December 2009

By Robert Christgau
Special to MSN Music

It's probably a glitch, but the vast middle ground I call Honorable Mention shrunk this month. Several records were too good for it, and even more not quite good enough. As if to reproach the guy band called Girls, many actual women made the cut.

Table of Contents

• Reviews
  • Mulatu Astatke
  • Eva & the Heartmaker
  • Girls
  • Veda Hille
  • Nirvana
  • Jay Reatard
  • 'The Rough Guide to Gypsy Revival'
  • Tegan and Sara
  • tUnE-yArDs
  • The xx
• Honorable Mentions: Gogol Bordello and More 
• Choice Cuts: Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and More
• Dud of the Month: Lynyrd Skynyrd
• More Duds: Ingrid Michaelson and More