Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of… – Andrew Bird – Tasteful, boring, chirpy, musical, irritating folkie and a song about a twin sister is dreadful – C-
Die Young With Me – Blacklist Royals – They’ve been around for years and are the Fueled By Ramen band not signed by FBR, I can’t stand this type of MOR rock and roll, but there is a huge market it. Indeed, it may be the only huge market left for rock and roll – C-
Stockholm – Chrissie Hynde – How great is the voice? It is great enough to carry this collection of mediocre songs to a whole other level but not great enough to make this anything very much but another notch in her belt. If you’ve heard the singles, you’ve heard the best of it – B
CLPPNG – Clipping – If you have to work this hard to like an album because it is meant to be good for you it isn’t good for you. Experimental hip hop isn’t much fun, blame Sub Pop the egocentric indie label – C+
Gypsy Heart Side A EP – Colbie Caillat – A long time fan of the pop singer, this five song 18 minute EP has nary a clunker in the lot: a sweet sound giving Taylor Swift a run for her money. “Blaze” is fabulous – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
Stay Gold – First Aid Kit – Bland So-Cal sounding soft rock – C+
Travelling Local – Futuristic – Phoenix rapper is very ordinary, just one great track would save him but it ain’t here – C
Lazaretto – Jack White – His second solo album lacks focus and is too damn smartass for its own good, some of it is very good, some of it isn’t even good, and his live show sucks t the moment. Thank God, we can go back to hating Jack White – B
While You Were Sleeping – Jose James – Annoying jazz hip hop hybrid – C
A Couple Friends – Kindred The Family – A modern day Ashford And Simpson without Ashford or Simpson – C
The Rockville Album – O.A.R. – Dreadful mainstream rock band, I would have bet this was Christian Contemporary Rock, but it isn’t so they can’t even use that excuse – C-
Count Me In – Rebelution – UB4o wannabes, this is a sound not every one does any more. I just wish they did this mainstream Reggae soft rock better…. a lot better – C+
Love Me – Tomas Barfod – Modern ambient which means not ambient really, these are electronic pop songs and they have their moments – B-
Similar Skin – Umphrey’s McGee – I thought they were an Irish American rock band or a bar in Queens but noooo, they are a lousy jam band – C-
Quadrophenia Live In London – The Who – The question is, why release it? I enjoyed it when the show hit New York, but not enough to recommend a full recording. The exception? Daltry’s vocal on “5:15” – C+
