The Most Serene Republic - Present of Future End (song)

It's pretty beautiful

Bodies of Water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink

Happy multi-instrumental awesomeness. Kind of like Polyphonic Spree.

Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight

At first I found it disappointing, and wondered why I had bought it. At some point it dawned on me that though I don't like the apparent single (The Moneymaker), I really like the rest of the album.

Pat Seick and the Coyotes (available at myspace.com/patseickandthecoyotes

My old friend Jaala is Pat Seick's girlfriend, and at least plays sax with the band. Some random Seattle kids living communally and trying to create rock. I particularly dig 'The Kingdom,' and a couple of other tracks not currently available on myspace.

Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas

Mostly favorites, some originals, lots of tiny silly ditty-style tracks, but I bought the CD set and for $20 got 42 tracks, 10 of which made it worthwhile. As one who loves hymns as much as any music, this may be the best disc ever.

The Kleptones - Live'r Than You'll Ever Be

Live mash-up set. Free to download.  http://www.kleptones.com/pages/downloads_b07.html

Feist - The Reminder

There are a couple of songs in 3 in here too.  (The Park, The Water.)

Ali Farka Touré - Talking Timbuktu

one of my stand-by's lately. "Ai Du" is the geo-quiz song on NPR's The World.