Algiers – Algiers – Pretty awesome experimental soul meets gospel plus guitar, on Matador no less – B+
An American In Paris – Original Broadway Production – The buzz on this Gershwin heavy Broadway musical take on the classic movie is very loud, but you kinda have to there or it just sounds like Gershwin covers plus orchestrated music for ballets – B-
Win Hands Down – Armored Saints – Former hair metal band still playing pure heavy metal for the masses, bless their hearts – B
Silverball – Barenaked Ladies – The lead off track is a goodie, the rest is no better or worse than usual, so how you like it depends on how much you like Barenaked Ladies – C
Love Is The Great Rebellion – Ben Lee – Once kid brother to M. Ward and Conor Oberst, now just releasing albums with the stickiness of Jack Johnson but without the feigned innocence, Very strong stuff – B+
Summer Forever – Billy Currington – Unfortunately for Billy, I listened to this right after Anderson’s new one. It isn’t terrible, some good country 2015 bro songs and rockier than most, catchy , shallow and ordinary – C+
Last Of Our Kind – The Darkness – I can’t take these guys seriously, they are like a sincere Kiss without the hooks, sort of Goth rock guitar pop but not as good as that sounds – C
All Your Favorite Bands – Dawes – Sure the title track is everything their defenders claim it is, but so was “Time Spent In Los Angeles” from 2011, and the lack of consistency complaint sticks. Which doesn’t make the performances any less excellent and the lyrics often bright and illuminating – B
How Big, How Beautiful, How Blue – Florence + The Machine -Florence opens with her best song and continues through the travails of alcoholic and heartbreak, beautiful sung ballads, powerful anthemic fast ones, and always that voice, possibly the best in the business in a post-Amy Winehouse world – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
Four Year Strong – Four Year Strong – Melodic hardcore, rock nyc championed these Massachusettes guys for years, they’ve been around since 2001 and haven’t changed at all. Frankly, I’m a little bored – C+
Before The World Was Big – Girlpool – Remember Barbara Ess’ all girl experimental pop band Y Pants from the early 80s? If you add them to the Roches and throw in some other Shaggs, then admit they’re originals, you’ll get a feel for this much loved duo’s debut album – B+
Old Cheetah – Hawksley Workman – Canadian singer songwriter has a way with a mixing board – B-
The Shape Of Brat Pop To Come – Holychild – Hard to live up to an album name like that, but this addictive poppy sweet songs from the LA band comes close – B
In Color – Jamie xx – Somewhat schizophrenic sophomore, Jamie has been teasing for months now. From experiments like the opening “Gosh” to the Gospelly “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”, Jamie keeps you on your toes, though by the time you reach “The Rest Is Noise” you might wish he’d make his mind up – B
Everything Is 4 – Jason Derulo – Working the same side of the street as Flo Rida but with better abs, this series of pop slabs, the title track already a hit, should sustain him through the summer. Hang around for the Meghan Trainor duet and not the Stevie Wonder plus Keith Urban “Broke” -does nobody no how to use Wonder? – B-
Goldmine – John ANderson – His first album in six years and it is more of the same from the country great, two songs with Nashville goodie Josh Turner, both keepers. Actually, they are all keepers – B+
Peace Is The Mission – Major Lazer – Maybe it is time for Diplo to take a break, this dancehall flavored EDM has a huge hit already with “Lean On”, and other tracks by the likes of Chronixx, Ellie Gouldling, 2 Chainz, Ariana Grande, but never hits the sweet spot again on this tedious pop product – C
Abandonware – Roman à Clef – Side project of A Sunny Day In Glasgow posse, who seem to have a lot of them, make soulful indie pop debut. The title track is killer. – B
Big Love – Simply Red – You know, I haven’t written a nice word about this band in 40 years and see no reason to break a perfect record. Lame disco soul, Simple Minds proved you could nail a great album in the bottom end of your career last year, so there is even less excuse for this. A good voice is not enough – C-
Before We Forget How To Dream – Soak – Before you reach the conclusion teenagers are a figment of your imagination, here is 17 year old Soak aka Bridie Monds-Watson’s debut album, moody folk for youngsters – B
Universal Theme – Sun Kil Moon – The first song is called “The Possum”, the fifth song is”Cry Me A River Williamsburg Sleeve Tattoo Blues” and his best folk blues indie song, “With A Sort Of Grace I Walked To The Bathroom To Cry”. And more power to him – B
Django And Jimmie – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard – The follow up to Pancho And Lefty, and with 160 years of life experience between them, the duo has a complete ease aboutin the recording studio. I mean COMPLETE. Pleasant, but a little sleepy. listen to “Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash” and then listen to Cash’s final recordings and you’ll see what I mean – B
Kicker – Zella Day – Singer songwriter with EDM production qualities and her heart on her sleeve, what she loses in depth she makes up with in sincerity – B
