I thought days of the physical copy being lent out (He lent you them, He didn't borrowed them to you. You scouser.) were well and truly over, I haven't lent an album off someone for years. I think the first half of Slanted is some of the best stuff they've ever done, I like all their albums in one way or another. But Crooked Rain is by far their best, from top to toe. Good job you didn't give up after you listened to Slanted.
Pavement followed by teh Dinosaur, that'd be immense. I've heard good things about Wooden Shjips as well, but when I heard good things off people they didn't even have an album out. Have they released an LP yet?