I can narrow my records of the year down to three-and-a-half.

[Wat_Tyler]

#3 - The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
The garage Chaucer.

#2 - The Libertines - The Libertines
Sadly now defunct, the finest rock and roll band of the year.

#1 - Manic Street Preachers - Lifeblood
No-one bought it, it may be their last, but it is the strongest,
most poignant rock record of the decade so far. The Manics
have discovered their true calling as the heirs to Joy Division /
New Order. Perfect.

#1/2 - Brian Wilson - Smile
Not sure if it counts as this year's work, or 1967's - whatever, I
don't need to say that it is utterly fantastic.

[Dr Fate]

1. You should seek out the Smile Vigatone bootlegs...

...if you have not already...The Smile era stuff on the Box-Set is great too...

...Really just as good as the new realese- except w/ the original Beach Boys vocals and the wrecking crew playing the instruments...All he really did for the new realese was to replay it all, basically note-for note and connect it all together in the right order...

Not to say it is not great...but I really would have prefered it if he had just doctored/"finished" the old tapes w/ a few new tracks...

I saw the live "Smile" show in SF- totally killer...

My favorite records of the year are:

"A Ghost is Born"- Wilco
& "Half Smiles of the Decomposed"- Guided By Voices

[Wat_Tyler]

2. Yeah - I love the bootlegs.