Enter The Slasher House – Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – Easier going down than Animal Collective, it still confuses as to what is going on and experimental pop sheens are so Brooklyn aka five years out of time – B
Catacombs of the Black Vatican – Black Label Society – They’ve been around for years and still suck, this is the proto-type Soundgarden influenced hard rock riffarama you expect – C
Carter Girl – Carlene Carter – Mining her Carter Family history for material, she finds it and sounds better than she ever has on this excellent collection of Carter Family songs plus a coupla ringers. Also, while we knew Vince Gill would be up to the task, so is Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson vocal additions – Album Of The Week – A-
The Future’s A Void – EMA – One woman techno electro pop is all brood and beauty, even if you need a change of pace before the end – B
Pure Fiction – Eric Hutchinson – Catchy high melodic even if a touch twee singer songwriting – B+
Doom Abuse – The Faint – Electronic agit prop doesn’t stand up too well but has moments of clever outrage – B-
Kingdom – Heathers – Given the right chance, this is my pick to maybe break pop. Certainly in the UK. Modern production on folky pop songs, by twins who sing well but not great together – B
CELEBRATE – James Durbin – Middle of the road American Idol alumni sophomore effort is way too customer ready, a pop move which doesn’t pop – C-
Love And Hate – Joan Osborne – Blues singer Joan will never recover from “One Of Us” and if this is what she is selling instead, she doesn’t much deserve to – C
Wasted Years – OFF! – Loud, fast still rules – B+
Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time – Patton Oswalt – A good comedy actor and a better stand up comedian latest show sounds very funny -especially when he discusses his daughter – B+
So It Goes – Ratking – Alternative political rap and it sounds broody and hellish especially when King Krule joins in! Best song title? “Puerto Rican Judo Class”- B
Old Fears – School Of Language – Quirky, Talking Heads (but like 77 Talking Heads) angular alt pop rock. And just as good, maybe a little better, than you think it would be – B
Live At The Hideout – Screaming Females – If you don’t know the shredding heat that is Marissa Paternoster , this Steve Albini live album is a great place to start. If you do, it is a great place to continue – B+
Tremors – Sohn – Sonic walls of lovely sounds – B+
The Golden Age Of Glitter – Sweet Apple – Power pop plus loud electric guitar riffs and catchy as hell, runs out of steam late. The odd thing is all these alt rockers from the 90s… – B
Tweens – Tweens – Sounds like the Buzzcocks lead by a chipmunk and that’s a good thing – B
Young & Sick – Young & Sick – Very impressive r&b with an eye on the tempo and an eye on the actual song, this will take a little while but should sink in nicely – B+
