Review(s): Apostle of Hustle, Arcade Fire, Bjork

Apostle of Hustle - Apostle of Hustle: Too inconsistent, ranging from the terrible to the tolerable. Stream / Buy

Arcade Fire - Funeral: I have difficulty distinguishing the good from the bad when it comes to downtempo rock. This is no exception, but with so many people saying how good it is, I have no choice but to at least listen to it again. And again. Stream / Buy

Bjork - Medulla: My first ever Bjork album is decent, but not as revolutionary as Bjork-fanatics have led me to believe. Stream / Buy

News: I'm back

I'm back from skiing. Had the time of my life, can't wait to go again next year. Didn't get a chance to listen to as many albums as I had wanted to, but got a few done. Sick as a dog right now, so I won't be doing any listening today, but maybe tomorrow.

News: Vacation

Going skiing in Vermont. Site will not be updated until I get back around the first of the year. Hopefully, I will have finished listening to all the album released this year and will have a top 10 list for all of you.

Review(s): Plastic Constellations, Pleasant Grove, Andy Pratt

The Plastic Constellations - Mazatlan: It's good, but not nearly as good as the Futureheads or even the Unicorns. Stream / Download / Buy

Pleasant Grove - Auscultation of the Heart: It's good, just not something you're going to listen to repeatedly. Stream / Buy

Andy Pratt - Resolution: Too cheesy to take seriously. Stream

Review(s): Path Of Resistance, Piano Magic, Placebo

Path of Resistance - Who Dares Wins: Daring to sound like Hatebreed doesn't win. Stream / Download / Buy

Piano Magic - Low Birth Weight: Not as magical as advertised. Download / Buy

Placebo - Black Market Music: I tossed around a half dozen reviews in my head while listening to this (both strongly bad and good) only to come away more confused. It's good, I think, but you might hate it. Stream / Buy

Review(s): Palace Music, Panoply Academy Glee Club, Jaco Pastorius

Palace Music - Viva Last Blues: He's no Bob Dylan, but it's still awesome. Stream / Buy

Panoply Academy Glee Club - Rah!: Some people may use the word 'genius' for this band. Not me. Stream / Buy

Jaco Pastorius - PunkJazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology (2 Disc): Disc 1 has some under-developed songs, but Disc 2 is mind-blowingly amazing. Stream / Buy

Review(s): One Fifth, Outburst, Over My Dead Body

One Fifth - Demo/Evergreen Terrace Split Tracks: If I could understand the words, I'd love this band. I like this band. Buy

Outburst - Miles To Go: ...before they're any good. Download / Buy

Over My Dead Body - Sink Or Swim: It's no No Runners EP, but it's a lot better than Rusty Medals And Broken Badges. It's just sad they broke up. Download / Buy

Review(s): New Order, No Denial, No Warning

New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies: Boring without words. Awesome with words. Stream / Download / Buy

No Denial - Soundtrack Of Decline: Every word of every song sounds the same. Download / Buy

No Warning - Ill Blood: Layering a vocalist's own vocals on top of previously recorded vocals has got to be one of the worst ideas in music. Download / Buy

Review(s): Miltown, Molasses x2

Miltown - Miltown: A precursor to Audioslave (not good).

Molasses - Trilogie- Toil & Peaceful Life: S...o.... s....l...o...w.

Molasses - You'll Never Be Well No More: Just as slow as 'Trilogie' but what it gains is texture to the songs, making it far superior, if still slightly unlistenable.

Feature: mp3 Links

Every artist and CD on UponFirstListen will now come with a link to one of the following: a. Legal mp3 downloads b. streaming song clips. All future reviews will come with these links and the archive will be updated (though I anticipate that taking a great deal of time and effort). In the event that I cannot find samples or mp3s of the album in question, I will find a link for the artist. In the event that neither can be found, I'll link you to somwhere you can purchase it (not Amazon, though I may link to them for samples).

Review(s): Loretta Lynn, Mezzanine, Miles Between Us

Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose: A fabulous album, but at times can be bogged down by too much White influence.

Mezzanine - Zimbabwae Mousesmear/Transcending Dada: I didn't even make it through 3 songs before ejecting it.

Miles Between Us - When It Counts: Not as hard as some bands, but hard enough.

Feature: Top '04 Nominees

The following albums were albums that have been released this year and I have either reviewed them or plan to review them before the year is out. After I finish reviewing them, I will compile a Top 10 of '04 list. At the same time I will release the "Reader Top 10 of '04" list. Click here to vote. Please only include albums that have seen a review on this site. If you must choose something not this list, include it as an 11th or 12th option with a review of your own.

90 Day Men - Panda Park
Album Leaf - In A Safe Place
Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
Apostle Of Hustle - Folkloric Feel
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Bjork - Medulla
Bloc Party - Bloc Party EP
Blood For Blood - Serenity
Brian Wilson - SMiLE
Califone - King Heron Blues
Charalambides - Joy Shapes
Circle Takes The Square - As The Roots Undo
Citizens - Are We There Yet?
Clapton, Eric - Me And Mr. Johnson
Cohen, Leonard - Dear Heather
Converge - You Fail Me
Danger Mouse - Grey Album
Delays - Faded Seaside Glamour
DJ Kno: Kno vs Hov - The White Albulum
Dylan, Bob - The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 Live 1964: Concert at Philharmonic Hall
Elbow - Cast of Thousands
Elected - Me First
Emperor X - Tectonic Membrane/Thin Strip On An Edgeless Platform
Faithless - No Roots
FC Five - Final Countdown Five
Feist - Let It Die
Fly Pan Am - N'ecoutez Pas
Ben Folds - Super D
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Futureheads - The Futureheads
Garden State OST
Get Up Kids - Guilt Show
Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld
Green Day - American Idiot
Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
Hot Water Music - The New What Next
Interpol - Antics
Keane - Hopes And Fears
Killers - Hot Fuss
Killswitch Engage - The End Of Heartache
Kweli, Talib - Beautiful Struggle
Kweller, Ben - On My Way
Lekman, Jens - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog
Lerche, Sondre - Two Way Monologue
Liars - They Were Wrong So We Drowned
Lynn, Loretta - Van Lear Rose
Mare - Mare
MC Lars - Laptop EP
MC Lars - Radio Pet Fencing
Music - Welcome To The North
Nirvana - With The Lights Out
pAper chAse - god bless your blAck heArt
pAper chAse - whAt big teeth you hAve
pAper chAse/red worms split
Piebald - All Ears, All Eyes, All The Time
Pixies - Wave Of Mutilation: The Best of the Pixies
Plastic Constellations - Mazatlan
R 'n' R - Infamous and Notorious
Ratatat - Ratatat
Redneck Manifesto - I Am Brazil
Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
Rodriguez-Lopez, Omar - A Manual Dexterity, Soundtrack Volume 1
Saves The Day - Ups and Downs: The Early Recordings
Secret Machines - New Here Is Nowhere
Sex Positions - Sex Positions
Slowdive - Catch The Breeze
Smith, Patti - Trampin'
Sparta - Porcelain
Stevens, Sufjan - Seven Swans
Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be
Thee Silver Mountain Reveries - Pretty Little Lightning Paw
TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Twelve Girls Band - Eastern Energy
Valley of the Giants - Valley of the Giants
Various - Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
Walking Concert - Run To Be Born
Whole Nine - Take What You Get
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
Williams, Saul - Saul Williams
Wovenhand - Consider The Birds
Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles

Click here to vote.

Review(s): Leadbelly, Logh x2

Leadbelly - King of the 12-String Guitar: He's no Robert Johnson, but he'll do.

Logh - Everytime A Bell Rings, An Angel Gets His Wings: Painting the picture of a sparse and barren landscape, this album still manages to fill you with hope.

Logh - The Raging Sun: A bit more of a traditional rock outing, but more of the same Lift To Experience meets Slint simplicity.

Review(s): DJ Kno, Lapsus Linguae, Lard

DJ Kno/Kno vs Hov - The White Albulum: Far better than Danger Mouse's fiasco and even better than the original.

Lapsus Linguae - You Got Me Fraiche/Parade! (And That's An Order): I have no idea what I just listened to. I think it sounded like the pAper chAse, but I'm wrong.

Lard - Pure Chewing Satisfaction/'70s Rock Must Die: It's no Dead Kennedy's but it'll suffice for a fix of Jello Biafra.

Review(s): Killswitch Engage, King Crimson, The Kinks

Killswitch Engage - The End Of Heartache: Now this can be a genre standard.

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King: Just about everything I thought I knew about this album was wrong and I enjoyed it immensely, much to my chagrin.

The Kinks - Something Else By The Kinks: I just didn't expect the something to be mediocrity.

Review(s): Jack Kerouac, The Killers, Killswitch Engage

Jack Kerouac - Jack Kerouac Collection (3 Disc): Maybe it's because he doesn't rely on sophmoric humor and imagery, but Jack Kerouac will forever be my icon of the Beat Generation, sorry Allen Ginsberg.

The Killers - Hot Fuss: Killer single, shitty album.

Killswitch Engage - KillSwitch Engage/Alive Or Just Breathing: If either of these are genre standards, the whole genre is in trouble.

Review(s): Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Joplin, Keane

Rickie Lee Jones - Evening Of My Best Day: A wonderful mix of jazz, soul, r&b, blues, folk and rock 'n' roll.

Janis Joplin - 18 Essential Songs: I always heard that her emotion didn't carry over on recordings very well. If that's the case I probably would have cried at one of her performances.

Keane - Hopes And Fears: They sound like (insert modern-era Britpop act). In other words, they're good, but not great.

Review(s): Jawbreaker, The Jealous Sound, Jerry Seinfeld

Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy: A bit more mellow than previous albums, but on the whole is very complete and ejoyable.

The Jealous Sound - Kill Them With Kindness: Good enough live for me to download their album. Good enough album for me to recommend listening to it.

Jerry Seinfeld - I'm Telling You For The Last Time: They'll be lots of smirking, but little laughing and in the end you're better off buying the first 3 seasons on DVD.

Review(s): Interpol, Jawbox, Jawbreaker

Interpol - Antics: I've tasted love's second culinary creation only to find parts of it stale and other parts not sweet enough.

Jawbox - Novelty: Post-punk is post-punk is post-punk. You either like it or you don't. I still don't get it.

Jawbreaker - Unfun: It's like Green Day, but with more talent and insight (American Idiot excluded).

Review(s): Bill Hicks, Hood, Howlin' Wolf

Bill Hicks - Rant In E Minor: There are a few tracks that bog down this comedic collection, but on the whole it's wildly hilarious.

Hood - Cold House: Nearly-engaging electronic music, good overall ambience, very well paced, but it just doesn't do it.

Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' In The Moonlight: Being a fan of traditional blues, anything that tries to make it something that it isn't gets little recognition, so I'm not recognizing these two albums.

Review(s): Girls Against Boys, Series 7 OST (Girls Against Boys), Heart Attack

Girls Against Boys - Nineties vs Eighties: A little too much drone going on.

Various Artists - Series 7 Soundtrack: All but two tracks are Girls Against Boys, but they seem to have progressed and learned a major chord or two. It's still not good, but at least it's something. The real savior is the cover of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart.

Heart Attack - Last War 1980-1984: An 80's punk version of The Ramones with just enough Black Flag and political awareness to make it interesting.

Review(s): Girls Against Boys x2, Girls Against Boys vs Guided By Voices

Girls Against Boys - Freak*On*Ica: Too much electronic instrumentation takes away from the momentum they seemed to be building in my 'acceptable' category.

Girls Against Boys - You Can't Fight What You Can't See: A weak first half is not entirely saved by a strong(er) second half.

Various Artists - Girls Against Boys vs Guided By Voices: The Bout of the Century: I don't know about Bout of the Century, but the first half is a little too boring while the second half is more of the same from Guided By Voices.

Review(s): Girls Against Boys x2, Richard Hawley

Girls Against Boys - Cruise Yourself: With each passing track, I find myself enjoying this band more and more.

Girls Against Boys - House Of GVSB: Boredom, or familiarity, sets in as the fourth GVSB album I've listened to in a row. Sadly, I've got 5 more, but those will wait until I forget what they're going to sound like.

Richard Hawley - Late Night Final: If all easy listening was this good, I'd listen to a lot more easy listening.

Review(s): Allen Ginsberg, Girls Against Boys x2

Allen Ginsberg - Holy Soul Jelly Roll: Poems & Songs (4 Disc; Moloch!, Caw! Caw!, Ah!, Ashes and Blues): Some of the legacy of Allen Ginsberg has been diminished, but I attribute it mostly to the poor recording technology of the late '50s and the '60s. When he's got his A game, it's wonderful, but sadly, one can only have an A game for but a fraction.

Girls Against Boys - Tropic Of Scorpio: It's always akward when a band has yet to finalize a direction and a sound for their music. This is no exception.

Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby: It's nice when a band finalizes a direction and a sound for their music. Unless you don't like what they finalized.

Review(s): The Explosion, Forced Reality, Gang Green

The Explosion - The Explosion/Steal This/Sick Of Modern Art: Nothing that quite matches the energy or intensity of their debut, Flash Flash Flash, not that I thought it ever would.

Forced Reality - 13 Years Of Forced Reality/Forced Reality: Maybe it was cool 13 years ago, because it's not now.

Gang Green - Older...Budweiser/Another Case Of Brewtality: What Andrew WK is for partying (on I Get Wet) Gang Green is to alcoholism, though the final track of the first disc may be the best ode to alcoholism ever written or performed.

Review(s): Cave In, Down to Nothing, Bob Dylan

Cave-In - Jupiter/Moons Of Jupiter: Almost enjoyable, but no.

Down To Nothing - Save It For The Birds/Down To Nothing: More of the same hardcore you've undoubtedly heard by now.

Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc): If the quality was better, it'd be a valuable resource. Because the quality is not good it is important only for it's historical significance. Disc 4, however is a wonderful addition to any fan's library because it showcases early Dylan in a live setting as he manifests his own past to various interviewers.Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc)

Review(s): Lauryn Hill, The Hives, Betchadupa, Green Day, Brian Wilson, Cave In x3

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: I understand why it is so praised, but it just doesn't do it for me.

The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives: Did you like Veni, Vidi, Vicious? (yes) Do you like The Clash? (yes) You'll like this. (I do)

Betchadupa - 3DEP/Betchadupa/Flying Nun Comp Tracks/Sleepy News/Supa Day: If this is the best that Australia has to offer, we might as well blow Australia up (after we rescue Matt Billingsly).

Green Day - American Idiot: More than I ever expected from a Green Day album, but less than I expect out of a truely amazing album. It is very solid and I will be purchasing it and I will be listening to it again.

Brian Wilson - SMiLE: Everything you'd want and wouldn't want in an album that took 35 years to complete. Far too many layers of texture to adequately judge on a single listen.

Cave-In - Antenna: Take away all the distortion, layering, pyschadelia and inovation of The Mars Volta and you'd have this.

Cave-In - Until Your Heart Stops: I appreciate the initiative of trying to do something more with the genre of metal, but I don't appreciate it when it's LAME.

Cave-In - Epicenter/Botch Split/Tides Of Tomorrow:I cannot stand the vocal delivery of this band whatsoever.

Review(s): Ghost, The Gits, Woody Guthrie

Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld: You'll be bored before you find anything rewarding.

The Gits - Frenching The Bully: Female fronted 'punk' that brings comparisons to the Gorilla Biscuits (vocals) and Three Doors Down (music), but in the end, all of the songs run together and seem to lose focus.

Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Ballads: This disc puts into perspective the genius of Bob Dylan.

Review(s): The Futureheads, The GC5, The Get Up Kids

The Futureheads - The Futureheads: This quirky acapella-pop record is the best record I've heard this year.

The GC5 - Never Bet The Devil Your Head: Renewing my faith in the value of punk rock is an album for fans for "The Gang's All Here"-era Dropkick Murphys.

The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show: Sacrificing musical maturity for the sake of record sales is something I cannot get behind if I didn't like you before you matured.

Review(s): Evergreen, Faithless, The Fire Theft

Evergreen - Evergreen: The first post-Slint Avante Gardecore album is a mixed affair, but one that will at least warrant another listen.

Faithless - No Roots: I hate this album with much of my being, but I love the single (well, the single edit version).

The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft: If 'Return of the Frog Queen' has the feel of a classic, The Fire Theft's self-titled debut already is.

Review(s): The Deviants, The Dresden Dolls, Jeremy Enigk

The Deviants - Ptooff!: Put down the drugs.

The Dresden Dolls - A is for Accident: It seems as though nothing they do is an accident as this live collection showcases versions of familiar songs that barely (save for some clapping and laughing) stray from their original.

Jeremy Enigk - Return of the Frog Queen: It's not good, but it's got the feel of a classic.

Review(s): The Cure, Karen Dalton, The Desperate Bicycles

The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys: Sometimes I hit myself for jumping on the bandwagon late.

Karen Dalton - It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best: So raw, so emotive, so engaging. Man, do I love the blues.

The Desperate Bicycles - Another Commercial Venture: Punk is supposed to be about the singles and this post-punk band is no exception with this collection showing off several wonderful singles, but nothing that brings it to another level.

Review(s): David Cross, Crowhate Ruin, Cul De Sac

David Cross - Shut Up, You Fucking Baby: David Cross' punchlines aren't what's funny, it's his little additions, side tracks and tangents that he throws in with the story that'll get you laughing.

Crownhate Ruin - Until The Eagle Grins: SSD ripoff that doesn't get the exposure it deserves based upon the label behind them.

Cul De Sac - Ecim: One of the better pieces of post-rock by a band not name Godspeed or Explosions.

Review(s): Bitish Sea Power, John Cage, Charalambides

British Sea Power - The Decline of British Sea Power: If it ends after track 10 it makes the Top 10 of 2003. It doesn't end after track 10.

John Cage - Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Oddly-timed piano pieces isn't something to listen to straight through.

Charalambides - Joy Shapes: Absolutely riveting (compared to anything by The Azusa Plane).

Review(s): John Coltrane, Animal Collective, David Bowie

John Coltrane - Ultimate Blue Train: This may be my favorite jazz album.

Animal Collective - Sung Tongs: The Books done well.

David Bowie - Low: A nice collection of songs but not the album that 'Ziggy Stardust' was.

Review(s): Can x2, The Chameleons

Can - Monster Movie: Proto-Post-Rock

Can - Tago Mago: Another piece to the puzzle that links Prog to Post-Rock.

The Chameleons - Strange Times: Influential, perhaps. Forgettable, absolutely.

Review(s): David Banner, Blind Faith, Centro-Matic

Banner, David - MTA2:Baptized In Dirty Water: I'd rather spend $18 on a disc with 6 really strong tracks than $12 on a disc with 18 tracks, 6 of which are really strong. This disc has several really strong tracks, but too much filler.

Blind Faith - Blind Faith: The blue balls of Rock 'n' Roll.

Centro-Matic - South San Gabriel Songs-Music/Flashes And Cables: Add Centro-Matic to the ever-growing list of emotionally convincing indie-folk.

Review(s): Aqualung, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Ash

Aqualung - Still Life: Just listen to Elbow. Just don't forget the name.

Art Ensemble of Chicago - Bap-Tizum: Quite possibly the worst jazz album I have ever heard. This includes all vocal-jazz wastes of time.

Ash - 1977: Inexplicably enjoyable.

Review(s): 14 Iced Bears, 2pac, The Album Leaf

14 Iced Bears - Let The Breeze Open Our Hearts: Just listen to The Stone Roses.

2pac - All Eyez On Me: I had some respect for 2pac before listening to this.

The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place: Broken Social Scene (Feel Good Lost-era) meets Sigur Ros. Emphasis on the Sigur Ros.

Review(s): The Dresden Dolls, The Beatles, Stabbing Westward

The Dresden Dolls - The Dresden Dolls: Evanescence done well is basically a female version of the pAper chAse done not as well.

The Beatles - Anthology 1: Worth owning for historical relevance, but offers little in the way of repeat listening.

Stabbing Westward - The Essential Stabbing Westward: Some bands don't have enough good songs for a greatest hits. Stabbing Westward doesn't have any.

Review(s): Nailbomb, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto

Nailbomb - Proud To Commit Commercial Suicide: This doesn't sound like a live album. There's no crowd, no fuzz and no difference in the songs from their debut.

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Sonic Geology: If I were make a movie, I'd call on them to make the score, but I wouldn't release that score commercially.

Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto: Awfully bluesy for a jazz album, but I like it.

Review(s): Bud Powell, Phew x2

Bud Powell - The Amazing Bud Powell: Amazing is right.

Phew - Phew: There's something very peaceful and calming about Eastern-influenced music. This is no exception.

Phew - Our Likeness: Knowledge of the language would make for a far more enjoyable listen.

Review(s): Machito, Pro-Pain, Proclamation

Machito - Kenya: If Ricky Ricardo (of 'I Love Lucy') made a jazz album, it'd be awesome, right? See for yourself.

Pro-Pain - The Best of Pro-Pain: Assuming a chronological tracklist, early Pro-Pain was far better than their later material, which sadly dominates this disc.

Proclamation - Let The Truth Be Told: Edge bands are a dime a dozen and few rise to the top of their chosen genre. Proclamation fail to do so.

Review(s): Wynton Marsalis, Marginal Man, Procol Harum

Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes (From the Underground): How I could have missed this guy when I went through my jazz period I don't know, but I regret it.

Marginal Man - Identity/Double Image: Choose an identity, because you have far more than two images presented here.

Procol Harum - A White Shade of Pale: Pink Floyd (or David Bowie) with Beatles' pop sensibility. Why this band is not bigger, I will not understand, but I hereby make it my mission to educate people about them.

Review(s): The Polyphonic Spree, The Whole Nine, Morrissey

The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy: Despite boasting more members than an NFL roster, this effort seems slightly sparser than their first. It is just as enjoyable though, just in a different way.

The Whole Nine - Falling Out and Falling In: "Until the day I die..."

Morrissey - Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey: What a self-centered, self-loathing and depressed individual. I still liked it though, perhaps too much.

Review(s): Muse, Nailbomb, Nas

Muse - Absolution: In the increasingly overcrowded genre of britpop I wonder why this band is getting all the hype.

Nailbomb - Point Blank: Metal will forever be a genre of unfulfilled potential.

Nas - Illmatic: Chingy take note; this is what rap is supposed to sound like.

Review(s): The Oath, Nuclear Assault, Nine Pound Hammer

The Oath - Deaf Ears Japan Tour 2002: Those who think this is 'amazing', 'revolutionary' or 'really good' are the same people that have the characteristic in the title.

Nuclear Assault - Handle With Care: Metal will forever be a better experience live than on plastic (or vinyl).

Nine Pound Hammer - Hayseed Timebomb: Bringing the country to the punks. Or is the other way around? Either way, this is awesome.

Review(s): Orange 9mm, Off Minor, Phil Ochs

Orange 9mm - Driver Not Included: I can see the comparisons to Quicksand, but what caught my attention was how much it sounded like Limp Bizkit and the nu metal to come (Driver Nor Included was released in 1995).

Off Minor - The Heat Death of the Universe: Screamo is virtually the only genre in which a vocalist is allowed to scream uncomprehendingly and not be criticized for it. Don't ask why, just nod.

Phil Ochs - Pleasures of the Harbor: Next Dylan? Hardly, but a very slick folk album that will be revisited.

Review(s): the pAper chAse, Pagan Babies x2

the pAper chAse - And the mAchines Are winning/essAys: John Congleton is one crazy-ass man with unbelievable driver, determination and vision. Comparing these early recordings with any of his later work and you, too, will understand.

Pagan Babies - Immaculate Conception: This thing sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom, rendering an opinion worthless.

Pagan Babies - Next: Punk meets Hardcore and more specifically, DC meets California, therefore a precursor to NYHC.

Review(s): Stay Gold, The Shining, The Pixies

Stay Gold - Caught Up In The Moment/Pills And Advice: Bane rules, and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Bane should be flattered as hell.

The Shining - True Skies: Maybe this would be better if John Squire was still involved, but I doubt it.

The Pixies - Wave Of Mutilation: The Best Of The Pixies: I really don't see the huge allure to the Pixies. It's not that I'm unimpressed, just not impressed.

Review(s): Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Rain on the Parade, Pro-Pain

Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Unclassified: This officially begins my quest to have ProTools banned from American music making.

Rain On The Parade - Body Bag EP/When It Rains It Pours: I don't ask every hardcore band to reinvent the genre, I just ask them not to screw it up. Kudos to Rain on the Parade for not screwing it up and making it enjoyable to boot.

Pro-Pain - Contents Under Pressure: 5 songs in and I was ready to praise this metal band for not being cliche. Then I finished the disc. So much for that idea.

Review(s): Riased Fist, Rancor x2

Raised Fist - Dedication: The perfect combination of metal and hardcore? It could be.

Rancor - Demo/Flip The Switch/Never Hold Back: This band obviously didn't hold back from doing anything to distinguish themselves.

Rancor(2) - Distinguish: Normally, I'd use the word 'distinguish' somewhere in this review. Instead i'll just settle for 'not very good.'

Review(s): Ringworm, Right Brigade, Rapeman

Ringworm - Flatline: Each song is a different style, making me wonder they used the word flat in the title.

Right Brigade - Demo/EP/LP/A Poor Excuse Split Tracks: Like a fine wine, this band seems to get better with age. It's just too bad someone opened the bottle before its prime.

Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack Mule: I still haven't found a terribly bad album that Steve Albini's name has been attached to.

Review(s): Ratatat, Reach The Sky x2

Ratatat - Ratatat: There are a lot of aspects of this band that I like, but it lacks something. Most noticably, words.

Reach The Sky - Open Roads and Broken Dreams: If you've heard one Reach the Sky song, you've heard them all.

Reach The Sky - Transient Hearts EP: I've heard them all.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): R 'n' R, Rocking Horse Winner, Rush

R 'n' R - Infamous and Notorious: Hardcore-styled, and poorly yelled, vocals don't match up with the traditionally-styled rock instrumentation making for a frustrating listen.

Rocking Horse Winner - Horizon: How I long for a new Rilo Kiley record.

Rush - Moving Pictures: Like a species thought to be extinct, Prog-Rock escapes from the grasp of worthlessness to taste the sweetness of redemption.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Rush, Running Like Thieves x2

Rush - Retrspective, Vol. 1: Volume 1 is more than enough Rush for any one person.

Running Like Thieves - Same Time Next Year: They're running like thieves because they just stole your hard earned money. Unless you stole the album and then they stole your precious time.

Running Like Thieves - The Approval of the Crowd: ...is something they don't care about.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): The Snobs, Patti Smith, Slipknot

The Snobs - Control EP/School's Out, Let's Skate: Owes much to Minor Threat, but beyond being sixteen, this band is nothing special.

Patti Smith - Trampin': Having no frame of reference, this is a pretty decent, yet unappealing record.

Slipknot - Slipknot: Who nu this wouldn't be all bad?
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Suicide Note, Shai Hulud, Sick Of It All

Suicide Note - You're Not Looking So Good: This isn't sounding so good.

Shai Hulud - That Within Blood Ill-Tempered: The niche created by this band's earlier works apparently didn't sell enough records.

Sick Of It All - Blood, Sweat And No Tears: Almost twenty years on, this disc lacks the urgency in undoubtedly had in '89.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): the pAper chAse, Soul Coughing, Sparta

the pAper chAse - god bless your blAck heArt: It just doesn't feel like an album, which is a shame.

Soul Coughing - Lust In Phaze: The Best Of Soul Coughing: You know when something is cool for the first five minutes and then becomes annoying? I was annoyed for 75 minutes.

Sparta - Porcelain: Still not as good as The Mars Volta.

Review(s): VAST, Street Dogs, The Stills

VAST - Visual Audio Sensory Theatre: A vast improvement over his second album.

Street Dogs - Savin Hill: It's slightly reassuring to know that even if Dropkick Murphys still had Mike McColgan singing that Rancid's newest record would be their main source of inspiration. It's also slightly disturbing.

The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart: Logic sure breaks my heart, because I can't figure out the allure of bands like this. All I know is that I like them.

Review(s): Suicide Note, Suicide File, The Streets

Suicide Note - Come On, Save Me: ...from this terrible band.

Suicide File - Twilight: I really enjoyed their first EP and their live show. However, they are certainly at the end of their twilight here.

The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free: Part of the allure of his first disc was the in-your-face attitude. Yeah, about that, gone.

Review(s): Sufjan Stevens, Sun Kil Moon, Supertouch

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans: I'm really, really starting to like Sufjan Stevens. I look forward to hearing more.

Sun Kil Moon - Ghost Of The Great Highway: It won't change the world, but I enjoyed it.

Supertouch - The Earth Is Flat: The level of enjoyability is flat.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): This Bike Is A Pipebomb, Tina, Age 13, Spoon

This Bike Is A Pipebomb - Dance Party With: This sounds like a wonderful sing-along record, except that I cannot understand the words.

Tina, Age 13 - The Alcoholic Father of my Inner Child: Broken Rekids turns out a mediocre disc with flashes of greatness.

Spoon - Girls Can Tell: Songs 1-2.5: This is pretty good, but I don't know if it has much lasting appeal. Songs 2.5-11: This is such shit, it sounds exactly like Koufax, one of the worst bands ever.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): The Tyrades, Tortoise, This Bike Is A Pipebomb

The Tyrades - The Tyrades: Punk in general is boring. For whatever reason this female-fronted group manages to keep it interesting. It no suprise that it's on Broken Rekids.

Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die: I wasn't bored.

This Bike Is A Pipebomb - Front Seat Solidarity: A more laid-back effort with clearer words.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Cold Mountain OST, Requiem For A Dream OST, Unit Pride

Various Artists - Cold Mountain Soundtrack: This would be awesome if it had any flow whatsoever.

Various Artsits - Requiem For A Dream: If I didn't love the movie, I wouldn't like the soundtrack.

Unit Pride - Then And Now: Back then, it was good to be really fast. Now, however, it just sounds incomprehensible and you wonder why people liked it in the first place.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Drive Like Jehu, Waxwing x2

Drive Like Jehu - Drive Like Jehu: I bet that in 1991 this disc was awesome. Now it just seems like all the other bands they probably inspired.

Waxwing - For Madmen Only: Tolerable drivel.

Waxwing - One For The Ride: Leaps and bounds better than their previous effort, yet still lacking total listenability.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): The Cooper Temple Clause, Countdown To Putsch, Corduroy

The Cooper Temple Cause - Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose: It's difficult to listen to this disc, because every time they show a glimpse of competency, they shoot themselves in the foot.

Countdown To Putsch - Handbook For Planetary Progress: Even if City of Caterpillar wasn't phenomenal, this would still be bad.

Corduroy - Dead End Memory Lane: With buried vocals, I surmise, that bad songwriting is what you are trying to disguise.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): The Cansecos, Circle Takes The Square, Colleen

The Cansecos - The Cansecos: Comparisons to Broken Social Scene are not unwarranted, just ill-informed.

Circle Takes The Square - As The Roots Undo: When trying to do more than the guy next to you, do it. Don't pussyfoot around.

Colleen - Everyone Alive Wants Answers: I want an answer: why don't these songs go anywhere?
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Big Blue Monkey, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, The Books

Big Blue Monkey - Truth In Separation/Big Blue Monkey/Story of the Year: I grouped these three EPs together because they show a nice progression of the bands quest to find that sound that will sell them out. Can you guess which one? (Hint: They changed their name to the songs on the EP of their eventual sound)

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Petrophonics: Post-Prog? Post-Bjork?? Who knows, but I downloaded three of the albums and the other two won't see a review for a LONG time.

The Books - Thought For Food: Not as engaging as The Lemon of Pink, but it could be worse.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Juno, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Franz Ferdinand

Juno - This Is The Way It Goes & Goes & Goes: This band just changes & changes & changes with every song. Normally, this would be a detrimental attribute, but it works nicely here.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Pyschocandy: Slightly more tolerable than My Bloody Valentine, the band they inspired the most.

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand: Pitchfork is losing its credibility.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Radiohead, Inspiral Carpets, Fuel

Radiohead - OK Computer: I thought that I was musically mature enough to (at least) appreciate Radiohead. I was right.

Inspiral Carpets - Cool As: More danceable than the Stone Roses, more focused than the Happy Mondays, yet this three-disc anthology fails to make an impact on a new listener.

Fuel - Moment To Excess: They'd be Water Music without Fuel.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): The Millenium, June of '44 x2

The Millenium - Begin: If I was the record executive that approved the first production budget that topped 1 million dollars, I'd want more than this.

June of '44 - Tropics and Meridians: Notasgoodasslint

June of '44 - Four Great Points: Better, but Spiderland is such a good record that it detracts from this one.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Pink Floyd, Movietone, Circulatory System

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here: Pink Floyd gets too pretentious on their follow-up to the superior Dark Side of the Moon.

Movietone - The Sand and the Stars: I've come to expect and, accordingly, accept less from female (fronted) artists. Maybe this is why I enjoyed this record.

Circulatory System - Circulatory System: A bit hazy, a bit mediocre.
(* date unkown)

Review(s): Califone, The Constantines, The Elected

Califone - Heron King Blues: If I hadn't expected it to be mind-blowing, I'd probably have enjoyed it.

The Constantines - Shine A Light: Joy Division, The Cure, Radiohead, Frankie Stubbs/Leatherface and a thousand other influences come together to make a really solid record.

The Elected - Me First: It's obvious who wears the pants in Rilo Kiley. (Hint: It's not Blake)
(* date unkown)

Review(s): TV On The Radio, The Band, Stars Like Fleas

TV On The Radio - Desperate Youths, Blood Thirsty Babes: If the goal of this record was to make me feel indifferent, then mission accomplished.

The Band - Music From Big Pink: Even without the Dylan-penned songs, this would be awesome.

Stars Like Fleas - Sun Lights Down On The Fence: ASMZ-esque vocals over less convincing music.

Review(s): The Beatles

The Beatles - Acoustic Submarine: Everything you'd expect from a collection of acoustic Beatles songs. Some better, some worse, some on par with their original counterparts.

Review(s): The Easybeats

The Easybeats - Aussie Beat That Shook The World: The Definitive Anthology: "Hey man, let's rip off a ton of good bands [ed. namely The Beatles and The Kinks] and convince everyone we're unique cause we're from Australia." Wow, to be around when drugs made things like that seem logical...

Review(s): Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson - SMiLE (Live on 02/20/04): I wish I would have borrowed one of the umpteen bootlegs Jared has of this before listening. It makes me want a fleshed out studio version, and I don't even care for the Beach Boys.

Review(s): Danger Mouse

Danger Mouse - The Grey Album: In what was easily the most promising and anticipated album of the year (and perhaps the last few years) I find the sum of the whole to be inferior to both pieces of the puzzle.

Review(s): Elbow, Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Daniel Johnston

Elbow - Cast Of Thousands: Elbow (and the Bunnymen).

Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Behind The Music: All the requisite Brit-pop influences are there. Beatles, Oasis, Radiohead, Kinks, Blur, but still, I wonder what all the fuss was when this was released.

VAST - Music For People: ::shrug::

Daniel Johnston - The Complete Early Recordings, Volume 1: Songs Of Pain and More Songs Of Pain:You either love Daniel Johnston in all his Manic/Depressive glory or just don't see the allure. More artists should be Manic/Depressive so they can be as good as him.

Review(s): Clem Snide, City of Caterpillar, Built To Spill, Broken Social Scene

Clem Snide - The Ghost Of Fashion: Good pop music. (Oh, and they did the theme song for Season 2 of Ed)

City Of Caterpillar - Demo + Live Recordings: Filling out the City of Caterpillar discography, this disc shows that even when they were 'just another Screamo' band they were good.

Built To Spill - Keep It: For some reason, I hear Radiohead meets Weezer, but that doesn't seem quite right. Good nonetheless.

Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost: They should call it the Sophmore Stride when it comes to this band, because this debut is boring and mediocre, just like most other bands on the genre, but their follow-up is heaven on plastic.

Review(s): Dirty Three, Damien Rice, Cursive, The Clint Boon Experience, Clinic

Dirty Three - Horse Stories: I don't know how to describe it. Post-Bluegrass? Post-Country? Post-Folk? Whatever it is, it's really good.

Damien Rice - O: If you listen really closely, you can hear the tears hitting the recording studio's floor.

Cursive - The Ugly Organ: Believe some of the hype.

The Clint Boon Experience - Compact Guide To Pop Music & Space Travel: Some of the most enjoyable (and quirky) pop music I've heard in a long time. Sadly, it will never get the recognition it deserves.

Clinic - Walking With Thee: Rather mediocre for being Thom Yorke-approved.

Review(s): Hot Hot Heat, Kayo Dot, Kind of Like Spitting, The For Carnation x2

Hot Hot Heat - Makeup The Breakdown: Die, dancepunk, die.

Kayo Dot - Choirs Of The Eye: Avante Gardecore that isn't quite to the level of City of Caterpillar, but good enough.

Kind Of Like Spitting - Bridges Worth Burning: I'd vote for a name change to Kind Of Like A Lack Of Emotional Conviction.

The For Carnation - Promised Works: Having members of Slint no longer makes me want to run out and buy their album.

The For Carnation - The For Carnation: He hits a chord taken right out of Spiderland. Your heart stops. Your pants become moist. You proceed to cry because not only is this not Spiderland, but you left your Spiderland disc at home.

Review(s): Lift To Experience, M83, Mercury Rev, Missy Elliott, Corm

Lift To Experience - The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads: Almost phenomenal, but then it goes on too long.

M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts: Why do I hate electronic music so?/On the list of acceptable, it ranks just below/the bubblegum pop you despise/but singing along I cannot deny.

Mercury Rev - Boces: If your songs are longer than 3 minutes and you're not doing anything to further something (a theme, story, emotion), you're music is boring.

Missy Elliott - Under Construction: Timbaland could make me sound good.

Corm - Everything Streamlined: Starting off as an early-Piebald rip off and slowly regressing into ska before ending up as a Hot Water Music rip off. Overall, it's a lackluster effort with some good moments.

Review(s): Betchadupa, Saturday Looks Good To Me, The Kinks, Slapshot

Betchadupa - Alphabetchadupa: This band is pretty good. But, so are the other 6,375 bands that sound exactly like them.

Saturday Looks Good To Me - All Your Summer Songs: Another indie pop band that does little to set itself apart.

The Kinks - Face To Face: The British Beatles.

Slapshot - Greatest Hits, Slashes And Crosschecks: One of those (like American Nightmare after them) who is copied more often than the Beatles.

Review(s): Sufjan Stevens, Swans, Liars x2

Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan, The Great Lake State: Something indescribable is missing. Once it is found, it will be perfect.

Swans - Children Of God: The worst album I have ever heard.

Liars - They Threw Us All In A Trench And Stuck On Monument On Top: Performing with such anxiety is sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. When referencing this disc, it is a blessing, despite the 30 minute 'outro'.

Liars - They Were Wrong, So We Drowned: Talk about ruining a band's potential.

Review(s): Pretty Girls Make Graves, Primus, The Rapture, Ednaswap, Silverchair

Pretty Girls Make Graves - The New Romance: Not at all what I was expecting from the makers of "Speakers Push The Air", but it's a good album that requires more listens to determine its greatness.

Primus - Sailing The Seas Of Cheese: Proving that not even shorter songs can save Prog-Rock.

The Rapture - Echoes: Every indie kid's wet dream: A record s/he can dance to without losing scene points!

Ednaswap - Ednaswap: This band is a hook and producer away from being on Star 94. (note: They were the ones who wrote the song "Torn" as performed famously by Natalie Imbruglia)

Silverchair - Diorama: They weren't cool in 1995 with Frogstomp and they're not cool in 2002 (2004) with Diorama.

Review(s): Monotonashfuck, Múm, My Bloody Valentine, Oceansize, the pAper chAse

Monotonashfuck - Demo: It is unclear if this band is pre- or post-City of Caterpillar. I hope that it is the former, because it's nothing special and City of Caterpillar was.

Múm - Finally, We Are No One: Electronic music from Iceland. You figure it out.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless: Pushing the boundaries of noise boredom.

Oceansize - Effloresce: There are so many elements of this band that I like, but it just doesn't quite fit. I expect good things from them in the future.

the pAper chAse - hide the kitchen knives: Everything a Dave Pajo solo CD should be. Even if it doesn't actually have Dave Pajo.

Review(s): Sweet 75, Three O'clock, American Nightmare, Metric x2

Sweet 75 - Sweet 75: Krist Novoselic's first post-Nirvana band is forgettable. So forgettable that I listened to this disc over two weeks ago and forgot about.

Three O'Clock - Sixteen Tambourines/Baroque Hoedown: Their impact and influence on the Stone Roses is apparent, but the repetitive nature of the songs leaves more to be desired.

American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost - We're Down 'till We're Underground: Poor production permeates this past due disc.

Metric - Static Anonymity: Exhibit A: Band trying too hard.

Metric - Old World Underground, Where Are You?: Wait, I thought I took Static Anonymity out of the CD player.

Review(s): Jay-Z, The Swords Project x2

Jay-Z - The Black Album: The final maturation of Hip-Hop. Now, if someone would just do something to move the genre forward, I'd appreciate it.

The Swords Project - The Swords Project: The American Sigur Ros. (note: this is a good thing)

The Swords Project - Entertainment Is Over If You Want It: Every once in a while, a CD comes along that renews my faith in something. In this case, Entertainment Is Over If You Want It renews my faith in the Post-Rock genre. Breathtaking, stunning, engaging, this discs make me re-evaluate my Top 11 of 2003 (in addition to Broken Social Scene)

Review(s): Beau Sia, The Books, Bark Pyschosis, Badfinger, Aerial M

Beau Sia: Attack! Attack! Go! Go!: In what seems like a logical step, Beau Sia tries to attach his in-your-face style of 'def poetry' to some music (beats). This works under the pretenses that you like Beau Sia's poetry (I do) and understand that the music is only there to drive to poem on (which, I do).

The Books - The Lemon Of Pink: The most cohesive album of incoherent fragments that I've ever heard.

Bark Psychosis - Hex: Simply beautiful.

Badfinger - The Very Best Of Badfinger: As if you needed another reason as to why '60s Pop/Rock is infinitely better than modern Pop/Rock.

Aerial M - As Performed By: Aerial M is Dave Pajo. Dave Pajo is Slint. Slint is Post-Rock. Aerial M is Post-Rock, but still bad.

Review(s): Anadivine, Exhaust x2, Echo and the Bunnymen

Anadivine - Anadivine: I always knew the Coheed and Cambriazation of 'emo' was an inevitablilty. I didn't know, however, just how mediocre the results would be.

Exhaust - Enregistreur: Boring.

Exhaust - Exhaust: The most engaging post-rock album I've heard in a long time from non-heavyweights (GY!BE, ASMZ, EITS, etc).

Echo And The Bunnymen: Crystal Days: 1979-1999: Reviewing a four-disc career overview of an artist whose work you are not familiar with is rather daunting. However, I shall trudge forward. Sounding like any numer of UK bands (Joy Division, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays) during their quest for the original sound, they fail to stand out. That being said, when they are on top of their game (songs like The Killing Moon and Lips Like Sugar) they are nothing more than Echo and the Bunnymen, and this, my friend, is a very good thing. Their works are meant to be listened to as individual albums, and this collection is only for hardcore fans as it contains a wonderful set of live numbers (including a string of covers - Beatles, Dylan, Rolling Stones) and alternate versions of included songs. I recommend you at least check out this band, but perhaps not this collection. I, myself, will be on the lookout for their proper albums (specifically, Crocodiles and Ocean Rain both of which tthe Bible gives 4.5 stars (out of 5))

Review(s): The Unicorns

The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?: A friend of mine, on the subject of The Unicorns had only this to say: "they're weird", which, as you might have guessed, stuck with me as I listened to this CD. Weird as it is, the last three tracks (and perhaps more, as I listened to the first 9 tracks and the last 3 tracks on two separate occassions with two different sets of circumstances) had some [2nd ed] very [ed.] strong redeeming factors.

Review(s): Esmerine, Low

Esmerine - If Only A Sweet Surrender To The Nights To Come Be True: Same post-rock formula with different instrumentation yields similar results. A wonderfully talented group of individuals with boring music [on its own merit] that would be perfect for a movie.

Low - Christmas: It's amazing what words and a singer can do for post-rock. It's also amazing how emotional a sub-5 minute song can be (take the hint GY!BE et al).