Copper Blue – Bob Mould – It isn't just "Hoover Damn" but a truckload of this alt fave celebrating its 20th anniversary is not as good as the hit single. It is such a weighty album it seems to sink, and when it bobbles up it doesn't bobble up high enough. So why do we love it? The guitars – Grade: B+
The Wild Youth – Daughter – Sorta ambient indie pop and not appreciably worse than their His Young Heart EP from earlier this year… except nothing is quite as good as "The Woods". It is a multitrack lofi experience which could do with a cleaner production – Grade: B
The Soul Queen Of New Orleans – Irma Thomas – There is a reason why Irma isn't the crossover star so many of her soul contemporaries, she sounds like Millie Small on the slower numbers. Yep, the phrasing is great, the songs ace, but the voice is a little light – Grade: B+
God Forgives I Don't – Rick Ross – If Rick keeps on drugging, drinking, sexying and rapping like this, his next heart attack will be his last. And then I will have to backtrack and say something nice about him. So here is something nice now: "IV" doesn't mean "4" it means that drip they stick in your arm, which is funny, "Three Kings"? Dre, Jigga and and Rich and they all got more swag then you do. "Sixteen"? The loigest song is still the best. And I guess I can refer to those comments for the obie – Grade: C
Amanecer – Millionyoung – Sound landscapes, pretty but not very useful – Grade: B-
Melodica – Blackalicious – Jazz samples, heavy rhymin', positive message, and seven years between recordings and they still make it work. They remind me a little of early Common, and if there was more hours in the day, I would learn to love this band. Right in the middle there is "Swan Lake" and "Attica Black" and it is working its way to being a hightlight of the year – Grade: A-
The Soul Sessions, Vol 2 – Joss Stone – She's put on weight over the years – Grade: D+
This Is PiL – Public Image Limited – No, its not The Metal Box, but it isn't Pil as cynical product a la Live In Japan. It is a strange and beautiful Lydon chant album filled with dub heavy bass and drums – Grade: B+