Do To The Beast – The Afghan Whigs – Never a fan of this 90s phenom, this one does nothing to change my opinions. An overwhelming piece of soul rock which fails to signify much on one iffy song after another. These guys are one hit wonders, that hit was “Summer Kiss” and nothing here comes close – C
The Both – The Both – Figure it can always take Aimee Mann a couple of spins to kick in and this hasn’t kicked in yet, like I said, Aimee Mann. Ted Leo is out of his depth – B-
Savages – Breathe Carolina – Painful emo rock plus rap – D+
Built On Glass – Chet Faker – Aussie trip hop mood guy and very very good as well. This album works as sonic sound ambient deep beats thing and works as song, song after song. I bet it sounds awesome with beats: it’s like the percussion reverberates in the back of your head while the songs settle in the front – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+
Quack – Duck Sauce – The guy behind “Barbra Streisand” provides the most fun dance album of the year. With an emphasis on both the duck, and beats that are bright and clever and long, this is a blast of energy. I think he’s quackers – B+
Eternal Enemies – Emmure – Like a playstation party come to life, they mix depths of hell vocals with spatter gun beats just the way they’re meant to – C+
Lights Out – Ingrid Michaelson – Was she ever on the Twilight soundtrack? Must have been, right? – C
Instant Money Magic – Japanther – Living up to its album name, this is kicky addictive pop punk even if it wears out its welcome – B
Talk Dirty – Jason DeRulo – The new paradigm first release the hits then release the album. Is “Trumpets” out here yet? – B+
Make My Head Sing – Jessica Lee Mayfield – Moody, serious singer songwriter stuff as good as any given songs, some of which are quite good – B-
Illmatic XX – Nas – Couldn’t they have done more? The album and some remixes -whoop de doo – B
Rivers In The Wasteland – NEEDTOBREATHE – Huge breakthrough album for the Kings Of Leon wannabes who should become them with this terrific classic rock album -B+
Tarpaper Sky – Rodney Crowell – Sounds like a country Bruce Springsteen – B
Put Your Needle Down – The Secret Sisters – Hard bounce Southern blues one moment, catchy rock ballads the next – B
Time Travelers And Bonfires – Sevendust – Goth-y hard rock-y doesn’t go very far any more – C
With Light And Love – Woods – Indie folk rockers a la Real Estate have been listening to some mid-period George Harrison. As these things go, I’ll take em for my token indie folk band – B+
Fly Rasta – Ziggy Marley – I am not the biggest reggae fan in the world but I am bigger enough to know a missed pop move when I hear one – C
