^Showbiz, I have heard it but don't own it, is a very good Muse album, right up there with OoS.

http://cdn.last.fm/coverart/300x300/2131018.jpg
Royal City's Alone At The Microphone

Alt-country, folky, delightfully twangy, and easily my favourite Royal City album. I find each song to be solid and distinguishable, whereas the tracks on their other albums tend to just mush all together in comparison. But that's probably because I've listened to this one much more, so I guess I'm slightly biased. I've been in love with it ever since my first listen, it never gets old :)

Favourite tracks: Basement Apartment, Bad Luck, Under A Hollow Tree, Daisies.

Okkervil River-Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See.
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s72747.jpg

After hearing a few members singing their praises and a few gentle nudges by Ethan, I relented and thought I would give them a listen even though it's not my most liked genre. I was reccomended BLACK SHEEP BOY but I would rather start with a less favoured album to appreciate the better albums. I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing that enamoured me to it was the production. It is clean and full and seems light on overdubs and effects. Songs like KANSAS CITY and WESTFALL really jump out at you and show a folk dynamic that lacks a maudlin approach that can litter the scene.

Underworld-dubnobasswithmyheadman
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s3719.jpg

An album that still sounds fresh fifteen years after it's release. Spitting in the face of those who accuse Dance music of being empty headed dross, Underworld craft an album full of ambient electronica (Dirty Epic), upbeat dance (Spoonman) and simple guitar laden bliss (tongue). Dare I say a progressive rock band wrapped in Electronica?

Fat Freddys Drop-Based On A True Story
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/albu...es/s369158.jpg

Quite possibly the most chilled reggae albums I have ever heard. This is mainly because it is played with big soul overtones from the smooth vocals and excellent horn work. This will either bore the hell out of you, or lull your senses into a groove laden bliss.

Clinic - Walking with Thee
Like nothing else on the planet John Peel was right when he said Clinic are one of the best bands in the UK and you know his opinion is valid.
Like a modern Velvet underground and the title track is simply intoxicating.
Favourite songs - Walking with Thee, The Equaliser, Come into our room

Ambulance Ltd
3 years on and its still on frequently played on the stereo and at work, Marcus Congleton needs to hurry up with the new album already (i hear John Cale is producing)
Favourite songs - Ophelia, Stay Where you are, Stay Tuned, Sugar Pill, (Primitive) The way I treat you

Sohodolls - Ribbed music for the numb generation
The closest thing I have to a favourite band, I saw them 5 times on their recent UK tour to promote thier debut album. Electro Glam rock has never been this good and Maya Von Doll is a completely mesemerising woman dripping with sex.
Favourite songs - The Rest for the wicked, Right and right again, Bang bang bang bang, No regrets, Prince Harry

Glad you liked it, The Stage Names, their most recent one, is on par with it. It's more rock-based I prefer Don't Fall in Love but both are great. Black Sheep Boy owns both and is one of my favorite albums ever, it will blow you away when you hear it. Everything is kicked up a notch, it's one of the most emotive things I've ever heard.

Bishop Allen- The Broken String
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...1292915206.jpg

Bishop Allen epitomizes poppy folk music. The album ranges from piano driven tracks to really minimal guitar driven tracks, and the music is always light so as to match his vocals. It's so light and alluring that I'd find it hard for someone to not like this album in even the slightest.
Favorite Tracks: The Chinatown Bus, Like Castanets, Choose Again.

Radiohead- In Rainbows
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...16rainbows.jpg

First off, that should be the album cover that everyone uses. This is the first Radiohead album I've ever heard, and aside from the single on Hail To The Thief, my first experience with Radiohead altogether. I always assumed they were just like Muse, and never bothered to get into them, but I was wrong. This album is void of radio friendly rhythms and hooks and is one of my top five releases for this year.
Favorite Tracks: 15 Step, Nude, House of Cards

Wasn't really to into that Hello Saferide but thanks anyway, I'm always up for suggestions.
But yeah Strawberry Jam kicks ass and I'm pretty sure the new album (after Street Flash EP) is going to be my favorite ever. There's 4 or 5 songs that I've heard that are just flat out amazing IMO.

Another current fav:
Dukes of Stratosphear - Chips from the Chocolate Fireball
XTC alter ego band. Weird thing is I think it's the best stuff they did. I mean I like XTC but pretty much all their albums are 1/2 good (if that) 1/2 filler.
Key Tracks - You're My Drug, Brainiac's Daughter, Collideascope, Little Lighthouse

What are the songs like? If you can describe it at all haha, AC are sick, I got to see them this year.

I could use a good alt country album to listen to.

Right now though, I'm catching up on boots for Bob Dylan, Sonic Youth, and Smashing Pumpkins.

As I write this, I'm listening to the 02/06/96 show for the Pumpkins.

I assume you're talking about the new AC? Ummm, kinda where SJ left off. Musically its mostly samples. The vocals are what have me the most excited. It seems like more of a team effort between Avey and Panda. There's LOTS of harmonizing which I didn't find to be too prominent in SJ. And Panda is on every song I've heard except one I think. Which is awesome because he's awesome. There's a lot of live mp3's on the Collected Animals board and also some videos on youtube. Songs include: Brother Sport, House (aka Material Things), Grace (my favorite, basically a 3 part song), Song for Ariel, Am I Real? Bearhug. It's gonna be amazing.