Chaff n' a Haff Updatez

For all y'all not otherwise keeping track of these sorts of things, you can see my updated yearly lists at Chaff and a Half. I finally have a half-decent top ten pool for albums, about on par with last year when -- in part because I hadn't heard some of 2005's best albums yet -- I rounded out my list with two or three albums I haven't listened to since. For the record, Rachel Stevens and Hope Partlow probably would make a current best of '05 list, with Brie Larson and Miranda Lambert somewhere close.

So far Marit Larsen is the clear leader in albums with no clear #2. Marie Serenholt, the Veronicas, and BWO are 5-10 material, the rest closer to a 10-20 spot in a good year. Haven't heard a lot of albums, though, so this will likely change during the year-end scramble down the line.

Singles have been more promising, and I've listed a bunch of them. The other day I reorganized into three tiers -- on the singles jukebox scale, Cream of Wheat is a 9-10, Whole Wheat is an 8-9, and Half Wheat is 7-8. Top single hasn't really asserted itself yet, so right now it's between "Maneater," "4ever," and "Don't Save Me." 4-10 would be (in no order) Cansei Ser de Sexy "Let's Make Love Listen Death from Above," BWO "Temple of Love" (also love "Chariots of Fire," might even prefer it), Miley's "Who Said" (probably to be trumped finally by "Best of Both Worlds" on a submitted list, but I like them equally and personally prefer the second single), Lillix "Sweet Temptation," Rihanna "SOS," Marie Serneholt "I Need a House," and, if it counts, "Don" by Miranda. Fighting for 10: Gnarls Barkley "Crazy," Delays "Valentine," Sugababes "Red Dress," Persephone's Bees "Nice Day," Jonas Bros. "Mandy," Fefe Dobson "Don't Let It Go to Your Head," and Lily Allen "LDN."

It's been very difficult for me to track down 2006 albums, and harder for me to listen. Not sure if it's because (1) there's a weak crop of albums, (2) this year most of my most reliable new music sources have been cut off, (3) I'm not really paying attention, or (4) it's only halfway through the year. Probably all of the above.

Out of town for the 4th so I'll be back around Wednesday or so. Last thing, I totally beat Radio Disney to the punch with IQ Girls, who just got incubated.