Minor Gourmandry

New York: Doughnut Plant

Even after sampling the supposed Eden of Eats, NYC, I'm still confident that Philly's array of eateries can rival the Apple's own offerings. While our fair city can't compete in sheer magnitude, there's still a picking for every food enthusiast -- gourmet, ethnic, or otherwise. And though Philadelphia may be unable to rival the frou frou dining scene in New York, our smaller city can cite one indefatigable advantage: less fuss. This translates to less transportation hassle and easier choices (Philly is like New York's Whitman Sampler: enough to satisfy, but not enough to give you a headache). Not to mention you'll probably save a few (tens) in Philly.

That precursor out of the way, let's get to the food at hand. Philly seems like prime territory for the delectable and wholly sinful holed treat -- the doughnut -- but no purveyors have delivered the goods. Won't someone give Dunkin Donuts a run for its money (especially when coffee is becoming the chain's top priority)? It's too bad, because New York City has both mass produced and provincial baking contenders. I could do without the former, but god do I want a Doughnut Plant!

Nestled next to the Williamsburg bridge in Lower Manhattan, Doughnut Plant bakes up sheet upon sheet of gourmet doughnuts that'll make you reconsider your morning muffin. Though the cramped storefront is lacking in square footage (three pairs of feet and the place is elbow room only), the kitchen area in back is large enough to pump out doughnuts for a profitable wholesale and bulk order business (Dean & Deluca is a notable buyer). I'm glad the Plant keeps its retail roots at heart, because eating a freshly baked doughtnut off its baking sheet is a glorious experience. (And no, I haven't tried this at a Krispy Kreme.)

Inside the store, a slab of counter separates customers from a very tall, very enticing rack holding sheets of fresh doughnuts. Next to the sheets that are at eye level juts tags with groan-inducing descrptions: Valrhona Chocolate, Vanilla-Bean, Banana with Pecan. Doughnut Plant is no powdered sugar puff pusher.

Sitting at the other end of the counter, is a flexi-glass-covered box of cake donuts -- smaller relatives of the yeast-risen variety placed the rack. I call these dougnuts "relatives" of the yeast variety because they offer a few distinct differences, some of which I'd call an advantage. Though smaller, the cake doughnuts give a heartier but still cleaner bite; the yeast ones may require a little gnashing to chew through the airier insides. The cake type tends also to be sweeter, as the batter and compact shape allow for increased sweetness per square bite (got me?).

That said, when it comes to the filled doughnuts (the jams, the creams), clawing through a nice hand-sized, "old-fashioned," yeast-risen doughnut is an age-defying bliss. During one trip to Doughnut Plant, I decided to go big and get a yeast-risen Blueberry doughnut. The squarish lavender colored treat was speckled with real blueberry bits. I expected a mouthful of blueberry sweetness, but my first bite left me disappointed; the blueberry flavor played second fiddle to the flour-yeast combo. Definitely could have used a bit more sweet, so I'd recommend getting the cakey Blueberry version.

A second trip had me searching the countertop case for a cake-type. Anxious but unable to choose just one, I asked the staffer to recommend a favorite. I walked out of the shop with a Tres Leches doughnut ($1.50 for the smaller type). Damn good pick, sir. Not only was the cracked glaze a delight, but the heavenly cream filling -- a lightly caramel-flavored cream reminding of creme caramel -- almost had me sprinting back for another. Highly recommended!

So, in conclusion...we're all waiting Philadelphia. I demand gourmet doughnuts for the good of our morning consumption! Till Philly whips up a hometown competitor, perhaps Doughnut Plant'll consider a local branch?

Location: 379 Grand Street (Lower East Side, Manhattan)

A Change

After a period of introspection and deliberation, I've decided it's best to let my readers know that this blogger will be undergoing a substantial change. Instead of writing about food, I've decided to write about my pet cat and my substantial collection of stamps.

OK, that's just not true. I don't even have a pet cat. Actually, the big change has to do with location. Tommorrow I leave, laptop in tow, to my temporary home: a tiny dorm overlooking the hip little town of Ithaca, NY. 

What does this mean for Minor Gourmandry? 1) With less fodder comes less material, and with less material comes less posts. The day I start writing about dorm food...well it'll be one heck of a bad day. 2) Besides having less material to write about, I'll have less time (and money) to dedicate to being the Minor Gourmand. For that you can thank Cornell University.

Despite this change, I'll still retain my humble title. I will continue to fill out my photo albums (upper right), and by golly, if any great event of degustation ever occurs around Ithaca, you, reader, will be the first to know about it!

Here's a picture for old times' sake.

Cape May Getaway

Cape May has been my beach of destination since I can remember, and before that even. Over the years, I've derived enjoyment from this South Jersey spot for a number of obvious reasons - lounging on the beach, bike riding through the gingerbread Victorian streets - but since donning the garb of Minor Gourmand, I've added gastronomy to my list of shore pleasures.

The problem with shore dining, a glaring one at that, is pricing. Since most shore towns are foresaken from Labor Day through May, the restaurants jack-up the prices to squeeze extra dough from summer visitors. With the high price of dining comes the need for informed choices: where does the food merit the price tag? Some restaurants qualify for a little price hike, but other spots tip the quality-price scale unmercifully, churning out weak meals served by a flighty and crabby waitstaff.

Below are some places I've found to be not only worth the price tag, but unique to Cape May as well. The Summer calendar is nearing its end, so if you don't make it to these destinations this summer, mark them down for next year's gettaway.

Island Grill (311 Mansion St., behind the outdoor mall):  Cape May regulars (you know, people who plaster their cars with two-tone CM stickers) might remember the address from its previous Victorian iteration, the Mansion House. Now the spot is home to more summery fare that will excite eaters young and old. Splashes of the Bahama coat the walls and give the restaurant a beachside vibe. The menu is host to some wonderful appetizers and salads, such as the cool Black Bean, Shrimp, Mango-Avocado Salad and the liberally-stuffed Conch Fritters, with their nippy tartar dressing. Entrees include a choose-your-own-adventure Island Grill Fresh Fish special, where you choose the sea critter, the preparation, and the finishing sauce.

Mad Batter (19 Jackson St.): Not only is this CM favorite located on one of the most scenic streets in town, it's also home to some of the best and most consistent dining. Despite the whimsical character the eponym suggests, the Mad Batter is actually quite elegant in a shorts and sandals-kinda way. The new menu includes a few standouts, including the panko-crusted Asian Style Grouper, with a crunchy slaw to match, and a pan-seared Striped Bass sided by tasty crabmeat and cheese grits. You'll be hard pressed to find a regular who doesn't enjoy eating at the Mad Batter - be it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Blue Pig Tavern: Located in the renovated Congress Hall, the Blue Pig's Brooks Brothers aura makes it another gentile dining spot. But the the kid-friendly menus and amiable waitstaff also make it a great restaurant for the whole family -- if you can stomach the bill. Although there are some pricey entrees, ordering the hefty appetizers can cut back on expense without sacrificing satiety.

The Crab Cake and Tomato-Corn Salad is a steal of a meal at $12. The fist-sized crab cake is full of pinky-size crab lumps and accented by a mild chipolte aioli. A bounty of tiny Fried Calamari reminded me of eating popcorn but only with a more al dente bite. If the wasabi and mildly sweet beet oil were more abundant, this would be the perfect gourmet bar food. For an entree that needs no first course, try the wonderful plump Crab-stuffed Scallops ($25). Oh, and stay for the desserts; but do share, they're pretty large.

Two more seashore standouts are 410 Bank Street and Restaurant 1919. The latter is the the newest addition to Cape May's fine dining scene, and the first one you'll see crossing into the Cape. 1919 brings an eclectic menu and a classy wine list that begs for a little seashore romance.

410 Bank Street (guess where it's located) is a storied Cape May restaurant that's been attracting foodies from far and wide. I would consider the menu traditional, but it does have some Sino flair, not to mention high prices. Send the little ones to the arcade when you try either of these elite restaurants.

Et Cetra

Even lattes come with a bloated price tag down here. For coffee and espresso that's worth it, try Lulu's. This brand new little cafe, which is attached to a wing of Hotel Macomber, serves LeBus treats along with some of the shore's best french toast and pancakes from 7-12PM, and then reopens at 6:30 for warm desserts, Bassetts ice cream, cookies, and caffeine.

For cheap and quick quality, try Hot Dog Tommy's. This walled-in stand serves the best dogs in town, be it the cheaper but still well dressed Leaner Wiener, or the plump all beef Black Angus Dog. I always opt for a leaner wiener Mexi-dog ($1.60); diced onions, salsa, and cheddar cheese lay atop this steamy hot dog.

Au Revoir: two pastry partings bring such sweet sorrow

It's a sad day for the eclair eaters and genoise gnawers of Philadelphia, a very sad day. Instead of a selection of the day's pastries, Yann Patisserie's windows are now vacant. The constantly rotating hours-of-operation and shrinking pastry menu portended last week's closing. It seems the opening of food superstore, DiBruno Bro's on Chestnut, may have been the coup de grace for the struggling cafe.

I appreciated Yann for its reasonable prices -- despite a slight hike, the prices were consistently under $4.00 -- and for the large and rotating selection of sweets. Although I frowned on some of their bloated pastries and mousse mountains, they always had a few items that were delectable. Take a look at my very last Yann pastry, a Betsy Ross, for a dessert that accentuates the positives. Betsy was an inch-and-a-half of great white chocolate mousse dressed with a belt of raspberry puree under a skirt of raspberry studded cake.  A patriotic French pastry if there ever was one.

It's been speculated that Yann's closing had to do with the area's ridiculous rent cost and strong nearby competitors. Yann had some considerable competition from Miel Patisserie, the ritzier and far more expensive pastry shop owned by Robert Bennett (make that former owner, see more below). La Columbe coffee shop also served excellent sweets provided by Lacroix restaurant's viennoisserie, rendering it a one stop shop for excellent coffee and pastries.

A second blow to the Philly French pastry scene this week, one with unforeseen conclusions, was the retirement of Miel's brainchild and CPO (chief pastry officer) Robert Bennett. Operating two successful pastry shops, the newer located on 17th St. in Center City, was "too much to handle" for Mr. Bennett. He has decided to spend some time with his family and then start anew, but on a smaller scale, something probably comparable to a Le Petit Mitron. Bennett's partner, Marshall Weinerman, has been named the successor.

Losing the immense talent of Robert Bennett is surely going to be a blow to Miel's quality. It wouldn't bother me if Miel's array of sweets lost some of their considerable visual appeal, but a drop in quality would be unacceptable. Some of Miel's larger and more expensive pastries are already lacking exquisite flavor, especially when considering the high price tag.

Affected pastry eaters, I advise you to grieve in Old City, where you can take solice in the upscale American sweets availalble at Tartes and Petit 4 Pastry.

Notes:
I was made aware of the above developments thanks to Chowhound's Pennsylvania forum.

Di Bruno Bro's on Chestnut

On Chestnut Street, between 17th and 18th, The Di Bruno Brother's have created a gourmet shop of palatial proportions. More than just cheese, although the curdled stuff may be the highlight, the new store takes up where the old Pronto take-out location left off: made to order Italian Market-type hoagies and paninis, lasagna, meats, Capogiro gelato, and even some Termini Bro's pastries. Aside from the prepared foods, shoppers will also find a super-size collection of gourmet products (olive oils, cheese accoutrements, crackers, sweets, etc.) that rivals Dean & Deluca. That comparison is very apt, I would say, except that Di Bruno does not carry fresh produce and staple grocery items - specialties products  rule.

The new Chestnut Street location will also feature a full-service cafe on the second (!) floor with untold delights. (Well, probably just tables and more sandwiches and  lunch options.) Although a coffee bar can be found on the first floor, I expect the second floor will also serve a selection of coffee and espresso. If all goes well with electricity and plumbing, the second floor should be opening this week - I was told the 16th.

  The photo on the left is the center of the first floor. Directly in front is where Metropolitan Bread is available for purchase, and just right of the screen is the station where some of the sandwiches and paninis are made to order. The photo on the right is my favorite part of the new store, and definitely the most impressive - the cheese counter. Surrounding the counter are crates and barrels atop which some harder cheeses sit, vacuum-sealed, for purchase. Each of these cheeses are also generously cubed for tasting (they do not skimp on samples, even for expensive varietals). The counter itself is split into sections, from fresh and sof-ripened to bleus. All staff members are knowledgeable, but the affable staff operating the cheese counter are true cheese-philes. They know their stuff and will offer their expert opinion unobtrusively, allowing for tastes all suggestions. Don't be afraid to ask for a taste of anything, because Di Bruno Bro's ain't cheap.

A short aside about the photos: they were unauthorised and therefore shot with the utmost celerity; looking at the size of the burly Italians servicing the meats, I didn't want to find out if they had any henchmen with a want to possess my camera.

Location: 1730 Chestnut Street (off Rittenhouse Square)

Retail Hours: Monday thru Friday 9 to 8, Saturday 9 to 7, Sunday 9 to 6. Coffee and Espresso Bar opens at 7 AM daily.

If you get a chance, try a sample of Hoch Ybrig. This is one hell of a raw milk cheese. Upon first bite you may think it a nice sweet Appenzeller-like cheese, but the swell of nutmeg (and other spices) kick-in afterwards and make for a more pleasant aftertaste than the smell would indicate.

Carmine's Creole Cafe Update

Carmine's has officially opened for business! The Creole-inspired "dive" served its first meal at its new location in Narberth on March 31st. The buzz around the Havertown transport has packed the seats, according to chef/owner John Mims.

The building holding the cafe has been completely renevated, complete with an open kitchen and a "chef's table" area (albeit a tiny one) that the owner seemed very proud of. The new place isn't very spacious, but Mims doesn't put diners in the squeeze. Not that he couldn't, the guy's jacked. From what I've heard about the former location, the new place is a step-up in frills. The tables and chairs have a nice polish and all diners can enjoy a nice view of Woodbine Ave., where outdoor seating will soon be available.

Excited about our new upscale neighborhood restaurant, the family and I stopped in for the premier brunch last Sunday, April 3rd. Sadly, the brunch was not nearly as crowded -- we're talking like 7 or 8 other people when we where there -- as Mims probably expected.

The brunch was buffet style and included the following: Bananas Foster french toast (baguette slices soaked in the rum-banana sauce), bacon and sausage, blackened shrimp corn grits, rosemary polenta (excellent), a choice of three made-to-order omelets (Seafood, Andouille sausage, and a mushroom and spinach with some sort of delicious red sauce). And to finish, a champagne glass of raspberries topped with maple whipped cream. Overall, a tasty meal, but there's room for improvement. Still, the price is very right: $12 per. Get yourself a table soon.

Location: 232 Woodbine Ave., Narberth, PA

Vosges NYC

To kick-off our Spring Break, the six of us (the Minor Gourmand's family) vested up against the unseasonably unfriendly weather and made our way to New York City. For anyone who's been there, especially those not familiar with city living, the trip can be an extreme assault on the senses. Some love this. Others do not. Apparently over 8 million people find reason to live in the city, so obviously there are reasons to bare the white noise.

Could it be the concentration of culture and fashion -- 5th Avenue, Soho? The financial district -- NYSE? Or maybe it's the gourmandry that draws the crowds? (Ok, that last one's probably a stretch.)

For me, a visit wouldn't be complete without at least one stop to a haute chocolate or pastry shop. This time around, while gallivanting about Soho, we happened upon Vosges Haut Chocolat. We stopped. We stared. We wondered if they made chocolate or lipstick. The store's interior was crazy chic, much more akin to a Coach store than a chocolate shop. But hey, this is New Yaaark.

Each truffle, a shiny round sphere of brilliance, is treated individually with a caption (I was suprised it didn't include the birthdate). The prices reflect the glitz. For the new Green Tea Collection -- not unlike Pierre Herme's pastries, each season births a new set of truffles -- a box of 9 is $23 dollars. Most people would consider this a ridiculous price to pay for 9 tiny pieces of chocolate. And yes, you could by like 5 Snicker's Bars for the same price of one. But considering the unparalled texture, the arcane ingredients, the divine chocolateyness, and the quality over quantity principle, maybe you could justify a purchase (worked for me!).

I must say, the only truffle that did not live up to the high expectations was the Gianduia. Nothing made this extraordinary or worthy of the price tag. The other were all sublimely smooth and richly chocolatey, all with a pleasant aftertaste that happily lingered on my tongue. The Kayoko, a green tea punch, and Absinthe were especially good. Rather than tasting simply like peppermint, the fennel and anise of the Absinthe were actually redolent of their full-bodied extractees.

Those I had the pleasure to taste:

Chef Pascal - Kirsch + dried Michigan cherry + dark chocolate:

Absinthe - Chinese star anise + fennel + Pastis (anisette liquor) + dark chocolate:

Gianduia - crunchy praline + milk chocolate (see link):

Kayoko - green tea leaves + white chocolate + cherry blossom leaf:

All in the neighborhood

Narberth is looking pretty attractive right about now. Four years ago you couldn't drag me there, now I'm there every week. First I discovered Narberth Cheese Co. and their solid selection of cheeses and gourmet accoutrements; then the fabulous Le Petit Mitron pastry shop. The addition of Maido, a Japanese Market with a made-to-order counter, made the little burough all the more appetizing (City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly both did features).

So, I guess I shouldn't have been suprised when I heard that Narberth was getting an upscale neighborhood restaurant. But I was. Shocked. According to Michael Klein's latest "Table Talk" column, Carmine's Creole Cafe in Havertown is relocating to Narberth within the month. Carmine's has been a staple of Havertown for years, and has garnered fairly high praise from the likes of Craig LaBan (2 Bells out of 4) and Zagat. It's menu is a welcomed mix of homey creole and contemporary cuisine. It's certainly sounds like one of the better restaurants on the Main Line, but I've never been there myself. I guess now's my chance.

Carmine's new location is at 232 Woodbine Ave., a spot sure to doom many a restaurant, but with Carmine's credentials, it should be a-buzzin' in no time.

Oh, and for those of you Bayou transplants, I've heard that Carmine's cooks up the occassional Po' Boy - fried oyster - sandwich. Damn. I'll be the first consumer.

Check ou this recent Inquirer review: Carmine's Creole Cafe

The State of Radio in Philly

And all of the sudden everything changes...

On a typical morning commute, my ride to school tunes in to the ribaldry of the Preston and Steve Show (supposedly voted one of the country's best), while I tend to read the NY Times or a Wired magazine. This morning, the DJs were suprisingly tacit. Why? Their hosting station, Y100, has been offed and replaced by a rap station, The Beat, formerly operating at the 103.9 frequency. The change was swift and unexpected, with little detail or reasoning. I bring this to your attention, former Y100 listeners, because while you may be despondent as you mourn the loss of this corporate rock breast feeder, you now have a wonderful opportunity to explore another station. What else is there, Philly radio sucks, right? Yes (with a few exceptions)! But tune your dials to WPRB (103.3 - Princeton, New Jersey) and be soothed by its fresh eclecticism! This is how radio should be - public, that is.

Mornings consist of classical, and midday is mostly jazz, but around 1 PM you'll get your fill of raucous when the hipper Princeton student DJ's emerge to play everything from the "scene" indie music of today, to the classic rock songs of yesteryear, as well as a little bit of any other genre out there. Not all the DJs are of the same caliber, and some lack what you might call "personality," but the beauty of public radio allows them to play what they want, whenever they want. You may not like every song, but it'll constantly be an educational listening experience. You can head on over to the website and check out the Spring schedule. To get a taste of some of the tunes you may hear, check out Friday's Top Ten at 6PM. Each week a list of the most frequently played albums - which, around here, means albums played more than once a day - is posted here. In case you're not in your car (or aren't from the area), WPRB offers a link to stream the station in real time. Also provided is an up-to-the-minute playlist for the current DJ. Fans of Y100 may not recognize some, ok, all, of the artists in rotation, but soon you'll find yourself really wanting to dig deeper into music again.

Life without Y100 won't be all bad guys and gals. And you can always listen to NPR's Morning Edition for that long commute. Then you'll be more informed about the music and the world. Hoorah!

Pop Muzik 2004 - My Top 10

   Before I get to my album list for '04, I just wanted to draw attention to the "In the Sweet Kitchen" Photo Album to the right. My picture post entitled "Vanilla Marshmallows, Part 2" references a recipe from an article in the Philly Inquirer. That recipe can be found here. The post reminded me that I need to write about my sumptuous Chocolate/Afternoon Tea experience at the Ritz-Carlton a short while ago. In case you didn't get the memo (don't worry, I didn't get one either), the Ritz has a Chocolate Sommelier that whips up the most luscious and grown-up hot cocoa that ever found its way into a mug. It's a ton of fun, but it's also a ton of chocolate, so be warned that when your kids only take two sips, you'll probably regret shelling out those 8 dollars. Stressed parents take respite, the sommelier offers a spiked version; teens do not, they card. Believe me.

Anyways, onto the list. 2004 marked the first time in my young music-loving life that I could actually participate in the year end list hullabaloo. Before I was relegated to the sidelines, scrambling around in December to listen to the years most highly touted releases. The evolution of my musical tastes started, appropriately, back with the tunes of the 60s, and moved forward from there. I bounced around the 70s for awhile, and even skimmed the 80s for a brief period. Like many early teens - well, not so many in these days of Clear Channel and MTV - I thought that music had stagnated in the most recent decades. Internet acquaintances pointed me to newer bands that were near reincarnations of older greats, and my appreciation of them led me into the 90s and finally, to the present year. Now, mind you, this little evolution all occurred over the course of about 3 years (stop sniggering), so I obviously still have a lot of ground to cover in those previous decades, but I do feel to have a strong and diverse enough backround to feel at ease listening to the current releases. I do regret the amount of new stuff I waded through this year, because it did slow my musical evolution and separated me from furthering my Jazz and "World" (oh I hate that term) music collections. Hey, there's always 2005.

Without further ado, I present Minor Gourmand's 2004 List [actually, some more ado: My knowledge of new releases comes mostly from forums, such as I Love Music, some magazines, DJ Martian's massive release database, and some review-oriented sites: Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, etc. This list, though, is all my own, and truly expresses what my favorite listening experiences were last year. This list is being printed for the latest issue of my school newspaper. Hopefully some of my less musically inclined classmates (read: boring), will take heed (read: snob).]

Pop Muzik: My Top 10 Albums of the Year

1) Animal Collective – Sung Tongs

A psyched-out freak folk group makes an album that seamlessly bridges the gap between annoying noise exercises and floating harmonies. The four twenty-something band members have managed to tap into their inner-child to create an album that is capricious but never loses focus on the music surrounding their gleeful shouting. The first two tracks are seriously mind-bending.

2) Madvillain – Madvillainy

This album single-handedly changed my opinions about rap. The repetitiveness of corporate rap, where it’s all about the g’s and the get-ups, is replaced by the unique visions of the shape-shifting M.C. at the head of the Madvillain duo, MF Doom. Doom takes his cues from the cosmos to create lyrics that are so endlessly clever you’ll find yourself uncontrollably yelling out “oh snap!”

3) Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat

One of two truly epic productions I heard in 2004, the Friedberger duo has created a musical concoction that mixes and matches rhythms without regret. There are enough riffs and keyboard sections in the 10-minute opener to make an entire album. Although their musical potlucks may leave some listeners with the cold shoulder, everyone can find something to love. Worse comes to worst, you may need a Ritalin dose for those initial listens, but soon after you’ll be mostly concerned with weaning yourself from your Blueberry Boat addiction.

4) Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing in the Hands

“It's like finding home in an old folk song that you've never ever heard, still you know every word.” What is so refreshing about Banhart’s album is that it sounds timeless. His songs combine great guitar picking with playful lyrics and a warbling voice.  Whether he likes it or not, this album is the cynosure of the neo-folk movement.

5) Junior Boys – Last Exit

It’s eerie describing this album, how its cold electronic blips and beeps are so warm when wrapped around the hush whisper of the lead singer. Every song here is solid - each one swells into a mellow chill-out or a pulsating dance-track. It’s electronica minus some of the pointless meandering.

6) Xiu Xiu – Fabulous Muscles

And this one’s just eerie. I loved the grandiose electric keyboard work, but appreciated how well they could cool things down to focus on the macabre lyrics. The one thing about front man Jamie Stewart, is that if you take him too seriously, you’ve missed the point. There’s some shock and awe packed inside, but it’s all in good experimental fun!

7) Arcade Fire - Funeral

These youngsters certainly received boatloads of praise for their debut, but for once the hype is mostly deserved. Although they do not take a radically different musical approach, they craft songs so pensive and empowering that the resulting tunes prove to be wise beyond their years. The Neighborhood song quartet is really stunning. Oh, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the lead singer doubled as Napoleon Dynamite for that difficult dance choreography – as if you needed more reason to like the band.

8) A.C. Newman – Slow Wonder

If you are familiar with the indie supergroup, the New Pornographers, than you know they combine guitar power-pop and snappy lyrics with impeccable ease. This member of the cohort follows up the formula flawlessly. This type of guitar-led rock is not much different than fellow rocker Ted Leo’s best work, but sometimes it’s good to flaunt your influences. Listen to “Miracle Drug” and wonder why it’s not getting radio play.

9) Björk – Medulla

Björk’s latest album is a mouthful, literally. The eclectic Icelander surrounds her vocals with guttural shrills, hums, and some nifty studio work to craft an orchestration that speaks volumes. She has gathered talent from a multitude of genres – from choir music to beat boxing – to give her audience an experience that is both imaginative and unrepeatable. Understandably, not all of the songs are able to maintain a coherent flow, some are just plain messy, but Medulla is always fascinating and sometimes just plain brilliant.

10) The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free

Brit rapper Mike Skinner knows that life is really made up of the small stuff, and so he created A Grand Don’t Come for Free to be his opus to the seemingly inconsequential. Topics range from channel surfing the telly to the perils of cell phone batteries, but despite the banality of the lyrical content, I found myself wanting to commiserate through multiple listenings. The album does lose some of its luster after a few spins, but I imagine that every once in awhile Skinner’s big beats and cockney prattle will be just the right mix for “another one of those days.”