Titus Adronicus - The Monitor: Very rewarding, but sometimes flawed execution of a perfect blend of Two Gallants and Hold Steady.

Wrong Side - Of The Tracks: Mosh-heavy hardcore reminiscent of Death Threat.

Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg: Save yourself some time and listen to Muse.

White Stripes - Under Northern Lights: Too good to feel so short.

White Lies - To Lose My Life: The album Interpol always wanted to make?

Jim Ward - In the Valley, On the Shore: Refreshing to hear him out of arena mode.

War Pigs - Degeneration: Hardcore that didn't live up to the high expectations, namely for its seeming self indulgence.

Volcano Choir - Unmap: Radiohead-esque meets (obviously) Bon Iver.

Bob Dylan - Wittmark Demos: Beyond essential at half the fidelity.

Various - Stroke: Come for Mangum, stay for the rest, come back for the songs.

Various - At Both Ends: Fantastic grouping of bands. Wish they all had at least 1 more track.

Various - Abbey Road Now: Fails to surpass mediocre expectations.

Pete Townsend - Lifehouse Chronicles: Thoroughly enjoyable collection of demos from an innately creative visionary.

Touche Amore - ...To The Beat Of A Dead Horse: Filling the void that Verse left behind.

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures: Mostly succeeds as proof a supergroup can be better than individual components.

Tegan And Sara - So Jealous: Solid pop rock, but nothing to get too excited about.

Tallest Man on Earth - Wild Hunt: Dylan comparison impossible not to make. Deservingly.

Surrounded - Safety In Numbers: Equal parts Swell Season, post-rock and shoegaze. But listenable.

Sunny Day Real Estate - The Rising Tide: Big time arena rock record.

Sunny Day Real Estate - How It Feels To Be Something On: The experimentation had to begin sometime.

Sunny Day Real Estate - Pink Album: Deceptively heavy.

Strike Anywhere - Iron Front: Best album since, and maybe including, their debut.

Street Dogs - Demo: DKM-nostalgia not enough to keep afloat a band still finding its way.

Spoon - Transference: The indie rock Mission of Burma. Laid back yet taut.

Sounds Like Violence - The Pistol: Virtually forgettable.

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle: Too much filler, but with listening to for the highs alone.

Smoke Or Fire - Sinking Ship: Excellent pop-punk that rips off the best parts of other bands and executes flawlessly.

Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie: 2 discs and a seemingly forever runtime yet still manages to succeed far more than fail.

Slowride - C/S: '90s indie rock for when you're feeling nostalgic.

Sleep - Dopesmoker: Prog for the heavy metal crowd.

Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra - Kollaps Tradixionales: Perfect blend of their post-rock roots and more choral efforts.

Shook Ones - Unquotable AMH: Not the 2nd coming of Kid Dynamite I was hoping for, but solid pop-punk nonetheless.