The best album I've heard from the past year is Flaming Lips  "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots".  Sure, it's a funny title.   For quite awhile now I've respected this band for "trying stuff" sonically.  For instance, they had a four disk set called "Zaireeka" where  the listener was to play all four disks simultaneously giving  the composer eight channels with which to create.  Further,  since CD players never play at the same speed, there would be sonic and rythmic beatings that would be unique to each listening.  Well, their album previous to "Yoshimi…" was called "The Soft Bulletin" and was pretty good.  But this is more consistent and more easily likeable.  My biggest complaint is the lead singers thin and high vocals.  But what is a minus also makes it easier to sing along with.  The bands sound has always been somewhat drum heavy, but that's understandable since the band leader is the drummer.  This disk has lots of great moments--Lots of sonic oddities throughout..  Some that I particularly liked:

In "Fight Test", a Leonard Nimoy type voice announces "The Test begins.....Now" and ends with "The Test is over....Now".

There is a drum heavy instrumental (#4 Yoshimi Battles...Pt2) that has a either synthesized or at least modulated blood curdling scream.  Kind of along the lines of Pink Floyd's "Careful with that Axe, Eugene" on Ummagumma.  But it rocks and is fun to drum along with.

Track 5 "In the Morning of the Magicians" Nice progression. My favorite track on the album.

Track 6 "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell".  Beautiful lyrically and melodically.

I like the refrain lyrics to #10 "All We Have is Now".  I also like the melody during the sung line "We're not gonna make it".

11 Instrumental ("Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon") with a vocal somewhat along the lines of Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig in the Sky".

While the whole thing may not strike you, with repeated listenings, some of the moments might click with you too.  I found that this disk really grew on me.

My favorite band the last eight years:

The Tragically Hip  --  Although they don't get airplay in the States, they are similar to REM in longevity and breadth of music produced.  The Hip make me feel young because I can jump up and down all concert long and know all the words. 

Music that has been long-time favorites:

Neil Young -- A long-time hero of mine.  Another good NY site-HyperRust.
Grateful Dead -- Ahhhh listen to the interplay of instruments
Frank Zappa --
Kate Bush
David Sylvian -- Although the Minneapolis gig cancelled (darn I had front row seats), I really enjoyed the Chicago concert at the Park West.

But over the years, I've liked Echo and the Bunnymen, Felt, The Cure, The Smiths, Simple Minds, This Mortal Coil .  And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the Firesign Theater has been influential to me.

Other current bands that are obscure but I think are quite good:

Babe The Blue Ox
Bettie Serveert -- This talented band from Holland has excellent drumming on the Dust Bunnies album and some Neil Young guitar screech throughout their career.  I REALLY like the song "White Tales" off the most recent disk--Private Suit.

And lately I've been listening to:

Wild Strawberries -- A Canadian band that I was introduced to via one song on a Lilith Fair Tour compilation. 

Chris Brown and Kate Fenner -- This duo was warm-up for the Tragically Hip on the 2000 Tour.  Then they would join the Hip for the Hip's show to fill out their sound.  Well I have two CD's by them so far and I've been wearing them out lately. They didn't jump out at me right away--they've grown on me.

But there is SO much good music out there.  My CD collection is over 1200 and growing.