Bill W.'s Picks:

Nellie McKay – Get Away From Me - McKay claims to be 19. She's actually 22. Whatever. Her twisted cabaret/lounge act sensibility entranced me. This was my fun find of the year. She displays great humor and a vocal delivery that can rapid-fire rap in one song then shift into chanteuse-like coyness in the next.
Umphrey's McGee – Anchor Drops - UM's 2nd studio release combines improv, prog-rock and jazz with a rare intensity. They were simply off the hook at they're Philadelphia show 12/8/04 despite guitarist Brendan Baylis's trip to the ER earlier that day due to a sports injury.
The Bad Plus – Give - The Bad Plus are a jazz trio who think they're a rock band. No smooth jazz tripe here! This is the freshest sound I've heard in years.
Camper Van Beethoven – New Roman Times - This is CVB's first release of new material in 19 years! The US has split apart. A young Texan soldier eventually defects to the more progressive Californian Republic. Well-placed pseudo-Eastern European folk melodies are affine counter-point within this concept album.
Kaki King – Legs To Make Us Longer - Kaki King is another exceptional young performer. She plays all over the guitar…on the sound board as a percussion instrument, all 10 fingers on the neck… she's a 1 woman guitar army.
Bob Schneider – I'm Good Now - Schneider follows his angst-ridden Lonelyland (2001) the more buoyant I'm Good Now. Regardless of mood, he proves once again to be a gifted lyricist, able to turn a phrase like few others.
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born - Wilco has truly evolved from it's alt-country origins. Jeff Tweedy & Co. have embraced dense sound & noise sculptures and continue to push aural boundaries in exciting ways.
Talking Heads - The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads - The long wait was worth it to hear this re-released on CD. Augmented with previously unreleased material, this showcases the classic quartet Heads (1977-79) and the expanded funk/world beat ensemble from 1980-81. The Clash's London Calling garnered more press, but for my money, this is the re-release of the year.
Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Orchestra - Mahler Symphony # 2 in C Minor - MTT & SFO are in the midst of releasing all 10 Mahler Symphonies. Symphony #2, "The Resurrection," like their Grammy winning Mahler #3 shows MTT to be among the foremost Mahler interpreters today.
Jerry Garcia Band - After Midnight - JGB was in epic form in this 1980 Kean College (NJ) performance. Garcia could masterfully interpret and nuance his own material as well as that of others. Here's proof: the Eleanor Rigby jam in the middle of After Midnight is gorgeous.
Joss Stone - Mind Body & Soul - Joss Stone is still a teenager and a Brit at that. So how'd she get the mature African-American chops? I shudder to think what she'll do in the future.
The Roots - The Tipping Point - Philadelphia's The Roots followed their spectacular Phrenologogy (2002) with this boundary pushing hip hop CD. While a lot of rap and hip hop are knocked for misogyny & glorification of violence, The Roots are among the bands who offer intelligent "urban" social commentary.
Yo Miles! - Sky Garden - Guitar ace Henry Kaiser teams up with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith in their Miles Davis tribute project, Yo Miles! This live release features fusion-era Miles and Smith originals and truly captures Miles' vibe.
Bob Dylan - Live 1964 - The 6th release of Dylan's Bootleg Series features the Halloween performance at New York's Philharmonic Hall. This pre-electric set shows a relaxed & jovial Dylan in strong form. Dylan's vocals are typically nasal and off-key but it fits his matererial. Unfortunately, Joan Baez, normally a vocal gem is very off-key in their duets & mars an otherwise fun recording.
Phil Manzanera - 6pm. - Former Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera's 6th solo release (hence "6pm") features some of the visionaries from the heady days of progressive rock. Roxy bandmates Brian Eno & Andy Mackay, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) & Robert Wyatt (Soft Machine) join Chrissie Hynde & Others in a lush & varied CD that features Manzanera's non-guitar sounding guitar work