This year's Elliott Smith album of the year pick will go to "Songs From A Basement (On a Hill)" as I didn't give it the nod last year; last year's album of the year was Stars "Set Yourself on Fire".

I never thought, in a year that Queens of the Stone Age release a full lenght that I'd say they do not have the overall spot for me. You see, this year has been like no other before it. There are just way too damned many amazing album to limit you all to a pick of one. Thus, I have a list of my favourite albums of the year. All of these albums are too good to not go buy, so get off your fat downloading ass and go buy these albums (and the entire Clutch catalogue).

Sufjan Stevens, "Illinois" - This guy seems, at times to me, a bit too spiritual in the bad way: Christian. But, you can't deny that he made an album here that will put your faith entirely in the power of music. God bless Sufjan, god bless everyone.
"Can not all creation call it celebration? Or united nation. Put it to your head." - Come on Feel the Illinoise

Queens of the Stone Age, "Lullabies to Paralyze" - There was much hype over Nick Oliveri not being a part of this album. Whatever. Josh Homme proves, yet again, he's the most creative rocker in the world. Nobody will ever touch Homme when it comes to rock wizardry. Except maybe Chris Goss.
"What's the fucking difference, we all gonna die. You gonna do something killer, come on give it a try." - You Got a Killer Scene There, Man

Wolf Parade, "Apologies to Queen Mary" - Four dudes kicking it out of Montreal with a no holds barred attitude of punk, funk, rock, cock and lust. Tough to beat. Suffice it to say, no one beat them this year, they only kept up.
"But God doesn't always have the best goddamned plans does he?" - Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts

Clutch, "Robot Hive/Exodus" - There's not much more that I can say about this, the greatest heavy rock band of all time. They rocked me early February at the Commodore and they will rock me December 9 at the Warehouse in Calgary. I wish I could be a Clutch concert. I really do.
"Gonna find my executioners, and show 'em exactly what it means to live." - 10,000 Witnesses

The New Pornographers, "Twin Cinema" - Canada keeps it up; here aided by a southern American belle. The porn hogs prove that there is nothing wrong with pop music; only with pop music on the radio. This is clearly the most solid effort by this band and I hope they will make me say that statement many times again in the future with new releases.
"Two sips from the cup of human kindness and I'm shitfaced." - Use It

Sleater Kinney, "The Woods" - Who said these girls had to remake themselves? Who cares? They did. They took the darkest, soggiest, and heaviest detritus out of the woods and mashed it all on to a CD so the likes of you and I could fall in love with dirt and rock & roll for the first time since we rode our BMXs around empty lots in Bachelor Heights. Sleater Kinney, I love you.
"My baby loves me, I'm so happy. Happy makes me a modern girl." - Modern Girl

Kanye West, "Late Registration" - Kanye (along with acts like Blackilicious, Jurassic 5, El-P and quite a few more underground acts) makes you think that maybe hip hop is actually headed in the right direction. It takes balls for a big time rap master like Kanye to call out the hip hop community on its homophobia and love of all things material. Kanye, you got a right to be arrogant. You know what time it is. Tell us, brother, tell us.
"Now I ain't saying she a gold digger, but she ain't messin' with no broke nigger." - Gold Digger

There are others this year, but that's a good list to get you started on what you missed these past 10 months.

Now, like I said, get off your downloading ass and buy this list. Did I mention you should also get the entire Clutch catalogue? While you're at it, get anything Josh Homme related too, but this is wide and varied seeing as anyone in their right mind is dying to work with him.