Win some, lose some...

I have been thinking of following up my original post with an "upgrade/downgrade" list of other titles that have been released this year. These are reflections of my opinions, yet I hope that they can help you (the reader) put things in perspective when considering what to spend your hard earned cash on. So, here's the list:

UPGRADE (I enjoy these very much, and they are definte leaps in quality over previous efforts):

!!!
The Cribs
Feist
Tracey Thorn
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Siobhan Donaghy
Peter, Bjorn & John
Interpol
The Pierces
Rihanna
Kim Wilde
The Rosebuds
White Stripes
LCD Soundsystem
Groove Armada
Sarah Nixey
Modest Mouse
The National
Chromeo
Shriekback
K-os

(other great albums from artists without previous track records):

The Bird & the Bee
Digitalism
The Fratellis
The Good, the Bad, and the Queen
The Pipettes
The Long Blondes
Kate Havnevik
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Mika
The Mary Onettes
Mark Ronson
St. Vincent
The View
A Fine Frenzy

OK... (Neither upgrade nor downgrade, just pleasantly good):

Tori Amos
Bjork
Marc Almond
Rufus Wainwright
Travis
Jarvis Cocker
Air
Client
Maximo Park
The Editors
Bloc Party
Erasure
Suzanne Vega
Chemical Brothers
Keren Ann
Crowded House
Art Brut
Maroon 5
Aqualung
Kaiser Chiefs
Polyphonic Spree
Sondre Lerche
Kings of Leon
Idlewild
Apples in Stereo
Blonde Redhead
Prince
Idlewild
Astrid Williamson
Wilco
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

(and others from new artists that were OK):

Au Revoir Simone
The Cinematics
Paolo Nutini
The Klaxons
The Feeling
Calvin Harris
Daniel Agust


DOWNGRADE (artists who have done better with previous efforts):

Sinead O'Connor
Dolores O'Riordan
Bryan Ferry
The Stooges
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Paula Cole
The Bravery
Joseph Arthur
Unkle
Fountains of Wayne
Brett Anderson
The Magic Numbers
Marilyn Manson
Avril Lavigne
Kelly Clarkson
Mandy Moore

I could go into specifics, but for now, this will have to do. Some of these may end up on the best/worst list at the close of 2007, and more will be explained then. For now, feel free to soak it in. Thanks for reading!