I'm pretty lucky.  Several co-workers are from the traditional music industry.  They are always getting copies of CDs in the mail.  On occasion, I get to listen to them.  Sometimes, I even get to listen to them before they are out in stores.  Here are the last 5 albums I listened to (in no particular order) and what I thoght of them:

• Diana Krall - From this Moment On.  I fell asleep.  I normally like her sultry voice, but this was like reading the phonebook
• Kasabian - Empire.  I Liked it.  I got turned on to Kasabian last year. 
• Barenaked Ladies -  Barenaked Ladies Are Me.  Crap.  I normally really like BNL.  They are normally wry and witty.  This feels like they had a contractual obligation to put out an albul.  Remainds me of a song they once wrote...
• Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler.  Double crap.  I'd rather puncture my eardrums with a 9 penny nail than listen to this album.
• OK Go - OK Go.  Not sure if this was a re-issue or not.  I hadn't listened to them before (maybe on Sirius, but I can't remember).  I thought this one has promise.  I'm going to listen to it a couple more times and then decide.