The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.

"It's really pretty super fantastic." That's how I just described Lou Barlow's Emoh to my friend MacKenzie. Is it any wonder I've named it my #3 record of the year.

There's no real rocket science here. Lou Barlow is just a terrific musician making terrific music. Remember, this is the guy behind Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Folk Implosion.

In fact, because the album lacks any huge risk-taking, I sometimes think of it as nothing more than background music. That's not as big an insult as you might think. It's just that the songs are so enjoyable and so well done, they can't help but make you feel good. So it's enjoyable to have this playing no matter what you're doing.

I don't really have a good handle on why I like this record so much, or even why YOU will like this record so much. In someways, "It's really pretty super fantastic." is about all I feel the need to say. Why analyze something that I could just be listening to and enjoying.

One special award for Emoh, it does earn this year's "Weakerthans Memorial Award for Song-writing About Cats." The closing track - "The Ballad of Daykitty" - is a winner.