California 27 – Train – This is Train's sixth album and I haven't liked one song they've ever written so far. I remember (this is a digression but bear with me, there's a pay off), buying instant coffeee once. Using it for maybe a week. Noticing it was Decaffeinated. And being unable to drink it again. Train are like "decaffeinated coffee) for me. Before I realized their new single "Drive By" was them, I didn't HATE IT. I hate it now. Worse songs? "This'll Be My Year" and "50 Ways To Say Goodbye". Grade:C-
Beware And Be Grateful – Maps And Atlases – Chicago based art rockers of the first order. This is a tremendous album, which manages the tricky proposition of being both indie pop and arty inaccessible at the same time. And their pop instincts win out all the time. Just about flawless modern rock, it's the Williamsburg band of your dreams… from Chicago. Grade: A
Love Is A Four Letter Word – Jason Mraz – Why is this man whistling? Beyond irritating, he is a nonsense nitwit who wants you to feel good. "Maybe I annoy you with my choices…?" Are you fucking kidding me? He is like Colbie Caillat without the legs… and, way too often, without the songs – Grade: C+
The Lion's Roar – First Aid Kid – Sure, "Emmylou" is a great song. Sure, the Swedish sisters have swet voices. But the songs are otherwise tiresome and the sweetness wears off. Grade: B
Older Than My Old Man Now – Loudon Wainwright III – It has been four years since "Daughter", decades since "Talking New Bob Dylan". And enough shitty albums already. This one about aging the way the last one was about money. Grade: B
Huh? – Spiritualized – I know this electronic extremist Astronaut of psychedelia has his believers. This sounds like Velvet Underground on acid but not in a good way. Grade: B