Back in August I recommended the Short List of Music as a great way to discover new music. Dan Nakumura! Dave Grohl! Touré! These are people who know their stuff, whose recommendations I'd heed.

The finalists have been announced, and they are, well, uninspired. There's not one artist who is new to me (and while my music knowledge is up to date it's far from comprehensive), and some of the albums that made it aren't even that good.

The special ten: Talib Kweli and Hi Tek, "Reflection Internal"; Gorillaz, "Gorillaz"; Nikka Costa, "Everybody Got Their Something"; Ryan Adams, "Heartbreaker"; Dandy Warhols, "Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia"; Bilal, "1st Born Second"; Air, "10,000 Hz Legend"; Sigur Ros, "Agaetis Byrjun"; PJ Harvey, "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea."

Even passive music aficionados know that the latest Dandy Warhols and Air albums were disappointments. Is this the best these esteemed music mavens could find? Better question: Is this the best music out there right now?