I have been in heaven lately. No, it’s not the fact that we’re having great weather, nor is it the fact that the Ducks are a lock for the Rose Bowl, nor that the stock market has been hitting unprecedented highs in tandem with a jovial national mood.
Although all of these things make me happy, what I’m really stoked about lately is the state of the music industry right now. With all of the negative images and bad news that seem to be inundating every aspect of our lives right now, it may be easy to overlook the fact that some absolutely incredible music has been released this fall. I don’t remember a time when so many terrific albums came out within such a short amount of time, and in honor of this cosmic gift I’m going to write about the ones I think deserve special mention.
Bob Dylan “Love and Theft”
This album was the highly-anticipated follow-up to Dylan’s 1997 Album-of-the-Year winner “Time Out of Mind.” Recorded with his cracklingly tight touring band, “Love and Theft” had the terrible misfortune of being released Sept. 11. As a result, many people overlooked this album, and a lot of people don’t even know it was released.
What a shame. “Love and Theft” easily ranks among the best of Dylan’s work. Though his voice still sounds like he gargles with paint thinner, he can still paint a stunning portrait of Americana, filled with humor and regrets.
Stereolab “Sound-Dust”
I don’t know exactly how many albums this band has, but I know that there are many, many of them. This one is the best. Previous ‘lab albums have been obsessed with repetition, creating songs that seemed to go on forever with little change.
Not so with “Sound-Dust.” This album manages to cover about 400 musical styles on each song, from 1960s girl-group doo-wop to German krautrock of the 1970s to funk. All of this with singer Laetitia Sadier’s deadpanned gobbledygook lyrics floating over the top. Superb.
Spiritualized “Let It Come Down”
Though this album may share a title with James Iha’s solo album, rest assured it’s way better. When we last heard from Spiritualized, it was 1997, and they had released a nearly universally hailed masterpiece, “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space.”

Bandleader Jason Pierce then unceremoniously fired the rest of the band and hired a bunch of studio musicians and a full orchestra to record this latest opus. I may not share the popular opinion here, but I think that “Let It Come Down” does “Ladies and Gentlemen” one better. It’s vaguely a concept album about substance abuse and redemption, and every single song is incredible. The presence of the orchestra lends the album a bit of old-fashioned grandeur, and Pierce is still the master of the witty lyrical put on. (Example: “Out of sight is always out of mind / I think out of mind is out of sight / if I am good I could add years to my life / I would rather add some life to my years”).
Lupine Howl “The Carnivorous Lunar Adventures of Lupine Howl”
What happened to the rest of Spiritualized after Pierce fired them? They formed their own band, of course! Though Lupine Howl’s debut may not match the dizzying highs of Spiritualized’s best work, it’s a very satisfying release in its own right. Psychedelic walls of sound envelop the listener on every song. The production is immaculate, the musicianship is great, and this is the album to put on as you’re going to bed.
Charlatans UK “Wonderland”
The Charlatans are the Timex of rock music: They take a licking and keep on ticking. Despite losing keyboardist Rob Collins in a car accident a few years back, the band has actually managed to get better and better with each release. Their last album, “Us and Us Only,” was a terrific rock and roll record in the vein of the Rolling Stones.
However, “Wonderland” takes a sharp left turn into dance territory. Every song on this album shimmers with synthesizers, funky bass lines and dancey drum tracks. This sure sounds like a disaster, but believe me, it isn’t. “Wonderland” may well be the best album yet by these guys.
Remy Zero “The Golden Hum”
Remy Zero of Birmingham, Ala., still holds the banner of alternative rock aloft proudly. Mixing solid songwriting skills and a bit of Radiohead-esque dramatics, “The Golden Hum” is a blockbuster waiting to happen. This album took a few listens to really grow on me, but now I can’t remove it from my CD player. Really. I am helpless. I want to listen to something else, but I cannot. I am trapped. Help.
The Strokes “Is This It”
It’s a well known fact that the best music the world has ever known came out of New York in the late 1970s. Bands such as Talking Heads, the Ramones and Television changed the face of music with an aggressive, amateur sound that some called “punk,” but I call “kick-ass.” The Strokes proudly re-created this sexy swagger with their debut album, and it’s a very impressive effort. Hearing this album renewed my faith in rock and roll. Five guys, 35 minutes, 11 songs, one blown mind.
New Order “Get Ready”
Who knew that these guys had it in them? After breaking up acrimoniously after 1993’s underrated “Republic,” the band has regrouped and released what can only be described as an unprecedented return to form. “Get Ready” sparkles with lush washes of synthesizer, programmed beats, meaty guitars and Bernard Sumner’s pleasantly nasal vocals. Former Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan lends his voice to a track on the album, and it’s nice to hear him again, too.
Aphex Twin “Drukqs”
It’s Aphex Twin. If you like him, you’ll love this. If you don’t like him, you will run screaming from the room, your ears reduced to molten plasma by this 30-track, two-disc set of Aphex Twin’s signature madness. Enter with caution, listen with pleasure.