Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness -Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness – Jack’s Mannequin leader drops the moniker and releases some tasteful pop rock – B
American Middle Class – Angaleena Presley – One third of Pistol Annies releases a very pretty county album, better the slower she takes it – B
Pink Palms – The Bots – I saw these guys last year at CMJ and was veritably impressed when the duo made a towering hard rock noise not captured here – B-
Ragged By Dirty – Devon Allman – Is it sophistication to complain you don’t like a guitarist voice? Or that perhaps there should be a little more guitar and a little less keyboards – C+
Human Zoo – Electric Zoo – An assortment of various 60s styles, including soul, played with vitality and stamina like they are Little Stevie or something – B+
One More – Eliphant – Another Scandinavian pop EDM star, she opened for Charlie XCX last week, and this EP is very very catchy post-Robyn pop; all five songs are potential hits -B+
Blood In Blood Out- Thrash rockers who date back to the 1980s and sound like it, which if you like that sorta stuff shouldn’t upset you too much – B
Anything Goes – Florida Georgia Line – It is easy to over react to this feel good bro country band. They aren’t as bad as Luke Bryan, they might be a little better, and the songs aren’t terrible, but the mix is irritating, the playing is loud and the singing is no fun – C-
…And Star Power – Foxygen – Prolific rockers take the Brian Jonestown Massacre as a template because, hey, it worked for Anton, and release one 60s inspired song after another, tons of them on this 81 minute double which loses steam very very early. They are quite good live – C
Indian Ocean – Frazey Ford – The songs are catchy, the mood mixes pop ballads with a soulful edge, and Frazey has a fabulous edgy voice. “Done” adds horns to the mix – A-
Design – Grace Mitchell – Lovely voice, powerful and emotional singer songwriterly songs, another EP that would make a good EP. And Grace is only 16 years old! “Always And Forever” has a brilliant hook, wise beyond its years – B+
People Keep Talking – Hoodie Allen – white boy rapper and not bad, not great either. Funny guy – B
Set Me Free – Jennifer Knapp – Contemporary Christian singer songwriter came out as a lesbian and lost her fanbase, went secular, and deserves some reward for her bravery because this is a fine and lovely album of stringed ballads – B+
Sweet Talker – Jessie J – This will do it, a fine modern pop album with one hit after another and a deep throated smart as hell lead singer. When “Bang Bang” isn’t even the best song on your new album, you know you’re on your way to the very top and when everything you do seems to exist in some new world EDM meets hip hop world, you deserve money and acclaim. A fine pop swirver – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
Desequilibrio – Kaay – Mexican pop trio, a little laid back for my tastes – C+
Trick – Kele – Hard to improve upon soul beats from Bloc Party leader – A-
Otherness – Kindness – Singer songer 2014 style, with a lot of manufactured beats and inspired use of silence – B
Little May – Little May – “woozy pop soul” the Guardian claim-OK I’ll buy in – B
Keep Me In Your Heart For Awhile: The Best Of Madeleine Peyroux- Another but a special Billie Holiday soundalike, this greatest hits is terrific. Every song a gem – A
Heart On My Sleeve – Mary Lambert – She sang on that same sex rap hit from last year, but that isn’t her problem, her problem is she makes Sarah Mclachlan sound tough minded – C-
Hold It In – Melvins – The rockers rock, the arty ones don’t , the rockers are good, the arty ones aren’t, the Butthole Surfers are a pleasant if unnecessary addition to the ranks – B
Dear You – Meiko – Torch songs without the torch – B-
Sadnecessary – Milky Chances – EDM mash ups via Germany, hit and miss – B-
Secret – Moniqua – First rate 80s inspired disco-r&b- funk – B+
Black Star Elephant – Nico And Vinz – I don’t wish the EDM pop duo ill, I am glad they had a hit single with “Am I Wrong”, but I really don’t wanna listen to em – C
Hungry Ghosts – OK Go – A great idea, make good videos, kinda backfired. This works without the videos but how do you prove it? – B
Spin-O-Rama – The Primitives – Band leftover from the 80s plays 60s inspired melodic pop – B
Weekend Ep – Priory – Twinkles too much – C+
Slap Back – Sallie Ford – Indie rockers only livelier than the name suggest with a great lead singer and a way with a song – B
Lite Roast – Sammy Hagar -Iy-yi-yi-yi… don’t blame me because this is a graceful rocking folk album with a nod to Jimmy Buffet and without a disastrous track on it. Maybe men from outer space lent a hand – B
No One Is Lost – Stars – Not unpleasant synth rockers with a flair for the dramatic arrangement – B
The Swon Brothers – The Swon Brothers – Nothing much country – C
No Energy – Unwound – The title is ironic, this is high octave punk rockers every one – B
Unravelling – We Were Promised Jetpacks – Indie pop via Glasgow – B-
rose ave. – You + Me – For all you pop song hates, the You portion is Pink getting her soulful Americana on. Great voice, but man is this a bore – B-
