Review: Patty Griffin - Children Running Through:

Upon first listen I had trouble getting past some of the over-singing and thus did not enjoy the album.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.77

Review: Brandi Carlile - Brandi Carlile:

Upon first listen this folky, classic rock-esque album shows a lot of promise for the heretofore relatively-unknown Carlile. A lot of promise that isn't fulfilled on this outing but could be further down the road.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.01

Review: Bright Eyes - Cassadaga:

Upon first listen there is no doubt the Mr. Oberst of capable of greatness, it's just that he still hasn't achieved it. There are, as usual, so really good tracks on here, and mixed with the left off tracks from the Four Winds EP, could make a pretty solid album, but it still just doesn't have that final piece to the puzzle that's been lacking for his entire career.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.59

Review: Neil Young - On The Beach:

Upon first listen this is easily the weirdest Neil Young album I've ever heard (though I'm told it's not nearly his weirdest). Still, it's got some good tracks but falls a bit on the uneven side of the tracks.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.61

Review: Neil Young - Harvest:

Upon first listen this is the album that Neil Young finally realizes his orchestral vision that began with Everybody and was tightened with Gold Rush but completes itself here. It's still a frustrating listen at times because some of the songs are too short and could use some of the aforementioned piddle-farting to help amplify the track.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.57

Review: Neil Young - After The Gold Rush:

Upon first listen Young spends less time piddle-farting around and just sings the songs. And it works masterfully.

Stream the entire album (Save Oh, Lonesome Me)

Purchase for $7.05

Review: Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere:

Upon first listen and with great naivete and enormous hindsight I found the album to be lacking in emotion, passion and overall execution as most of the tracks failed to impress.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.70

Review: Kings of Leon - Because of the Times:

Upon first listen it took me most of the album to really appreciate the voice and delivery (as it did with their previous effort) but once I did I found myself dancing along and enjoying every minute.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.89

Review: Fucked Up - Hidden World:

Upon first listen I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this set as I hadn't heard anything by them previously and hadn't seen much good press (save for the Pitchfork review) but I wasn't pleasantly surprised. There are a couple of really, really great hardcore-but-not-hardcore tracks on here that convince me of impending genius. There are also a couple of tracks that seem like very traditional hardcore tracks with a couple of strings or whistles tacked on. Ultimately it's an album with the band looking over its shoulder, making sure it's OK to move forward and once they realize that it is, look for them to run free.

Download Baiting The Public

Download Hidden World

Purchase for $12.75

Review: Sterling - Cursed:

Upon first listen there is just too much good instrumental and crescendo-building music around to recommend this one.

Stream Lurker, Part 1

Purchase for $11.08

Review: Shook Ones - Facetious Folly Feat:

Upon first listen they decided not to copy Kid Dynamite as much and I decided I didn't like them as much.

Stream Pheasant

Purchase for $10.00

Review: The Poison Arrows - Straight Into The Drift:

Upon first listen the album feels very detached from its surroundings, giving way to a an extremely isolated post-rock meets electronic pop outing.

Stream Lockaway and Clear Cut

Purchase for $6.59

Review: Talib Kweli and Madlib - Liberation:

Upon first listen some of the tracks here are some of the best that Kweli has released since Black Star. Others, not so much.

Stream Funny Money

Purchase for $14.95 (or invent time travel to go back a few months and download it for free from Stones Throw)

Review: Various - Endless Highway- The Music of The Band:

Upon first listen it's hit or miss, as expected, but ultimately makes me want to go listen to my copy of Big Pink.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.08

Review: Maria Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower:

Upon first listen I'm finding it very difficult to not make a comparison to a chorus-less Rilo Kiley.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: Shabutie - Plan to Take Over the World:

Upon first listen this is exactly what it is; early Coheed and Cambria.

Stream Strung Short, Disciple's Anthem, Star Cecil and Goodnight

Purchase, if you can find it

Review: Low - Drums and Guns:

Upon first listen it's a rather disappointing follow-up to The Great Destroyer.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.71

Review: Ted Leo and Pharmacists - Living with the Living:

Upon first listen I think Mr. Leo and drug-pushing counterparts should stick to live performance and mainstream pop covers as their studio output never seems to hold a candle to either of those.

Stream BombRepeatBomb and The Sons of Cain

Purchase for $11.98

Review: 3/20 Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha:

Upon first listen, wow!

Upon further consideration, wow!

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.54

Review: The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta:

Upon first listen it's reggae-based music that I really like. Go figure. And it (mostly) holds up the test of time.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $4.34

Review: Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block:

Upon first listen I think I want to cut this up with Falling Out and make one good LP.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.72

Review: Comeback Kid - Broadcasting:

Upon first listen this is leaps and bounds better than Wake the Dead. It's still formulaic and predictable but it's so much more raw. The change of singers has definetly served them well (though not for live shows, yet).

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.97

Review: The Besnard Lakes - Are The Dark Horse:

Upon first listen it has its moments in a brooding, potential-filled way, but fails to deliver entirely.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.75

Review: Andrew WK - Close Calls With Brick Walls:

Upon first listen this pretty much severs my relationship with Mr. WK as I will no longer be investing time into his future endeavors in a vein hope of preserving I Get Wet in all its quirky, unrelenting glory.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $19.78 (it's an import)

Review: Various - William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet Music From The Motion Picture (10th Anniversary Edition):

Upon first listen this movie was so iconic when it came out, but the soundtrack does not hold the test of time.

Stream (most) of the album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Van Morrison - At The Movies- Soundtrack Hits:

Upon first listen it's only necessary for Van Morrison fans and only if they don't have these songs elsewhere.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.99

Review: The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen:

Upon first listen it's exactle what you were expecting from Mr. Blur; downtempo, guitar-based rock that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.89

Review: Calla - Strength In Numbers:

Upon first listen this follow-up to the solid Collisions is a more complex, more textured effort that I found even more rewarding. If you were a fan of Collisions, or even Elbow (not that they sound similar) you should be checking this out.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.75

Review: Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere:

Upon first listen this is a case of the pre-released media hyping an album that inevitably will fail to deliver. I was so stoked on this album after the pre-release of My Sword Hand's Anger and the album title track (the best 2 tracks on the album), but was slightly underwhelming. Hopefully, it will grow on me.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.85

Review: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible:

Upon first listen it lacks the immediacy present on Funeral, but still manages to be compelling. A lot of the tracks are good (No Cars Go, Intervention), but it's not the album that Funeral is.

Stream Keep The Car Running

Purchase for $8.95

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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