The Dresden Dolls, “Yes, Virgina” – I had a soft spot for The Dresden Dolls’ self-titled album, but this one really puts me off. It seems they have commited to a certain demographic and are exploiting it for all its worth. The song writing and production are top notch, but I just can’t listen to it.

Current 93, “Black Ships Ate The Sky” – Somehow this album leaked way early on Soulseek. I’ve been anticipating this album for a long, long time, and it was worth the wait. The album is beautiful, with contributions from a huge array of artists, including Antony, Marc Almond, Bonnie “Prince” Billy (a huge favorite of mine), and plenty of others. This is essential for anyone into Current 93.

Cordero, “En Este Momento” – A groovy sort of rock album, drawing from a huge bank of styles, including alt rock, country and salsa. I normally shouldn’t like music like this, but it is quite infectious.

Lingua Fungi, “Flowery Dreams” – Apparently, this guy’s music isn’t very well known, but it really is amazingly put together. It is sort of ambient, very dark, with lush instrumentation and appropriately dark sound scapes. I think it does a brilliant job at demonstrating how dynamic an artist can be while remaining in a very niche style. This is something that is very difficult to do.

Sunn O))), “Black 1” – Really heavy, harsh drone music. This shit rattles in your gut long after you stopped listening to it. It is truly brutal.

Shinjuku Thief, “Devolution” – From a sound design perspective, this CD is frightening, lush and full. Sounds erupt from the depths of silence, and noises screech and fade. Some soft, sparce melodies are found here and there. Overall, this album is amazing.