Never – Micachu And The Shapes – Aptly named experimental pop band who play liked jagged lemondrops. Sugary sweeties with a spike in them, they go down smooth but they kick a little on your insides. The limey band is a little sophomore jinxed, and it takes too long to kick in, but it makes it on points – Grade: B+
Power Of The Trinity – Tomas Doncker – Unlike most rock operas, this works out of context as it works thru variations on black rock and soul, and African Rhythms plus rock and roll guitars. The problem is exactly where you thought it was: the lyric – Grade: B
Antennas To Hell – Slipknot – My version last two hours and has 36 tracks, which means your attention will have gone around 90 minutes before it ends. At which point the nu metal works perfectly well as background music. Over the entire two hours the songs merge as one and all that remains is the drumming and the Corey's vocals as Slipknot merge songs from as early as 1999 in an overwhelming punch in the face of sound. The absolute best way to enjoy the band. Paul Gray RIP – Grade: A
Kidz Bop 22 – Kidz Bop – The changed lyrics don't bother me and the re-arranged hit songs please me no end, especially on the weaker tracks that constant withstand the relentless multi-tracking – Grade: A
Handwritten – The Gaslight Anthem – This is an indifferent rock and roll album by an indifferent rock and roll band and having heard it several times by now, not one song is worth searching out – Grade: D
Major – Fang Island – If there is anything wrong with this album, I can't hear it. Hits me as being 11 tracks of world conquiring indie rock. A fuzzy, blurry, wonder of sound. Every thing here will get you there eventual, but there isn't even waiting on the first three songs. Plus: the guitararist sound is original an ear catching, the vocalist passionately controlled, and "Seek It Out" one of the best rock songs of the year – Grade: A