Review: Explosions in the Sky - All Of the Sudden, I Miss Everyone:

Upon first listen EITS is certainly the most consistent post-rock band and they do little to tarnish their own legacy. It's everything you're expecting and maybe a little you're not.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.99

Review: Talking Heads - 77:

Upon first listen this is the blueprint for nearly all of the indie rock albums in at least the past 7 years. And I loved every minute of it.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.48

Review: Ron Sexsmith - Time Being:

Upon first listen the songwriter's songwriter
strikes again. Great songs, wonderful arrangements and no acclaim or
record sales to show for it.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $13.49

Review: Sonic Youth - Sister:

Upon first listen I wasn't impressed until I turned the volume up. Way up. Part of the problem would have to be my admittedly high expectations predicated on the first 10 minutes or so of 1981, The Year Punk Broke in which the band performs Schizophrenia live and it blew me away.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $4.34

Review: Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It:

Upon first listen I never thought I was going to hear the end of the 30 tracks presented here, a lot of it filler, most of which owing a great deal to the Beatles and Badfinger.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: Shearwater - Palo Santo:

Upon first listen it's moody and exhilarating if a little tired and overdone.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.73

Review: New Amsterdams - Worse For The Wear:

Upon first listen it's a really great album if you're not expecting On A Wire, Pt. 2. And even if you are, it's pretty great.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.77

Review: Lifetime - Lifetime:

Upon first listen it's almost a little forumlaic in its raw-yet-melodic pop/punk style. Until you realize that these guys pretty much invented the style and then it becomes what it is; a natural evolution of the style they created.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.18

Review: Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder:

Upon first listen I'm growing a bit tired of all of this great pyschedelic pop out there. Unfortunately, as great as it is there is better.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.18

Review: Peter Bjorn and John - Falling Out:

Upon first listen there are some good tracks on this Swedish pop album, but I just didn't enjoy the entire thing.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.56

Review: Luscious Jackson - Greatest Hits:

Upon first listen there is such a melange of different, but oddly similar genres that works only sometimes. All of that is not to say that there aren't some good tracks on here, because there are. But I could have dealt better with a Greatest Hits EP.

Stream Naked Eye, Ladyfingers and a remixed Why Do I Lie

Purchase for $14.88

Review: Love of Diagrams - EP:

Upon first listen I love diagrams no more and no less than I did prior to listening to this post-punk EP.

Stream the entire EP

Purchase for $2.99

Review: Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch:

Upon first listen it seems as though Mr. Lerche's confidence grows exponentially with each album. I grew to really like Two Way Monologue and quite enjoyed Faces Down, but this one may be the best of his young career.

Stream clips of the entire album

Purchase for $10.85

Review: Kayo Dot - Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue:

Upon first listen it's a bit more avant garde than Choirs of the Eye, but there are a lot of rewarding parts to it. Just don't expect to be blown away.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: Hot Cross - Risk Revival:

Upon first listen this is the best punk/hardcore/screamo album of this year, by far. Granted this is among the first that I have listened to, but it's going to take some really great to top this.

Stream Fatefully

Purchase for $10.00

Review: Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City:

Upon first listen I just can't enjoy this album. I loved the EP, enjoyed the first LP but will probably never listen to this one again. It's boring and lacks any of the spontaniety of the aforementioned discs. Its energy is something to be laughed. The best part of that EP was how you felt that the songs were to fall apart at any minute. I just don't feel that way here.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.70

Review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Some Loud Thunder:

Upon first listen I can't believe how much I liked this album when I didn't really care for the narcissistic debut. I'm not entirely sure why, but it just works for me this go round. Though it could have been a track or two lighter.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: Shins - Wincing The Night Away:

Upon first listen I absolutely loved Chutes Too Narrow and really liked Oh, Inverted World (perhaps because I listened in that order?) but do not find the same attachment to this new disc. It's less of a pop album and more of an indie-rock album which isn't always a bad thing but I'm certainly going to need some more time with it.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.72

Review: Ambulance LTD - New English EP:

Upon first listen the best part of this EP is the demo songs from their debut. The new tracks just don't have that same immediacy, shimmer or stick-in-your-head-forever allure.

Stream Fearless and the Sugar Pill Demo in full and clips from the rest

Purchase for $4.97

Review: The Stranglers - Suite XVI:

Upon first listen it's not all bad, but it certainly is forced and not very organic sounding.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.69

Review: Roxette - A Collection Of Roxette Hits!:

Upon first listen when people say the '80s suck, I'm pretty sure they're talking about Roxette.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $17.60

Review: Diana Ross - I Love You:

Upon first listen I Love You is to romance and love what Andrew WK's I Get Wet is to partying and drunken shenanigans. Where Andrew WK's campiness and overall enthusiasm make his album a winner, Diana's overproduction and underwhelming performances (Not to mention, 15 love songs? You've got to be nuts) make this a disc not worth exploring.

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $10.95

Review: Monty Python x4

Monty Python - Another Monty Python Record: Upon first listen I'm not a very big Monty Python fan and this album is no exception. Though I did laugh a few times, I won't be revisiting this album soon.

Stream clips from the entire album and purchase it for $18.98

Monty Python - Monty Python's Previous Record: Upon first listen I didn't laugh once on this record.

Stream clips from the entire album and purchase it for $18.98

Monty Python - The Life Of Brian: Upon first listen I was the most familiar with The Life of Brian coming into this exercise in patience. I couldn't finish the movie, however, and the album nearly met the same fate.

Stream clips from the entire album and purchase it for $13.97

Monty Python - The Meaning of Life: Upon first listen I didn't laugh, but I felt as though I could have. I almost want to see this movie now because I felt that if I could better relate to some of these characters, the skits could actually be funny.

Stream clips from the entire album and purchase it for $13.97

Review: Os Mutantes - Os Mutantes:

Upon first listen if you're looking for some '60s psychadelic pop that was made, well, in the '60s, please do yourself a favor and check this band out. They're from Brazil and lack the gene that allows them to sing in English, but it's worth it. There are some songs that miss their mark, but on the whole it's a good album.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.19

Review: Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?:

Upon first listen this album is worth a good deal of the hype it's getting. And how could it not be? Sounding like someone put the Fiery Furnaces, Belle and Sebastian and Of Montreal into a blender, it would be an almost certain smash and it doesn't entirely dissapoint. Some of the tracks tend be get a little repetitive, but there's so much good about it that I can see it getting overlooked on future spins.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.49

Review: Piebald - Accidental Gentleman:

Upon first listen I've hated each of the last two Piebald records. A few listens later and I loved them both. But it took some time. Accidental Gentleman continues that trend in that I hate it upon first listen. Hopefully, they won't dissapoint and I'll love it a few listens from now.

Stream the entire album at TheirSpace

Purchase for $11.00

Review: Menomena - Friend And Foe:

Upon first listen the title is very fitting. This is a really, really good album, but ever so short of being a great album. Lots of good tracks (Friend) and a couple of mediocre ones (Foe).

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $8.35

Review: Freddie Jackson - Greatest Hits:

Upon first listen I just couldn't get past the third track or so.

Stream the entire album

Don't buy it

Review: Al Green - The Definitive Greatest Hits:

Upon first listen I enjoyed myself for the first few tracks, but after that it's hard to be energized by 21 consecutive tracks by Mr. Green. Still, if you're a fan, surely this would be on repeat.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.72

Review: Crowded House - Farewell To The World:

Upon first listen it's very solid arena-friendly pop. Some great songs, some OK songs and some sketchy songs all culminating with their only US hit Don't Dream It's Over.

Stream studio versions of four tracks

Purchase for $16.80

Review: Califone - Roots & Crowns:

Upon first listen his is a great follow-up to Heron King Blues which I thought was an OK album. This one sure would shake up my best of '06 list (if I ever devote the time to making one).

Stream Spider's House and The Orchids

Purchase for $11.25

Review: Various - Peanut Butter Wolf Presents Chrome Children:

Upon first listen there is some absolutely stunning music on this disc. Accompanied by some absolutely atrocious music. Still it's a nice selection from one of the few record labels actually pushing hip-hop forward.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.68

Review: Mos Def - True Magic:

Upon first listen I think it's time for Mos Def to hang up his rapping career.

Stream True Magic, Undeniable, U R The One and Thug Is A Drug

Purchase for $11.22

Review: Ghostface Killah - More Fish:

Upon first listen this may be the best rap album of '06, if it weren't for that pesky Fishscale album.

Stream clips from mostof the album and entire songs of the rest

Purchase for $7.88

Review: Chin Up Chin Up - This Harness Can't Ride Anything:

Upon first listen I really liked their debut but found myself struggling to finish this new disc.

Stream This Harness Can't Ride Anything and Virginia Don't Drown

Purchase for $10.38

Review: The Beatings - Holding On To Hand Grenades:

Upon first listen the post-punk stylings of this band do nothing for me. If you're looking for some good post-punk this year, check out Mission of Burma.

Stream Feel Good Ending and a few non-album specific tracks

Purchase for $12.25

Review: Various - Rocky Balboa, The Best of Rocky:

Upon first listen I must confess that I have never seen a Rocky movie from beginning to end. I'm familiar with the concept and seen bits and pieces of the previously released five installments, but never a complete one. That being said, this compilation gets me really excited to see not only the first five, but the new one. There's nothing like Theme from Rocky back-to-back with Eye of the Tiger to get you're heart racing.

Stream a couple of tracks off of the Rocky IV Soundtrack

Purchase for $13.29

Review: Dean Martin - Christmas with Dino:

Upon first listen if you've heard these songs once, you've heard them a thousand times. If you're a Dino fan, this is for you.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.88

Review: Jay-Z - Kingdom Come:

Upon first listen I wasn't as impressed with this disc as I was when The Black Album came out. Come to think of it, most of The Black Album hasn't held up over time (despite the fact that it's been only three years) so maybe this one will.

Stream about half the album and listen to clips from the rest

Purchase for $9.99

Gang Starr - Mass Appeal- The Best of Gang Starr:

Upon first listen I was very suprised at how well most of these tracks hold up. Considering my naievete concerning the group and their output most of these tracks sound fresh and vibrant. The production is great and non-intrusive (a must) while the flow can sound indifferent at times yet still succeeds.

Stream Mass Appeal, Skills and Take It Personal

Purchase for $13.29

Review: Converge - No Hereos:

Upon first listen it's a return to a certain form. Noisy, heavy, visceral. Things that were lacking from You Fail Me are here and present along with a splash of melody and an acoustic guitar. Overall it succeeds for fans of Converge. It's just too bad I'm not a fan of Converge.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.29

Review: Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury:

Upon first listen I was disappointed. I never listened to their debut, but did like Grindin' when it hit. The flow seems uninspired and the beats, while non-intrusive (always a plus), aren't anything to write home about. Yet I cannot escape the hyoe that is Clipse, so maybe it's just me. Ok, it's just me.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.99

Reviews: Rage Against The Machine x2

Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against The Machine: Upon first listen I can't believe how boring and unimaginative this is. It certainly doesn't hold up well after almost fifteen (!) years.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.14

Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire: Upon first listen I was surprised at how the singles from this disc, which I like when they came out, were lackluster. Almost pedestrian.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.44

Review: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade:

Upon first listen it's not as good as I was hoping (and hearing) but it's certainly as not as bad as 90% of the bands they grouped in with. Certainly near the top of the pop-punk list when it comes to album of the year.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $12.64

Review: Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies:

Upon first listen I have to ask; what happened to the sheer brutality of their previous efforts. Trading in sheer power for melodicism and (presumably) MTV2 acceptance is certainly a lame endeavor in my book. But whatever works for them, just don't expect me to pass this disc along.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $12.64

The Brother Kite - Waiting For The Time To Be Right:

Upon first listen it's certainly a solid pop-rock with an indie feel type of album. It's not going to see a lot of rotation but it's nice to listen to.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.40

Review: Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me:

Upon first listen I am disappointed in myself. Sometimes music snobbery gets in the way of good bands and Brand New is that good band. I had always dismissed them without hearing more than a note or two as being whiny, pretentious and everything else wrong with the current crop of 'emo' bands. It's too bad as this is a really solid pop-punk type album that deserves more credit than most of their peers.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.90

Review: Blood Brothers - Young Machetes:

Upon first listen I disliked their earlier work all the way until I saw them live. That's when all the pieces of the puzzle called Blood Brothers seemed to fit. So I was moderately excited about a new album that I could evaluate in a better light than previous. What I listened to was a solid album of every kind of music and a lot of noise. And most of it works. Most of it.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $8.00

Not Dead, Just Busy

What with Christmas, Work and Zelda. I've also been spending some time catching up on my favorite albums this year. Not sure what they were cause I panned them when they came out? Keep up with my last.fm page on the right. Regular updates should resume in the next few days.

Review: The Beatles - Love:

Upon first listen I was expecting more. Every bit of media acknowledgment concerning this release gave me the impression we would be hearing 'new' songs. Instead, we got the same songs, just tweaked which was obviously the intent, just not what I was expecting. It's still hard for me to survey this album when the tracks are still so familiar.

Stream Strawberry Fields, Octopus' Garden, Lady Madonna and While My Guitar

Purchase for $9.72

Ronnie Wood - Anthology: The Essential Crossexion:

Upon first listen this two disc restrospective is an excellent introduction to Ronnie Wood. The first disc is represented by his solo work, including some live performances and peppered with covers. The second disc is a compilation of tracks from the bands he's been a part of. Starting with the Birds to Creation, The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces, Rod Stewart and ending on The Rolling Stones. Is it essential? Probably not. Is it interesting and fun listen? Absolutely.

Purchase for $18.95

Review: The Who - Endless Wire:

Upon first listen they do nothing that tarnishes the legacy they have already left. Nor, however, do they do much to either reinforce it or push it forward. Still, it's a perfectly adequate album full of potential for future greatness.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.72

Review: Various - These Are Some Serious Time:

Upon first listen this reggae/hip-hop compilation actually posts some great tracks. It certainly exceeded my expectations even if it did have a couple that didn't really win me over.

Check out the MySpace

Purchase for $14.57

Review: Various - Running With Scissors Motion Picture Soundtrack:

Upon first listen I'm not sure if this is the order of the songs in which they appear (if they do at all) in the movie or if this was put in this order as an afterthought. Either way, it is wonderfully done. The flow is much better than most compilations and Soundtracks.

Purchase for $14.41

Review: Various - Plague Songs:

Upon first listen I am glad I had a little backstory on this album. 10 artists, 10 plagues in the Bibile, 10 songs about said plagues. While most of the songs are great and I can't wait to check out a few of the artists' further work, it certainly doesn't work as an album, bouncing from electronic beats to acoustic guitar to Imogen Heap. It's odd.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.75

Review: Various - Paint It Black, The Compilation of The Rolling Stones Cover Tracks:

Upon first listen this disc reinforced my new found enjoyment of The Rolling Stones, despite the butchered songs that are covered here. Except The Flying Pickets' cover of Get Off Of My Cloud. You simply must check it out.

Download Grand Funk Railroad's take on Gimme Shelter (courtesy of Stereogum)

Purchase for $13.49

Review: Pet Shop Boys - PopArt, The Hits:

Upon first listen I can only take so much of that incessant synthesizer. Sadly, that happened at about track 2 of disc 1. But I persevered, finishing both discs but with little respect for a band that's a cross between what would become the Scissor Sisters and Depeche Mode. Though that cover/medley/mash-up of Where The Streets Have No Name/I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You is really good.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.74

Review: Various - The World Is Gone:

Upon first listen there was nothing about this band that grabbed my attention. It just kind of plods along, doing its own thing and changing styles on every track. Until the last track, which is quiet, folky and serene.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.10

Review: The Prize Fighter Inferno - My Brother's Blood Machine:

Upon first listen this album is only for fans of Coheed and Cambria as it's not likely to convert any new fans. With that said, it's fairly decent. It won't make up for the last Coheed album nor the lack of a new one but it's solid in its own right.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.26

Review: Mastodon - Blood Mountain:

Upon first listen this may be the most frustratingly inconsistent album of the year as the band switches between a dozen different genres over the course of 12 tracks. Yes, they are all heavy, but that's where the similarities end.

Stream clips from the album

Purchase for $9.44

Review: Johann Johannsson - IBM 1401, A User's Manual:

Upon first listen I had a vague feeling of what this album would sound like, based on the name of the artist, the name of the manual and the packaging it all came in. And while I wasn't wrong, it still is a mostly instrumental album seemingly about using the IBM 1401, I was misguided in my inital thoughts that I'd not like it. The opposite has happened and I loved it. It hit all the right highs and the lows and didn't bore me to sleep. I haven't enjoyed an instrumental album this much since the last Explosions in the Sky disc.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Gomez - Five Men In A Hut, As, Bs and Rarities 1998-2004:

Upon first listen this two disc Best Of/Rarities compilation is certainly not the place the start for this band. It jumps all over the map landing in one genre only to be transported to another. It's catchy only to be mundane and fast only to be slow. Not all is lost, however, as longtime fans of the band (or at least those that were fans for the 6 year period these discs represent) should find adequate amounts of material to continue to be fans.

Stream some of the album

Purchase for $16.95

Review: Jeremy Enigk - World Waits:

Upon first listen Mr. Enigk (of Sunny Day Real Estate fame) has made his solo career based on what I consider to be epic pop music. He's built up such a large sound while he delivers such minimalism. His first solo album is certainly better at everything he does well, but fans will no doubt enjoy this one. Just don't look for it to convert any new fans.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.72

Review: Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards:

Upon first listen I wonder how I and many other bloggers neglected to make a comparison to Maroon 5. I still think my previous comparisons to the likes of Radiohead, White Stripes and Interpol are valid and I realize these tracks are reworkings of their EPs, which I enjoyed, but I think I missed the boat on the Maroon 5 correlation.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.42

Review: Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah:

Upon first listen most of the campiness of their debut is gone and I just can't get into it. Does it make me want to dance? Sometimes. Does it make me smile? Sometimes. Is it like Andrew WKs The Wolf in relation to I Get Wet? No.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: REM - And I Feel Fine... [The Best of the IRS Years 1982-1987]:

Upon first listen it's certainly REM. I know I should be more familiar with their material considering their place in history and their effect on indie music, but I'm not. I'm not even sure I've even listened to their last greatest hits album in its entirety. But alas, I have persevered and made it though both discs of this one. Some of the tracks are make the hair on the back of my neck stand up with their charisma and energy. Some of the tracks don't. But at the end of the day there's enough here to make me go explore the rest of their catalog.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.99

Review: Joanna Newsom - Ys:

Upon first listen it seems as though Joanna Newsom has gained a lot of confidence since Milk Eyed Mender. That confidence gave way to an album of five tracks, all more than seven minutes long (with the finale hitting sixteen). There are moments in which everything clicks and it is sublime like only Joanna could deliver, but there are others when it just seems like she's whining into the microphone which makes for a very uneven album and its no wonder it has gotten such little press since being released.

Stream Sprout And The Bean

Purchase for $11.89

Review: My Morning Jacket - Okonokos:

Upon first listen this 2 disc live set turns the quiet little rock band that brought is Z into a loud big arena rock band. Does it work? Sometimes.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $14.78

Review: Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire:

Upon first listen Sean's nasally voice takes a few tracks to get used to, but once you do, hunker down because you're in for a treat. Perhaps the best straight up pop records this year with it's wonderful melodies, lush background and sirly atmosphere.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $15.57

Review: Lemonheads - Lemonheads:

Upon first listen it's a tad formulaic. More of the same guitar-based pop/rock that's been done a thousand times this year (and last year and the year before, etc.) I wish I could compare and contrast to earlier Lemonheads albums but I don't have the requisite frame of reference.

Stream No Backbone and Baby's Home as well as clips of the rest

Purchase for $12.19

Review: Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller:

Upon first listen it seems a little too Adult Contemporary. Where's the passion and directness of Wasted and Ready? Where's the catchiness of Sha Sha?

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.17

Review: Elton John - The Captain and the Kid:

Upon first listen I really liked Songs from the West Coast back when it came out in 2001. Not much has changed about the style or delivery. Just don't expect him to deliver another Tumbleweed Connection.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.52

Review: Hope Conspiracy - Death Knows Your Name:

Upon first listen I didn't feel the intensity or the passion one should when listening the hardcore/metal. It's loud, yes. It's rough and aggressive, sure. But the passion? Lacking. Though as is the case with most aggressive music, an album doesn't do it any justice and needs to be experienced first hand.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.33

Review: Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America:

Upon first listen I hated their last album, mainly for the way the lyrics were delivered. I didn't complain about the style, just the repetitiveness of the delivery. Well, it seems like that problem's been solved, because they have added the layer of complexity Separation Sunday needed in the first place, making one of the better albums out this year.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.32

Review: Merle Haggard - Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard:

Upon first listen I can't speak to wether this actually constitutes the best of Mr. Haggards work. Truth be told, this is the first time I have come in contact with his material (despite being familiar with who he is). I did come away a fan of his 3-minute fireplace-worthy country-infused folk songs. What impressed me more was how I forgot the time as I listened to him sing. Before I knew that the album began, all 26 tracks were complete.

Stream the majority of the album

Purchase for $13.90

Review: Delicate Noise - Diversion:

Upon first listen it's amazing what a few vocals will do to the palatability of electronic music. The other proverbial nail in the coffin is usually it's predilection to fall into a groove or beat and hammer it to death, again narrowly avoided.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12

Hiatus Over

Apologies for the lack of notice regarding my week-long hiatus as I was given little notice of an impending trip out of town for work. I am now back and normal posts will resume with the completion of this post.

Review: Canada - This Cursed House:

Upon first listen I can't completely disagree with the comparisons to The Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene, but I can't endorse them either. I think that Canada wants to be held in that great light but never make anything their own, instead relying on a very 'mid-2000s indie-rock' sound that is neither groundbreaking nor unfamiliar.

Stream the majority of the album

Purchase for $8.65

Ahab Rex - Blood on Blonde:

Upon first listen I can't get into this over-produced album. What with the vampire-esquely delivered vocals, the '70s-style backup singers and aforementioned over-production, there's just not much to like.

Stream Ordinary Things, Bye Bye My Baby and The Queen Of Softcore

Pre-order it for $12 (comes out 10.31)

The Who - Live At Leeds (Deluxe Edition):

Upon first listen I'm a bit dissappointed in what has been heralded as the greatest live album of all time. And man does it drag on. By the time Tommy concludes on the seconds disc, I am more-than-ready for something that doesn't have the name "Who" in it. Perhaps I'd more enjoy either the original LPs six tracks or even the Remastered version with fourteen, but this thirty-three song trek wore me out.

Stream the entire album

Purchase the remastered version for $5.41

Purchase the deluxe edition for $19.78

Review: The Who - It's Hard:

Upon first listen it's hard to get through this album knowing how great they were at their peak.

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $8.42

Review: The Who - Face Dances:

Upon first listen this is the album that feels like they are going through the motions. After all of their great albums they've finally been stifled creatively and just want to put out some more music no matter the quality. Not to say that there's no good tracks here, just that they are few and far between.

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $5.87

Review: The Who - Who Are You:

Upon first listen the title track alone is worth price of admission. The rest of the album is no slouch either as the Who try and branch out towards a poppier, more contemporary sound.

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $9.13

Review: The Decemberists - The Crane Wife:

Upon first listen it's way over the top. I enjoy The Decemberists, but this one is going to take some getting used to. It seems as though Mr. Meloy has borrowed some ideas from Neutral Milk Hotel and Sufjan Stevens and Decemberistized them.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Verse - From Anger and Rage:

Upon first listen this album is phenomenal. Granted they're trying to jock Bane as much as possible, but they seem to succeed. I can only imagine how much better live this songs would be.

Stream Stolen and Hard To Breathe

Purchase for $10.57

Review: Strike Anywhere - Dead FM:

Upon first listen I'm glad to see that they abandoned the Converge to Fall Out Boy transitional vocal delivery, for the most part. The rest of the album is a very solid poppy punk album akin to latter Dropkick Murphys are even sometimes Flash-era Explosion. Certainly worth your time to check out.

Stream Prisoner Echoes and The Promise

Purchase for $9.95

Review: The Who - The Who By Numbers:

Upon first listen I find it almost impossible to comprehend that they followed up Quadrophenia with such a superb album. It's not as conceptual as the aforementioned album or Tommy, but the songs are undeniable. The Who is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.18

Review: The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street:

Upon first listen it seems like a transitional album, filled with a dozen or so different styles and techniques, seemingly in an attempt to determine the future of their signature sound. As to be expected, some works and some doesn't, but by track 18, I had heard enough of the Stones for one sitting.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.99

Review: Strike Anywhere - To Live in Discontent:

Upon first listen it's good to know that I wasn't misguided back when Chorus of One came out as this disc collects that EP as well as some outtakes and covers. Overall it's pretty uneven but works to tide fans over until their new disc gets released.

Download Chorus of One

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Review: The Who - Odds & Sods:

Upon first listen this is a very aptly titled album, collecting a lot of the extraneous tracks by The Who onto one disc. Most of the tracks work and it almost seems like a competent album all on its own even if you know the source of the material.

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Review: Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed:

Upon first listen it's a largely hit and miss affair lacking radio-friendly pop singles yet still not very rock 'n' roll or bluesy.

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Review: Strike Anywhere - Exit English:

Upon first listen I can't believe how much I dislike this record over their previous EP and LP. Granted it's been a few years since I listened to either, but when I heard they had a new album out soon I wanted to fill in the gap. What I found was a band that went from balancing the fine line of melodicism mixed with hardcore and punk to a band that had embodied the 'screamo' that became popular after the first record.

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Review: The Who - Quadrophenia:

Upon first listen I wasn't expecting them to top Who's Next. But they did. Not only did they better themselves, they made what may be the perfect rock and roll record. It's got everything you could want in a rock album and more. The best part is that after 17 tracks and 2 discs, you're not bored with what you just heard.

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Review: The Rolling Stones - Beggar's Banquet:

Upon first listen it is cleary evident that the Stones were (still are?) a singles band. The problem is that 6 or 7 of the 10 tracks here are really good singles.

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Review: Matthew Friedberger - Winter Women:

Upon first listen this may be the most traditional thing that the sibling Friedbergers have ever released. Not to say that it's at all traditional, just the most traditional.

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Review: Ratatat - Classics:

Upon first listen I wasn't a a very big fan this time around either. Still missing some words or perhaps just a crescendo or two.

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Review: John Ralston - Needle Bed:

Upon first listen this is a great album of pop that's catchy and not cheesy and heartfelt but not sappy. It's not quite an album per se, but a great collection of solid pop songs.

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Review: OutKast - Idlewild:

Upon first listen this album is consistently inconsistent. The few standout tracks are surrounded by mediocre-at-best filler and skits. And for the love of all things sacred, can we PLEASE put an end to skits? PLEASE? Moving on, there are a couple of great tracks, usually the ones that aren't rap/hip-hop derivative and are more jazzy outings. While I had wanted to see the film that this disc accompanies, I am now a little hesistant to put down my hard-earned $73 (or something) to see it in the theater.

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Review: Jennifer O'Connor - Over The Mountain, Across The Valley and Back to the Stars:

Upon first listen it seems a little too glossy. It's certainly not a bad album and some of the tracks are very good, but at the end of it you'll be just a little dissapointed.

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Review: The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely:

Upon first listen it's not as immediate
at The Sunset Tree (last year's #2
album), but it just as rewarding lyrically. It has a more somber
tone to it and will take some time to fully get into, but I have little
doubt that it will be worth it.

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Get Lonely

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for $9.20