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Listeners of NPR's "All Songs Considered" think The Gorillaz's latest is the best so far this yearLotsa lists are starting to pop up highlighting the best music from the first half of 2010. Here's a roundup of the podcasts and sites I frequent:

• The listeners get the spotlight at NPR's All Songs Considered, with a people-powered Top 50 led by The Gorillaz and The National. 
• Greg and Jim at Sound Opinions narrowed their lists to four apiece, with Greg really digging Janelle Monae and Jim slobbering all over Yeasayer.
• Crawdaddy's eclectic Top 40 includes Surfer Blood, The Besnard Lakes and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
• Paste Magazine delivered six lists from top editors. Lots of names popping up on multiple lists, including Sleigh Bells, Phosphorescent, LCD Soundsystem, Janelle Monae, Titus Andronicus, Mumford and Sons, and Frightened Rabbit. 

As for me? I've been spending lots of my time listening to older CDs I've been buying from Not Lame Records, which is going out of business and is in the process of an extended fire sale. But as for new stuff, I'm really liking the Janelle Monae tour de force, which is one of the best debuts I've heard in a long time; The Chop Tops; The Besnard Lakes; Alejandro Escovedo; and The New Pornographers.

What about you?

I've been listening to some "old" podcasts this weekend while doing some prep work for my tax returns.

On Saturday, it was catching up on the nutty "All Songs Considered" Holiday Music Mix 2009" podcast, which restored a bit of Christmas spirit to an otherwise dreary exercise. Yeah, I know Christmas music in February is odd, but I was just in the mood.

Jenny Lewis and Rilo KileyBut it was today's podcast to which I'll be giving multiple listens: a 2007 Rilo Kiley concert from the 9:30 Club in D.C.

Lead singer Jenny Lewis has since delivered some great solo work but this concert fronting the L.A. band Rilo Kiley captures Lewis at her best: confident, spirited and sultry in tackling a diverse mix of eclectic pop. The band is tight and the 18-song, 90-minute set never hits a bump. In fact, it's nice to hear a band get its more popular songs out of the way early in the set, freeing the second half to stretch and breathe before closing with an amped-up version of "Does He Love You," with its surprise plot twist.

Highly recommended download. Here's to a return of Rilo Kiley.

I had some time off work the last few days and had time to catch up on some interesting music podcasts:

1. All Songs Considered has a wonderful interview with Beatles historian Kevin Howlett on the new Beatles remasters. If you’re a Beatles fan, there’s all kinds of wonderful insight into the new things listeners can hear for the first time. But the podcast also serves as a primer on the opportunities and challenges of recording and preserving music in the digital age. I’ve blogged and Tweeted about things like the Loudness War and the “warmth” of analog recordings but save your time and spend 22 minutes on this podcast.
2. The wonderful WNYC show Souncheck examines the songs people choose to have played at a funeral. I’ve given some thought to this one and really haven’t settled on any one song that captures my thoughts on life, death and everything in between. I’ve told my friends and family to simply make sure there’s a kegger backed by a variety of my favorite songs, with a good mix of punk, power pop and soul. What would your funeral song be?
3. On the heels of the Chris Brown sentencing, Soundcheck examines the topic of when bad people make great art. Brown, Phil Spector, Spade Cooley are among the bad folk who come to mind when this issue is raised. But an interesting side discussion comes from Randy Cohen, the NYT Ethicist columnist, who talks about how Richard Wagner’s horrible rep is softening in some Jewish circles.
4. The power of the pause: Weakened by the Loudness Wars that have ruined to 40 radio and inspired by this Slate.com article, Soundcheck offers a broader look at how the pause can be the most striking element in a song. 

It’s six months since Valentine’s Day, but I’m only now getting to the V-Day episode of “All Songs Considered.” But rest assured, this podcast around the theme “Lesser-Known Love Songs” is so good it’ll work any day of the year.

Not only are the song choices eclectic AND superb -- everything from Eric Carmen and Eno to Sam Cooke and The Ramones -- but the warmth among the four NPR contributors exudes its own romance.

Hard to describe further. Just listen for yourself and see if you find yourself smiling too.