Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: As with all Spoon records, it took me a couple of listens to get into. But now that I've given it the proper number of spins, I can confidently say that it's now my favorite record of the year (sorry, Wilco) - even taking into consideration the abrasive second song and the fact that I'm not really crazy about You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb (catchy enough musically, but the constant repetition of the titular phrase undercuts my overall enthusiasm). But there are hooks everywhere, and a couple of songs rank among the best they've ever done (esp. Don't You Evah and Finer Feelings). A shame it's only 10 songs long. Merge includes a little CD of outtakes and demos (as they did with Spoon's last). It's somewhat interesting, especially since is has a song or two which should've been swapped for that previously-mentioned second song. Five Nulls: ∅∅∅∅∅.

Don Byron - Music For Six Musicians: Adventurous, but lyrical, jazz, fronted by the clarinet-playing Byron. There's a solid Latin backbone to much of it, and the playing is sharp and lively. In some places, it's a little more out than I usually prefer in my jazz (stuck as I am in the late-50's sound of Miles and his circle), but because I'm trying to broaden my tastes in this area, I'm going to try hard to see what good I can get out of the parts that, now at least, sets my teeth on edge. Three Nulls: ∅∅∅.

The Jesus Lizard - Goat: There's a reason Steve Albini loves these guys. Three Nulls: ∅∅∅.