Tis the season to be spending. If you don't have time to listen to everything, but don't want to waste your money - allow me to do the listening for you.

By genre of music these are the season's best offerings:

For the broken hearted
Beck - Sea Change ****

For the political rapper in your life
Public Enemy - Revolverlution *** 1/2

Beautiful British Rock
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head *** 1/2

Sultry Songstress
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me *****

Art Rock
Peter Gabriel - Up *** 1/2

Punk
The Hives - Vendi Vidi Vicious *** 1/2

Girl Punk
The Donnas - Spend the Night ***

Rock
Nirvana - Nirvana ****
Foo Fighters - One by One *** 1/2
Queens of The Stone Age - Song for the Deaf *** 1/2
White Stripes - White Blood Cells **** 1/2
The Strokes - Is This It **********
The Vines - Highly Evolved *** 1/2
Weezer - Maladroit ********

Singer/Songwriter

Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk ****
Aimee Mann - Lost In Space *****
India Arie - Voyage To India *** 1/2
Warren Zevon - Best of Warren Zevon ****

Rap

Eminem - The Eminem Show ****

Rating system
5 * = A classic must have for your collection
4 * = Grows on you and infests your brain
3 * = Excellent for the occasional listen
2 * = Won't be found on this list
1 * = All Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, and earnest metal rock