8. filter – the very best things
a ‘greatest hits’ album… it’s a pretty good cross-section of filter songs… good attempt by another band i’ve grown up with.

9. tori amos – abnormally attracted to sin
i like it, but it’s not growing on me as fast as i thought it would…  i’ve loved tori for so much of my life, but lately i just haven’t been all that into a piano-driven singer/songwriter sound… the physical album itself is pretty cool, and the theatre dork in me loves the reference to guys and dolls in the title…

10. the young dubliners – saints and sinners
haven’t listened to it enough to be able to decide on it, but it definetly stands out as being pretty frigging fun… i love it after two listens… and i’m sure it’ll grow on me even more.

upcoming albums that i’m pretty excited about… because a lot of my old favorites are releasing albums this year. sweet. some of my new faves too… a lot of stuff’s being released.

-barenaked ladies – a still untitled 11th album… their first since the departure of mr steven page. my favorite band of ever. i’m not worried about how they will sound as a quartet, because the remaining ladies are that incredible.
-steven page – finally, the release of the session with the art of time ensemble… i’ll be able to legally listen to it instead of a bootleg! my favorite artist singing songs by his favorites, including radiohead, leonard cohen and the weakerthans. i think this is his only slated released for this year…
-thursday – common existence. it’s been out for a bit, i just haven’t gotten the chance to listen to it yet. i haven’t really been into a local-ish sound lately… i’ve heard it’s a really good album.
-sonata arctica – still untitled slated for september… one of the first bands i remember being in to… symphonic metal helllz yea!
-they might be giants – here comes science… a science-themed children’s album… yeaaaa. they’re quirky enough to pull something like that off… and if bnl can pull it off, i *know* tmbg can too.
-girlyman – *crosses fingers* it was announced a while ago… still no new record. one of my fave folk groups…. and their harmonies are *tight*.
-dream theater – black clouds and silver linings. it’s scheduled for release  later this month. i know it was leaked a while ago, but i decided to wait and then have my mind blown. another band i’ve been in to for a damn long time. a little bit longer than enter the haggis and even radiohead… i was a fucked up kid that liked prog rock while all my peers were obsessed with britney and nsync and the latest boy bands.
-eve6 – rumoured to have an new album in the making… i’m just glad they’re back together. yet, sugi tap was a cool little project. too bad no jon in the new lineup. *sigh*
-tonic- another rumoured album. again, just glad they’re back together.
-X/exene cervenka – rumoured new album and solo album… she was recently diagnored with ms, but said it won’t affect anything with her or X. another band i’ve loved since early in high school…. i’m surprised i still like that grunge/punk sound. never got over it, i guess… just took a ‘hiatus’ as i got heavily into musical theatre and wind band music.
-anathema – horizons. i haven’t listened to them since high school… but i’m getting back into their work…. listened to a fine day to exit today for the first time since my last swim meet at liberty… pretty awesome sound. i don’t remember how or when i got into them….
-mute math – armistice. another band i’ve gotten into this  year… i love their sound.
-nightwish – untitled seventh studio album… the second with anette olzon. i hope it’s as dark and awesome as dark passion play… another band i’ve loved for who knows how long… nice to see my earlier symphonic rock/metal influences are back with a vengence lately…
-within temptation – untitled still. sharon den adel said it might not be released ’til 2010 tho… i got into them around the same time as after forever (now disbanded) and nightwish, among other soprano-fronted symphonic metal bands. their last album is currently in my car and it’s pretty awesome. i hope the new one is as awesome as the last one.