First Out Of The Gate

I really do like reading year-end best of lists from magazines and websites, even though they rarely entice me to buy something I haven't heard. Case in point is the first year-end issue to hit my mailbox from Alternative-leaning Paste. The #1 album in their survey is by The National. I've heard of them, but haven't heard anything by them. What's funny is back in the Summer, the same magazine gave the album 3 out of 5 stars. Now it's #1. Go figure. Of their Top 50 albums of the year, I have 20. Not a bad percentage.