Now that the Dixie Chicks, Mary J. Blige, and the rest have been trophied up at the Grammys, we've put together a playlist of 13 albums that got nominated for, let's see, not so much, but which are among our favorite releases from the past year. You can sample the first track from each of them at iTunes here.

Among our picks: the acoustic guitar-stomping duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, jazz singer Erin Bode (be sure to hear her version of Paul Simon's "Graceland"), and the original cast recording of "Spring Awakening," with music by Duncan Sheik.