Voyageur – Kathleen Edwards – I don't usually agree with Pitchfork, and I think they over rate folks like Kathleen's boyfriend and producer Justin Vernon. But Stephen Deusner got it right when he said Kathleen seems lost in her own songs. The actually songs are pretty damn good, "Sidecar" is an excellent song, "Empty Threat" and "Chameleon/Comedian" are pretty good too. But the sound is too ambitious for the songs. Grade: B+
You Da One (Remixes) – Rihanna – Julie Burchill once noted that she'd rather hear a good song twice than a bad song once. Here you get A GREAT SONG (it was in my top ten last week) 12 times and maybe because the song is so good every single remix is really great. "Almighty radio" stands out and "Almighty Club" has a fabulous house beat to lead you in. Grade: A
Freshman Gear – Phive – This is the mainstreaming of hip hop, they make Gym Class Heroes look cutting edge. A poppy and populist rap for the great unwashed. grade: C+
The Art Of Influence – Second Sky – Quasi ambient music with whooshing synths and heavy dubbed drums. Grade: B
Let's Go Eat The Factory – Guided By Voices – Who says Dayton, Ohio never gave us anything. They gave us this crappy band who keep on reforming. Grade: C
Kids Bop 21 – I thought the whole idea was kids sounded like kids when they sang these covers. grade: C
Which Side Are You On – Ani diFranco – Split it down the middle, as usual. When she feels like it, on "Mariachi" for one, "Unworry" for another, the folkie can carry a song. When she gets on her high horse, like the execrable title song cover, she can't. Grade: B
A Flash Flood Of Colour – Enter Shakari – Oh great, pro-post-hardcore. Grade: C
Laugh At My Pain – Kevin Hart – Very funny black guy seems to keep the pace between fame and less fame with a lot of laughs. Grade: B+