Rebirth – Jimmy Cliff – Oldies re-recorded plus a Clash and Rancid cover, Reggae giant Jimmy "The Harder They Fall" Cliff, who has been trying to straighten out his career with a little help from Tim Armstrong's rubba dub dub. Cliff has a pop side to him but we sure ain't getting that, except for "Reggae Music" this is the hard stuff so react accordingly – Grade: B+
CSN 2012 – Crosby, Stills And Nash – A friend of mine went to the concert and said for a harmony based band, the harmonies are gone. They replace with with extended jamming – Grade: D+
Holy Weather – Civil Twilight – South African alt rockers sound like U2 without a steroids, and while "Fire Escape" is a smart little rocker, the rest of it is ponderous and iron deficient – Grade: C
Collide With The Sky – Pierce The Veil – Post-hardcore, which means they can write a melody and occasionally you'll be happy they did, but too often they are screeching popsters – Grade: B
The Unexamined Life – Naama Kates – Or perhaps that's the unexamined album. I was in the process of dismissing this over-emotional mish mash of new girlie sounds, when "Before You Lose It" showed up on a mix I made. I admit that for a girl so hot, she has a lotta guy issues, and sometimes the arrangements fascinate enough to cut through her lack of originality. Or maybe it needs more time than I'm willing to give it – Grade: B
Life Is Good – Nas – They say if you don't like Nas, you don't like rap. Well, I haven't been crazy about Nas since his "Half a man, half a-mazing days" and I am pretty sure I love rap. The guy is, and always has been, boring. His beats are boring, samples are good, voice and skills as a rapper good to great, lyrics a drag. Here huge manages tro embarrasses both his daughter, his ex-wife and Amy Winehouse. Now that my friends is misogyny – Grade: C-
Spark Seeker – Matisyahu – The novelty of a Hebrew rapper has absolutely worn off – Grade: C
One Lovely Day – Citizen Cope – Singer Songwriter…. bad singer songwriter – Grade: C-
Carry Me Back – Old Crow Medicine – Bluegrass, highlands of Arkansas country. About as authentic as Mumford and sons with a disappointing lead singer – Grade: C