Review: Make Do and Mend - Bodies of Water:

Upon first listen it fails to live up to the promise of their debut. Not bad, but rather mediocre with potential.

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Review: Major Organ and the Adding Machine - Major Organ and the Adding Machine:

Upon first listen this giant-sized band of Elephant 6 members (including Jeff Mangum) makes a scizophrenically psychedelic mish-mash of music and concepts. As expected, the tracks are hit-or-miss in quality.

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Review: Kathy McCarty - Dead Dog's Eyeball (Songs of Daniel Johnston):

Upon first listen it lacks the desperation and immediacy that Johnston portrays. There are a couple of good tracks, however (Like A Monkey In A Zoo and Oh No!).

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Review: Love - Forever Changes:

Upon first listen it's mostly forgettable pop/rock from the '60s. Or so I thought, because it's been named the sixth best album of all time by NME (among others). Obviously I've missed something.

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Review: Lifter Puller - Soft Rock:

Upon first listen there's no mistaking Craig Finn for anyone. While grating at times, there's certainly an album's worth of songs represented on these two discs - especially for fans of The Hold Steady.

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Review: Leaves - B-Side Collection:

Upon first listen this is a really solid set of songs - almost enough to make a really good album.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!:

Upon first listen it's easily their best album - but that's not saying too much.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - Cocktails and Dreams:

Upon first listen it's a frustrating compilation album in which the band can't decide if it wants to be this cool, melodic rock band or a snotty pop-punk one - and neither wins out.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever Told:

Upon first listen it's certainly not the greatest story ever told.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - Apathy and Exhaustion:

Upon first listen this seems to be their "grown up" album - a little less snotty, a little more melodic. It's no surprise, then, that this is my favorite of their albums thus far.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - Ghost Stories:

Upon first listen it seems to have a harder edge to it this time around - a welcome addition.

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Review: The Lawrence Arms - A Guided Tour of Chicago:

Upon first listen it's more smoke-induced street punk that I'm sure is a blast in a live setting but never really transfers to CD.

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Review: Jaydiohead:

Upon first listen this may be my favorite Jay-Z mashup. The production is minimal, but beneficial to the original tracks. My only complain is Fall In Step which has the volume a little too loud on the 15 Step sample, drowning out the vocals.

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Review: Gza - Liquid Swords:

Upon first listen it's another excellent hip-hop album from a Wu-Tang alum, even if it does run a track or two long.

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Review: Ghostface Killah and MF Doom:

Upon first listen I was very excited at the prospects of this collaboration, but very disappointed in its execution. Mediocre at best is the only way to describe this collection of what I can assume is demos.

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Review: Ghostface Killah - Hidden Darts:

Upon first listen it's, like most collections, is a hit-or-miss affair. Mainly misses.

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Review: Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele:

Upon first listen I found it difficult to listen to with the introduction of skits as well as some very distracting production work.

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Review: Ghostface Killah - Ironman:

Upon first listen the movie quotes are a little overdone, but other than that, this is how hip-hop should sound.

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Review: Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning:

Upon first listen I'm still not sure if I like him or not. It certainly doesn't appear to be terribly special, but it's also not poor. I'll be confused.

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Review: For Squirrels:

Baypath Rd: Upon first listen the easiest comparison to make (and thus the laziest) is to the Pixies.

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Example: Upon first listen this actually precedes Baypath Rd and is a bit poppier, but easily less refined.

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Review: Future of the Left - Curses:

Upon first listen it was so gratingly repetitive I turned it off after the third track and have yet to revisit.

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