^ That's my LEAST favourite Sonic Youth album with the exception of Rather Ripped. There are some good tunes on it though.

Oh it most definitely isn't the best album of theirs by any stretch, but it's certainly awesome. Bull In The Heather is just a ridiculously good song alone, pretty much makes the album for me.

I'm worried that I'll never listen to all of Sonic Youth's material, I don't have enough time/ears.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rtheRedSun.jpg

people always argue about whether grunge or brit pop was the defining music genre of the '90s. i'll settle the dispute right now with two words: stoner metal

I've had this album gathering mp3 dust in the library for at least 4 or 5 months before I just remembered I had it today. I can't even remember why I got hold of it - I think I must have just read the name somewhere. It's got folk rock and pop melodies as its spine, but it's embellished by all these strange little quirks like country, Middle Eastern and south Asian folk here and there, the lass' voice really doing a lot to hold it all together. Quite a remarkable album then, and a lot less boring than you'd assume from looking at that sleeve art.

Dunno if I think it's brilliant just yet, but it's definitely got a very rare kinda quality to it.

^That is one of my all time favorite albums! Her voice is so bluesy on this one, I just love it. I could listen to 'This House is on Fire' on repeat.

That's one of the ones that grabbed my instant attention too - I love that Middle Eastern feel it has to it (I'm even hearing a shade or two of a reggae backdrop - good stuff!). Build a Levee's my other favourite. Overall I think this definitely comes across as something that gets better with repeated listens. I guess I'll see how all that pans out eh.

Hip-hop has been my neglected genre this year. I was too spoiled with 2009's releases that I more or less turned up my nose to most recommendations this year, while at the same time eating up every metal album coming my way. Besides Dessa, Eminem, and The Roots I really haven't been paying much attention. I really wish that I listened to this album back when I was sent this album because holy crap is it ever good. Slick production, great atmosphere, good lyrics and delivery, confuses me why I never got into Shad earlier because he's a Canadian rapper. I also think that it's cool how this album is listed as number 1 on Rate Your Music, it really does give some credence and much deserved attention to the Canadian hip hop scene.

Hats off to you for this. Amazing album.

The Turtles - The Turtles Present The Battle of the Bands

Took a few listens but I am loving this just now. It's an album of sunny 60s psychedelic pop songs, with some absolutely awesome hooks. Just a really fun listen, for fans of The Kinks, Beatles and all that sorta stuff.