In Time – The Mavericks – This is the Cuban American Raul Malo's return to his country music roots and inventing a new type of Americana where Spanish and Hawaiian music melds effortlessly into twang in song after song. Swing or salsa, mariachi or country blues it all adds together for this more than welcome reunited band. ALBUM OF THE WEEK – Grade: A
One Big Particular Loop – Polyenso – They were Oceana, a post-hardcore band, they are Polyenso, a post-indie pop band filled with endorphin releasing melodies that catch up with you sonner than later and their debut album will make waves as people get to hear it – Grade: B+
Claire's Diary – Claire's DIary – Mood enhancing post-riot grrrl rockers with a brace of great songs and some less one great ones, a strong sonic wall and a future stretching out – Grade: A-
Old Yello Moon – Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell – The first three songs are nearly perfectly exquisite country songs circa 1975 and the rest of it isn't. And as collobarations go, they don't add much to each other -well, maybe Crowell lively ups Emmylou and, Harris makes Rodney find his inner Jackson browne. But there is no way not to love the album – Grade: B+
Lesser Evil – Doldrum – I realize the title will have you heading home but wait awile, take it easy and embrace this experimental guitar based trio who know how to write a song even as they have their way with it – Grade: B+
Outrun – Kavinsky – Vincent Berlogy's alter ego is a zombie who returned in 2006 to make electronic music and it is better over and EP than over an album. Imagine M83 as a zombie, there you go – Grade: B
All The Times we Had – Ivan And Alyosha – 70s almost Mac-y power pop with a spruce clean sweet production. Alyson Camus will love it, and the songwriting is so strong I don't mind it myself – Grade: B
Greatest Hits Vol II – Hank Williams – The sound is really bad even by these standards – Grade: D