Review: Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre:

Upon first listen this is way worse than I thought it was going to be. And I thought it was going to be pretty bad.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.85

Review: Chuck Ragan - Feast Of Famine:

Upon first listen I was a little disappointed in this folk-punk album from someone that will someday (if not already) considered a legend. Perhaps it was his over-emphasis of the final word of every line - but a lot of it seemed unneccessary.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: No Harm Done

Our Day Of Days: Upon first listen this melodic hardcore band stands in the shadow of greats like Gorilla Biscuits, H2O, OMDB and Kid Dynamite, but still manage to keep the faith that they're capable of more.

Start Of Something New (EP): Upon first listen this is a step in the right direction, but still not quite there.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Stream the entire EP

Purchase both for only $10

Review: Nada Surf - Lucky:

Upon first listen it wasn't as infectious as The Weight, but that could change after a few more listens.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.98

Review: Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride:

Upon first listen it's no Sunset Tree but it's far better than Get Lonely and a lot of other mediocre music being made these days.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.87

Review: Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster:

Upon first listen I was not surprised to find out that they could not hold their quirkiness over an entire album - instead they should stick to EPs.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.74

Review: Lee, Ben - Sings Against Me's New Wave:

Upon first listen I loved Lee's rendition of this album. It has made me appreciate the original all the more - though I'll use this version to get people hooked on the melodies and song writing before hitting them with the better version.

Against Me's Space

Ben Lee's Space

Download the entire album

Purchase the original for $9.95

Guru - The Best Of Guru's Jazzmatazz:

Upon first listen I couldn't get past Slicker Than Most.

HisSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $14.55

Review: GlassJaw - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence:

Upon first listen this wasn't as bad as my expectations had prepared me for, but it still wasn't great. I'll stick to I Hate Myself.

TheirSpac

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.88

Review: Flat Duo Jets - Two Headed Cow:

Upon first listen this was a very interesting album. Part blues, part punk, part rockabilly, part instrumental. I'm still taken aback by its uniqueness.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.01

Review: FC Five - Super Bloom:

Upon first listen either I've forgotten how formulaic they once were or they've become a lot more so. Either way I'll have to pass.

TheirSpace

Import it for $21.90

Review: The Forms - The Forms:

Upon first listen I loved most of the songs, but was expecting a little more cohesiveness or flow. Either way, I'm sure it'll get more than a few listens.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.28

Review: Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams:

Upon first listen I enjoyed this album more than Rubies but still not as much as the rest of the internet.

HisSpace

Purchase for $10.77

Review: British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?:

Upon first listen I liked this album much better than Open Season, but still didn't feel wholly interesting like their debut. Still, it was good enough to revisit.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $8.99

Review: Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse:

Upon first listen there is a ton to like on this acoustic/folk/weird album, just not enough to come back to again and again.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase the album fro $12

Review: The Hives - The Black and White Album:

Upon first listen it's easy to surmise that a few years from now when a Greatest Hits of The Hives is released, it will include a few of these tracks. But that's where they're strength remains - in the hits, the singles.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.49

Review: Rollins Band - Weight:

Upon first listen I usually complain about bands mixing their vocals too high. In this case, they've been mixed far too high. It's like Rollins is doing Def Poetry and there's this pseudo-hard rock music behind it. Way behind it.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $12.20

Review: Bob Dylan - The Other Side of the Mirror:

Upon first listen it's great to have all of his Newport Folk Festival performances in non-bootleg form, sounding cleaner than ever.

HisSpace

Purchase for $11.93

Review: The House of Love - The House of Love:

Upon first listen I was expecting more jangly guitars and more rhythm. What I got instead was seemingly-repetitive songs about love (how'd I miss that clue?).

TheirSpace

Stream their Best Of

Purchase for $10.49

Review: Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab:

Upon first listen Ghostface proves once again why he is one of the top MCs still putting out music. Maybe ever.

HisSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.58

Review: Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vols. 1 and 2:

Upon first listen it's a very hit or miss affair on the first disc of harder tracks. The second disc is a bit more consistent and interesting.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.99

Review: Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues:

Upon first listen it gets a little tiresome towards the middle but finishes strong enough.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.99

Review: Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual:

Upon first listen I can't believe it's taken me so long to listen to such an amazing album.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.99

Review: A Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner:

Upon first listen it was a pretty good listen. Still, I couldn't help but wonder how much better it could have been had they not made it so busy sounding.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $10.29

Review: John Fogerty - Revival:

Upon first listen it's on par with the rest of the rock veterans. Meaning it's really good but doesn't come close to his best output.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.87

Review: Woelv - Pamplemoussi:

Upon first listen it just wasn't what I was expecting, but in the end it's still not something I'd listen to with any kind of frequency. It's too slow and not attention-grabbing.

TheirSpace(I think)

Try eBay for this out-of-print album (or get the newest LP from here

Review: Single File - Heartbreak & Masturbation/My Best Defense/No More Sad Face:

Upon first listen this is some hard-to-beat pop-punk and I look forward to a full length.

TheirSpace

Stream No More Sad Face

Purchase No More Sad Face for $4.13

Review: Husker Du - New Day Rising:

Upon first listen I could have really liked this album. If it didn't sound like it was recorded in a bathroom with the shower running.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $10.98

Review: Descendents - Milo Goes To College:

Upon first listen if I had listened to this in high school, it would be one of my favorite albums. But I didn't.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.48

Review: Minus The Bear - Menos El Oso:

Upon first listen this was a very interesting album. And not something that I can easily categorize, but if I had to I'd have to say it sounds like Cake.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $9.68

Review: Various - I'm Not There Soundtrack:

Upon first listen it's a good thing they gave you two discs of material. This way you can make your own one-disc version containing all the good covers (Jeff Tweedy, Cat Power) and none of the bad ones (anyone trying to cover Maggie's Farm).

ItsSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $13.85

Review: Sigur Ros - Hvarf-Heim:

Upon first listen it's officially been too long since I've listened to Sigur Ros, because I had forgotten how absolutely beautiful they sound.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.99

Review: White Rabbits - Fort Nightly:

Upon first listen I'm just not sure. There seems to be more than meets the ear, but it was difficult to discern. Perhaps another attempt is in order.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $8.46

Review: Plain White T's - Every Second Counts:

Upon first listen there are about a dozen smash hit pop songs on here. Simply astounding.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.59

Review: The Capstan Shafts - Euridice Proudhon:

Upon first listen it would be difficult to not compare this to Jeff Mangum and John Darnielle. Twenty two tracks all about a minute long and never using music to introduce or close out or song (or even to stretch a song) makes for an interesting, if not enjoyable listen.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire albumPurchase for $8

Review: The Fall Of Troy - Doppelganger:

Upon first listen I love the music on this album but find both their screaming and singing
to be incredibly cheesy.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.77

Review: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation:

Upon first listen if I wasn't keenly aware that this was a seminal album by a seminal artist I wouldn't have liked it too much. Conversely, if I had heard this live instead of on CD, I'd have loved it immensely.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.99

Review: Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II:

Upon first listen it's just not as strong as his last last two studio albums nor his last live album.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.95

Review: Chiodos - Bone Palace Ballet:

Upon first listen this is way better than their debut. More melodic and less cheesy. Loved the piano.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.58

Review: Joey Eppard - Been to the Future:

Upon first listen I may have liked this acoustic album if he had sang with more conviction (and a deeper voice).

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchaes for $10

Review: Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend:

Upon first listen this album is digustingly catchy and addictive. Without being obnoxious.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.76

Review: The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath:

Upon first listen this is their best album since De-Loused. Coincidentally it's their most accessible one. Maybe ever.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.76

Review: Jay-Z - American Gangster:

Upon first listen it seems as though Jay-Z is his hit or miss self on this soundtrack.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.98

Review: The Good Life - Album Of The Year:

Upon first listen there were enough tracks that I liked that I'm looking forward to listening to it again. There weren't however, enough tracks that I liked to recommend it just yet.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $5.86

Review: Flowers Forever - Flowers Forever:

Upon first listen the only words that come to mind are: subdued exuberance.

TheirSpace which has five tracks streaming

Purchase for $14.99 (out 2.19.08)

Review: A Weather - Cove:

Upon first listen this is wonderful headphones music for when you can relax and enjoy.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $12.75 (out March 4, 2008)

Review: Blood on the Wall - Awesomer:

Upon first listen I wish they would settle on what type of band they want to be. If I wanted to listen to an album of various artists, I would.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.17

Review: Michael Ian Black - I Am A Wonderful Man:

Upon first listen I knew before listenting I would likely find myself annoyed by some of his antics. And I was right. But I laughed a lot more than I was annoyed. A lot more.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.77

Review: Merle Haggard - Hag's Christmas:

Upon first listen I just can't get into an album of Christmas songs I've heard a hundred thousand times since I was a kid.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $5.16

Review: Kottonmouth Kings - Greatest Highs:

Upon first listen this was a very frustrating set of songs (two discs, almost forty tracks). A seldom few are any good and the rest alternate between novelty rap and terrible.

TheirSpace

Stream a few tracks and clips from the rest

Purchase for $13.85

Review: Radiohead - Airbag/How Am I Driving?:

Upon first listen I likely wouldn't remove any of the tracks from OK Computer for any of these, but it's a wonderful compliment to an already-outstanding album.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $2.39

Review: Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True:

Upon first listen my persistence has paid off as I really, really liked this album.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.14

Downtime

Expect another week of downtime with normal updates resuming on Monday.

Review: The Weakerthans - Left And Leaving:

Upon first listen I'm not exactly how to categorize this album, but if you're a fan of Piebald or The Mountain Goats (or both), then this is for you (and me).

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.67

Review: Various - Stereogum.com Presents...Drive XV:

Upon first listen it helps that I'm not so familiar with the source material as I enjoyed this album more than both of the two Radiohead ones.

Download the entire thing

Review: Marco Mahler - Design In Quick Rotation:

Upon first listen this folk album is perfect for when you're going to bed or relaxing without a care in the world.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $16.09

Review: Kenotia - You've Dug Your Grave, Now Lie In It:

Upon first listen this female-fronted band is poppy and catchy like a thousand other emo-type bands but still manages to rock while not coming off as cheesy like a thousand other emo-type bands.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.34

Review: Kanye West - Graduation:

Upon first listen this is by far my least favorite Kanye West album.

HisSpace

Stream most of the album

Purchase for $8.98

Review: Various - Instant Karma: The Campaign For Darfur:

Upon first listen I'm not as familiar as I should be with Lennon's solo stuff as I should be. Still most of these covers work very well.

ItsSpace

Stream some of it in its entirety and the rest as clips

Purchase for $13.49

Reviews: OK Computer Turned Ten

Various - Hypeful.com Presents...Ten OK Years: Upon first listen it turns out to be pretty difficult to ruin a Radiohead song. Especially instrumentally.

Download the entire album

Various - Stereogum.com Presents...OKX: Upon first listen the songs are a bit more cohesive sounding, but more drawn out. I think if you mixed this outing with Hypeful's you could get a very satisfactory album.

Stream the entire album

Review: Two Gallants - Two Gallants:

Upon first listen it doesn't have a Steady Rolling or Las Cruces Jail, but what it does have is really good.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $6.86

Review: Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!:

Upon first listen it just wasn't what I expected. For better or worse.

TheirSpace

Purchase for $11.99 (out 1.22.08)

Review: Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover:

Upon first listen I keep coming back to Spencer Krug, yet leave unimpressed every time.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: New Pornagraphers - Twin Cinema:

Upon first listen if you like any kind of indie rock it will be extremely difficult to not like this album.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.97

Review: Bruce Springsteen - Magic:

Upon first listen this is the album that makes me a Springsteen fan.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.76

Review: REM - Automatic for the People:

Upon first listen I figured it was time to finally get a copy of this seminal album. Especially as we passed the fifteen year mark since its release. I would have grabbed it sooner if someone would have told me how much it sounded like Polaris (or vice versa). I just wish it didn't have some many huge hits (Nightswimmer, Everybody Hurts) because it detracts from the flow of the non-singles.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.49

Review: PJ Harvey - White Chalk:

Upon first listen most of it is rather sleep-inducing and the rest just seems annoying. Perhaps if I had invested myself in some of her previous work this would have been easier to listen to.

HerSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.91

Review: Paul Butterfield Blues Band - East/West:

Upon first listen I usually despise the masturbatory guitar solo, but this blues-rock album, which has a few of them, is really, really good. How have I never come across them before?

TheirSpace for the Paul Butterfield Fund and Society

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $3.91

Review: New Buffalo - Somewhere, Anywhere:

Upon first listen I like her debut, The Last Beautiful Day, enough to check out her follow-up. I like her follow-up enough to go back and check out her debut again, but probably not the follow-up.

HerSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $7.51

Review: Most Serene Republic - Population:

Upon first listen I love most of these songs. Unfortunately, they don't always transition that well and it detracts a little bit from the album.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.99

Review: Master P - Featuring...Master P:

Upon first listen it's a cash grab by an artist I have no real interest in. I can see how it could be alluring to have all of the non-album collaborations on one disc, but not when it's Master P.

HisSpace

Purchase for $9.90

Review: Lennon/McCartney - Toot And Snore in '74:

Upon first listen it's interesting from a historical perspective (last time the two of them played together), but you're not likely to listen to it ever again.

McCartney's Space

Lennon's Space

Download the entire album (courtesy of Licorice Pizza, a blog I recommend reading)

Review: Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortdela:

Upon first listen I really liked the first few tracks. But by the end of the album I was ready for it to be over. I can't imagine it holding up a couple of years from now.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.89

Review: Ben Lee - Ripe:

Upon first listen Ben Lee should be a household name. His songs are the perfect background for everything from Grey's Anatomy to the latest Michael Bay project.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.85

Review: Fats Domino - Greatest Hits: Walking to New Orleans:

Upon first listen if you don't have any Fats Domino in your collection, this is a great way to get some. Still, I can't imagine many people listening to all thirty tracks on a regular basis.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.90

Review: Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest Of Times:

Upon first listen this is their best album since Gang's All Here, but that's not saying much. It still feels a bit gimmicky and tiresome by the end.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.97

Review: Dashboard Confessional - The Wiretapes, Vol. 1:

Upon first listen this tour-only covers album is a nice way to reward fans (provided they pay $10 on top of their ticket price). Like most albums full of covers, some work and some don't. It's not that Mr. Confessional does a bad job, but sometimes the songs don't necessarily lend themselves to an acoustic pop-punky delivery.

HisSpace where he has El Scorcho, by Weezer, streaming

Check out eBay if you wish to purchase

Review: Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin:

Upon first listen this is a perfectly adequate follow-up to the amazing Everything All The Time. I can, however, see how it might not hold up on repeat listens, which EATT did.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.97

Review: Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation:

Upon first listen this isn't the type of album that grabs you after one listen.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.86

Review: Amusement Parks On Fire - Out Of Angeles:

Upon first listen it doesn't have any of the instantly-infectious songs from their self-titled album, instead, electing to tread water between shoe gaze and post rock.

TheirSpace (which has three album tracks streaming)

Buy it digitally at your favorite store until it's released domestically

Review: Akron Family - Love Is Simple:

Upon first listen there's a couple of great tracks, but the album just seems to drag along, not coming to an end soon enough.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.03

Review: Radiohead - In Rainbows:

Upon first listen it's no surprise that their most accessible album to date is my favorite since OK Computer.

TheirSpace

Download for free, or pay what you want, or buy the deluxe discbox ($80), or wait until its domestic release on ATO

Review: Saves the Day - Under The Boards:

Upon first listen it lacks the immediacy that was finally returned on Sound The Alarm.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.42 (comes with bonus DVD)

Updates on Hold

Yesterday, I was involved in a rather severe car accident. On my way home from work my car was struck on the passenger side at an almost 90 degree angle (T-Bone, as it may be). I suffered a large laceration to my forehead and bruising on my right side (along with various nicks and scrapes). I'm not sure how long I will be out, but it will take a few days, at least, for me to get back to my daily routine.

In the meantime, I missed the Saves the Day show last night. I had tickets and was on my way home to meet my wife so that we could go, but never made it home - until today. Anyone go? How was it?

http://www.freewebs.com/jasonsousa

Review: Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star4, Volume 2: No World For Tommorrow:

Upon first listen this is the album I wish they had made after IKSSE3. Musically, it fits between that album and Good Apollo, Vol. 1 despite the storyline fitting better this way. It's got slow, sappy songs, big honking rock songs but no Suffering (though it is a damn catchy tune, just not what I want out of Coheed). Makes me rethink my decision to skip over their show in a few weeks.

TheirSpace, which is currently streaming the entire album

Purchase the Basic Version for $7.99

Purchase the Deluxe Version for $17.99

Review: Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace:

Upon first listen it's another solid record from Grohl and Co. Nothing amazing, nothing bad, all of it what you expect from the band.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.49

Review: The Receiving End of Sirens - The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi:

Upon first listen they traded in their mall-punk screamo for something a bit more grown up and reserved. It serves them well.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.92

Review: Oxford Collapse - Remember The Night Parties:

Upon first listen this may be a close to a new (old) Piebald record as I'll get for a long time.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.83

Review: Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees:

Upon first listen this is one giant curve ball of an album. Just as I though Chris was getting comfortable in his big band (and releasing the excellent Dusk And Summer), he decides to return to his acoustic roots. Which is great and all, but then he does so without any of the emotion and youthful exuberance exhibited on previous albums. But, just as Dusk took some getting used to, I'm sure this one will find its way into a fairly steady rotation.

TheirSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $9.89

Review: LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem:

Upon first listen this was an extremely tolerable electronic album. Granted, some of the tracks weren't as strong and the whole thing ran a bit long, but I could see myself listening to this on a regular basis; if I cut it up and put the best tracks on a single CD.

HisSpace

Stream clips from the entire album

Purchase for $11.91

New Coheed

Leaked.

Review: Knife Fight - Crisis:

Upon first listen it's straight forward hardcore. Ten tracks, less than fifteen minutes. You already know if it's for you.

Purchase for $10.75 (LP)

Review: Beirut - The Flying Club Cup:

Upon first listen this blows Gulag out of the water. Seeing as how I didn't really care for that album, it wasn't that difficult. Still, I like where he went with this album and find it a wonderful compliment to Armchair Apocrypha.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.95

Review: The Go! Team - Proof of Youth:

Upon first listen this is way better than Thunder, Lightning, Strike which I loved.

TheirSpace which currently has five tracks from the album

Purchase for $12.50

Review: Fiery Furnaces - Widow City:

Upon first listen it's a return to form for the duo, distancing themselves from their past two releases. Still, I just didn't fall in love with it like Blueberry Boat and Gallowbird's leaving me to conjecture that maybe that's enough Fiery Furnaces for me.

TheirSpace

Their MySpace Profile has Ex Guru and Uncle Charlie streaming

Purchase for $12.50

Review: Daft Punk - Homework:

Upon first listen I really tried this time. But electronic albums just don't do it for me.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $9.99

Review: Elvis Costello - The Best of Elvis Costello - The First 10 Years:

Upon first listen Elvis Costello just never really grabbed me (here) that way he has with other people.

HisSpace

Stream (almost) the entire album

Purchase for $11.75

Review: Clutch - From Beale St. To Oblivion:

Upon first listen this is a very decent hard rock album. Nothing all that special nor exciting.

TheirSpace which has Electric Worry and a few other non-album tracks

Purchase for $9.42

Review: Capgun Coup - Brought To You By Nebraskafish:

Upon first listen it's like watching a group of 8-year-olds make pasta. They just throw everything against the wall to see if it sticks.

TheirSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $10.91

Review: Kevin Drew - Spirit If:

Upon first listen this album was exactly what I expected. Rejects from Broken Social Scene paraded under their name in an effort to sell more copies of an album. In the end it lacks the cohesiveness and the looseness of BSS but retains its strong production values.

HisSpace

Stream the entire album

Purchase for $11.99