Review: Goodnight Loving - Crooked Lake:

Upon first listen I couldn't tell if this was the same band that released Cemetery Trails, but it is. Just don't hold that against it, because they've released a relentless country-tinged punk album that was a breathe of fresh air.

TheirSpace (which contains four tracks)

Purchase for less than $10 when it becomes available

Review: The Forms - Icarus:

Upon first listen it's like modern day 'emo' but way heavier and without that high-pitched off-key whiny voice. In other words, it's good.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.88

Review: Bryan Ferry - Dylanesque:

Upon first listen Ferry does a good job of covering Dylan when he's quiet and seemingly alone. When he tries to get all big band with slick production it just fails. Miserably.

HisSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $12.89

Review: Dr. Hook - Greatest Hooks:

Upon first listen I easily grabbed hold of their big singles without having heard them before (Cover of the Rolling Stone and Sylvia's Mother). Most of the rest of it is cheesy love songs and aren't really worth listening to.

TheirSpace

Stream Sylvia's Mother (among others)

Purchase for $12.77

Review: Desert Fathers - The Spirituality:

Upon first listen this genre-defying band manages to successfully channel both Sonic Youth and Slint. Sign me up.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.99 (or check eBay, where I grabbed my copy for $.65 plus $3 in shipping)

Review: Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This:

Upon first listen it seems as though they dialed down the quirkiness which makes it much more listenable than In Case We Die, but nonetheless unenjoyable.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.93

Review: Common - Finding Forever:

Upon first listen it's lost some of the obnoxious production found on Be and found it's way being the best hip-hop album of the year. So far.

HisSpace

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $7.99

Review: Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight:

Upon first listen I'm really suprised that a lot of people didn't predict an album like this coming from Rilo Kiley. If, after Execution and Adventurous, you couldn't tell that they were on a path to modern pop, you should be ashamed. They've lost some of their quirkiness and honesty as well as a good portion of their fanbase. But it works. Kind of. Sometimes. Not on Under The Blacklight or Dejalo. And a couple others. But the first three tracks are really good.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $12.49

Review: Charles Mingus Sextet - Cornell 1964:

Upon first listen there were only a few times when this sextet made me stand up and take notice. And that's not enough for a two-disc live experience.

HisSpace

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $17.41

Review: Blondie - Eat to the Beat:

Upon first listen I still think it's fair to lump them in with '80s pop, but less so.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.45

Other Projects

Not ignoring the site, I've just been busy with one of my other projects: http://penguinvirgin.blogspot.com

Also, just discovered Facebook. Never really cared before because I figured it was just like MySpace. It kind of is, but it's like MySpace on steroids. And really, I just use it to play Scrabble with my wife and sister.

I have been listening to new music, but mostly stuff that doesn't come out for a few more weeks. I should resume updates by the end of the week.

Review: Voxtrot - Voxtrot:

Upon first listen it's entirely adequate indie rock album but offers nothing new or compelling.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.85

Review: Various - Warm and Scratchy:

Upon first listen this free album from the [adult swim] camp collects new tracks from a wide array of indie-rock stalwarts in addition to a few bands on the horizon. The album itself flows very well despite the amalgamation of artists and styles, which was the most surprising. And while I didn't enjoy all of the songs, a found a couple new artists I want to check out, which is the best reason to grab this free sampler.

Stream and Download the entire album

Review: The Terrible Twos - If You Ever See An Owl:

Upon first listen I have always been a big fan of Matt Pryor's voice and I will listen to just about anything he puts out. Still, an album for childrens's songs? I was a bit skeptical. It only took until the really great When I Get To Eleven to make me a convert. And while the rest of the album has some misses (though likely approriate for the target audience) this is one fine album.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.48

Review: Talk Talk - Laughing Stock:

Upon first listen we have a new contender for the Most Sleep Inducing Album.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.80

Review: Pelican - City of Echoes:

Upon first listen the best parts are when they get loud and some more metal and there just isn't enough of those times for me to enjoy this, though I can see why people like it.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.48

Review: Parts & Labor - Mapmaker:

Upon first listen I was very excited after the first few tracks, but as the album continued I found myself bored. It's decent, but not earth-shattering or even compelling pop-punk meets indie rock.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.47

Review: Long Fin Killie - Houdini:

Upon first listen this is a very weird album. Post-rock meets prog-rock that can only be adequately judged upon further consideration.

Stream the entire Valentino album

Purchase for $10.88 as well as stream clips from the entire album

Review: Handsome Furs - Plague Park:

Upon first listen I had forgotten the pedigree when I put this disc on, but was instantly reminded of it when I heard Dan's voice which as distinguishable and unique as any in rock music today. And while I wasn't the biggest fan of Wolf Parade, I did enjoy this album. It's much more consistent, sincere and even-tempered.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.48

Review: Gastr del Sol - Camoufleur:

Upon first listen I had to keep checking to make sure that each track was the same band and I hadn't accidentally put in a mix CD. Each song sounds like a different band and in some cases, each song sounds like two or three different bands. While I liked some of the tracks, or parts of some of the tracks it was just too inconsistent to enjoy.

Stream clips from the album

Purchase for $10.73

Review: Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun:

Upon first listen I can't believe I had given up on these guys a few years ago because this album is really, really good. They don't sound like anyone in particular, but if you're a fan of Godspeed, Mars Volta and Sonic Youth, you'll likely find aspects you really like too.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album (in a hurry? just check out track 1)

Purchase for $7.85

Review: The Beta Band - Three EPs:

Upon first listen this coffee-house-sized jam bad belongs where I first heard them: on movie soundtracks. Their sound works well there and possibly as singles, but does not hold up over an album.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $10.05

Review: Battles - Mirrored:

Upon first listen this is virtually unlistenable as an album, but tremendous as an audition for production work (which they should be granted).

Stream Atlas and Prism, among others, at TheirSpace

Purchase for $11.97

Review: Bark Psychosis - Codename:Dustsucker:

Upon first listen the album is intimate and subdued yet intense and immediate. Emotional without screaming and enjoyable without choas. This is post-rock.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.99

Review: The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army:

Upon firs listen it's neither as good as The Beginning Stages nor as mediocre as Together, We're Heavy, instead falling somewhere in between. Regardless, it's the type of band that you really need to be in the mood for before you put the disc in.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.23

Review: Interpol - Our Love To Admire:

Upon first listen the album certainly shows growth (albeit limited due to their choreographed sound) that is sorely needed. It had me all the way up until the last two tracks, but I'll be back.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $12.98

Review: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:

Upon first listen there's enough to make me want to go back for more, but not enough to make me gush.

Stream The Underdog and The Ghost Of You Lingers

Purchase for $10.49

Review: Against Me! - New Wave:

Upon first listen most of it doesn't even sound like an Against Me! record and the parts that do sound like a bad imitation of Against Me! record. That being said, it will be getting far more rotation than Searching For A (Former) Clarity.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: The White Stripes - Icky Thump:

Upon first listen this is certainly a more mature Stripes album, not to mention one less eccentric than Satan was. Gone is some of the youthful energy present in previous releases, instead replaced by slower, seemingly-more introspective maturity.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.49

Neglected Bloggerly Duties

Extremely busy week at work.
Getting married on 6/30.
Honeymoon until 7/8.
Another busy week at work.
First new review? 7/16 or 7/23.

Review: Bark Psychosis - Codename:Dustsucker

Upon first listen this was a very frustrating album by this sometimes-instrumental (post-)rock band as there were times when I really thought they were onto something and others that I couldn't figure out why I thought I like them. I'll put it this way; if all of my songs were on shuffle, I'd likely hit the next track whenever they came on.

Stream From What Is Said To When It's Read and 400 Winters

Purchase for $11.69

Review: Two Gallants - The Scenery of Farewell:

Upon first listen this acoustic EP is the perfect thing to tide me over until a new full length release.

Stream Seems Like Home To Me

Purchase for $4.78

Review: Fairweather - If The Move...Kill Them:

Upon first listen this pop-punk album is one of those great summer driving records.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $13.85

Review: Dark Meat - Universal Indians:

Upon first listen this is a very frustrating listen. One minute I'm loving the hippie-festival folk and the next I'm bored. Certainly requires more listens.

Stream the entire record

Purchase for $11.99

Review: Be Your Own Pet - 2006 - Be Your Own Pet:

Upon first listen I enjoyed this album much more than I would have normally due to their excellent set they put on opening for the Arctic Monkeys a few weeks back. Either way it's still pretty good Sonic Youth meets Yeah Yeah Yeahs noise rock.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $5.41

Review: The Cure - Seventeen Seconds:

Upon first listen I get the increasing impression that The Cure may be a singles and headphones type of band.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.89

Review: The Veils - Nux Vomica:

Upon first listen the depression-woe-is-me feel comes across as a bit forced but it's still a pretty decent pop-rock record.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.20

Review: Travis - The Boy With No Name:

Upon first listen it's good to see that brit-pop isn't dead but disheartening to see it played so safe.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.98

Review: Operation Ivy - Energy:

Upon first listen I had never given this band a chance growing up. As all of my friends were transitioning from punk to ska I ridiculed them for the horns they were now dancing to. Despite being more punk than ska, I lumped Operation Ivy in with this crowd and ignored them until now. Either the music doesn't hold up or it was never that good at all, either way I'm disappointed by the legendary status that they have received over the years.

Stream four tracks

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band - EP:

Upon first listen every time I listen to Ms. Newsom I realize how I had forgotten how magical she can sound. This EP is no exception and a wonderful compliment to her last album.

Download Crab, Clam, Cockle Cowrie (via The Daily Growl

Purchase for $10

Review: Manchester Orchestra - I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child:

Upon first listen it's poppier than orchestral but it's a solid debut for this pop-rock-with-punky-undertones band.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.21

Review: Bob Dylan Parody - Dylan Hears A Who:

Upon first listen this ingenius idea for a parody should be amazing. Sadly, Kevin Ryan (the brainchild of this adventure) picks Seuss stories that are a bit long and wear down the patience of the listener.

Stream Green Eggs And Ham, Too Many Daves and Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!

This album not for sale

Review: Dungen - Tio Bitar:

Upon first listen it lacks that magical element that Ta Det Lungt had and while it's still enjoyable it's not amazing.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Brand New x2

Brand New - Your Favourite Weapon: Upon first listen this album was buried behind the Saves the Days, Get Up Kids and Taking Back Sundays for no good reason. While it likely doesn't eclipse those bands, it compliments them well.

Download Seventy Times 7

Purchase for $12.00

Brand New - Deja Entendu: Upon first listen this effort is far more focused than their debut and it begins to get easier to see why they have such a horde of loyal fans.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.11

Review: Golden Smog - Blood On The Slacks:

Upon first listen these guys likely have a lot of fun while in the studio and it shows on this album.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.95

Review: Dinosaur Jr - Beyond:

Upon first listen this is the first time I've listened to Dinosaur Jr outside of the bits from 1981: The Year Punk Broke and I have to say that once you turn the volume up it is a very satisfying listen. It's too bad that bands like Nickelback are our rock heroes because there is no reason bands like Dinosaur Jr couldn't be.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.38

Review: Kevin Devine - Make The Clocks Move:

Upon first listen it really is like Dashboard Confessional meets Bright Eyes, only not as good as either.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.88

Review: The Clientele - God Save The Clientele:

Upon first listen I don't think I realized how much this band sounds like The Beatles when I listened to Strange Geometry. With that being said, I think this one is a better album and more enjoyable from start to finish.

Stream Bookshop Cassanova and Nothing But Sunshin

Purchase for $9.95

Review: The National - Boxer:

Upon first listen it's pretty standard fare for The National, but where their previous effort managed to grab the listener, this one does not. More likely is that it takes more than just one listen to appreciate what they do.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.82

Review: Various - La Vie En Rose Official Motion Picture Soundtrack:

Upon first listen this is one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a long time. This despite, or in spite of the fact that's almost entirely in French.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.85

Review: Bjork - Volta:

Upon first listen this wasn't the electropop album I was expecting based on the pre-release buzz, but then again, that's likely a good thing. Most of the songs are hit or miss with the slower, more intimate songs being better and the production-heavy songs feeling out of place.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.85

Review: Talking Heads - Fear of Music:

Upon first listen this is certainly their darkest, slowest and most straightforward release (thus far) and has its moments but doesn't grab me the way the first two albums did.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $5.95

Review: Patti Smith - Twelve:

Upon first listen this is certainly interesting to listen to once, but likely not to be revisited unless you make a lot of mix CDs.

Stream most of the album in its entirety

Purchase for $10.40

Review: Wilco - Sky Blue Sky:

Upon first listen this is a pop record and certainly not what I expected from Tweedy and Co. after A Ghost is Born.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.34

Review: Brandi Carlile - The Story:

Upon first listen this is leaps and bounds
better than her debut, but I have to agree with one of my co-workers;
she's got a great album in her, but this just isn't it.

Stream
the entire album

Purchase
for $6.53

Review: Various - Petrol Present The Greatest Songs Ever Series Sampler:

Upon first listen this collection has 2 tracks from each region of the upcoming aforementioned series. I can't say that I can recommend any of the regions unless I hear more, but from what I did hear, they're all at least interesting.

Stream clips from all of the different series

Purchase each series for $24.95

Review: Master P - Ghetto D 10th Anniversary Edition:

Upon first listen there are some great tracks on here. But only about 10 of the 19, making for a longer-than-necessary listen.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $13.25

Review: Jethro Tull - The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull:

Upon first listen I can't help but believe that this wouldn't be better reviewed by someone more familiar with the source material. That being said, it did make me interested in exploring their other work. Hopefully, it retains the fantasy, gypsy-esque qualities that I liked so much.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $13.95

Review: Paula Abdul - Straight Up-Greatest Hits:

Upon first listen I can't believe that pop music was ever this bad.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.72

Review: Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing:

Upon first listen, this duet album full of covers is a necessary listen for Jerry Lee Lewis fans and likely so of fans of his duet partner. But for the more casual listener, it's interesting to listen to once but likely won't get played again.

Stream all but one song

Purchase for $12.22

Review: Various - A Tribute to Joni Mitchell:

Upon first listen this is worth a listen if only for the covers by Sufjan Stevens and Bjork. The rest of them are still good, just not great.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.15

Review: McCarthy Trenching - McCarthy Trenching:

Upon first listen this let's-get-drunk style country album leaves a bit to be desired as I don't hear the passion and intensity I was expecting.

Stream XXX and Headlines

Purchase for $10.29

Review: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position:

Upon first listen it's like listening to someone who is can't decide which persona he wants to undertake.

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.58

Review: Feist - The Reminder:

Upon first listen I'd like to issue my own reminder about how much really great music there is out there and that this sadly isn't.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.59

Review: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare:

Upon first listen this is a giant pile of mediocrity. The beauty of their debut was the tightness they displayed with their cocky attitude that somehow managed to not turn you off. That beauty has been bastardized as they don't sound like the uber-tight band that we all over-hyped.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.49

Arctic Monkeys tomorrow. Rest of week off.

I'm actually out of CDs to review. I don't have anything new and I've stopped mining some of the older artists for a little while. Recommend me something.

Review: Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall 1971:

Upon first listen I have removed all of the previous Neil Young albums from my DAP and have replaced them with one Neil Young album; this one.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $13.73

Review: Various - Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration:

Upon first listen there are some great covers on here, but they're buried amongst a whole bunch of terrible ones.

Stream 8 of the tracks

Purchase for $12.04

Review: Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings And Food:

Upon first listen it doesn't seem as tight as 77 does, but that's likely because 77 has been playing constantly on my computer for the past few weeks. Still, I can't wait to give this one more of a chance as it has the potential to be great.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.54

Review: Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero:

Upon first listen this album is so 'industrial' it's a frustrating listen. Especially, when I thought maybe, just maybe he was getting away from such noise.

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

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