I know it was just, like, a few days ago that I posted "Alligator Bop", the first track off the debut album by A Great Big Pile Of Leaves, but since that posting I have fallen so thoroughly in love with this band that it's pretty much insane.

In the last 9 days I've listened to this album over 15 times. I don't think there's a bad track on the album (even the meandering/filler instrumental "Race Car Driving" is simply a nice interlude, serving to pace the album) and I'm almost ready to declare that most of the songs are really really good. There's a lot of good moments: the chorus to "We Don't Need Our Heads"; the live audience cheering ("Wooo!") right before "A Few Screws Loose" breaks back into the raucous revival of the chorus... the list could really go on and on. ("Dearest... pumpkin-innn... why do you have to leave?")

The point I'm trying to make is that this is a damn fine album. If you enjoyed Ted Leo's release this year I can't imagine you wouldn't enjoy this. Admittedly it took me about three or four listens to really get this album, but now that I have I think this is probably going to end up as one of my favorite new artists of the year and it's definitely secured itself a spot in my Top 10 of 2010.

Please, please, please go to their website and download this album for free. I'm begging you. Do it. Do it now. I think I am going to buy one of their shirts.

What a damn good way to start off the decade, you know? 2010 is turning into one bitchin' year for music, and it's barely half way over. We still have so many great new releases to go this year...