I have come to really dislike putting together "Best Of" lists or year-ending spreadsheets of music that everyone has already heard. This time I'm gonna do it differently...Shrie -style! These are just a few albums/songs/artists that tickled my fancy and got some good stereo-play at our house. Some are indie critic darlings (and disliked by many), some are sure-fire ins and some won't be at the top ofanyone's lists this year. It's a mish-mash of sonic goodness, extrapolated on by your friendly local music writer (and sometimes critic).

In alphabetical, not ranking, order. The "Top Ten" theme is too restrictive for my wily mind to grasp.

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My musical tastes shift from season to season and month to month. I'll get really interested in a sound, genre or small group of bands and just play them to death. Then I move onto another sound or band that pops up and strikes my fancy. Rinse and repeat. Here are a few bands and albums I've really been digging.

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