Down To Believing – Allison Moorer – This is a very good album, taking what she has gained from Earle, she rocks harder, and what she never needed, a wonderful and sturdily constructed songs, she distills five tumultuous years into a powerful country rock statement – A-
Run – AWOL Nation – Aaron Bruno needed “Hollow Moon” to hit and I have no idea why the addictive pop smasherino didn’t, it’s better than “Sail”, the rest of the album is first tier modern electro pop, but if “Hollow Moon” didn’t click, what will? – B
Sorry 4 The Weight – Chief Keef – Dark, nasty, violent Chicago rap, sounds like it wants to kill you for your 6 Plus, “fuck a judge, fuck a bitch, fuck a nigger, fuck a snitch…” Got it – C+
Where I Belong – Father Ray Kelly – Priest becomes internet sensation, I can’t take his voice or his songs so I guess I’m not the target audience…. oh no, not “Hallelujah” – D+
Show Your Colors EP – Genevieve – Former emo girl finds her inner modern pop production chore and releases a very good EP that does what an EP should, sustain a sound with a lead off home run – B+
Little Neon Limelight – Houndmouth – Neo-folkies with an indie bend who are hipper than they might want to be. You sit around waitng for T Bone Burnett to get his hands on them…. though maybe a little better than that sounds – C+
Afrodeezia – Marcus Miller – Master bassist makes it the lead instrument on these instrumentals – C+
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar – For free? For sale? Both, as Kendrick, better with sound than lyric, and he is pretty darn good with lyric, deconstructs his own black experience. Personal best? “u” – A-
Froot – Marina And The Diamonds – Now we know “I AM Not A Robot” was a freak one off, let’s admire her for what she is, a quirky popster with a touch of the Kate Bush about her. Fair enough, but she has only been sticky enough once – B-
Tracker – Mark Knopfler – This man has one of the most beautiful guitar sounds, his tone is immaculate, his style breathtaking. But he is living, breathing “Ambient” and I can’t hear an entire song without nodding off as he plods his weary way – C
Strangers To Ourselves – Modest Mouse – They’ve been teasing out their sixth album for months and it isn’t bad if you like these guy’s angular indie rock – B-
Even So Come (Live) – Passion – Some topnotch Christian Contemporary folks, David Crowder for one, can’t save the majority of this dreck – C-
Gracetown – San Cisco – Sure, I loved “Fred Astaire”… saw em upstairs at Pianos as well and was very impressed, but this is a major step back, while still melodic it is an anonymous bummer indie pop – C+
Vagabound – Satellite Stories – Excellent rock band from Finland on their third album, hit their mark on song after song, good rhythm section, simple maneuver between power pop and crunchy riffs, and willing to whistle whenever necessary. Try “Heartbreak” – B+
Sing Elliott Smith – Seth Avett And Jessica Lea Mayweather – If Elliott is indeed everything he is claimed to be, he can certainly withstand these dainty, quiet, sometimes quite lovely interpretations of his catalog of songs. Which people seem to dislike because they don’t cut deep enough, which makes them honest interpretations; they don’t screw up “Somebody That I Used To Know”… isn’t that enough? – B
Madness – Sleeping With Sirens – Post hardcore it says here but it sounds like highly melodic rock, with a slew of songs that sink their teeth in sooner or later. With “Go Go Go” sooner – B
Eclipse – Twin Shadows – Gifted and soulful, the guy is like Blood Orange without the genius. Which means, he should hit harder more often than he does on this his third album – B-
Weeklings – The Weeklings – There is Beatle cover bands and then there is anything former Styx Glen Burtnick adds his name to. Last time I saw Glen he was playing McCartney to Marshall Crenshaw’s Lennon at BB Kings, here he is the Neil Innes of contemprary power pop. Maybe more than that, these are less satiric copies and more stand alones which make their own case – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
