Evolve Or Be Extinct – Wiley – The prolific English master Of Grime has one big problem: he lacks quality control. So despite being an excellent rapper and a great rhymer, the songs here are all over the place. I count 3 great sounds out of 22, and a lot of good ones. And quite a few terrible ones. Grade: B
Attack On Memory – Cloud Nothings – One masterpiece, one great song, four very good songs, all bracketed by two dogs. Is that enough? Yeah it is… and I didn't mention Steve Albini once. Grade: A-
Resolution – Lamb Of God – Randy Blythe is simply one of the greatest rock and roll singers alive and yet again, Lamb Of God remind you why they are so good they can even blow Metallica off stage. This couldn't be straighter, clearer or muddier, the production is all drums, all movement, all pureness: fuck the hardcore caveats, this is what is left of great rock and roll. Grade: A
100 Proof – Kellie Pickler – The American Idol star is a legitimate country singer and a few of these songs are pretty good. Her summoning the songs of Tammy Wynette seems deserved. But some of the songs are terrible. And the Tammy Wynette song isn't that great. Grade: B
Wow Gospel 2012 – Various 2012 – This is the best of Gospel? Three of the top four are Kirk Franklon, Marvin Sapp and Mary Mary. Fair enough. But after that you spend your time waiting for Fred Hammond and James Fortuna to show up. Grade: B
iCarly Soundtrack II – Various Artists – Hang on, what's "Blow" doing on a tweens album??? Grade: stuff. Grade:C
Hard Knocks – Joe Cocker – Never a fan and walked out on him on stage a couple of years ago, this doesn't even include his epilepsy vocals. Grade: C
L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary) – The Doors – The new songs are nothing much and the remastering as not much. It isn't the Doors best album. Grade: B-
Something – Chairlift – There are a whole buncha indie bands, like these guys, who bore the crap out of me. If I could pay attention to these mid-paced slices of mediocrity, I wouldn't hate them as much. But I can't and life's too short to figure out if "Wrong Opinion" has a saving grace. Grade: B-