A great alternative linux distribution I’ve been using is Linux Mint. Linux Mint is Ubuntu-based and comes stock with non-free codecs for playing MP3, AAC, ALAC, and DivX video files that don’t come preinstalled with most other distributions. Linux Mint comes stock also with Compiz and Beryl. Linux Mint also comes with updated versions of Amarok. Unlike Ubuntu and especially Debian, Linux Mint is updated almost every 1 to 2 months. The only downside to it is that they do not have a 64-bit Linux Mint, but I’m guessing with it’s growing popularity it will come soon.
If you want Linux Mint and you are not legally allowed to use those non-free patented codecs your country they have recently come out with a “free” Light Edition of Celena, their latest 3.1 release.