Review: French Kicks - Swimming:

Upon first listen I didn't like it as much as Two Thousand, which came out of nowhere for me. Most of it is really repetitive and nearly-always boring.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Fast Cars - Coming, Ready Or Not:

Upon first listen this was really, really good, despite that questionable production. Instead of being a punk band with pop tendencies, it's a pop band with punk tendencies and it works. A lot. Check these guys out. Now.

TheirSpace

Their web site has a ton of live and demo tracks available to download

Keep an eye on eBay

Or buy the import for $29.57

Review: Everybody Out - Everybody Out EP/Struggle And Strife:

Upon first listen I was so excited about this Rick Barton-led group (of Dropkick Murphys fame), but was a little disappointed with the outcome. It's not that it's bad, but it tries far too hard to be something that it's not. Still, I'll proceed to check out each and every release.

TheirSpace

Stream both EPs

Purchase the self titled EP for $7.75

Purchase Struggle And Strife for $9.59

Review: Broken Hearts Are Blue - Truth About Love:

Upon first listen I read had read somewhere that this would be a huge hit had it been released presently as opposed to in 1999. That may be true, but it would also be slammed for sounding like every other mid-'90s emo band.

TheirSpace

Check out eBay to buy a copy

Review: The Breeders - Mountain Battles:

Upon first listen I had no real expecations, having only heard of the band and never hearing them, but they managed to eclipse expectations. It's not perfect, but there's enough good to go back for more.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.86

Review: Bjork - Post:

Upon first listen I was blown away by this album. I had been keeping up with her most recent releases, but never thinking to go back and see how she got there. Now I wish I hadn't waited so long.

HerSpace

Stream the live version of the album

Purchase for $8.86

Review: Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends:

Upon first listen it's a hell of a lot better than X&Y, though that wasn't particularly difficult. It has some excellent tracks on it (Viva La Vida, Violet Hill) and relatively few clunkers, but it's still doesn't manage to come close to AROBTTH or Parachutes. Granted, I've had more time with each of them, but it just doesn't have that same feeling. Still, the album definitely pushes that traditional Coldplay sound and finds the band ripping off more than U2 and Radiohead, opting for bands like My Bloody Valentine and Arcade Fire, both a welcome addition to their cannon.

TheirSpace

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Purchase for $6.86

Review: Bob Dylan And The Band - The Basement Tapes:

Upon first listen it's not something I'll listen to as a whole, but it's nice to have some of these songs to listen to. Put into the context of Dylan's whirlwind career, it falls between Blonde On Blonde and John Wesley Harding, almost as if Dylan didn't want anyone to hear him tinker with his new direction.

HisSpace

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $12.86

Review: Delays - Everything's The Rush:

Upon first listen it is a hell of a lot better than You See Colours, though it's been far too long since I've listened to Faded Seaside Glamour to put it into context. I don't remember, however, them being so 'peppy', 'upbeat' or 'danceable' as they are on this really, really good album.

TheirSpace

Check out eBay until a US release is announced

Review: Chumbawamba - Pictures Of Starving Children Sell Records:

Upon first listen this album runs the gamut musically, but has a central theme lyrically: political satire. Poking fun at a host of '80s-themed issues it manages to come across as both sincere as well as fun.

TheirSpace

Stream two tracks

eBay

Review: Elvis Costello And The Imposters - Momofuku:

Upon first listen it's a really great album in the same way that Modern Times was great for Dylan. No one expects them to put out another My Aim Is True or Highway 61, but is still surprised to listen to this 20 years later.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.76

Review: Beulah x2

Beulah - Handsome Western States: Upon first listen I found this album to be very weird. It both fits in and sticks out of the E6 Collective, while appealing to fans of Daniel Johnston, Ben Kweller and Olivia Tremor Control (note: I said 'and").

Beulah - When Your Heartstrings Break: Upon first listen Beulah manages to perfect it's genre transcendence, blending lo-fi, pyschadelic pop, shoegaze, drone and post-rock into something special.

TheirSpace

Stream Handsome Western States

Stream When Your Heartstrings Break

Try eBay for the out-of-print Handsome Western States

Purchase When Your Heartstrings Break for $15.09

Review: Ambulance LTD - EP:

Upon first listen this EP features four tracks from their then-forthcoming LP and one more. The LP tracks sound great, if a bit unpolished in comparison to their LP counterparts and the extra track didn't graduate to the LP for good reason.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire EP

Purchase for $5.86

Review: New Found Glory / International Superheroes Of Hardcore

New Found Glory - Tip Of The Iceberg: Upon first listen sometimes you have to
grow up to appreciate immaturity. Something I've apparently done.

TheirSpace

International Superheroes Of Hardcore - Takin' It Ova: Upon first listen this is a great tongue-in-cheek look at hardcore and The Scene. Like Good Clean Fun, only less obvious.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from both the EP and the LP

Purchase both for $9.99

Review: The Hold Steady - Stay Positive:

Upon first listen I was a little underwhelmed. Ok, reall underwhelmed. Because I didn't care for Separation Sunday I had low expectations for Boys and Girls in America. Because Boys and Girls was so good, I had high expectations for Stay Positive. So high, they could have never lived up.

TheirSpace, which currently has the entire album streaming

Purchase for $11.16

Review: H2O - Nothing To Prove:

Upon first listen it's another solid outing that does not achieve the greatness of their earlier albums.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Sunday's Best - Where You Are Now:

Upon first listen it fails to achieve notoriety despite its foundation for future glory.

Their Wiki

Stream clips from the entire album

eBay

Review: Tapes 'n' Tapes - Walk It Off:

Upon first listen I was extremely bored by the album, despite the promise of Hang Them All.

TheirSpace

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Purchase for $12.43

Review: Saves The Day - Bug Sessions, Volumes 2 and 3:

Upon first listen I can't wait until they've done their entire back catalog acoustically - especially if they continue to be this good.

TheirSpace

Find it on eBay

Review: The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely:

Upon first listen it's a lot better than their debut, but doesn't match the latest White Stripes album. Still Jack White and crew provide an extremely solid rock album.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.76

Review: Night Marchers - See You In Magic:

Upon first listen I've liked some of John Reis's other works (Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes) but can't seem to get into this release of straight ahead garage rock.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.08