Once again, we’ve reached the midway point to another year, and the staff’s going through what’s simply “Ah-maze-balled” us to date.  Obviously, I’ve written reviews on the types of albums that have intrigued me, but if you need a ranked order – I’d probably put the albums listed below in my current Top Five.  There’s been a mix of introspective chamber pop, an experimental album from the desert’s greatest band, a fine return by synth-rock legends, and some indie pop and garage rock in my heavy rotation for the first half of the year.  I am looking forward to new albums by Sponge, SOiL, Korn, The Editors, U2, Placebo, Jimmy Eat World, Palms, Ryan Adams (fingers crossed), Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails and Afghan Whigs (again, fingers crossed).  Things I’m not looking forward to?  New Limp Bizkit for a second year in a row… (If Fred doesn’t know when he’s going to look ridiculous up there singing about “The Nookie”…maybe it’s time to burn out…)

1) The National – Trouble Will Find Me
2) Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
3) Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
4) Cold War Kids – Dear Ms. Lonelyhearts
5) Wednesday 13 – The Dixie Dead