Newbury Comics is one of those places that, if you're not careful, will forcefully remind you of your age, as you're jostling with Cambridge Pete Wentz-abees while trying to reach to the "Miscellaneous R" CD section. If you've never been, it's basically a record store, with a bunch of crazy^tm t-shirts and housewares and, yeah, some comics. If you ever want a realistic 6-inch figurines of both a character from Spawn and Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, this is your place. (Also: Hogwarts scarves and white belts.) All of that aside, it might be the best place ever; their Wicked Cheap CD section pretty fueled the legendary expansion of my CD collection, circa '95 to '99.

Anyway - Leonard Cohen's I'm Your Man, Spoon's Kill the Moonlight, and Nick Cave's Lyre of Orpheus/Abbitoir Blues for a little over $30? For that kind of price, I'll gladly attempt to avoid schools of teenage girls draped in army drab and self-esteem issues sighing over the Juno soundtrack.

Another highlight of the weekend: meeting the brains behind perennial mixtape favorite "Glamorizing Cigarettes" in a perennial favorite Allston bar while on a serious White Russian bender.

Unsurprisingly, I'm pretty excited about the new R.E.M. song. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it's very solid. And welcome back Mike Mills. Supposedly he's all over the new album, which makes me smile on the inside. If you're half-interested, Ninety Nights is a pretty insightful tease into the album-making process.

And now for you, Pitchfork: corporate rock? I mean, I know it's not Icelandic dubstep, but come the fuck on. Get your thumb out of your ass.

I should really blog more, eh? People need to know how I feel about the Buffalo Tom show a few weeks ago (cheers) and people's obsession with posting pictures of their cats (jeers).

They say it's a new day rising in my semi-hometown of Philly, and below is the man who's gonna make it happen, backed by ?uestlove, at his inauguration party.

I know I'm missing something. I know there's one song out there that I would secretly love inside, that would take me to the precipice of dancing when I heard it in grocery store, but I would scorn as "the end of music as we know it" to anyone that would listen. Anyway, here are my Top 25 Songs of the Year - Girls, Girls, Girls style. The one ground rule: only one song per artist, or this list would be dominated by Okkervil River and Spoon.

1. Dr. Dog - Heart It Races
When it all shook out, my favorite song of the year turned out to be an Architecture In Helsinki cover. Only in New York!

2. The Killers - Read My Mind

3. The Shins - Girl Sailor

4. Spoon - Finer Feelings
My first tought choice. I mean, you have heard the album, right? In the end, this one hit the spot.

5. Okkervil River - A Girl in Port
Another tough choice. Could have gone with "Unless It's Kicks" or "Plus Ones."
6. Bruce Springsteen - Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Six songs in and three songs with "Girl" in the title.

7. The National - Mistaken for Strangers

8. Jason Isbell - Dress Blues

9. The New Pornographers - Adventures in Solitude:
"We thought we lost you. Welcome back." On an album full of subtle charms, this one takes the cake for the way it takes off at the end.

10. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Lost Brigade
Fantastic song; impossible to put on a mix tape.

11. The Twilight Singer - The Lure Would Prove Too Much
I think this came out at the end of 2006, but whatever. Greg Dulli takes his knocks, and as great as this song is, it's fuel for the detractors. The coda is a bunch of phone messages, ending with what I think is Dulli's mom, asking how he is and why he hasn't called. Haunting, sure; but when he sang "the vampire only wants a little love," this proves he was singing about himself. Trying to suss out the psychology behind not calling his mom, then using a worried phone message to end a song about loss? It's like walking into a hall of mirrors. Anyway...

12. Georgie James - More Lights
You know, I bitch about settling down and marriage, but I'll let you in on a secret: I'm kinda jealous. And songs like this, well... If Superchunk came out with a song called "Poopy Diapers," I may actually think about having kids.

13. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
People really like this song, huh? Well, it's undeniable.

14. Rihanna - Umbrella
Anyone else heard this one? A little under-the-radar gem. The "ella ella" hook bumps this up about 20 spots.

15. Bat for Lashes - What's A Girl To Do?
Maybe it's the video, but this makes me think of Donnie Darko. Fantastically creepy, they should play this in haunted houses.

16. Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost?
So many questions. I could have gone with "No One's Gonna Love You" because it sticks with me like a hangover, but you really can't deny this one.

17. Immaculate Machine - Dear Confessor
As much as I like the song, I am terrified of buying this album.

18. The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt
The nuh nuh nuh song. You know that one, right?

19. Miranda Lambert - Famous in a Small Town
Hey, look at me! I like country! I am varied in my tastes!

20. The Twilight Sad - Cold Days from the Birdhouse

21. Tegan and Sara - The Con
Such a sucker. I can't help it. I really can't.

22. Foo Fighters - Long Road to Ruin
State's exhibit #2, proving that yes, I am a sucker.

23. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own

24. Maximo Park - Girls Who Play Guitar
And with that, we have our last entry with "girl" in the title. Ta da.

25. The Avett Brothers - Die Die Die

Honorable Mention
Bad Company - Feel Like Making Love
For some reason it's always on the radio when I'm in the car in Baltimore. I pump my fist. I sing along. The roommate gets uncomfortable. A good time is had by all.

My Most Secret Shame
Faith Hill - Stealing Kisses
I fucking said it. And I am now liberated. Kind of.

New favorite song: the new Kathleen Edwards song up on her MySpace page and in a word? Unhinged. She takes some real risks vocally, and the piano's constantly threatening to derail the whole enterprise. Good times. Any song that starts out with "A is for all the times I bit my tongue/B is for bullshit and you fed me some" is alright by me.

According to a fan site, they've been adding a new song for limited amounts of time over the past week, and I've slept on it.

1. Wilco Sky Blue Sky: You know how you get older and your friends start talking about how the trip they just took proved that California wine is underrated, or how they're "investing in a porch swing," or they send you pictures of the adorable cat they just adopted which they "hope gets along with the baby when it comes!" and every time it comes up you die a little inside? That's the new Wilco album.

2. Bloc Party A Weekend in the City: Bands with ambition are all well and good, but sometimes it's, to quote Jack Donaghy, "like seeing dogs wearing clothes." (Seeing Dogs Wearing Clothes, by the way, is an excellent name for a cat emo band.) It's an interesting idea - a concept album of limited scope - but Bloc Party's strengths do not lie here and they lack the subtlety to pull it off.

3. PJ Harvey White Chalk: Lovely, but so cold you can see its breath. As much as I love being reminded of my stern Victorian-era upbringing (and: harpsichord!), I was hoping for a little bit more hot water in my tea.

4. Arcade Fire Neon Bible: Poor Neon Bible, forced to grow up in the shadow of Funeral, burdened by high expectations. "Why can't you be more like Funeral," we plead. "Where're the songs about Russian space dogs? I demand Russian space dogs!" Neon Bible just shrugs its slight shoulders, puts on its headphones, and listens to Springsteen.

5. The Pipettes We Are the Pipettes: While not bad by a long stretch of the imagination, this is another example of me falling in love with a sugary gimmick. This is totally my fault. Did I learn nothing from The Go! Team?

I'm drinking Goldschlager and ciders while watching "What Not to Wear," so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. Also: I found the strength to change my pants, but not take off my tie. It's one of those nights. Watch out, Baltimore.

Three things:
1. Via Drew, check out this cello tribute to Jawbox. One of my top five bands*, this album benefits the Robbins and their son Cal. So: good cause. "Iodine" is chillingly beautiful. Plus, the Robbins are my Smalltimore neighbors, so...
2. Speaking of bands that didn't get their due: Rocket from the Crypt. "This Bad Check Is Gonna Stick" popped on the iPod on my walk home, and it was pretty firearms. In fact, as a chronic shuffle fast-forwarder, there's rarely a time when I'll skip an RFTC. Pity Yr Paws, indeed.
3. Also, turns out Okkervil River has a free mixtape album. I don't think a band makes me happier at this minute than OR. The Stage Names and I are BFF.

P.S. My buddy Brian saw Jimmy Fallon talking to Donald Trump at a Neil Young show, and I know he wants me to say it, so I will: Only in New York...

*The top five:
1. R.E.M.
2. Springsteen
3. Rolling Stones
4. Superchunk
5. Jawbox

New Breeders song? Yes, as it turns out, and it's quite lovely. Plus, a new album in April, Easter style. Am I remembering it right that Title TK was a snore or do I need to go back for another listen?