This year I didn't buy or listen to as many new releases as I usually do, so my list leans heavy on the usual suspects.  I'm sure there's things out there I'll discover later, but that happens even when I do put more time, money and effort into my quest for the ultimate CD collection.

1.  Neil Young - Living With War
No one complains about Neil Young being Canadian when he pays taxes.  I guess it's alright to help pay for a war, just don't bitch about it.

2. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
Don't quit your day jobs, Jack and Brendan, but don't give up this part time gig either.

3.  Lindsey Buckingham - Under The Skin
Nobody plays the studio like Mr. Buckingham.  Now if he would just make that "No Girls Allowed" Fleetwood Mac album.

4.  Tom Waits - Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Some people look at a double album and see a great single album.  Waits saw a single album of rarities and decided it would make a great triple CD.

5.  Bob Dylan - Modern Times
His best album since "Love & Theft."

6.  Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
The girl from Rilo Kiley with identical twins.  Can you imagine the mathematical possibilities, Max?

7.  T Bone Burnett - The True False Identity
For those of you who prefer his earlier non soundtrack work.  A nice companion piece to the two disc essential collection that also came out in '06.

8. Cat Power - The Greatest
"Dusty In Memphis" on ludes.

9.  Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
The Man in Black's last album until they scrape up enough spare parts to make another last album.  An icon says goodbye the only way he knows how.

10. To Be Announced
Partly becomes I'm too lazy to select an album from the remaining choices and partly because I probably haven't even heard it yet.  

Vault Stuff:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live At The Fillmore East

Gram Parsons - The Complete Reprise Collection

R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years (Collector's Edition)

The Monkees - Deluxe Editions of the first two albums.