You Think You're Tired Now, But Wait Until Three...

Compared to last year, my music purchasing has been almost nil. Especially in the realm of full CD purchases. Money has been a little tighter this year, resulting in a lack of disc buying or an immediate replacement iPod. Maybe I can convince Sec. Paulson to give me a bailout.

Anyway, this year has seen a number of albums that have met my "Three Songs Are Great, Might As Well Buy the Whole Record" criteria. In other words, here's a list of albums that I should have bought this year:

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

These two tongue-in-cheek genre blenders are sort of a less silly Ween. The first reaction to MGMT's songs is to either dance or laugh, but if you cut under the layers a bit, there are moments of self-reflection and musical complexity.

Three Songs: Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids

Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

After the lackluster major label debut, Plans, it appears that Death Cab are back in fine form with Narrow Stairs. Definitely more uptempo when compared to the last record. I've heard about half the album and I'm ready to buy it.

Three Songs: I Will Possess Your Heart, Cath, Long Division

Santogold - Santogold

Santi White gets compared to M.I.A. a lot, but I think she's developed her own sound. She's another genre blender and she's got a really good voice.

Three Songs: L.E.S. Artistes, Creator, Lights Out

Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...

Wall of sound. Multi-insturmental. Boy/Girl vocals. This is sort of the mad pop that made me fall in love with The New Pornographers. Very energetic. Hell, they've already got a second album coming out in October, eight months after this one dropped.

Three Songs: You! Me! Dancing!, My Year in Lists, Death to Los Campesinos!

I have plans to buy the new TV on the Radio (Dear Science) and the new Cure (4.13 Dream) albums, but that goes without saying.