With this year almost wrapped up and ready for tossing away, I was tempted to compile a “Best Of” list, albums that I enjoyed listening to the most in 2012. But as much as I’ve tried to keep up with “worthwhile” new releases, I feel like I haven’t properly sampled enough of the cream of the crop. I haven’t, for example, listened to a fraction of the many CDs that I bought in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, and there are more than a few other notable 2012 releases that I’m still aiming to buy. Plus, I keep going back and discovering new “old” albums that I like. Thus, any attempt to compile an annual “Best” list would be woefully incomplete. So, in place of a yearly roundup, here is another one of my regular lists, CDs that I’ve been playing the most often the past two months.

Neil Young – Americana
Patterson Hood – Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance
Calexico – Algiers
Dexys – One Day I’m Going to Soar
Various Artists – Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label

Various Artists – Lost Soul Gems from the Sound of Memphis
Ben Folds Five – The Sound of the Life of the Mind
Electric Light Orchestra – El Dorado
Marshall Crenshaw – Jaggedland
The Wallflowers – Glad All Over

Chris Difford – I Didn’t Get Where I Am
Rick James – Urban Rhapsody
Dylan LeBlanc – Cast the Same Old Shadow
Dyke and the Blazers – We Got More Soul
Ben Kweller – Changing Horses

Freddie Hubbard – Open Sesame
Jackie McLean – Capuchin Swing
Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
Donald Fagen – Sunken Condos
4 Way Street – Pretzel Park

Wondermints – Bali
Milt Jackson & John Coltrane – Bags & Trane
Cass McCombs – Dropping the Writ
Band of Horses – Infinite Sums
Lee Morgan – Tom Cat

David Ruffin – David (Unreleased LP and More)
Joe Bataan – Anthology
Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
Elliott Smith – Figure 8
XTC – Apple Venus

Iain Archer – Magnetic North
Shack – H.M.S. Fable
BoDeans – Joe Dirt Car
Barclay James Harvest – Gone to Earth
Joe Henderson – Mode for Joe

The Explorer’s Club – The Grand Hotel
Kenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
Frankie Miller – That’s Who!
Cut Copy – Bright Live Neon Love
Durocs – Durocs

Carolina Chocolate Drops – Leaving Eden
I See Hawks in L.A. – Shoulda Been Gold 2001-2007
Leon Spencer – Legends of Acid Jazz
Jimmy Buffett – Havana Daydreamin’
The Vapors – Vaporized