Jamie Lidell – Jamie Lidell – English DJ's sophomore effort at blue eyed soul is an electronic wonder of heartfelt r&b and beautifully crafted music. While it goes a little off the deep end before the end of the album, the first half is first rate and the first three songs are funky and fun. ALBUM OF THE WEEK – Grade: A-
Push The Sky Away – Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – "Wide Eyed Love Eyes" and "Higgs Boson Blues" are so good it is eager to ignore how lousy most of the rest of this album is, especially the unspeakable "Mermaids". Also, a little too much speak sing. In other words, it isn't the Boatman's Call or even Dig, Lazarus, Dig, but it isn't terrible – Grade: B
Clash The Truth – Beach Fossils – A little boring, a little pretty, more of the same of a sound that peaked two years ago and more West Coast sweet soundscapes like shoegaze mixed with folk mixed in the surf and turf at 6am on a Saturday morning near the calm Pacific Ocean – Grade: C+
The Marriage Of Two Minds – Left field sounds clash against each other and songs kinda twinkle along and fit like pieces in a museum. A playful museum. The least utilitarian music ever made, which must mean something – Grade: B
Privilege – Parenthetical Girls – Every time I turn around I see Jherek Bischoff. He is involved in this OK the weirder it gets experimental pop group. Still, a little more "For All The Final Girls" and a little less "The Pornographer" if you please – Grade: B-
Miracle Mile – STRFKR – I bet you thought it was a heavy metal band, right? Nope, more twee atmospherics. Pleasant enough, I guess – Grade: C+
Confessions – Buckcherry – Yep, confessions, all of the deadly sins plus sameyness as this hard rocking outfit get boring way before the half way mark – Grade: B-