These Machines – the Dandy Warhols – Ten albums into their career, and still waiting for a future they glmpsed briefly a decade ago, these glam garage abattoires of sound don't need me picking on them. So I won't bother. This is more of the same with a coupla experimental tracks, a lot of guitar based New York 1970s updates, and, er, "16 Tons". I've heard the new Brian Jonestown and it is better than that. Do with it what you will. Grade: B+
De La Souls Plug 1 And Plug 2 – First Serve – De La Soul boys to now men, go back to the future on a concept album where they imagine themselves in a fictional band having success for the same time before breaking up. All the better for some awesome tracks from soul to r&b to smooth jazz. And some tedious plotting – Grade: B+
Open Your Heart – The Men – First rate old time rock band spring a collection of straight up no chaser cruch and riff new standards. The singer isn't all that, every thing sounds a little recycled, but recycling is a good thing. Plus the non-descript nature of the vocal isn't necessarrily a bad thing: it leaves you free to conceptualize on the groove. Grade: A-
All American – Hoodie Allen – A true original white boy rapper who has done it himself up to and including building the beats. And he rhumes well. But his voice is a little on the weak side – Grade: B+
Shallow River – Dry The River – this is such annoying English proggy folk rock, I find myself listening to it. It's like flipping your tongue on a sore tooth -you know it is gonna ghurt but it feels so good hen you stop – Grade: C-
Club Life Volume 2 – Miami – Tiesto – My dislike of Tiesto feels a little gratuitous but the more I hear his remixes the tireder I get with them How many times can he put the last worst of a chorus on a loop, strech it, add echo, throw in some beats, and stretch it for 45 seconds and call it a concept? – Grade: B
Ugly – Screaming Females – There is a reason why Steve Albini does nothing close to the production job for SF that he did for Cloud Nothings. SF didn't need to taught how. Ugly is the best rock album of the year so far because it is more of the same with songs the equal of Marissa's best and guitar playing that is even better. Grade: A
The Wanted – The Wanted – This boy band is not as good as that one (direction) because they are too serious by half. They should relax. Grade: B-