Dirty Projectors - Rise Above: A reinterpretation of classic Black Flag songs is more unique than I thought possible.

Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity: Need more mathcore in your life? Look no further.

Destroyer - Bay Of Pigs: I don't remember Destroyer bring so Bowie-esque.

Desert City Soundtrack - Funeral Car: Attempting to be all things to a potential fanbase yields nothing to anyone outside of it.

Dead To Me - African Elephants: Ambitious, if not schizophrenic emo/punk that shows as much potential as it causes confusion.

Converge - Axe To Fall: Their best since Jane Doe. An album in the style of Cruel Bloom would be welcome.

Coheed And Cambria - Neverender: Awesome concept but mediocre production means it's unlikely that I'll pick this up in lieu of studio ones.

Clipse - 'til The Casket Drops: Good hip-hop albums are lightning in a bottle. Something Clipse can't catch a third time.

Clientele - Bonfires On The Hearth: Like the soundtrack to your fuzzy dreams.

Clem Snide - The Meat Of Life: May be my last Clem Snide album. Not because it's bad, but because it offers nothing new to their formula.

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young: Not the biggest Strokes fan, but I'm highly impressed.

Campaign - H1N1: For fans of Hot Water Music and Polar Bear Club.

Bob Dylan - Self Portrait: Terribly uneven, but not as bad as the lore foretold.

Jello Biafra - The Audacity Of Hype: Ever the vigilant, it's nice to hear that he's still as feisty as he used to be.

Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral: I always want to like Califone, but there's never enough to keep me engaged.

Sebastian Cabot - Bob Dylan, Dramatic Reading With Music: A-ma-zing!

Burns Out Bright - Save Yourself A Lifetime: Pop-punk barely good enough to get by.

Burns Out Bright - Save Yourself A Lifetime: Pop-punk barely good enough to get by.

Brandsron - Trying To Figure Each Other Out: Adequate, though hardly revolutionary, emo.

Brand New - Daisy: Pretty hit-or-miss, but I'm sure I'll love it. Eventually.

Boy Sets Fire - The Day The Sun Went Out: Proto-screamo whose melodic side shines through muddy production.

Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer: Every song sounds like a classic rock standard that's been around forever.

Blacklisted - No One Deserves This: Outstanding hardcore album. Probably the best of last year.

Between The Buried And Me - Colors: Hit-or-miss metal that has me sold on a second listen based on the strength of the last track.

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug: Given the chance, I'm sure it would grow on me. Just not sure it's with it.

Appeared Cast - Lost Songs: Just interesting enough, considering it's a bunch of throwaway tracks.

Apostle Of Hustle - Eats Darkness: Another adequate album, with just enough good songs to make it worthwhile.

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind: Smaller doses typically yield more success. Just not this time.

Amusement Parks On Fire - Young Fight: Can't hold a candle to their debut.

Neil Young - Fork In The Road: Just terrible.