Hall of Awesome: Best Compilation

• Jens Lekman, Oh You're So Silent Jens
  One of the most intimate and heartbreaking musicians out there right now is Swedish singer/songwriter Jens Lekman. Coming off as a witty cross between Beck, Nick Drake, and early Todd Rundgren, Lekman has a distinctive sound to his music, as well as a distinctive voice, showing that while he may not have mastered the English dialect, he has certainly mastered its vocabulary. "A man walks into a bar/orders a scotch and a bottle of coke/But the laughter has gone in his heart/You never told me the end of the joke," he laments on his new album Oh You're So Silent Jens, a compilation of EP tracks and rarities, but could as easily be confused for a full-length LP, as each song fits beautifully among the others. Lekman not only shows songwriting prowess, he also proves his worth behind the soundboard. All of Lekman's vocals have an eerie echo effect added, making it sound like the entire album was recorded in some long-abandoned high school auditorium. The lo-fi quality of the recordings lend to the intimacy of the songs, making the clean, seemingly effortless acoustic guitar appearing at the start of "Black Cab" quite jarring, but equally entertaining. Other songs stand out as well: the cut-and-paste bells of "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song," making it sound like a Jem outtake; the dark humor of "F-Word," complete with a radio-friendly chorus; and the soothing "Maple Leaves," featuring every bell and whistle (literally) at Lekman's disposal. You'd be hard pressed to find a single bad song on this album. Oh You're So Silent Jens is a perfect introduction to this talented musician, and also succeeds on its own terms as an album that's scientifically designed to be enjoyed most anywhere: in a car, at home, at work, but most importantly, with someone you love. Visit Lekman's official website where you can download a ton of rare and unreleased tracks.
  
  
  MP3s:
  
  • "Black Cab"
    
  • "At the Department of Forgotten Songs"
    
  • "Pocketful of Money"
    
  • "F-Word"
    
  • "The Wrong Hands"

UPDATE: Sorry, I never got around to posting the honorable mentions. Here they are:

• Belle and Sebastian, Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
  Belle and Sebastian are one of the few bands that continue the tradition of releasing non-album singles and EPs. They also use these breaks to their advantage by placing on their EPs songs that break new ground but probably wouldn't fit on any of their proper albums. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds collects all of this material on two CDs and it's a collection any fan should not be without, especially since some of their finest work is showcased here.
  
  • MP3: "Slow Graffiti"
  
  
• Various Artists, Verve Remixed 3
  While it's not as solid as Verve Records' previous collection of remixed jazz tunes, it still has a lot of quality stuff, including excellent remixes from indie musicians like The Postal Service, The Album Leaf, Bent, and Dangermouse.
  
  • MP3: Nina Simone, "Little Girl Blue (Postal Service Remix)"

UPDATE #2: All of the Jens Lekman MP3's have been removed from his website. In place of them, Lekman is offering up his first three tour EPs free to download.