Feel The Sound – Imperial Teens – Around the mid-way point, the Teens get a little serious and the dark notes overtake the ebullience. But they recover and mostly this is the purist of pop pop gems., harmonies, guitars, indie pop flavors and a sensibility many, many alt pop bands can't quote get there problem is they make it look too easy. Grade: A-
God, Love & Romance – Fred Hammond – I've just begun listening to this excellent double album, one side romance, one side worship. But on first listen, this is a major statement from the great Gospel singer. More as I delve further. Grade: A
The Question Jaw Show – Mike Doughty – Recorded live where the former lead singer of Soul Coughing answers audiences questions (he doesn't know "It's Raining Man". Fun, except his songs are mostly acoustic blues riffs. IE They are bad songs. Grade: C+
Emotional Traffic – Tim McGraw – This mainstream country product isn't lousy because it's country, it is lousy because it is over produced, over sung, underwritten crap. Song after song he rhymes lame slang "right back atcha babe" Horrible. From one end to the other, this is the worst album I've heard this year. But "Touchdown Jesus" saves it a special place in country infamy. Grade: F
Where I Find You – Kari Jobe – This is spooky stuff, Kari's deep need for spiritual heeling manifests herself in a sorta sexual keeling. But at least she means it. Grade: C-
Out Of Frequency – The Asteroid Galaxy Tour – The Copenhagen power pop band are pretty good, very consistent, but they don't stand out enough and I find it hard to pay attention to the album. Grade: B
Ringo 2012 – Ringo Starr – He's a rich fellow so if he wants to release a 28 minute album -including a cover of Buddy Holly's "Think It Over". So 23 minutes of new material. "Step Lightly" is re-recorded so maybe more like 19 minutes.And it isn't the worst thing you'll hear by any strength of the imagination. I'd go further -it is his best in decades. By narrowing his focus and concentrating his songwriting, he comes up with a couple of winners -the song about the old days in Liverpool isn't one of them. Grade: B