American young – American – I wouldn’t bother with the country duo’s first EP but “Soldier’s Wife (Don’t Want You To Go)” deserves a special place in hell – D+
My Everything – Ariana Grande – The best pop album money can buy, but one less “Problem” without “Problem”, Max Martin, Shellback, David Guetta, Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco all provide the prowess to make sure this hit big; and it deserves to be as big as, I dunno, to mix metaphors, “Thor The Dark World” – B-
Waking The Fallen: Resurrected – Avenged Sevenfold – Bland metalcore, should sound great coming out of your XBox on this deluxe addition of a popular favorite – C-
Junto – Basement Jaxx – UK House duo from the 1990s mix state of the art House songs with their more prog House instincts – B-
Moonshine In The Trunk – Brad Paisley – Nice cover of Tom T. Hall’s “Me And Jesus” hidden at the end, but it is the usual country rambunctiousness getting their on an astoundingly average and indifference piece of country rock – C+
Ignite The Night – Chase Rice – A former college linebacker so upped a grade because he scares me, this is beyond asinine bro country – C-
Lose – Cymbals Eat Guitars – They missed it by this much when indie rock hit it big at the turn of the decade, but they are really pretty smart and pretty sound indie rockers who like, actually, rock hard enough. Early on “XR” sounds like Dropkick Murphys, impressive at any time, more so when you realize how deadly earnest John D’Agostino’s story songs are – ALBUM OF THE WEEK- – B+
The Reckoning – Ethan Johns – Produced by one Ryan Adams, this is Johns second album of not very good folk songs, A Dylan cop here, a Fairport Convention track there – B-
Stomachaches – FrnkIero And The Cellabration – If this album is anything to go by, My Chemical Romance rhythm guitarist Frank Iero gave at least one thing to The Black Parade, its switching of tempo – B
Milk For Your Motors – Gemma Ray – Cabaret moods meets UK 60s girl singers – B
Be Impressive – The Griswolds – Indie rockers from Australian who bubble up with a lotta bounce and melody – B
Tied To A Star – J Masci – Not unpleasant folk rock album, like the way Neil Young used to play folk rock. Sometimes the acoustic guitar playing is not unpleasant but it isn’t a guitar album, it’s a song album. Sometimes the songs are better than just not unpleasant – B
Unbloomed – Johnny Aries – Former the Drums position player, goes solo, draws pretty heavily on the Drums, and releases a lovely indie pop rock album – B+
Promise To Love – Kem – Very low key soul album but a consistent beauty, includes the song of the week “Saving My Love” – B+
Nashville Outlaws – A Tribute To Motley Crue – Proof some people have nothing to do with their lives, bad bands cover bad band – D+
Brill Bruisers – the New Pornographers -Mind numbingly boring Canadian indie band with Neko Chase singing vocals here and there. They may be very pleasant lads but they are so damn flat – C
Lost In Alphaville – The Rentals – Former Weezer, former “Friends Of P”, remains melodic but mediocre – B-
The Man Upstairs – Robyn Hitchcock – Somebody recently claimed to me that Robyn has never had a serious dip in songwriting quality, and this gorgeous lo fi, acoustic beauty suggests it’s true. He hasn’t. Try “Recalling The Truth” – B+
Survival Sounds – Rubblebucket – Proggy, electronic-y, blue eyed soul-y, good-y – B+
Feel Not Bad – SW/MM/NG – I was really bored with this shimmering pop moment jingle jangle guitars stuff last year, but it has been awhile and this ain’t bad – B
