1) R.E.M. : Accelerate

The 3 remaining veteran musicians of R.E.M. returned to the sound of Life Rich Paegent and Document to breath life back into a band that was one of the fore-bearers of alternative music in the 80s and 90s. At only 34 minutes, this record is perfectly paced. The majority of the songs are loud, distortion, garage rockers. “Man-sized Wreath” and “Supernatural Superserious” have that pop feel that could only be R.E.M. The title track and “Sing for the Submarine” explored darker territory while “Houston” and “Until the Day Is Done” show that they are still masters of acoustic rock. The highlight of the album for me is “Mr. Richards”, a poetic, political critique of the Bush Administration decorated in a great melodies and metaphors. Like “Exhuming McCarthy”, “Disturbance at the Heron House” and “Fall on Me”, that song will still sound good in 10-15 years.

2) Air France: No Way Down

I discovered this album on accident. This group from Sweden combines ambient sounds, dance beats and symphonic arrangements with just enough vocals to keep it out the instrumental category. Another short record, this one is only 22 minutes, the songs blend into one another. The best song is “No Excuses.”

3) Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs

A co-worker told me that PBS was making available a streaming version of this Dylan album when it was released. I listened to it online for about 2 weeks and fell in love. I’m not one of those who thinks that Love and Theft and Modern Times are the awesome masterpieces that critics and other fans declare. However, this release is a great sample of his last 15 years of material. It makes you wonder how some of the version of these songs never ended up on albums. “Born in Time” in particular memorizes the ears here whereas the original version is awful. Other stand outs in clude “Tel Ol’ Bill“, “Someday Baby” & “Dreamin’ of You.”

4) Torche: Meanderthal

This music isn’t for everyone. It’s pretty heavy but it’s the perfect combination of melodic and hard for me. “Grenades” feels like it could be the anthem of a new generation, “Sundown” a Jawboxish slow epic and the short instrumentals (“Triumph of Venus”, “Little Champion”) like every song on the album let the band showcase their technical chops. Only the last 3 songs are longer than 3:30 minutes. Watch out for the long octave solo in “Fat Waves.”

5) Cervantes: Making Friends and Enemies

Perhaps this decade’s most underrated act in San Francisco, Cervantes (formerly Dumbwaiter) has undergone a number of personnel changes over the years but the core members and songwriters remain to help the band reinvigorate and reinvent themselves each time. This album represent the pinnacle of their effort. The guitar work, the angst-driven vocals, the creative song structures and the hat-tips to their influences forge this record. This is one album that should be in your collection.