Four The Record – Miranda Lambert – Despite a couple of above average potboilers, and a couple of killer ballads, perhaps that's enough of this psycho woman stuff? This is more of the same, but a little worse songs, a little slower, and a little better played. Grade: B
Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay – Perhaps I overeacted the other way and having listened to the entire album, while being well over arranged and too busy by half, it isn't ALL BAD. It isn't all good either, and Coldplay are gonna be dogged by this on their inevitable world tour. Grade: C+
Under The Mistletoe – Justin Bieber – Really, isn't it a little early for a Christmas album? Taylor Swift released one a coupla years and it wasn't much, and Justin, who adds a kernel of r&b to the mix, isn't up to much either. The exception? The original "Mistletoe". Grade: C+
Someone To Watch Over Me – Susan Boyle – This Autumnal sleeper has Susan downplaying her strong Soprano for the most part and reacting to the falling leaves with a quiet depressive quality which might leave her fans heading for the exit. Me? I like it more than her first one: she underplays her hand very well. Grade: B
Open Invitation – Tyrese – Are you kidding me? This is as lame as r&b gets. A disaster that should kill his career once and for all. Grade: C-
A Retrospective – Pink Martini – Wen precisely is the right time to listen to this bizarre retro 1950's in Europe soundtrack to a Fellini album? It is different sure, and not bad at all, just completely inappropriate to 21st century popular music. I guess I like it but I don't listen to it. Grade: B+
A Holiday Carole – Carole Kings – Why is she pronoucing "kittens" 'ki-ins"? Why is she rewriting "My Favorite Things"? After Miles Davis finished with it THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. Me? I feel so bad. Grade: C-
Achtung Baby Deluxe – U2 – Sure, it's album and a double CD and a "making of" DVD would've been very nice. But this 5 CD extragavangza is nothing more than a monument to these cats egos. I mean, fuck, it wasn't Pet Sounds, let alone Nevermind. Grade: B
Ambition – Wale – This has been a crap year for hip hop though this isn't a crap album. Hurt by a lack of imagination on the samples, the team tag rapping ain't bad. Grade: B
Balls Out – Steel Panther – Their joking, right? Well, yes they are. But if you like hair metal, this ain't bad. Grade: B
Close Up, Vol 3, States Of Being – Suzanne Vega – Vega's problem is she is a bore, but if syou give these recordings a chance they are pretty good. Grade: B
Economy – John Mark McMillan – How good is this guy? If Freedy Johnston was born again he might sound like this. Grade: B+
Dark Past – Brite Future – Finally, giving Cobra Starship some competition. Grade: C+
Thirteen – Megadeth – There is a reason Megadeth isn't Metallica. The drumming ain't good enough. Grade: B
A Very She & Him Christmas – She & Him – I'd split this down the middle, the songs I know I hate, the songs I don't know I don't hate. And "Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas" is a crime against nature. Grade: C+