The Origin Of Love – Mika – He looks like a teen Caligua on the album cover and there is something of an evil genius in waiting about the simple, lovely but kinda shallow dance pop album, by the half Lebanese, half Yank boy wonder. Though he'd promised that half of this album would be French, he musta changed his mind, instead he is speaking anglaise and playing straighahead modern pop. Bet it breaks big in the EU – Grade: B+
Night Train – Jason Aldean – Has it been two years since "Dirt Road Anthem" broke this country shitkicker pop? Damn, life goes fast when you live on a flatbed truck. This is not very good, standard issue, country – Grade: C
The Heist – Macklemore And Lewis – Boy, my boy, there are whole words of self-important hip hop to be shrugged at on this world. "Same Sex" is the funniest song in the world, like ever ever – Grade: C
Two Fingers EP – Jake Buggs – He looks like a young Liam and steals like a young Noel, but one song does not a career make – Grade: B-
Remember – Micky Dolenz – This is a low impact but often startlingly pretty and clear minded covers albu, The version of "Good Morning Good Morning" is a revelation – Grade: B
B3 – Placebo – Remember when these guys were the next Joy Divsion or Depeche Mode or something? Guess that didn't work out for them, but this is a pluggers Goth Tronic – Grade: B-
Ghost EP – Sky Ferreira – A cute chick mining singer songwriter with varying degrees of umph – Grade: B
Country, God Or The Girl – K'Naan Somali guy has abilities, he can write when he is in the mood, and not above the pathos that can buil to rock and roll anthem. . Lotsa guest stars with various degrees of whatever going for em. But when you really listen, all you hear is one masterpiece, one real good one and Wil I Am-who is running outta mojo – Grade: C+
Christmas With Scotty McCreery – If there is a creepier Seasonal songfest than this hysterical garbage I wanna hear it. I wanna hear it now. But before we get along with our life, why the jazz muzak arrangements? – Grade: D+
Two Eleven – Brandy – This is an iffy r&b sex siren by a former child star which would've sunk with a decent production but is torpadoed with the hip hop one it gets – Grade: C-
Sunken Condos – Donald Fagen – Sure, this is an alright Fagen album. Not the Nightfly, but what is? I guess it'll do the job for a a week or so: just like Morph The Cat and Kamakiriad – Grade: B
Sugaring Sessions – Beth Orton – This is a big disappointment because it is so close to being major and yet misses completely. It is sad and a testament to just how difficult it is to write a perfectly lovely song like "State Of Grace" and "That Summer Feeling" – Grade: B+
Don't Panic – All Time Low – Funny pop punk band who channel early Green Day without the great lead singer and with an emo tude running deep. Song title of the year? "The Irony Of Choking On A Lifesaver".. remember when all songs had titles that good? The punchline? "Why can't you just be happy for me" – Grade: B