Go! Pop! Bang! – Rye Rye – In her debut album, MIA protegee Rte Rte makes exactly one misstep, and it stars Ethel Merman. Otherwise, this is as bright and shiny a rhythmic artifact as the album cover, with MIA on 3 tracks, Robyn on one, and Akon on a song of the year. This is how modern pop is done. Grade: A-
Battle Studies – John Mayer – Does he want the girls? Does he want the blues fans or the guitar slingers. Well, an album mostly filled with "Wonderful Tonight" rips is just clouding the issue – Grade: B
Bloom – Beach House – If Casper the friendly ghost went indie and was haunting Malibu he would sound like this – Grade:B
he Bright Side – Meiko – Singer songwriter from L.A. -you expect her to be opening the bill for Kathleen Edwards. Pleasantly downbeat but not particularly strong tweaked acoustic songs Grade: B
Storm & Grace – Lisa Marie Presley – Quite why the producer is being left off the hook for this downbeat over played folkie disaster I don't know. Whatever else you might say, at least Lisa brings heart and sincerity to the proceedings. Unfortunately, it is to the wrong songs 0- Grade: C+
Trespassing – Adam Lambert – As fine a dance album as you'll hear this song. Does Adam oversing? You betcha, but with the somewhat platitudinous production, over sing is what makes it – Grade: B+
Rize Of The Fenix – Tenacious D – I have never liked Jack Black, but maybe I have been wrong all along. As parody goes, this is a pretty straight up homage sneer that peaks well with "Rock Is Dead", where Jack asks Axl for some head. and "The Fucked Us Up The Ass" about indie cred – Grade: B+