Glad Rag Doll – Diana Krall – When I Look In Your Eyes was released in 1999 and while it hasn't been all bad since then, certainly her position as Queen Of Jazz seems based on shaky ground. The material, what I know of it, is ace early jazz. The production, by one T. Bone Burnett, is as tasteful draggy as you'd expect. And the entire thing is as diaphanous as you'd expect. Is that a good thing? – Grade: B-
Transcendental Youth – The Mountain Goat – The definition of a cult star. Releases an album of alright indie folk yet always manages to include a couple of killer tracks. Here it is "Cry For Judas" and "Harlem Roulette"- Grade: C+
Gold Dust – Tori Amos – From Under The Pink to Midwinter Graces, Tori pours thru her backpages with a full orchestra behind her. Yes, folks, just what the world needs. Another Amos live album. It's been 16 years since she was cool and it feels every second – Grade: C
Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel – Exists to remind us that Frank Ocean is really, really that good. Mish Mash of post-Prince influences, if you wanna embrace it for want of anything better so be it. I think I'll pass this one – Grade: C
Shifty Adventures In Nookie Woods – John Cale – Has it been seven years since his last solo album. Well, well, well. Cale is back and at 70 years of age, he plays the same rock creaks like a mix of Leonard Cohen without the voice meets Lou Reed without the guitar sound – Grade: B-
Come Of Age – Not unpleasant English rock bands second albums is chock full of pleasant, unassuming melodies and ululating rhtyhms , enoguh to make a grown man cry. A little better than their first album even, the fans will be happy – Grade: B+
Lightning – Matt & Kim – DIY popsters are alright in a twee way , all synthy pop grooves. – Grade: B
The Connection – Papa Roach – If you must listen to mainstream rock and roll than Linkin Park. But hey do you have to listen at all? – Grade: C-
The 2nd Law – Muse – This deeply eccentric piece of pro-rock pomp and circumstance, has the width of a classic but not the depth. Oh yeah, and it has the ambition of a classic as well – Grade: A-
Traveling Alone – Tit Merritt – I'd like to amend my review from pretty but boring to pretty but not that boring. Any album with a song as great as "Sweet Song" kinda demands you unbore yourself – Grade: A-