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Last Active 11-04-12 4:35 am
Joined 01-19-07

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Average Rating: 3.57
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Objectivity Score: 76%
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5.0 classic
Amy Winehouse Back to Black
How could something so polished still maintain such grit? On her breakaway sophomore, Winehouse delivered eleven heartfelt and dark tales of lust, addiction and need that encompasses both classic soul and modern pop in a damn-near-perfect amalgamation. You can also thank this record for making Mark Ronson an international star - his work here is flawless. An unforgettable, decade-defining masterpiece that will resonate for generations to come. Always remember this Amy, and not the one the tabloids want you to remember.
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion
When we put together a time capsule to remember 2009 by, we're going to put in a picture of Michael Jackson, the box set of Glee, a swine flu mask, Matt Bellamy's messiah complex...and this. Merriweather Post Pavilion may come from Animal Collective, a group that is fearlessly eclectic and confrontingly experimental, but the highs of the album recall an outlandish, technicolor pop summer that exudes a wide-eyed awe of the world around it. The yin-and-yang harmonies soar over the adventurous "My Girls", a didgeridoo backs the dizzying sway of "Lion in a Coma", "Brother Sport" provides one of the most infectious conga-line singalongs of the year...Merriweather gleans a series of shining, blissed out moments of eerily relative euphoria and arranges them in a way that you can pick up the record at any point from its beginning to its conclusion and invariably find something that relentlessly stuns and amazes. It's nearly been twelve months since its release, and possibly one of the very few disappointing things about 2009 was the fact that even with such an early release, nothing else came close to matching what MPP had to offer - intelligent, boundary-shoving explorations through time, space and a brief history of both experimental and popular music. Cliche'd "album of the year" choice? Maybe. But little else was more deserving of the hype it received than this very album.
Ben Folds Five The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
Right before the turn of the century - and right before their own implosion as a band - Ben Folds Five threw in an incredibly late contender for the best album of the nineties. Few records hit quite as close to home as The Unauthorized Biography: a stunning, honest portrayal of life's unfairness; complete with internal struggles, failure and the responsibilities that come with dealing with all of this. Perceived as the band's most mature and serious work, it still brought out the very best in these three musicians and provided a soundtrack to anyone looking for answers when they've run out of questions. Make this album your most valuable posession.
Ben Lee Breathing Tornadoes
Three albums in, pop whizkid Ben Lee created his masterpiece. A well-produced and impeccably written left-of-centre pop gem filled with samples, diverse arrangements and an eye for lyrics and melody well beyond his years. This still continues to amaze, intrigue and impress after all these years. It's something very few Australian musicians, let alone Ben himself, can one-up.
Black Sabbath Paranoid
Rock music needed Black Sabbath. Sure, there was great music around before and beyond them, but it seems that rock was not truly evil until Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill delivered a wild, confident and solid mixture of rock and roll, blues, heavy metal and pop ("Paranoid" and "Iron Man", regardless of what you may think, are pop songs through and through, albeit very heavy ones).
From the mammoth E chord that signals the arrival of "War Pigs", to Ozzy's confession that fairies do, indeed, wear boots, this album effortlessly turned the musical world on its head. It remains the Sabbath magnum opus, and an album that few others could have even attempted to pull off.
Bloc Party Silent Alarm
That's the thing about first impressions. You only get one.
Rest assured these four British lads made theirs lifelong-lasting, creating a defining post-post-punk masterpiece faster than you can say "angular". Everything falls perfectly into place here: Kele Okereke's easily-flexible chameleon voice, Russell Lissack's warpspeed guitar effects and knife-edge chops, Matt Tong's stick-breaking drum splashes and rolls and Gordon Moakes' thick, Peter Hook-esque basslines. Bloc Party work as an entity here, never failing to impress and inspire. Whether it's a high-energy soar ("Like Eating Glass", "Banquet", "Positive Tension") or a tender moment of intricate beauty ("Plans", "So Here We Are"), not a second is out of place. Silent Alarm truly is nothing short of a phenomenal 2000s release.
Bloc Party A Weekend in the City
How do you go about following up, let alone improving upon, one of the most notable debut albums of the 2000s? In the curious case of Bloc Party, they took their established sound and took it to a different level - darker, heavier, richer in atmosphere and ambience, conceptual and conjoined. Immersed in a world of mistrust, fear, paranoia, sexual confusion and a fear of a completely globalised London, A Weekend in the City was a bold move by the band. Songs like "Hunting for Witches" and "Uniform" were wrapped in bile and a nihilistic disposition, whereas "Kreuzberg" and "Sunday" document realisations of homosexual love and lust from then-closeted Kele Okereke. A myriad of emotions and expression, it was the album the band simply had to make. So, how do you follow up a classic? Simple - make another one.
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A.
For Springsteen fans, it might be the uncool or "obvious"/"mainstream" choice to nominate U.S.A. as his best album. But really, aside from maybe Born to Run, is there really another choice? Packed to the brim with his defining hits (the title track, "Dancing In The Dark", "I'm On Fire", "Glory Days") and some of the finest songwriting of its time, the E-Street Band truly stepped things up a notch with the release of this album, creating a landmark in both pop culture and American music. The Boss has a practically untouchable discography, but the cream of the crop when it comes to his eighties work is almost exclusively found on Born In The U.S.A.
Burial Untrue
One of the most amazing records I have experienced in a long time. This wasn't even a slow-burner- the impact was hard, fast and truly remarkable. Whoever the person behind this is a true master of beats, samples and creating atmosphere with limited material to do it with. The minimalism is the key to the triumphs here- the beats go on and on, but not once do they become repetitive. It's all a part of this record's journey. If you like Unkle, Massive Attack and Thom Yorke's solo album, then this record is for you. Hell, if you like melodic death metal, this record is for you- it needs to be heard to be believed.
Cog The New Normal
Politics, propaganda, conspiracy theories and the harsh, harsh reality of the daily grind.
These are the themes that circulate and ignite within The New Normal, the state-of-
the-union address by a trio of radical progressive anarchists, who created a one of a kind
debut that is yet to be topped in the ever-growing field of Australian heavy rock. It's
dense, aggressive and at times overwhelming, but you could never criticise it for having a
dull moment. Where does one begin to describe the flying beat poetry of "The River," the
devastating ten minutes of "Doors," or even the snarling hooks of "Real Life," "Run" and "My
Enemy"? This is more than an album - it's an experience.
Copeland You Are My Sunshine
Copeland's final album, You Are My Sunshine is a collection of bittersweet, pensive and euphoric moments in time, caught like sunrays and streamed through the heavens-high voice of Aaron Marsh. "Should You Return" is a dream-pop shiver, "Chin Up" stirs desperate emotion, "The Day I Lost My Voice" quietly escalates into epic proportions and "Not So Tough Found Out" burns slowly but ever so brightly...it's rare to find an album with so many songs within arm's reach of perfection. For fans of all kinds of indie and pop, this should basically be mandatory listening. Farewell, Copeland.
Cynic Traced in Air
Well, there's no use fighting it - Traced in Air is the best metal album of the decade. Every twist and sharp movement is an exciting joy; the shifts between the sweet vocoder harmonies and the guttural, piercing growls an initially shocking but ultimately rewarding display of versatility. Your attention seldom wanes across eight engaging, intricately-arranged works of dense modern art - "The Space for This" and "King of Those Who Know" the best examples one can provide.
This is a must-listen record. No, we're not even talking genres any more. You'll be hard pressed to find a stronger, more forward-thinking and overall brilliant album from recent years.
Dan Mangan Nice, Nice, Very Nice
I first met Dan on an Australian tour in January of 2010, touring with a guy called Charlie Parr. I was floored by this charming, down-to-earth guy's ability to make music that had so much heart and honesty to it. All it took was a few chords and a particularly brilliant way with words, and I was all but hooked. I saw Dan three times on that tour, which culminated in me finally getting this record. Since then, it's difficult to explain just what these songs mean to me. From the romantic tragedy of "Fair Verona," the happy-go-lucky "Robots" and the tearful ballad "Basket" to the lonesome chamber pop of "You Silly Git" and the rollicking "Sold," there's not a song here that I haven't come to treasure like a long-lost friend. Yes, this is a five on almost entirely sentimental reasons. But I couldn't care less - Dan Mangan changes lives, though he'd be far too humble to ever admit it.
Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism
I could go on for days on end trying to explain the beauty of Transatlanticism. The songwriting, the stories, the characters, the flow of it, the joy it has brought me. But I'd be wasting your time. It's an album of pure emotions and pure sentiment - and for that reason, I don't think I will ever be able to explain just what this music means to me.
But I'm okay with that now. After all, Transatlanticism has become part of me. So if you're ever speaking to me as a person, you're vicariously speaking to this album.
Descendents Milo Goes to College
Fucking hell. Twenty minutes of punk rock perfection - the disgruntled nerds have taken over, and their victory could not be any sweeter. You literally have nothing to lose in experiencing this essential album.
Dirty Three Ocean Songs
It's been said that actions speak louder than words, and it's rarely truer than in the case of Ocean Songs - a heaving, devastating and powerful work of art that is also, tellingly, wordless. The instrumental trio build from calm water lapping at one's feet right up to treacherous, crashing waves of sound - sometimes within the same song. There are so many stories to be told here, of love and loss and distance and such. The music says everything without a single lyric in sight. It's a feat that has been achieved in the past, certainly. Very few records, however, quite manage to translate with the level of impact that comes with Ocean Songs - if at all. Essential.
Fleetwood Mac Rumours
An essential listen for pop and rock fans of every generation. If you have ever experienced the demise of a relationship, then there is plenty on this album to connect with - from the female perspective (Stevie Nicks), the gorgeous "Dreams"; from the male perspective (Lindsey Buckingham), the anthemic "Go Your Own Way" - to just give two examples. Brilliantly produced and masterfully created in a time of great tension between band members, Rumours may just be the best thing you'll find in your parent's music collection.
Frank Turner Love, Ire & Song
The truth is, you only get out of Love Ire & Song what you put in. If you haven't had a quarter-life crisis, been lost in a long-distance love, been disgusted with the cool kids or lost someone close to you, there's a chance that these songs might not mean much to you. If you have any idea of what Frank is singing about in these songs, however, maybe you'll find a soundtrack to your life. For better and for worse. See what happens.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Gurrumul
The language is not yours- the man sings in his native Aboriginal Australian language. And still, one feels a strong, purposeful connection with this man and his music. A voice that soars with true emphasis and stunning imagery (even when the words are not understood) leads these twelve incredible creations of music as a reclusive, quiet, blind man opens his heart and mind for the world to see.
A truly breathtaking album.
george Polyserena
Jay-Z and Kanye West Watch the Throne
Why? Well, I've given it a lot of thought. And my answer is... well... fuck you. That's why.
Kanye West The College Dropout
Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lemuria (USA-NY) Get Better
Lightspeed Champion Falling Off The Lavender Bridge
Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing
It has come to this. Mean Everything to Nothing has become an expression of more than just an indie band and their music. It's an expression - of anger, frustration, fear, faith, love, death, desperation, need, depression and the finest of lines between pleasure and pain. The music soundtracking it is a repulsive scowl towards normality, filled with abrasive riffs and pulverizing movements; and Andy Hull's vocals make no compromises by either treading lightly through the atmosphere or ripping through with razor sharpness. Songs like "I Can Feel A Hot One", "Pride", "Shake It Out" and "The River" capture the imagination and assist its listeners in thinking, feeling and completely encapsulating the moments that are contained within them. Mean Everything to Nothing is 2009's most heartening experience, and one that will remain with you for quite some time to come.

"You mean everything to nobody but me..."
Micachu and the Shapes Jewellery
This is polarising as fuck - you're going to learn that the hard way. But once this record clicks (which it hopefully will), you're looking at one of the most impressive albums of its time - infectious, offbeat and authentically creative music that can truly be defined as original. "Vulture", "Eat Your Heart", "Just in Case" and "Worst Bastard" are the highest recommended out of the batch, but it's all worth a listen. Right now. All day. Every day.
Michael Jackson Thriller
My Chemical Romance The Black Parade
This wasn't supposed to happen. In a year of "Laffy Taffy", "Promiscuous" and "London Bridge," rock music was not supposed to sell - especially not rock music on this level of flamboyancy, conceptuality or... well... excellence. With this unique rock opera, the band catapulted themselves to superstardom on the back of the best songs they had ever written, the tracklist reading now more like a highlight reel. Need proof? Try not to let your hips swing sinfully to the rambunctious "House of Wolves," get caught in the moment of the stirring "I Don't Love You" or lose your voice singing every last word of the unforgettable anthems that were released as singles ("Welcome to the Black Parade", "Famous Last Words" and "Teenagers"). The Black Parade remains a standard-setter for rock music at this level, an LP that needs to be accepted for every last bell and whistle or not at all.
Nick Drake Pink Moon
Panic! at the Disco A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Hands down one of the most genuinely excellent works in mainstream pop music since the turn of the century. Your attention does not even attempt to shift away from start to finish as two acts of fantastically written and performed rock operas- the first a synth-laden electropop adventure, the second a stark contrast with flamenco guitar, a horn section and a string quartet (amongst many others). What makes this so important a record is the fact that not a single album is quite like it, no matter how many Fall Out Boy comparisons you may choose to make. Combining this and Pretty.Odd., it's plain to see this band as one for the history books if their track record continues with huge successes such as this.
Parades Foreign Tapes
foreign tapes comes from an unexpected place, edging its way inwards from just out of the left of centre. At times it explodes into flourishes of sound before imploding back in upon itself, whirring and humming through tiny spurts of electronica. A thousand voices guide you through surreal fantasy, intimate heartbreak and the natural cornerstones of love and loss. It's equally floaty and atmospheric as it is ferocious and acerbic. It leaves you reaching for a dozen descriptive terms - all hyperbolic - at any given time. It's foreign tapes. It's not what you were expecting, but it's what you got.
Paul Kelly Songs From The South
R.E.M. Green
R.E.M. Automatic for the People
Sia Colour the Small One
Sia Furler has cemented herself as one of the most important figures in contemporary Australian music. Her passionate, soulful voice is matched with clever, wry and emotional lyrics that drive unique love ballads like "Sweet Potato" and gorgeous tales of infatuation such as "Natalie's Song". The international hit in "Breathe Me" is also of strong note, standing the test of time as a song of all-time greatness and instant recognition amongst ears of finer taste. The energy levels may vary between each track (from the percussive groove of "The Bully" to the all out finale of "Where I Belong"), but there isn't a single song here that will disinterest you as a listener - Colour The Small One is an audio experience of beauty, sweetness and grace; and easily one of Australia's most essential 21st century recordings. Bliss.
Sigur Ros Med Sud i Eyrum vid Spilum Endalaust
Silverchair Diorama
Diorama has seen a lot of praise in the six years since its release. It has been praised as a great Australian album, Silverchair's best and even a masterpiece. Whilst all these are certainly true, there's more to it than simply this.
This album has evolved into a cornerstone of modern Australian culture.
Encompassing nearly every imaginable emotion and establishing the full-album experience that songwriters twice the age still struggle to achieve, the disturbed genius of Daniel Johns created a visionary technicolour dream. With his two best friends by his side, Silverchair created not only a timeless work, but an album that every Australian album since would be compared and contrasted.
As it stands, no album stands greater in Australian music history than Diorama.
Silverchair Neon Ballroom
Silversun Pickups Carnavas
After only one EP, Silversun Pickups were just another American rock band making their way around the alternative rock circuit. How it was even fathomable for them to create such a beautiful work of art at such an early stage is almost beyond comprehension. It all just doesn't make sense...and then you listen to the record itself.

The music - a sparkling yet hard-hitting daydream, a sunlight-infested room of buzzes and brilliant shine. On showcase throughout, Brian Aubert's penetrating howls and helium rasps make for one of the most unique and genuinely interesting voices in rock music today. The four musicians that comprise Silversun tesellate in exceptional style, contrasting energy levels and developing a sound that recalls shoegaze, industrial, indie rock, grunge and the nineties movement of rock (no, not the goddamn Pumpkins); yet at the same time a movement and creation on its own level. The layered meanderings of "Future Foe Scenarios", the steady rise and culminate explosion of "Lazy Eye" and the jazz-like "Waste it On" all present a listener with an amazing array of versatile rock songs that are amongst the best of the decade, let alone its year of release. And that is just the beginning - make no bones about it, Carnavas is an essential rock record.
Simon and Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water
Soundtrack (Film) South Park (Original Soundtrack)
Hands down one of the funniest and brilliantly conceived musicals of all time. Like you'd expect any less from the dirty motherfuckers who gave us Cannibal! The Musical.
"Blame Canada" is perfect nationalist satire, "Up There" gives us something to think about the ruler of Hell, "I Can Change" is ridiculous fun (even more so when The Violent Femmes take it on when the movie songs finish) and the "La Resistance" medley is just fucking brilliant. Hilarious and bizarrely poignant, the entire Bigger, Longer and Uncut affair is just as fun without the AV companionship. It's super. Thanks for asking.
Soundtrack (Theatre) Avenue Q - Original Broadway Cast
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
Sometimes, albums are regarded as "classics" by absolutely every music fan, critic, lover, etc. you can think of. And you, in all of your blissful ignorance, won't really "get it" at first. The Beach Boys' opus in Pet Sounds is one of those very records; passed down from generation to generation as a benchmark creation of popular music. Initially, you will most likely be misunderstanding the album, and interpret on surface value as an album that's just boppy, charming, clever pop. More detailed and attentive listens, however, will ultimately establish it as something far more.
You will learn, over time. With every string-arrangement swell, with every thunder-strike drum roll, with every Wilson-arranged harmony falling into place, with every "God Only Knows", "That's Not Me", "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Caroline No". It settles in. It becomes an old friend. It delivers. This record is indisputably one the most immense, delicate and truly beautiful works of art to be found in the annals of music history, let alone pop music as a separate entity. Pet Sounds is evidence alone of claiming Brian Wilson as a genius. So hoist up the John B sail.
The Beatles Rubber Soul
The Beatles Abbey Road
The Decemberists The Crane Wife
Not a bad song in sight. Lyrical genius. Engaging, charming, witty, brilliant, fearless, ridiculous, enthralling. The Crane Wife is everything that The Decemberists is all about. Bow down.
The Devoted Few Billboard Noises
The Drones Gala Mill
A raw, unabashed vision of a poet, a madman and, first and foremost, a musician - Gareth Liddiard, and his band The Drones. Gala Mill is a collection of consistently outstanding, ingeniously written and, frankly, quite frightening songs. Based around tales of shattering loss, human demise and the life of early convicts and settlers in Australian history, this music will often leave you feeling threatened and short of breath. From the opening mammoth, "Jezebel" to the quiet, subtly heartbreaking tale of "Sixteen Straws", this is an album that needs to be experienced from start to finish as a landmark of 00s Australian music. You won't be the same after it clicks.
The Forest The Forest EP
The Format Dog Problems
The Stooges Fun House
The White Stripes Elephant
It's still interesting to figure out just how the hell Jack and Meg pulled it off. A tumbleweed of dirty delta blues, DIY ethics, primal drumming, commanding, eccentric vocals and one flaming red guitar. Elephant created, ultimately, a summation of everything that is great about rock music - straight, no chaser - in the twenty-first century. "There's No Home For You Here" nails seventies-flavoured rock with layered harmonies, "Ball and Biscuit" is arguably one of the best jam tracks on record since "If Six Was Nine," "Little Acorns" still remains the most bizarre introduction of a song ever and "You've Got Her In Your Pocket" is beautifully delivered by a pensive Mr. White on his lonesome. That's not even getting started on the singles, which have remained staples of rock radio for very clear reasons.

Yes, we know Meg isn't a brilliant drummer. We know that Jack's solos aren't thought out and meander far too much for their own good. We know how sick you are of hearing every school band cover "Seven Nation Army." This is an imperfectly perfect creation. The fact that this record still holds up in such impressive manner, years after its conception, whilst many of its peers fell off the face of the earth, speaks volumes about these addictive, intense, diverse and more-than-excellent songs.
TTNG Animals
Just as there is a lot to be learned and admired about the animal kingdom, so too is the case of the curious beast that is Animals, one of the finest debut albums to be released in the 2000s - or any other decade, for that very matter. Not quite comfortable in any one set genre, This Town expand their sounds across math-rock to indie-pop and back around again. There's a lot going on here - from the soaring vocals to the wild fray of guitar, Animals makes for exhausting but wholly rewarding listens, repeated and frequent in nature. It's ambitious, it's heartfelt and its meticulous creation means it's not only an absorbing listening experience, it's also a wholly fulfilling one. See what you can discover.
TV on the Radio Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
William Shatner Has Been

4.5 superb
A Perfect Circle Mer de Noms
Maynard James Keenan had something up his sleeve when Tool decided not to speak to each other for twelve months. With an all-star band, MJK formed A Perfect Circle. This is one of the closest times the eccentric Tool frontman has ever come to the second word in the band name: Mer de Noms is haunting, brooding and meticulously crafted music that shows not only a slightly more accessible side, but a far more vulnerable and emotive one as well. The beauty of songs like "Orestes", "3 Libras" and "Brena" will last with you for an exceptionally long period of time. Wonderful.
AFI Sing the Sorrow
Something about albums that take the middle ground between where a band came from and where they were headed, mixing the best aspects of both, seem to do it for me the most. It would definitely explain why Rubber Soul is my favourite Beatles - and, indeed, why I love Sing the Sorrow so much. A dazzling, dark spectacle, AFI's shining moment brings their punk rock roots into a melodic progression. From the churning melodrama of "The Leaving Song Part 2" to the fist-pumping "Bleed Black" and beyond, Sing the Sorrow ultimately encompasses everything that makes A Fire Inside worth listening to.
Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill
While Nevermind might have defined a generation of aggressive, confused teen dudes, it wasn't until a few years later that the ladies had a voice. A much more radio-friendly one with half a dozen hit singles, sure, but a voice nonetheless. Alanis Morrissette, at this stage in her career, represents a refusual to accept things the way they are. She's mad as fuck and she's not going to take it anymore. Men are backstabbing, useless bastards. Bad luck follows the human race around every turn. Things will never turn out the way that we want them to. But Jagged Little Pill isn't a list of complaints, no sir. It's a bold, confident and uncompromising young woman that is going to deal with these problems if it kills her. Essential listening.
Alexisonfire Crisis
Alpine Zürich EP
Amanda Palmer Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
Amy Winehouse Frank
Anohni and the Johnsons I Am A Bird Now
Arcade Fire Funeral
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
At the Drive-In Relationship of Command
Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons...
Battles Mirrored
Beastie Boys The Sounds of Science
Bertie Blackman Secrets and Lies
Blackalicious Blazing Arrow
Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel present listeners here with an eclectic, left-of-centre collection of exceptionally well-executed hip-hop. Sliding effortlessly from roller-disco grooves to keyboard-lead slow jams, the album displays an impressive array of beats and fantastic bass lines. Standouts include the stripped-back "Make You Feel That Way" and the nine-minute hip-hop epic "Release", which features the genius poetry of the visionary Saul Williams and the hands-up-in-the-air feelgood flows of Lyrics Born.
blink-182 Blink-182
The defining moment of the careers of DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker at the time of its release. The band had always shown a flash of their serious sides on previous albums (Stay Together For The Kids, Adam's Song, etc), and they were the highlights of those records; but could never keep it consistent. What this album did was keep consistent, not indulging on fart jokes- and the result was brilliant. The darker side of blink-182 (I Miss You, The Fallen Interlude, All Of This, to name a few), in the end, brought out the best in them.
Bloc Party Intimacy
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan
Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
The late comedian Bill Hicks once said of what made great music- "I want someone who plays from his fucking heart." With this definition in mind, one would be hard pressed to find one more fitting than singer-songwriter Jesse Lacey.

Alongside his band, Brand New, Lacey presents the listener with a defining album, complete with vented frustrations, paranoid questionings of faith, showing of scars and both the light and the dark of what a human can feel. Despite a slightly lacking second half and a superfluous reprise of highlight "Luca", this album's quality is at times overwhelming- this is some of the best music to be released in years.
Brand New Daisy
Daisy is just as good as people believe. At times, even better.
Anyone that knows something about music besides this decade knows that Brand New is more like Brand New right now than ever before. This is Brand New’s troubled-mind record with some gritty emotion throw in the mix, but different than their previous records – where The Smiths/Morrissey influences work beautifully – it’s no longer really present to me: I can’t help but think about how good Brand New are while listening. And how they’ve done before and only once have they made a record as good as this (The Devil and God).
People saying that this is better than Thrice’s Beggars or any of Brand New’s previous are right.
In short: Brilliant record is brilliant. Epic win, Brand New, way to go. Now Jesse, start working on a solo record asap and blow us away, will ya?
Bright Yellow Clean EP
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run
Buck 65 Secret House Against The World
How do you describe the beauty of an album that leaves you completely lost for words? An album of defiant art that redefines alternative hip-hop for a new generation.
Butterfingers Breakfast at Fatboys
Childish Gambino EP
City and Colour Bring Me Your Love
City and Colour Little Hell
Clare Bowditch and The New Slang Modern Day Addiction
Cloud Control Bliss Release
Australian music isn't getting much better than this right now. Beautiful harmonies, strong songwriting skill and some unforgettable tunes, Cloud Control are just plain wonderful.
Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Cradle of Filth Damnation and a Day
Crowded House Woodface
Crowded House Intriguer
Crystal Castles Crystal Castles II
What the FUCK is this? Album of the fucking year, that's what it is. Ferocious, schizophrenic and volatile experimental music that takes everything that was good about the first record and makes it even BETTER. From Jonsi's vocals cut up and demolished across a thudding rhythm, to the spastic rage of "Doe Deer", everything here is a winner.
Rest of 2010 had better fucking well shape up, y'all.
Danger Mouse The Grey Album
A groundbreaking, revolutionary release which took the concept of illegal art to the next level. What we have here is a collision course between two defining acts of their times, The Beatles and Jay-Z, who prove the diversity of defining genius. The newfound contexts of Jigga's lyrics not only work in a shockingly seamless fashion, but leave the listener wondering why on earth hip-hop producers hadn't looked into the Lennon/McCartney catalogue for samples before- "What More Can I Say" and "December 4" are especially brilliant creations. In terms of not only hip-hop, but sampling, mash-ups and recomposition, this is a triumphant release.
David Bazan Curse Your Branches
Intelligent. Challenging. Serene. Beautiful. Charming. Clever. Effective. Heartbreaking. Important. Astounding. Catchy. Provoking. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Describe Curse Your Branches in 25 words or less.
Dead Letter Circus Dead Letter Circus
Death Cab for Cutie The Photo Album
Death Cab for Cutie We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
Death Cab for Cutie Forbidden Love
Death Cab for Cutie Plans
Death Cab for Cutie Directions: The Plans Video Album
"I think that this is a beautiful experiment", says guitarist Chris Walla.
One cannot help but agree as you watch the eleven truly brilliant videos made for each of the outstanding songs on Death Cab For Cutie's major-label debut. Highlights include "What Sarah Said", "Summer Skin" and the touching "Stable Song".

P.S: PLEASE ignore the other soundoffs. This is NOT a covers album.
Death From Above 1979 You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Descendents ALL
Descendents Everything Sucks
Die Antwoord $O$
Bitches who can't handle the nu Zef flow can get fucked.
Drake Take Care
Oh wow. Wow. Well... that's... that's something, right there, that is.
Dream Theater Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Eagles Very Best Of The Eagles 1972 - 1979
Eagles Farewell 1 Tour DVD
Eels Beautiful Freak
Elvis Presley Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP
On "If I Had", from the Slim Shady LP, Eminem began the song with the phrase "Life, by Marshall Mathers". Unfortunately, that record proved to be more about his maniacal alter-ego, Slim Shady, as the title would suggest. This record, however, is truly Marshall Mathers- an essay on hate, love, confrontation, family, the media and the hypocritical way of things in the modern world. This is truly "Life, by Marshall Mathers".
Call it disgusting, as "Zoe" did on the Slim Shady LP. Call it misogynistic, as many amongst the pop music community and mainstream media chose to do. Honestly, call it whatever the hell you like- just don't try to pass this off as anything short of a milestone in popular music.
Eminem The Eminem Show
Eskimo Joe Girl
Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork Tree
Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel...
Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters Skin and Bones
Foo Fighters The Colour and The Shape (Expanded)
Frank Ocean Nostalgia, Ultra.
Frank Turner England Keep My Bones
Frenzal Rhomb Sans Souci
Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight
Frou Frou Details
As far as the poppier side of electronica goes, this is the best thing you are going to find. A courageously varied, gorgeously arranged and masterfully executed collection of songs that stand not only head and shoulders above its contemporaries, but managed to set a standard that not even Imogen Heap herself has managed to top. Highlights of the record include the one-two introduction of Let Go and Breathe In, songs I regard as some of my all-time favourites, as well as Pyschobabble, Only Got One and The Dumbing Down of Love.
Highly recommended, no matter what your preferred field of music.
Gallows (UK) Grey Britain
Gang of Four Entertainment!
Gareth Liddiard Strange Tourist
Australia's first and foremost contemporary writer - writer overall, not just songwriter - has delivered another beautiful work, for the first time away from The Drones. Just the man and his acoustic guitar, it's balladry at its finest, with long, winding tales of love, loss, the human condition and Australian history. A performer like no other, Strange Tourist is yet another essential album from the genius that is Gareth Liddiard.
Girl Talk Night Ripper
Girl Talk Feed the Animals
Music is evolving at a ridiculously rapid rate. If you'd have said a few years ago that just one man with a knack for sampling and a few good programs on his laptop could create not only one of the best records of the year, but one of the most critically-acclaimed live shows on the planet, then you'd probably get the shit kicked out of you. Thankfully, today's world and technology in particular allows this to happen. Greg Gillis slams together odd couples better than Gnarls Barkley AND Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau put together. Lil Mama, Metallica, Lil Wayne, the Chili Peppers, T.I. and Sinead O'Connor...the list only gets better from there. Hugely exciting, hugely danceable, hugely unique- this is what party albums should be.
Girl Talk All Day
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere
Goo Goo Dolls Dizzy Up The Girl
Gorillaz Gorillaz
Gorillaz Demon Days
Gossip Music For Men
Gotye Like Drawing Blood
Gotye Making Mirrors
Green Day American Idiot
Hilltop Hoods The Calling
Hole Celebrity Skin
Incubus (USA-CA) Make Yourself
Incubus (USA-CA) Alive at Red Rocks
Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1
Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2
Jamie Hay King of the Sun
Janelle Monae The ArchAndroid
Jen Buxton Don't Change Your Plans
Jimi Hendrix Experience Hendrix: The Best of Hendrix
Jimmy Eat World Bleed American
Jimmy Eat World Clarity
Joanna Newsom Ys
John Mayer Continuum
Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash The Essential Johnny Cash
Jose Gonzalez Veneer
Jose Gonzalez In Our Nature
Kanye West Late Registration
Kanye West 808s and Heartbreak
I had my doubts. So did you. The second that Mr. West announced his next record would be entirely sung, as opposed to his normal rapping, teeth were grit and lips were bitten. A disaster was predicted.
And then?a miracle occurred.
808s and Heartbreak is a brilliant album. No longer does his cocky, self-assured side take prominence in his music as it has so frequently done in the past. There?s certainly no ?Good Life? to be found on 808s- this is an album of frustration, distance, loss, anxiety and a life in lethargy.
West risked commercial and critical success in favour of creating something completely on his own terms- and if songs like Say You Will, Robocop and Street Lights are anything to go by, perhaps his risks are worth taking more often.
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson Rattlin' Bones
The joining of these two singers, both in holy matrimony and in music, wasn't just luck - this kind of connectivity has destiny written all over it. Chambers and Nicholson have created one of the landmark Australian releases of the decade - perfectly harmonious, melodic, powerfully emotional and instantly lovable. From the nomad blues of the title track to the cold, fragile acoustic numbers such as "Adeline" and "One More Year", the couple bring to life tales of love, loss, travel and new life. Strongly recommended for fans of country, bluegrass and folk from all walks of life.
Kate Miller-Heidke Nightflight
Kate Nash Made of Bricks
If there's one album I never expected to be brilliant, it was Kate Nash's. The single was a sugary treat, but what from there? Many more simplistically beautiful pop numbers was the answer- the adorably silly metaphor of Birds, the fast-paced hyperactivity of Mariella and the Octopus' Garden bop of Merry Happy all made for some quality listening and some good old singalongs.
But it didn't stop there.
There is a genuine sense of sincere and even autobiographical mannerisms throughout the music- from the lyrics, to the childlike piano right down to Nash's unforced accent. And when the music isn't joking around, we get incredibly honest and moving songs such as Nicest Thing and Little Red. Let's forget about any inch of hype or promotion surrounding this young lady here- this is true talent, true emotion and an exceptional, underrated album.
Keane Hopes & Fears
The British trio came out of practically nowhere and released the best debut album of the year. Amazing vocals, soaring atmospherics, tight drumming and beautiful piano work made this an all-round winner.
Keane Under The Iron Sea
Very special indeed. In our last encounter with the band, they were making glorious, uplifting piano rock. This time, however, it's quite the different story- a melancholic and sombre collection of electronic delicacies with a distinctively dark underbelly. "Try Again" is a late-night daze, "Broken Toy" is a jazzy portrayal of a broken heart and "Hamburg Song" is a genuinely beautiful composition which depicts the demise of frontman Tom Chaplin. The most alarming thing about that, however, is that it is Chaplin singing these words about himself from the perspective of another- pianist Tim Rice-Oxley. These were dark and tumultuous times for the band, and this is reflected throughout the album in a layered and honest way. With a new record on the way, it seems almost Mission: Impossible that the band will better this record. If they do, however, we'll be experiencing something remarkable.
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kings of Leon Youth and Young Manhood
Kings of Leon Come Around Sundown
Who the fuck is Alex Robertson? Come Around Sundown is their best album since their debut, and quite possibly the rock album of the year.
La Dispute Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair
La Dispute Wildlife
La Roux La Roux
Lady Gaga The Fame
The Fame is fun. The Fame is catchy. The Fame is ridiculous. The Fame is brilliant.
You are shit. The Fame is not.
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV
Leonard Cohen Songs of Love and Hate
Lincoln le Fevre Resonation
Listener Wooden Heart
Manchester Orchestra I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child
Marina The Family Jewels
OH. MY. GOD.
Marina Diamandis has made one of the year's most fabulous debuts. This is exactly the kind of clever, innovative and charming pop music that thrives on quirks and defies standard structure and convention. Liven up a little and take the right path down Mowgli's Road...
Mattafix Signs Of A Struggle
One of the best debuts of 2005. Some exceptional production, excellent lyrics and a powerful message of racial inequalities in the U.K. The group are releasing a new record in a matter of months; and indeed it will be interesting to see if this album will be topped.
Maximo Park Our Earthly Pleasures
Metric Fantasies
Mew And the Glass Handed Kites
Micachu and the Shapes Chopped and Screwed
Micachu and the Shapes Never
Milhouse Everything's Coming Up...
Minus the Bear Highly Refined Pirates
Moby Play
Motion City Soundtrack Commit This to Memory
Muse Origin of Symmetry
Nas Illmatic
Nas Hip Hop Is Dead
Almost criminally underrated, this is Nasir Jones' concept album in which modern technology is embraced in the beats, often with brilliant results (the uplifting "Blunt Ashes" and the hard-hitting title track as examples). Lyrically on fire, Nas is loaded with accusations, anger, reflections on life and even a bizarre change of character on "Who Killed It?". Even when former rival Jay-Z briefly steals the show on the excellent "Black Republican", this is a shining point in the fruitful yet occasionally hit-and-miss career of Nas. Arguably his best since Illmatic, and certainly his best this century.
Neil Young Harvest
Neil Young Live Rust
Newton Faulkner Hand Built By Robots
Nick Drake Five Leaves Left
Ahead of its time, delicate and an outright powerful record, Nick Drake surrounds his quaint fingerpicking with piano tinkering and gorgeously arranged sections that enhance the music that much further. Songs such as River Man and Day Is Done will haunt you for many moons to pass. As the vocals linger and sting with such conviction and emotion, you cannot help but wonder exactly how this phenomenal performer went so unnoticed in life.
Nine Black Alps Everything Is
Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral
Nirvana In Utero
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York
Nirvana Nevermind
Nirvana Nirvana
Noah and the Whale The First Days of Spring
If you don't like this album, you're just not getting what's going on. If you don't like this album, you're missing the point. If you don't like this album, you've more than likely never experienced heartbreak. If you don't like this album, you can't appreciate the delicate, serene beauty created in every song's atmosphere. More to the point, if you don't like this album, you're Adam Knott. And, frankly, that's just knott going to stand.
Otouto Pip
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool The Golden Year
OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Owen Pallett Heartland
Panic! at the Disco Pretty. Odd.
I get really frustrated when Silversun Pickups get compared to Smashing Pumpkins, or when Mika gets compared to Queen. Similarly, I really don't appreciate all the Beatles comparisons that have gone into Pretty. Odd. It's as if that's the only possible comparison to be made to a collection of classically-influenced guitar pop songs. There's a lot more to it than that, and herein lies the album's appeal. Urie's voice has flexibility and a much warmer tone, many new avenues of the band's overall sound were explored and it's another fun and layered adventure in music, much like Fever was. This album needs time- Lord knows I had to give it plenty- but the reward is more than worth it.
Paul Kelly Stolen Apples
Paul Kelly So Much Water So Close To Home
Pearl Jam Ten
Pearl Jam Yield
Person L Initial
Portishead Dummy
Prince Purple Rain
Queen A Night at the Opera
R. Kelly Trapped In The Closet (Chapters 1-12)
R.E.M. In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
R.E.M. Document
R.E.M. Dead Letter Office
R.E.M. Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth...
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles
Red Hot Chili Peppers Live at Slane Castle
Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits
Regurgitator Unit
Rise Against Siren Song of the Counter Culture
Sam Cooke Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
Soul

Function:
noun

1: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life
2: the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe bcapitalized Christian Science
3: a person's total self
4: an active or essential part
5: the moral and emotional nature of human beings
6: person
7: personification
8: a: a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor)
9: Sam Cooke
Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
Sean Lennon Into The Sun
Silversun Pickups Swoon
Slipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
Slow Waves Demo 2010
Something For Kate Leave Your Soul To Science
Soundtrack (Film) O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Spiderbait Grand Slam
Sufjan Stevens Illinois
Switchfoot Nothing is Sound
What the fuck are you looking at me like that for? Oh, right. This. Well, what can I say? This is a really wonderful album. It's intelligently written, perfectly arranged and home to some of the catchier left-of-centre pop songs of the 2000s. The guitars roar, the vocals are dripping with harmony and passion and it all just feels so fucking glorious, man. It's a pleasure to listen to, every single time. So stop looking at me like that.
System of a Down Toxicity
This is the record that broke System Of A Down into the mainstream, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The best way to describe this sound is to take the genre of "nu-metal" at the time and arm it with literacy skills, leftist opinions and, surprisingly enough, pop sensiblities. It may sound awkward on paper but this album just WORKS. There is a wide array of music here, from the ridiculously outspoken (Prison Song), the ridiculously catchy (Forest), the ridiculous angsty (Needles) to the just plain ridiculous (Bounce). Sure, there are tracks better than others here. But there isn't a terrible or even bad song present on Toxicity; and this is why SOAD broke and became so popular. An excellent record that has stood the test of time.
Tegan and Sara The Con
Tenacious D Tenacious D
The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions
The Beatles Revolver
The Black Keys Thickfreakness
The Blues Brothers Music From The Soundtrack
The Chariot The Fiancee
The Chariot One Wing
It begins with distorted screaming going head-to-head with a churning, downtuned guitar.
Some thirty-odd minutes later, it ends with a wall of feedback and a speech from Charlie
Chaplin. In the in-between, The Chariot deliver their most ambitious, belligerent and,
ultimately, finest LP to date. One Wing refuses to let the loss of long-time bassist
Jon Kindler reduce the band to a three-legged dog: instead, the band move into territory
both traditionally chaotic ("Not," "in") and surprisingly left-of-centre (see the spaghetti
western progression of "First" or the shaken piano balladry of highlight "Speak"). They show
a hunger for creativity, longing beyond the binary-code riffs that have sunken their
contemporaries. With it, they've created one of the most rewarding albums of 2012. A new
chapter begins.
The Cure Seventeen Seconds
The Dear Hunter Act I: The Lake South, the River North
The Dissociatives The Dissociatives
The Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia...
The Drones Havilah
If you're into Australian music at all, no doubt you've heard great things about the Drones. Just in case you've never listened...they're all true.
With their fourth record, the Drones continue on the warpath with a passive-aggressive undercurrent omnipresent throughout the album's entirety. From the electric alt-country stomp of opener "Nail it Down" or the emotional shipwreck of "Careful as You Go", the raw howls of frontman Gareth Liddiard accompany his magnificent lyrical imagery to a t. It's very difficult to pinpoint exactly what drives the band musically, but there is no doubt that the band are already off to a flying start in becoming one of the greatest Australian bands of all time.
The End (CAN) Elementary
The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Format Interventions and Lullabies
The Gaslight Anthem Handwritten
The Go-Betweens Before Hollywood
The Killers Hot Fuss
The Living End The Living End
The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers
The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath
The National Boxer
If you haven't heard Boxer yet, chances are one of the magazines you read put it in its top ten list of 2007. And why not? Chilling low key vocals in the spirit of the late Johnny Cash or a young Paul Banks tell masterful tales of how a globalized lifestyle has infected ways of being, or of fragile moments of lost intimacy - all accompanied by excellently toned guitar and drums that crack and thud in all the right moments. There are quite a few points on the record, such as "Mistaken For Strangers" or "Apartment Story", where you may come to the conclusion that music should not be allowed to be this good- a world of emotion, pain and isolation never sounded as fantastic in terms of indie rock. Far surpassing the band's previous effort, Alligator, this is a record that you must own.
The National High Violet
The Postal Service Give Up
The Shins Chutes Too Narrow
The Smiths Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths Meat Is Murder
The Specials Specials
The Starting Line Based on a True Story
Pop-punk, as a whole, isn't exactly the kind of genre that breeds masterpieces. The closest it will ever get is From Under The Cork Tree. Oh, and this.
Based On A True Story is a diverse, witty, energetic and genuine body of work. Its genius lies in the fact the lyrics and concept of the overall album, the work of one Kenny Vasoli, is obviously very personal and introspective; and yet manages to be universal enough that it can connect with many...certainly when I first heard this album in 2005, it became the soundtrack to my life. So many years on, the album still has life and a connectivity to growing up in this day and age- and it nails it far greater than any other of their contemporaries.
The Streets Original Pirate Material
The Streets A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Thrills Let's Bottle Bohemia
The Used The Used
The Vines Highly Evolved
The Weeknd House of Balloons
The Weeknd Trilogy
The Whitlams Eternal Nightcap
A landmark Australian release. Tim Freedman's unmistakable songwriting and subtly piercing vocals give a poignancy and genuine emotion that few other songwriters in Australia can really take on properly. Highlights include the beautiful Charlie trilogy, "Up Against The Wall"'s spiraling tirade against a former lover, and the undeniable modern classic that is No Aphrodisiac.
Simply, the band's best release and for you, dear reader, an undiscovered gem. Discover it.
Tim Minchin Ready For This? [DVD]
Totally Unicorn Horse Hugger
Trial Kennedy New Manic Art
TTNG Adventure, Stamina and Anger
TV on the Radio Dear Science
U2 U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle
U2 The Best Of 1980-1990
Underoath Define the Great Line
Ween Chocolate and Cheese
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones

4.0 excellent
A Perfect Circle Thirteenth Step
AC/DC Back In Black
AC/DC High Voltage
AC/DC T.N.T.
Adam Green Garfield
Adele 21
AFI Decemberunderground
Against Me! New Wave
Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls
Alexisonfire Watch Out!
Alexisonfire Old Crows / Young Cardinals
Aloe Blacc Good Things
Alpine A is for Alpine
Amy Meredith Restless
An Horse Rearrange Beds
An Horse Walls
Anberlin Cities
Anberlin Vital
Angels and Airwaves We Don't Need to Whisper
I will always love this. I'll never know exactly why.
Angels and Airwaves Love
Angus and Julia Stone Down the Way
Animal Collective Feels
Animal Collective Strawberry Jam
Annie Don't Stop
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Arch Enemy Doomsday Machine
Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare
Arrows Modern Art & Politics
Art vs. Science Art vs. Science
Audioslave Audioslave
Battles Gloss Drop
Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Ben Folds Lonely Avenue
Ben Folds Five Whatever and Ever, Amen
Ben Folds Five Ben Folds Five
Ben Harper Diamonds on the Inside
Ben Harper and Relentless7 White Lies for Dark Times
Ben Lee Awake Is The New Sleep
Best Coast The Only Place
Biffy Clyro Only Revolutions
Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot
Bill Callahan Apocalypse
Billy Joel Piano Man
Billy Talent Billy Talent
Billy Talent Billy Talent II
Birds Of Tokyo Day One
Birds Of Tokyo Broken Strings
Black Sabbath Master of Reality
Blaqk Audio CexCells
Bliss N Eso Flying Colours
Bloc Party Four
Bluejuice Head of The Hawk
Bob Dylan Another Side of Bob Dylan
Bon Iver Blood Bank
Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Boy & Bear With Emperor Antarctica
Brand New Deja Entendu
Brendan Maclean White Canvas EP
Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Conor Oberst is a unique individual, that's a certainty. Always finding intriguing and important ways of expressing his views through the majesty of song. Here is no exception- I'm Wide Awake is a collection of mostly intimate, raw acoustic observation of the world around. The only exception to this rule, ironically, is the album highlight- album closer Road to Joy is a brilliant, layered jam session with erratic guitar and wild blurts of trumpet.
Also worth checking out is the pensive First Day of My Life, the soaring Landlocked Blues and the quiet-is-the-new-loud glory of Lua.
Bright Eyes The People's Key
Britney Spears Circus
Bruce Springsteen Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen Magic
Burial Burial
Caitlin Rose Own Side Now
Caleb McAlpine Science Fiction
Cannibal Corpse Evisceration Plague
Cap'n Jazz Analphabetapolothology
Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes Falsimilies from the Facts Machine EP
Cat Power The Greatest
Cee Lo Green The Lady Killer
I think Cee Lo Green is a pretty cool guy. Eh sees you driving 'round town with the girl he loves and doesn't afraid of anything.
Ceremony (USA-CA) Zoo
Charlie Parr When The Devil Goes Blind
Childish Gambino I Am Just A Rapper 2
Childish Gambino Camp
Circa Survive On Letting Go
Circa Survive Blue Sky Noise
Circa Survive Violent Waves
City and Colour Sometimes
City and Colour The MySpace Transmissions
Cloud Nothings Attack on Memory
Coerce Ethereal Surrogate Saviour
Cog Sharing Space
Coheed and Cambria From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Cold War Kids Mine is Yours
Coldplay Parachutes
Coldplay Live 2003
Coldplay LeftRightLeftRightLeft
Cornelius Point
Cradle of Filth Nymphetamine
Cradle of Filth Thornography
Craig Finn Clear Heart Full Eyes
Cream Disraeli Gears
Crystal Castles Crystal Castles
D12 Devil's Night
Daft Punk Discovery
Daft Punk Alive 2007
Dan Mangan Oh Fortune
Dananananaykroyd Hey Everyone
Dangers Messy, Isn't It?
Darren Hanlon I Will Love You At All
David Byrne and St. Vincent Love This Giant
Dead Letter Circus Next In Line
Dead Letter Circus This Is The Warning
Death Cab for Cutie The Stability EP
Death Cab for Cutie Something About Airplanes
Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs
After the modern classic that was Transatlanticism, Death Cab for Cutie decided quiet was the new loud on Plans. This time, however, on their second album for a major label, they just weren't sure where to go. Fuelled by Jack Kerouac and Can, the band decided to delve both into the past ("No Sunlight", "Cath..." and "Long Division" all could have been on their Architecture era records) and into the future ("Bixby Canyon Bridge" and the immense "I Will Possess Your Heart" show promise for a complete band progression). It doesn't always work, let alone flow, but it is a strong release nonetheless.
Death Cab for Cutie Codes and Keys
Death Grips The Money Store
Deep Sea Arcade Outlands
Defeater Empty Days and Sleepless Nights
Deftones Deftones
Descendents Enjoy!
Divine Heresy Bringer of Plagues
Dizzee Rascal Showtime
dredg El Cielo
Dropkick Murphys Blackout
Drowning Pool Sinner
Eagles Hell Freezes Over
Earl Sweatshirt EARL
Eddie Vedder Into the Wild
Editors An End Has A Start
Ellie Goulding Lights
Elliott Smith Figure 8
Emarosa Emarosa
Eminem The Slim Shady LP
Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits
Emma Davis Emma Davis
Enslaved Vertebrae
Yes, it's a little samey in parts. Yes, it takes itself far too seriously. Yes, this is black metal. Having said that, this is still by far one of the best metal releases of the year- consistent, flowing, energetic and just a little bit ridiculous.
Enter Shikari Take to the Skies
Amongst a plethora of bands on the hardcore scene in Britain caring more about what they're wearing than what they're playing, it has been hugely depressing seeing bands like Bring Me The Horizon explode worldwide. One band amongst the community, however, stood out, to use some British slang, like dog's bollocks. Enter Shikari didn't so much arrive as stagedive headfirst into it- and if their debut is anything to go by, then they're here to stay.
Two things set them apart. The first is the inclusion of some highly danceable and well-executed synth and electronic drum patterns- of course, they're not the first to pull such a thing off, but I'm strained to think of one that's done it better in recent years. The second is the genuine sense of fun about their music- the energy levels are always high, and even when vocalist Rou Reynolds is screaming to the point where it is noticeably straining his voice, the music never seems angry or overly aggressive. From the insistent catchiness of "Sorry You're Not A Winner", the anthemic self-titled track and the sentimental ballad "Adieu", Enter Shikari cover a lot of ground. They show a lot of promise for the future- and I can't wait to see just where they go from here.
Enter Shikari A Flash Flood of Colour
Envy On The Coast Lucy Gray
Epitomes Demo.
Eric Clapton Unplugged
Erin McCarley Love, Save the Empty
Eskimo Joe Black Fingernails, Red Wine
Every Time I Die New Junk Aesthetic
Every Time I Die Ex Lives
Explosions in the Sky The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
Faith No More Angel Dust
Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux
Fiona Apple When the Pawn...
Fireworks Gospel
Flight of the Conchords Flight of the Conchords
Florence and the Machine Lungs
Flying Lotus Until the Quiet Comes
Foals Total Life Forever
Right. So.
WOW.
Holy FUCK.
Standard editions of the album should come with a spare pare of underpants. Just sayin'.
Foo Fighters Greatest Hits
Foo Fighters Wasting Light
Had they trimmed the fat here and perhaps gone a little harder, this could have been the best Foo Fighters record since the last one Pat Smear was involved with, The Colour and the Shape. For now, this is a very easily likable rock and roll album, kicking up the energy and making sure that every chorus lasts in your head for days on end. The triple guitar attack is a pretty nice treat, too. At least it's not naff to be a Foo Fighters fan anymore.
Frank Ocean channel ORANGE
Frank Turner Sleep Is For The Week
Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand
Frenzal Rhomb A Man's Not a Camel
Frenzal Rhomb Smoko at the Pet Food Factory
Fucked Up Couple Tracks: Singles 2002-2009
Fucked Up David Comes to Life
fun. Some Nights
Future of the Left The Plot Against Common Sense
Gallows (UK) Orchestra Of Wolves
This is as raw and real as hardcore music has been in the past few years. Vocalist Frank Carter howls, seeths and screams through an epic, solid hardcore punk record that anyone who is truly into the "punk" scene should appreciate. A real breath of fresh air on a scene taken over by bands who care more about what they wear than what they play.
Gallows (UK) Death Is Birth
Gallows (UK) Gallows
Garfunkel and Oates Music Songs
Gay Paris The Last Good Party
Gil Scott-Heron I'm New Here
Gin Wigmore Holy Smoke
Glassjaw Worship and Tribute
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1
Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple
Goo Goo Dolls Jed
Good Heavens Strange Dreams
Gorilla Biscuits Start Today
Classic hardcore. Loud, fast, thrashing and angry as hell...yet with a strong, positive and meaningful message? Damn, who'd have thunk it? Highlights include New Direction, Two Sides and Start Today, which is quite possibly my favourite hardcore song of all time.
Gossip Standing In The Way Of Control
Gossip A Joyful Noise
Green Day International Superhits
Green Day Dookie
Grizzly Bear Veckatimest
Dammit, once you eliminate the hype and begin to cut to the core of Veckatimest, you've got yourself a fucking good record. At first, the album will seem boring and difficult to take in. Following this will be a development of interest in particular tracks - the swaying "Cheerleader", the chiming and harmonious "Two Weeks" and the divine "Foreground" just a few examples. Finally, you will find yourself immersed in the entire record as a listening experience. And by this point, you're soaked head to toe in charming, soulful and heartfelt indie-leaning pop. Very much worth the effort.
Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction
Gwen Stefani Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
Hanson Middle of Nowhere
Hilltop Hoods Drinking From The Sun
This right here is a celebration of hip-hop. Nearly 10 years after the game-changer that was The Calling, Adelaide's finest come the closest they ever have to topping that record. A matured, focused and engaging album that still manages to keep the group's sound as lively as ever. It might have taken awhile away from music and touring for the Hoods to achieve this sound, but the end result is more than worth it. The bar is set once again by the original and the best.
Hira Hira Now Here Nowhere
Hole Live Through This
Howling Bells Howling Bells
I Exist I: A Turn for the Worse
I Heart Hiroshima A Three Letter Word for Candy
Imogen Heap Ellipse
Incubus (USA-CA) Morning View
Incubus (USA-CA) S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Incubus (USA-CA) If Not Now, When?
Who'd have thought, out of all the downtuned dreadlocked stoner dudes to kick it in bands
around the mid 90s, it would be Incubus that survived the longest? After perhaps
overshooting the mark somewhat with the dissapointing Light Grenades, the band have
reconvened and put their name to a mature, focused and textured album. Still sonically
interesting without sacrificing the core of what made them interesting to begin with, the
band have reinvented themselves successfully - Boyd, in particular, has rarely sounded this
good from a purely vocal perspective. This will piss off people looking for a new "Certain
Shade of Green," or even a new "Take Me To Your Leader." For those still willing to stick
with the band, however, this is easily their finest album since Morning View. Who the
fuck is someguest?
INXS Kick
Iron And Wine Kiss Each Other Clean
Iron Maiden Somewhere Back in Time
ISIS Wavering Radiant
Jackson Browne Looking East
Jackson Browne Time the Conqueror
Jaguar Love Take Me to the Sea
Japandroids Post-Nothing
Japandroids Celebration Rock
Jet Shine On
Jimmy Eat World Futures
Jimmy Eat World Chase This Light
Once again, Jimmy Eat World have delivered another great pop record that worms its way into your head with hook after hook after hook. Adkins is a smart and intriguing lyricist and can still hold a tune as well as he could in the Clarity days, if not more so now. Highlights include Big Casino, Electable, Gotta Be Somebody's Blues and Dizzy. Probably won't win any new fans, but will most certainly please current ones.
Joanna Newsom The Milk-Eyed Mender
John Butler Trio Three
John Butler Trio April Uprising
John Mayer Room for Squares
John Mayer Battle Studies
Johnny Cash American III: Solitary Man
Jonathan Boulet Jonathan Boulet
This is love. Jonathan is love. Love love love. That's a sound off.
Jonathan Boulet We Keep the Beat...
Justin Bieber Believe
Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds
A pop juggernaut. A dancefloor anthem. A Prince tribute album. A sex-obsessed concept album. Thriller for the 21st century. A hell of a good time. The crown jewel atop the head of the new king of pop. FutureSex/LoveSounds was all of these things upon its release. And still is.
Kaiser Chiefs Employment
Kanye West Graduation
Karnivool Themata
Karnivool Sound Awake
Kate Miller-Heidke Curiouser
Kate Nash My Best Friend Is You
Katy Perry Teenage Dream
So, this grew on me quicker than genital warts. Was a lot more pleasant, thankfully - fun, boppy and memorable pop results in one of the best records of 2010.
Keane Perfect Symmetry
Keating! Company B 2007 Original Cast Recording
Kidcrash Jokes
Killing Heidi Reflector
In context, this was the creative explosion of the Hooper siblings that they had worked so very hard to finally create and release after catching their big break from Triple J's Unearthed competition. The result was an enthusiastic and infectious collection of spaced-out pop that's rough around the edges whilst still maintaining rock music roots. Lead single "Weir" has stood the test of time as one of the great modern works of Australian pop music, but this record holds so much more instore for its listeners: the slow-burning "A Jar Labelled Small", the twirling "Leave Me Alone" and the gorgeous "Black Sheep" are just a handful of examples.
They never matched the greatness of this record ever again, but Reflector still remains a solid release.
Kimya Dawson I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean
Kimya Dawson Remember That I Love You
Kings of Leon Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon Because Of The Times
Kisschasy United Paper People
Kisses The Heart Of The Nightlife
Korn Untitled
KT Tunstall Eye To The Telescope
Kylie Minogue Impossible Princess
Lady Gaga The Fame Monster
LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening
letlive. Fake History
Liam Finn I'll Be Lightning
Liam Finn Champagne in Seashells (with Eliza Jane)
Lily Allen It's Not Me, It's You
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory
One of the more impressive debut albums of its time, here the band took the "teen angst" module to a new generation. "Shut up while I'm talking to you" replaced "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me", and the kids were hooked. As cliche-ridden as it all sounds, Hybrid Theory still contains some excellent pop songs with catchy hooks and riffs, and turntablist Joe Hahn lets loose (unfortunately not as present on their other two records), bringing a new dimension to the songs.
Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
I'm wrong about this album, and I'm more than aware of it. But I don't think I want to be right this time - there's too much stuff on here that's just stupidly good fun for me to deny it. Go back to your cynical ways and I'll teach the underage kids to rawk mawsh. BLEED IT OUTTTTTT.
Lisa Mitchell Wonder
Lissie Catching a Tiger
Lou Reed Transformer
M.I.A. Kala
M.I.A. Maya
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis The Heist
Macromantics Moments In Movement
Mammal Mammal
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math
Mark Ronson Record Collection
Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Massive Attack Heligoland
Mastodon Crack the Skye
Matchbox Twenty Yourself or Someone Like You
Matisyahu Live At Stubb's
Max Tannone Jaydiohead
MC Lars The Graduate
MC Lars This Gigantic Robot Kills
Metallica Master of Puppets
Mew No More Stories
Mike Hale Lives Like Mine
Milhouse Thrillhouse
Minor Threat Complete Discography
Minus the Bear Planet of Ice
Miranda Lambert Revolution
Country music might have started as a man's world, but in the 21st century it's women like Lambert who are setting the standards. Revolution is smart, sassy, sweet and delicately harmonic, but it's also a great excercise in dynamics between sugary pop and dust-kickin' country. It might be unfashionable, but Miranda is doing it better than anyone else right now, and that's what matters the most.
Mountain Man Made The Harbor
Mumford and Sons Sigh No More
Muse Showbiz
Muse HAARP
My Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
After a raw, uneasy introduction to the band on I Brought You My Bullets, this is a far more focused and energetic release from My Chemical Romance. A melodramatic, hyperactive and thoroughly enjoyable rock album that flaunts both melody and intensity in its thirteen tracks, although not entirely on a consistent basis.
My Chemical Romance Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
My Morning Jacket Okonokos
N.E.R.D. Seeing Sounds
Nas It Was Written
Neil Young After the Gold Rush
Neil Young On the Beach
Neil Young Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young Time Fades Away
A rarity for Neil Young fans, but a fantastic collection of live tracks nonetheless. Performing with arguably his best non-Crazy Horse lineup, Harvest's Stray Gators, we're treated to a set of tightly performed and consistently engaging numbers. Highlights include a solo "Yonder Stands the Sinner" and the big finale of "Last Dance". Worth a download if you can't find the LP.
Neil Young Psychedelic Pill
Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Newton Faulkner Rebuilt by Humans
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
Nick Drake Way to Blue: An Introduction to Nick Drake
Nicki Minaj Pink Friday
Nine Inch Nails With Teeth
Nine Inch Nails The Slip
Nirvana Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Norah Jones Little Broken Hearts
OFF! First Four EPs
OK Go Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
Operator Please Cement Cement
Operator Please On the Prowl
Operator Please Yes Yes Vindictive
Operator Please Gloves
Osees Help
Panda Bear Tomboy
Panic! at the Disco Vices & Virtues
Paramore Riot!
Passenger (UK) Flight of the Crow
Passenger (UK) All The Little Lights
Paul Dempsey Everything Is True
Paul Kelly ...nothing but a dream
Paul Kelly Foggy Highway
Paul Kelly Spring and Fall
Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pearl Jam Vs.
With Vs., Pearl Jam began to wane the "grunge" tag and expand their sound to include influence of everything from heartland rock to early funk. Whilst slightly lacking the spark of Ten, the album is still home to some of the band's defining songs: Animal, Daughter and Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town are the strongest examples of this. Not their finest hour, but invariably an essential addition to your Pearl Jam collection.
Pearl Jam rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)
Phrase Clockwork
Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Placebo Without You I'm Nothing
Placebo Once More with Feeling
Polar Bear Club Clash Battle Guilt Pride
Portraits Of Past 01010101
Portugal. The Man Censored Colors
Powderfinger Odyssey Number Five
Powderfinger Fingerprints: Best of 1994-2000
Professor Green Alive Till I'm Dead
Queens of the Stone Age Songs for the Deaf
Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies to Paralyze
R.E.M. Chronic Town
R.E.M. Out of Time
R.E.M. Up
R.E.M. Lifes Rich Pageant
R.E.M. Reveal
R.E.M. Live
R.E.M. Accelerate
R.E.M. Live at the Olympia
R.E.M. Collapse Into Now
Radiohead Amnesiac
Radiohead OK Computer
Radiohead In Rainbows
Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire
Rammstein Völkerball
Ramones Ramones
Ramones End of the Century
Ramones Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in Hyde Park
Red Riders Drown in Colour
Regina Spektor Begin To Hope
Regurgitator Tu Plang
Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
Rival Schools United By Fate
Robyn Body Talk Pt. 1
Royal Headache Royal Headache 7"
Royal Headache Royal Headache 7-inch
Rufus Wainwright Want One
Santigold Santogold
Saosin Saosin
Say Anything In Defense of the Genre
Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters Night Work
Scott Spark Fail Like You Mean It
Seeker Lover Keeper Seeker Lover Keeper
Seether Disclaimer II
Seether Karma And Effect
Have you ever enjoyed an album in ridiculous amounts and have never been able to properly explain just why? In a way, that's me and this record right here.
So what the hell is it that has made Karma and Effect so damn listenable to me over the years? Could it be the damn-near-irresistible accessibility of the mix of downtuned Cobain-isms and guitar pop hooks? Perhaps Shaun Morgan's ear for a tight song structure and big choruses? Maybe even the fact that you're drawn back to each and every song for a variety of different reasons? Whatever it is, Karma and Effect is a triumphant album- it soars where most of its contemporaries plod, and (in a shocking turn for a post-grunge record) manages to get everything right for once.
Let's rock.
Shai Hulud Misanthropy Pure
Sia Some People Have Real Problems
Sigur Ros Takk...
Silverchair Frogstomp
Silverchair Young Modern
Silversun Pickups Neck of the Woods
Slash Slash
Sleep Station Blood of Our Fathers
Slipknot 9.0: Live
Slipknot All Hope Is Gone
Snob Scrilla Day One
Snow Patrol Final Straw
Snow Patrol Up to Now
Something For Kate The Official Fiction
Something With Numbers Perfect Distraction
Soundtrack (Film) The Spongebob Squarepants Movie - Music
Soundtrack (Film) Team America: World Police
Soundtrack (Film) Garden State
Soundtrack (Television) Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Sparkadia The Great Impression
Spice Girls Greatest Hits
Spiderbait Greatest Hits
St. Vincent Actor
Sunny Day Real Estate Diary
System of a Down Mezmerize
Taking Back Sunday Where You Want To Be
Tame Impala Lonerism
Taylor Swift Red
Tegan and Sara So Jealous
The Beatles Help!
The Beatles With the Beatles
The Beatles 1
The Beatles 1962 - 1966
The Beatles 1967 – 1970
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles Love
The Black Keys El Camino
The Butterfly Effect Begins Here
The Cure Three Imaginary Boys
The Darkness Permission to Land
The Decemberists The Hazards of Love
The Decemberists The King Is Dead
The Devoted Few Baby, You're A Vampire
The Distillers Coral Fang
The Doors The Doors
The Fall of Troy Doppelganger
The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips Embryonic
The Grates Gravity Won't Get You High
The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America
The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me
The Hold Steady Heaven Is Whenever
From the second the slide guitar creeps into your speakers, Heaven is Whenever sees The Hold Steady get back to what they do best, after the hit-and-miss affair of Stay Positive. The lyrics are fantastic stories of love and misfortune, the guitar is more prominent and sharp in its delivery and there's not an unmemorable song to be found amongst these ten tracks. At first it's likable, but as the highlights become more prominent - such as the lovelorn hook of "Hurricane J" and the punchy single "The Weekenders" - so does the album's excellence. Welcome back, boys. Sorry to hear about Franz.
The Internet Purple Naked Ladies
The Killers Sam's Town
Following up what was quite possibly the best debut album of 2004 was never going to be an easy feat. Still, Brandon Flowers and co. did a fucking good job with Sam's. It's an ambitous set of anthems and rockers, with the guitar dragged through the dirt right up to the front and centre, leaving the polished synth to the side for the most part. It's a gamble - Hot Fuss thrived on the buzzing electronic sounds - but if songs like "Confessions of a King", "Uncle Jonny" and the swelling epic of the title track are anything to go by, it was worth the risk. One of the more memorable cuts of 2006, it's difficult not to enjoy your stay in Sam's Town. Even if it's just for the day.
The Killers Battle Born
The Kills Midnight Boom
The Kinks The Village Green Preservation Society
The Living End State Of Emergency
The Lonely Island Incredibad
The Mars Volta Frances the Mute
The Mars Volta Amputechture
The Mars Volta Octahedron
The Mission in Motion Somewhere Safe
The Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree
The New Pornographers Twin Cinema
The Offspring Americana
The Presets Apocalypso
The Presets Pacifica
The Shins Oh, Inverted World
The Smashing Pumpkins Zeitgeist
The Smith Street Band No One Gets Lost Anymore
The Smith Street Band Sunshine and Technology
The Smiths The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths The Smiths
The Smiths Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths Rank
The Smiths The Very Best of The Smiths
The Stooges Raw Power
The Stooges The Stooges
The Streets Computers And Blues
The Strokes Room on Fire
The Strokes Angles
The Thermals The Body, The Blood, The Machine
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Vines Melodia
The Weeknd Thursday
The Weeknd Echoes of Silence
The White Stripes White Blood Cells
The White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan
The Whitlams Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You: The Best Of
The Who Tommy
The Wonder Years Get Stoked on It!
The Wonder Years Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
The xx Coexist
They Might Be Giants Flood
Thrice Major/Minor
Thursday War All the Time
Tiger Army Music From Regions Beyond
Timbaland Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Title Fight Shed
Title Fight Floral Green
To the North Lustre
Tokyo Police Club A Lesson in Crime
Tonight Alive All Shapes & Disguises
Tonight Alive Consider This
Tonight Alive What Are You So Scared Of?
Tool 10,000 Days
Touche Amore ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse
Touche Amore Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l
Tunng ...And Then We Saw Land
TV on the Radio Young Liars
TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain
TV on the Radio Nine Types of Light
In a bizarre turn of events, TVotR haven't managed to make the best album of the year like they threatened to with 2008's brilliant Dear Science. With that said, they've still put together what is so far THE best second half of a 2011 album. Starting with the withered melancholy of "Will Do" and ending with the aggrovated swagger of "Caffeinated Consciousness," these five songs are amongst the band's finest ever work. The first half is not to be underrated, but tracks 6 through 10 are truly what pushes Nine Types from goodness to utter greatness. The late Gerard Smith has left a remarkable legacy with this.
Two Door Cinema Club Tourist History
Tyler, the Creator Goblin
U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Underoath Survive Kaleidoscope
Underoath Lost in the Sound of Separation
Vampire Weekend Contra
Van Halen 5150
Various Artists (Hip Hop) 8 Mile OST
Wanda Jackson The Party Ain't Over
Washington I Believe You Liar
Weezer Hurley
And on the eighth day, the geek messiah rose again.
Weird Al Yankovic Running With Scissors
White Rabbits Milk Famous
Wick-It the Instigator The Brothers of Chico Dusty
Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever To Tell
Yellow Ostrich The Mistress

3.5 great
+44 When Your Heart Stops Beating
36 Crazyfists The Tide and Its Takers
Albert Hammond Jr Yours To Keep
Albert Hammond Jr ¿Cómo Te Llama?
Alien Ant Farm ANThology
All-Time Quarterback All-Time Quarterback
Amanda Palmer Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under
Amanda Palmer Theatre Is Evil
Amplive Rainydayz Remixes
Anberlin Never Take Friendship Personal
Anberlin Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
Angels and Airwaves I-Empire
Animal Collective Centipede Hz
Annie Anniemal
Art vs. Science The Experiment
Atreyu A Death-Grip on Yesterday
Atreyu Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Making a change for the better from their metalcore chuggery, Atreyu have released their most accessible, and in turn most enjoyable record to date. The vocals (even the god-awful screams) have made a huge improvement here, and even the more generic tracks have good hooks and tighter musicianship. They're never going to make truly great music, or be a truly great band. But dammit, kudos to them for trying.
Attack! Attack! (UK) Attack Attack!
So, how many people do you think have rated this a 1 because they think it's crabcore, do you reckon?
Audioslave Out of Exile
Avalanche City Our New Life Above The Ground
Avril Lavigne Let Go
Certainly she's reached new levels of slutdom now, but back in the day Miss Avril Lavigne Whibley was everybody's guilty pleasure. A star cast of writers and producers make the sugar-sweet guitar pop that much more accessible and enjoyable, but Lavigne's biting accent and high-note hairbrush singing define these songs. "I'd rather be anything but ordinary, please!" she moans halfway through the album. She delivers for the most part on this wish- see the angsty "Losing Grip" and "Unwanted", the little-girl-lost ballads of "I'm With You" and "Naked" and the undeniably catchy "Sk8er Boi"- but a lot of the non-single territory seems far too forced, and things really didn't get that much better for Avril from here. Oh well. Everybody with me: "Why'd you have to go and make things so complicaaaatedd..."
Bad Lieutenant Never Cry Another Tear
Be Your Own Pet Be Your Own Pet
Beck Midnite Vultures
Beck Guero
Beck Modern Guilt
Ben Folds Five Naked Baby Photos
Ben Folds Five The Sound of the Life of the Mind
Ben Kweller On My Way
Ben Lee Ben Lee Sings Against Me! - New Wave
Ben Lee The Rebirth of Venus
Best Coast Crazy For You
Bill Callahan Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Birds Of Tokyo Universes
Bjork Volta
blink-182 Take Off Your Pants And Jacket
blink-182 Enema Of The State
blink-182 The Mark, Tom and Travis Show
blink-182 Greatest Hits
Bloc Party Silent Alarm Remixed
Bob Dylan New Morning
Boy & Bear Moonfire
Break Even The Bright Side
Britney Spears Blackout
It's ironic that this album is my most enjoyed Britney Spears album and Britney herself is arguably the least important part of it. The production on the album is exceptional, the beats catchy and addictive, the choruses repetitive but effective. Even while we try to figure out just what "cold as fire, hot as ice" means. "Blackout" has already gone platinum here in Australia and will probably do so again. Are people buying this just because it's Britney (bitch)? Probably. If anyone else was in charge of this record, would it suck? Again, probably- but the point here is that Danja has climbed another rung of the ladder to becoming the next Timbaland, and if he keeps this quality work up then his rise shall be much, much quicker than usual.
Britney Spears Femme Fatale
Brit is very much in the deep end of electronic pop music now, and there's no going back. Really, though, when you've got such a strong hit ratio in contrast to weaker moments, she doesn't particularly need to. Femme Fatale keeps her head above water with excellent production, arena-sized synths and some inventive choruses. Not everything is quite as inspired as it makes itself out to sound, and it could well be argued that Spears herself is becoming a less important factor of the songs themselves with each release. Still, this is a strong release in her post-"comeback" era, sitting just below Circus (I don't know who that random is BELOW ME, but Circus is pretty clearly her best album, duh) and around the same level of quality as Blackout. It's Britney, bitch. You don't care? Cool, go back to your fucking Protest the Hero.
Broken Bells Broken Bells
Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball
Calling All Cars Dancing With a Dead Man
Carly Rae Jepsen Kiss
Carra Borderline
Cassette Kids Nothing on TV
Cassie Davis Differently
Childish Gambino I Am Just A Rapper
Children Collide The Long Now
Ciara Fantasy Ride
Circle Takes the Square Decompositions: Volume Number One
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Closure in Moscow First Temple
Clutch Strange Cousins From The West
Cog The Sound Of Three - Twelve Years With You
Cold War Kids Behave Yourself
Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay Mylo Xyloto
Converge Axe to Fall
Cradle of Filth Lovecraft & Witch Hearts
Cradle of Filth Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
Crowded House Time On Earth
Dan Sultan Get out while you can
Dananananaykroyd There Is A Way
Danzig Danzig II: Lucifuge
Darkest Hour Undoing Ruin
Death Cab for Cutie You Can Play These Songs With Chords
Death Cab for Cutie The John Byrd EP
Deicide The Stench of Redemption
Glen Benton and his posse of grumpy devil-worshippers came back with a punch on this record, the first featuring their two new guitarists. The guitar work is exceptional, with riffs as hooky as death metal will get anytime soon and some blazing solos for good measure. Sure Benton hasn't changed his lyrical content since...well, ever- but it's still a solid release from a veteran metal band.
Dennis Wilson Pacific Ocean Blue
Descendents I Don't Want to Grow Up
Devendra Banhart Nino Rojo
Dido Life For Rent
Dinosaur Jr. You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr. I Bet on Sky
Dirty Three Toward The Low Sun
Dizzee Rascal Maths and English
Doves (UK) Some Cities
Doves (UK) Kingdom of Rust
Drake Thank Me Later
Dropkick Murphys The Warrior's Code
Eagles Long Road Out Of Eden
Bad news first, I guess- the record could have easily been one disc and the bad songs here are really, really bad. A lot of the songwriting is either tacky or just plain obvious here, as well. But if you're an Eagles fan, this just doesn't matter, as the band have made a record faithful to their roots- still the same old fantastic harmonies, some good guitar work (it's Joe Walsh, people- you can't go wrong!) and a title track that can proudly be shelved alongside some of the other truly great Eagles songs of yesteryear.
Ed Sheeran +
Editors The Back Room
Emarosa Relativity
The voice of a post-hardcore angel. Jonny Craig's impressive, versatile and emotive vocal delivery will floor you on first listen - "The Past Should Stay Dead" a perfect example of this. The album continues on in a vein similar to that of Emery and Circa Survive, yet manages to seek out its own sound that melds into a different beast entirely. It's a rarity that this kind of music manages to strike such a chord, but Emarosa have easily managed to do so on their more-than-impressive debut. Top form.
Emery ...In Shallow Seas We Sail
Eminem The Slim Shady EP
Eminem Infinite
Eminem Recovery
Empire Of The Sun Walking On A Dream
Enter Shikari Common Dreads
Eric's Trip Love Tara
Eskimo Joe A Song Is A City
Evanescence Fallen
Evol Intent Era of Diversion
Explosions in the Sky Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die...
Explosions in the Sky All of a Sudden, I Miss Everyone
Faith No More Album of the Year
Fall Out Boy Take This to Your Grave
Fall Out Boy My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue
Fall Out Boy Infinity on High
Fall Out Boy Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits
Final Fantasy He Poos Clouds
Fireworks All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion
Flight of the Conchords I Told You I Was Freaky
Foals Antidotes
Foo Fighters In Your Honor
Foo Fighters One by One
Frank Turner Poetry of the Deed
Franz Ferdinand You Could Have It So Much Better
Frenzal Rhomb Dick Sandwich
Fugazi In on the Kill Taker
fun. Aim and Ignite
Garbage Version 2.0
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 2
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals
Green Day Warning
Green Day Bullet In A Bible
Green Day ¡UNO!
Grimes Visions
Grouplove Grouplove EP
GROUPLOVE make the kind of life-filled, excitingly earnest indie pop that full validates the all-caps spelling of their name. If their Modest Mouse-esqe jangle of "Colours" doesn't sell you - or at least put a smile on your face - then there's no saving you.
Guy Sebastian Like It Like That
Gyroscope Sound Shattering Sound
Gyroscope Breed Obsession
H2O Nothing To Prove
Hawthorne Heights If Only You Were Lonely
You all know those five mopey kids who called out "cut my wrists and black my eyes". But what became of them after that? A few things- firstly, they learned how to create some great guitar pop songs. Secondly, they discovered the joys of melody and catchy hooks, improving drastically from their previous record. Lastly, they started enjoying themselves. Sure, the themes are similarly bleak, and they haven't become genius songwriters overnight. But the Hawthorne Heights that we find on this album are far smarter, far more skilled at their art and genuinely more exciting than before. And the beauty of this is the fact their best work is still ahead of them.
Hellogoodbye Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
Highways Enjoy The Little Things
Hilltop Hoods The Hard Road
Hilltop Hoods The Hard Road Restrung
HORSE the band Desperate Living
Hospital the Musical REDorphan
Hot Hot Heat Make Up the Breakdown
I Exist II: The Broken Passage
I Heart Hiroshima The Rip
Incubus (USA-CA) A Crow Left of the Murder...
Incubus (USA-CA) Enjoy Incubus
Iwrestledabearonce It's All Happening
Jack Johnson On and On
Jack White Blunderbuss
James Blunt All the Lost Souls
Jamie Cullum The Pursuit
Jason Derulo Jason Derulo
JASONNNNNNNN DERUUUUUUUULOOOOOOOO
Jay-Z American Gangster
Jens Lekman I Know What Love Isn't
Jet Get Born
Jimmy Eat World Invented
Job for a Cowboy Genesis
John Butler Trio Sunrise Over Sea
John Butler Trio Grand National
John Butler Trio Living 2001-2002
John Lee Hooker Mr. Lucky
John Mayer Heavier Things
John Mayer Born and Raised
Jonsi Go
Julian Casablancas Phrazes for the Young
Justin Bieber My World 2.0
But srsly. Baby, Somebody to Love, Runaway Love, Eenie Meenie and Up are all solid pop tunes, and even when you feel slightly dirty for buying into the teen pop sensation, the pleasure is guilty as charged. Bieber is an impressive force to the point where even when you give this album a one after hearing fifteen seconds of one song, he still wins because you're still talking about him.
Kaiser Chiefs Yours Truly, Angry Mob
Kate Miller-Heidke Little Eve
Katy Perry One of the Boys (Platinum Australian Tour Edition)
Keane Strangeland
Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted
You know how DaveyBoy goes on about how Hysteria has "the best four-song sequence in musical history"? Fuck that, I think All I Ever Wanted may have it - "My Life Would Suck Without You" is pure electro-pop joy, "I Do Not Hook Up" is explosive and anthemic, "Cry" is one of her best vocals atop what could be her best post-Breakaway ballad and "Don't Let Me Stop You" is the sinister, paranoid cousin of "Behind These Hazel Eyes". It's definitely the best introductory section of a pop record in recent years, that's for sure.
The rest of the songs are pretty beast, too; even if the record is a little overlong. Clarkson rules supreme, bitch.
Killswitch Engage The End of Heartache
Kimbra Vows
Kimya Dawson Hidden Vagenda
Kimya Dawson My Cute Friend Sweet Princess
Kimya Dawson Thunder Thighs
Kings of Leon Only By The Night
Kvelertak Kvelertak
Kylie Minogue Aphrodite
Lady Gaga Born This Way
Lady Sovereign Public Warning
Lamb of God Wrath
Last Dinosaurs Back From The Dead
Lenka Lenka
Lil Wayne No Ceilings
Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV
Lily Allen Alright, Still
Linkin Park A Thousand Suns
Little Boots Hands
Living Colour Vivid
M.I.A. Arular
Man Overboard Real Talk
Man Overboard The Human Highlight Reel
Marilyn Manson The Golden Age of Grotesque
Mark Ronson Version
Maroon 5 Overexposed
Massive Attack Collected
Mastodon The Hunter
Matchbox Twenty Mad Season
Matchbox Twenty Exile on Mainstream
Matisyahu Youth
Maximo Park Quicken The Heart
Metallica Death Magnetic
And they're back. A lot can change in five years, but this has given Metallica ample breathing space to focus on getting back to what they do best- making great, loud, fast and thrashing music.
Essentially, Death Magnetic takes the band out of the ditch they found themselves in because of drop-C and tin cans, and position themselves for a ride down easy street. Everything you hear on this record, 'Tallica have done before (and, in some cases, done better). This will probably serve as a negative for a lot of fans. For what it's worth, though, this is a hell of a fun listen- big choruses, a triumphant return of Kirk Hammett's skillful solos, an obsession with having EVERY song in the key of E, exciting bridges and a completion of the "Unforgiven" saga with unexpectedly brilliant results. This certainly isn't Metallica's best, nor is it a revolution of sound. But it is proof enough that the legends aren't ready to nail in that coffin just yet. Now shut up and get your air guitar or Guitar Hero- Lars and co. are waiting.
Metric Synthetica
Michael Jackson Number Ones
Mindless Self Indulgence You'll Rebel To Anything
Minus the Bear Omni
Minus the Bear Infinity Overhead
Miranda Lambert Four the Record
Moby Hotel
Mudvayne L.D. 50
Muse Absolution
Muse Black Holes & Revelations
Mylo Destroy Rock And Roll
N.E.R.D. Fly Or Die
Nas Untitled
Nas Life Is Good
Natalie Imbruglia Left of the Middle
Neil Young Le Noise
Neil Young Americana
New Found Glory Catalyst
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Nick Jonas and the Administration Who I Am
Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV
Nirvana Incesticide
Nizlopi Half These Songs Are About You
Sweet, charming, delightful. This is what Nizlopi's all about - the authentic Bri'ish accent, creaking double bass, jangly acoustics and heartfelt songs of love, family and life. It may get a little cheesy at times, but songs like "JCB", "Girls" and "Long Distance" will all feel like a warm, much-needed hug after awhile. Bless these kids.
NOFX Self Entitled
Norma Jean Redeemer
Northlane Discoveries
Off Minor Some Blood
OFF! OFF!
OFWGKTA The OF Tape Vol. 2
One Direction Take Me Home
Outright Demo 2011
Owen New Leaves
Paloma Faith Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
Paolo Nutini Sunny Side Up
Paramore All We Know Is Falling
Paramore Brand New Eyes
Parkway Drive Horizons
Passion Pit Chunk of Change
Paul Kelly Songs From The South Volume 2
Paul McCartney Memory Almost Full
Paul Simon So Beautiful or So What
Pearl Jam Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam Backspacer
It'd be easy to just release lethargic, excuse-to-tour records for a band like Pearl Jam. But in my mind, this is a group that keeps on giving. This is every bit as gentle as it is rocking, as cynical as it is hopeful...a very balanced and focused album. Some are calling it their best since Yield. I'm not sure if I'd hand that to them just yet, but for what it's worth this is a great album.
Phantom Planet The Guest
Phrase Babylon
Pixies Doolittle
PJ Harvey Rid of Me
Horrible recording and production quality are the main detractor from the record. Whilst we currently face a loudness war, this record suffers its antithesis- you actually have to turn it up a great deal to hear anything. Having said that, there is some excellent, dirty blues to be found here once you have achieved the correct volume- the highlight, naturally, being the filthy "Fifty Foot Queenie". Predominanty a hardcore-fans-only affair, but the best thing to take from the record is that things only got better from here.
Placebo Sleeping with Ghosts
Poison the Well The Tropic Rot
Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
Powderfinger Vulture Street
Primus Green Naugahyde
Protest the Hero Fortress
R.E.M. Murmur
R.E.M. Monster
R.E.M. New Adventures in Hi-Fi
R.E.M. The Best of R.E.M.
R.E.M. Live From Austin, TX
Radiohead The Best Of
Radiohead The King of Limbs
Arguably the most lucid thing Radiohead have ever recorded. This is a smooth, spaced-out jazzy cruise that relies heavily on the atmospherics and ambience created within it. It's not one of their best albums by any stretch, but it's very easy listening and engaging in that ever-intriguing post-OK Computer style that reminds you that Radiohead are changing the questions just as you've figured out the answers.
Rage Against the Machine Renegades
Rammstein Reise, Reise
Ramones We're Outta Here!
Red Hot Chili Peppers Freaky Styley
Rihanna Loud
Rise Against The Unraveling
Rise Against The Sufferer and the Witness
Roadrunner United The All-Star Sessions
Rufus Wainwright Rufus Wainwright
Saliva Back Into Your System
Santigold Master of My Make-Believe
Saosin Saosin EP
Saosin Come Close
Satyricon Now, Diabolical
Scarling. So Long, Scarecrow
Scary Kids Scaring Kids The City Sleeps In Flames
Scum Gospels For The Sick
Seasick Steve I Started Out With Nothin'
Semi Precious Weapons We Love You
Serj Tankian Elect the Dead
Sigur Ros Valtari
Silverback Bigger Than Beijing EP
Silverchair The Best Of: Vol. 1
Simon and Garfunkel Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
Sloan Never Hear The End Of It
Sonic Youth Dirty
Soundtrack (Film) Ghost World
Soundtrack (Film) Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture
Soundtrack (Film) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Sparta Porcelain
Spice Girls Spice
Spice Girls Spiceworld
Spiderbait Tonight Alright
St. Vincent Strange Mercy
Staind Break The Cycle
Strung Out Exile In Oblivion
Surfer Blood Astro Coast
Switchfoot The Beautiful Letdown
Taking Back Sunday Louder Now
Taylor Swift Fearless
Look at all of you pretending you wouldn't pee in her butt the first chance you got.
Taylor Swift Speak Now
Okay, so it's way too long and some of these songs were in serious need of editing. That said, this is home to some of her best work yet - very cute, very energetic and genuinely lovely. T-Sweezy is off heezy, biznitches.
Tegan and Sara If It Was You
Tegan and Sara Sainthood
Tenacious D Rize of the Fenix
The All-American Rejects Move Along
The Beach Boys That's Why God Made The Radio
The Beatles A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles Please Please Me
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles Anthology 1
The Black Eyed Peas Elephunk
The Black Keys Brothers
The Butterfly Effect Imago
The Chariot Wars and Rumors of Wars
The Chariot Long Live
The Cure Disintegration
The Fratellis Costello Music
The Getaway Plan Requiem
The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
The Hives Lex Hives
The Hold Steady Separation Sunday
The Horrible Crowes Elsie
The JaneDear Girls The JaneDear Girls
The Kills Keep On Your Mean Side
The Like Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?
The Like Release Me
The Offspring The Offspring
The Offspring Conspiracy of One
The Presets Beams
The Rasmus Dead Letters
The Shins Wincing the Night Away
The Shins Port of Morrow
The Starting Line Say It Like You Mean It
The Temper Trap Conditions
The Thermals Now We Can See
The Used Lies for the Liars
The View Which Bitch?
The Vines Winning Days
The White Stripes De Stijl
The Whitest Boy Alive Rules
The Wonder Years The Upsides
Thirty Seconds to Mars 30 Seconds To Mars
Let me tell you a story, boys and girls, about a time when Jared Leto wasn't content on being the most intolerable rockstar douchebag this side of Bono. He actually had an idea on how to make some pretty listenable space rock. Still amazingly pretentious dickwad, but you'll be damned if Capricorn, Echelon and Buddha for Mary aren't freaking awesome tunes. Time flies, huh. Wonder what his pink mohawk is up to these days...
Thirty Seconds to Mars A Beautiful Lie
Tiesto Kaleidoscope
Tinted Windows Tinted Windows
Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Touche Amore Live at WERS 7"
Trash Talk 119
Trivium Ascendancy
Trivium Shogun
TTNG This Town Needs Guns
TV on the Radio OK Calculator
TV on the Radio New Health Rock
Tyler, the Creator Bastard
Tzar Bomber Melt On Like This EP
Underoath They're Only Chasing Safety
Usher Looking 4 Myself
Van Halen Diver Down
Van She V
Various Artists (Rock) Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
Violent Soho We Don't Belong Here
Walls of Jericho With Devils Amongst Us All
Women can be scary sometimes, but not even your manipulative ex can hold a candle to a woman brave enough to front a metal band. Whilst Candace Kucsulain doesn't have the borderline-demonic grit of Angela Gossow, she still commands with brutal, tirade-spouting vocals which are backed perfectly by howling guitars and unrelenting blasts of drums.
Of course, many of the breakdowns are ill-fitting, and their movement into ballad territory most probably should have been avoided. What's good on here, however, is simply exceptional. A diverse, unapologetic and apocalyptic release from a band that can only get better.
Warpaint The Fool
Wavves King of the Beach
Wavves Life Sux
Weezer The Red Album
Weird Al Yankovic Poodle Hat
Weird Al Yankovic Straight Outta Lynwood
Weird Al Yankovic Internet Leaks
Who's Driving? Bear's Driving! There's No Easy Way to Say This...
Wolfmother Wolfmother
WU LYF Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Is Is
Yellow Ostrich Strange Land
Yo La Tengo Popular Songs
You Am I #4 Record
You Me At Six Sinners Never Sleep
Yuck Yuck

3.0 good
3 Doors Down Away from the Sun
50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin'
In Da Club is a certified smash. Patiently Waiting is explosive. P.I.M.P. is still ridiculous fun. Many Men (Wish Death) is the greatest thing he has ever put his name to in his entire career. Sure, 50 may as well be serving out a life sentence in Hell now; but when this dropped the motherfucker was practically untouchable. 3.5 - 4 rating for its time, but for now it's just a good record. Quite good.
AC/DC Live at Donington
Ahh, Acca Dacca. In the studio, they haven't been relevant in the slightest since 1980. Live, however, they remain one of the most exciting and enjoyable acts around. This massive performance is no exception to this rule- even the mediocre tracks from their Johnson-era records rock and roll with the best of their classic tracks. The highlight here, however, is a ten-minute plus rendition of "Jailbreak", with an intense breakdown that the highly enthusiastic crowd laps up.
Adam Green Minor Love
AFI The Art of Drowning
AFI Answer That and Stay Fashionable
AFI Crash Love
Akercocke Words That Go Unspoken...
alt-J An Awesome Wave
Anberlin New Surrender
Andrew Bird Armchair Apocrypha
Arch Enemy Khaos Legions
Architecture In Helsinki Places Like This
Arctic Monkeys Suck It and See
At the Drive-In El Gran Orgo
Atreyu Congregation of the Damned
Augie March Strange Bird
August Burns Red Constellations
Avenged Sevenfold City of Evil
Avril Lavigne Under My Skin
Backstreet Boys Backstreet's Back
Beach House Teen Dream
Beastie Boys To the 5 Boroughs
Benjamin Gibbard Former Lives
Bernard Fanning Tea & Sympathy
Beyonce B'Day
Bliss N Eso Running On Air
Blood Orange Coastal Grooves
Brandon Flowers Flamingo
Bridezilla The First Dance
Bruce Springsteen Working on a Dream
Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Cat Power Sun
Circle Takes the Square As the Roots Undo
First things first- this is not a user friendly record. Chances are you'll be like myself and have an initial bad reaction to the album. Most, however, have gone on to speak godlike praises of it.
Certainly, there is evidence of a band with a lot of potential here- "An Interview At The Ruins" is a particularly great display of what the band can do, featuring emphatic guitar, loud erratic drums and unexpected shifts in tone. The build-ups, changes in tempo and sudden explosions of full-band accompaniment makes for very interesting listening, certainly assisting it in standing out amongst their contemporaries. It is a redundant argument to oppose the genuine passion that has gone into this release, as well- despite the awful mix and production, this is certainly a finished product constructed with a lot of heart.
With this in mind, there is still undoubtedly a lot here that simply does not work- "Same Shade As Concrete" is decidedly awful and unlistenable for the most part, and both "Kill The Switch" and "A Crater to Cough In" are ridiculously overlong and pointlessly stretched, despite having some interesting sections.
The vocalists, too, have much room for improvement- not even gargantuan truckloads of emotion can stop the screams from predominantly sounding thin, uncomfortable and ugly, occasionally spoiling the song.
Without a doubt, As The Roots Undo is NOT a classic, hyperbole-inducing release that many build it up to be. Having said that, it's not as awful as I once thought it to be.
City and Colour Live
After witnessing Dallas Green in concert earlier in the year, both by himself and with Alexisonfire, I am more than aware of his amazing talents as both a vocalist and a guitarist. This is more than present here as he belts out the bulk of his album, Sometimes. As an overall performance, however, far too much time is spent on (very) small talk and tuning of his guitar. Also, the release of the product also feels like a bit of a cash cow. Still, for what's on offer here, it's not half bad.
Cloud Nothings Cloud Nothings
Coldplay X&Y
Cradle of Filth Midian
Cut Copy In Ghost Colours
Cynic Focus
Daft Punk Human After All
Dash and Will Up in Something
David McCormack Little Murders
Demi Lovato Here We Go Again
Dimmu Borgir Stormblåst MMV
Dr. Dre 2001
DragonForce Inhuman Rampage
Dropkick Murphys Going Out In Style
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Up From Below
Eminem Relapse
Evanescence Evanescence
Evermore Truth of the World: Welcome to the Show
Ezekiel Ox Winter In Suburbia
Most will know Ezekiel Ox as the lead singer of now-defunct funk metal kings Mammal. It's a completely different story here, as Ox turns his attention to the tender singer-songwriter stylings. It's a pleasant enough collection of songs but the fact they're all mid-tempo acoustic numbers results in the album lapsing into several boring sections. Best to keep this one to devotees of Mammal, and Ox in particular. It simply doesn't have enough personality to appeal much further than that.
Faith No More Introduce Yourself
Fear Factory Mechanize
Feist Metals
Five 5ive
Florence and the Machine Ceremonials
Foo Fighters There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
An interesting one. Top musicianship is especially present in Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners, with some hugely impressive guitar work in accompaniment with the gorgeous Kaki King. One can also count The Pretender and Let It Die as some of the strongest singles the band has ever released. This isn't perfect, but it's still a solid rock record.
Frenzal Rhomb Forever Malcolm Young
From First to Last From First to Last
Garbage Not Your Kind of People
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 4
Gorillaz The Fall
Graham Coxon A+E
Grinspoon Alibis & Other Lies
Grizzly Bear Shields
Gwen Stefani The Sweet Escape
Hawthorne Heights Skeletons
Hole Nobody's Daughter
Hoodoo Gurus Purity of Essence
Hot Hot Heat Elevator
I Killed the Prom Queen Music for the Recently Deceased
Incubus (USA-CA) Fungus Amongus
Incubus (USA-CA) When Incubus Attacks, Vol. 1
Incubus (USA-CA) Light Grenades
Infant Sorrow Get Him To The Greek
Iwrestledabearonce Ruining It for Everybody
Jack Johnson In Between Dreams
Jack Johnson Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for Curious George
James Blunt Some Kind of Trouble
Jay-Z The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z and Linkin Park Collision Course
I ordered a frappucino! Where's my fucking frappucino?
JEFF the Brotherhood Hypnotic Nights
Joey Ramone Don't Worry About Me
Jonsi and Alex Riceboy Sleeps
Justin Bieber My Worlds Acoustic
Justin Timberlake Justified
Katy Perry One of the Boys
You can get angry at this record all you like. And rightly so- the Avril tomboy antics of "One of the Boys", the whiny and immature "Ur So Gay" and the lame man-hating "Mannequin" are all bland, strained in its attempts to be unique and generally irritating. At times, I'd even give this record less than one star. But, then, it happens: the "Rock and Roll Part 2" drums kick in, the swinging guitars and stomping bass follows..."I Kissed A Girl" is the synth-pop hit of the year, regardless of what interpretation one makes of the song's lyrics. With singles like this, along with her drop-dead-gorgeous looks and musical ability, One of the Boys certainly shows plenty of potential. Here's hoping...
Kelly Clarkson Breakaway
Kings of Leon Live at the O2 London, England
Leonard Cohen Various Positions
Les Claypool Of Fungi and Foe
Linkin Park Meteora
Man Overboard Man Overboard
Maroon 5 Hands All Over
Matt and Kim Grand
Miley Cyrus The Time of Our Lives
Mindless Self Indulgence If
Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Mumford and Sons Babel
Murderdolls Beyond The Valley of the Murderdolls
Neil Young Fork in the Road
No Age Nouns
It's a very noisy, very lo-fi record. You could honestly just leave it there; the main issue to be had with Nouns is its distinct lack of highlights and continuous struggle to evidence truly quality songsmanship. When a good tune emerges out of the distortion, however rare it may be, one begins to get a better comprehension of just why people enjoy this band so much. Mostly, however, Nouns leaves you in the dark in terms of the band's critical success. It's just noisy lo-fi.
Obie Trice Cheers
One Day as a Lion One Day as a Lion
One Direction Up All Night
Over-Reactor Lose Your Delusion: Vol. 1
So, Zeke Ox pisses off everyone to the point where literally his entire band leaves. Whatevs, get back on the horse, right? For the next in what has turned out to be a shitload of projects, he's hooked up with the drummer from Dukes of Windsor ("boys, lookin' for love, a young man needs violence" etc). It kinda feels like that band We Are The Fallen with all the ex-Evanescence people making music that sounds exactly like Evanescence. This is Mammal without the catchy choruses, a limited set of ideas and Zeke's same "me against everything" lyrical mentality. It's not bad by any means, but it's safe and it's too long by any stretch of the imagination. For fans only.
Owl City Ocean Eyes
P.O.D. Satellite
Parkway Drive Killing with a Smile
Patrick Stump Soul Punk
Paul Banks Banks
Paul Kelly Ways & Means
Pearl Jam Riot Act
Pendulum Hold Your Colour
Person L The Positives
Pink I'm Not Dead
Pink M!ssundaztood
Placebo Meds
Powderfinger Dream Days At The Hotel Existence
Puddle of Mudd Come Clean
Puscifer "V" Is For Vagina
R.E.M. Around the Sun
Radiohead Hail to the Thief
Rammstein Live aus Berlin
Ramones It's Alive
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You
Regurgitator Mish Mash!
Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don't
Rihanna Talk That Talk
Robyn Body Talk Pt. 2
Saliva Cinco Diablo
Scissor Sisters Ta-Dah
Seether Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
The South African nu-metallers ride again. Ho hum.
It was going to be a real task bettering the excellent Karma and Effect- quite evidently one that the band could not do. The solution was certainly not attempting to recreate the record in a half-baked and uninspired way, as the bulk of this record is. They were certainly on the right track with the sensational single "Fake It" and the thundering jam of "No Jesus Christ", however.
Better luck next time.
Semi Precious Weapons You Love You
Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Skyway Take These Days
Skyway Finders Keepers
Something For Kate Desert Lights
Sparta Wiretap Scars
Sugar Army The Parallels Amongst Ourselves
Sum 41 Does This Look Infected?
Switchfoot Oh!
System of a Down Hypnotize
T-Pain Thr33 Ringz
t.A.T.u. 200 km/H In The Wrong Lane
Tenacious D The Pick of Destiny
The Academy Is... Almost Here
The Academy Is... Santi
The Butterfly Effect Final Conversation of Kings
The Carnage Visors Midnight Curfew [EP]
The Cat Empire Two Shoes
The Chariot Everything Is Alive, Everything Is...
The Fratellis Here We Stand
The Getaway Plan Other Voices, Other Rooms
The Horrors Strange House
The Kills Blood Pressures
The Living End Roll On
The Lonely Island Turtleneck and Chain
The Mars Volta Scab Dates
The Mars Volta Noctourniquet
The National Alligator
The Nightwatchman One Man Revolution
The Offspring Splinter
The Rasmus Hide from the Sun
The Smith Street Band South East Facing Wall
The Starting Line Direction
The Story So Far Under Soil and Dirt
The Subways Young For Eternity
The Thrills Teenager
Irish quintet The Thrills have brought out their third album quietly and with little promotion. While there are some fantastic tunes on here, and Connor Deasy still knows how to write and sing a good tune, you can't help but feel that something is missing in this album. The band seem out of inspiration at times, and a little tired. Give this album a go, by all means, but for the most part it's fans only.
The Used In Love and Death
The Vines Vision Valley
The Vines Future Primitive
The White Room White Room Music
The White Stripes The White Stripes
The White Stripes Icky Thump
The xx xx
They Might Be Giants The Else
Thirty Seconds to Mars This Is War
This Time Next Year Drop Out Of Life
Thursday Common Existence
U2 U218 Singles
U2 No Line on the Horizon
Usher Here I Stand
Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
Van Halen A Different Kind of Truth
Various Artists (Hip Hop) Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
Weezer The Green Album
Weird Al Yankovic Alpocalypse
WWE Forceable Entry
You Am I Convicts

2.5 average
AC/DC The Razors Edge
Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Acoustic
Alkaline Trio This Addiction
Angie Hart Eat My Shadow
Arctic Monkeys Humbug
Crying Lightning is one of their finest singles, Dangerous Animals is a display of what could have been and Dance Little Liar is a brief, but nonetheless worthy, flashback to their roots. Not much else fares so well in this album, which seems to only have a small amount of ideas that are already being spread thin enough. Instead of unlocking the beast within the band, Josh Homme instead appears to have put the dungeon dragon back to sleep.
Atreyu The Curse
Augie March Moo, You Bloody Choir
Beastie Boys Solid Gold Hits
Ben Kweller Ben Kweller
So Ben Kweller has made himself a record all by himself, playing all the instruments. This is all well and good, but here's the problem- nearly half the tracks here are just...dull. There's no life, no spiteful energy that charged his earlier records- just some cruisy old-time pop music. There are some lovely tunes here- Sundress and Nothing Happening are highlights- and closing track "This Is War" brings the record a jolt of electricity. But ultimately, Kweller plays it too safe, and too many niceties have made for his worst album. Sorry, Ben. Better luck next time!
Beyonce I Am... Sasha Fierce
Black Kids Partie Traumatic
blink-182 Neighborhoods
British India Guillotine
Bruce Springsteen The Rising
Christina Aguilera Stripped
Daft Punk Tron: Legacy
Darkest Hour The Eternal Return
Darren Hayes Secret Codes and Battleships
Disturbed Indestructible
DragonForce Sonic Firestorm
Eagles Very Best Of
There's no denying the impact the Eagles have had on rock music, particularly throughout the seventies with classic records like Desperado and the brilliant Hotel California. There's also no denying that the classic rock radio staples that are their singles collection is also fairly impressive.
So why, pray tell, do we need "all the hits" repackaged for us once again? Other Eagles compilations are far more detailed, and often with a better song selection. This, however, is a hugely predictable affair, badly tracklisted and ignoring some of the lesser commercial successes (but genuinely better songs). If you're after a real Eagles collection, you cannot go past the 2003 double disc "The Very Best of The Eagles" anthology. This, however, is best left on the shelf for completists and those who aren't sure where to start with the band (for the record, it's got to be Hotel California).
Eiffel 65 Europop
Eminem Encore
Eric Clapton Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton
Clapton peaked with Cream. Yeah, I said it. I'll say it again if I need to. Play "Layla" and piss off, old man.
Faith No More The Very Best
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy's Evening Out With Your Girlfriend
From First to Last Throne to the Wolves
Where does Throne to the Wolves stand in the great scheme of things in relation to FFTL? It's not as good as their self-titled (read: best) record, but still miles ahead of both Heroine and Dear Diary. There's some exceptionally catchy stuff here, but also plenty of filler ("Chyeaaaah!" and "A Soft War" to name a few). Despite their best efforts, it's really not here nor there as a studio release. Perhaps they've played it a little too safe this time around?
G-Unit Beg For Mercy
Good Charlotte The Young And The Hopeless
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown
Hawthorne Heights The Silence in Black and White
Interpol Our Love to Admire
Jack Johnson To the Sea
James Blunt Back To Bedlam
Jessie J Who You Are
Justin Bieber My World
omggg sooo gheyy its lyk pop wut dat shits gheyy lololool metl 4lyf
Anyway, Bieber will shit in your fishtank bro
Kaiser Chiefs Off With Their Heads
Killing Joke MMXII
Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage (2009)
Last Dinosaurs In A Million Years
Leonard Cohen Old Ideas
Limp Bizkit Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
I like this more a lot more than I should - and I shouldn't like it at all.
Still, put on that second half of the album and I'm sold, particularly when Boiler and Hold On come on. Borland is reasonably talented and one of the more under-rated forces of nu-metal at the time, and this record assists in validating said theory. Of course it's all gone to hell since then, but there was a time when it was slightly cool. Slightly.
Linkin Park Living Things
Little Birdy Confetti
Marilyn Manson Eat Me, Drink Me
Matchbox Twenty North
Matt Van Schie Balmy Nights EP
Metallica St. Anger
Moby Wait for Me
My Chemical Romance I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
Neil Young Everybody's Rockin'
Neil was onto some weird shit in the eighties. Following a vocoder-filled electronica album in Trans, he made a half-hour of rockabilly and fifties rock. A fun idea in theory, but most of the songs here are just plain boring - it's an album that sleeps on ideas, with its kind of music already done and Young himself making no attempts to improve or personalise it. Have a listen to "Payola Blues" to get an idea of what was going on, but it's probably best to leave this one for collectors and die-hards only. Go and get Harvest, you little shit.
Nelly Nellyville
You really wanna put your feet on my rug, doncha?
Piiiimp juuuuuiiiiice
Nelly Furtado Mi Plan
Neon Indian Psychic Chasms
Nickelback Silver Side Up
The last substantial Nickelback release. And before you say that there weren't any, just listen to "How You Remind Me," the rough-and-tumble "Never Again", the gritty "Where Do I Hide" and the country-influenced closer "Good Times Gone." They serve as both album highlights and proof that not all was once lost on Chad Kroeger and co. Easily the closest Nickelback have come to achieving their desired sound on a major label without taking it too far.
Nickelback All the Right Reasons
The infamous Canadians were battling slightly poorer sales after the dismal Silver Side Up sequel, The Long Road. Within a few hit singles from this record, however, the band were right back on track as soulless stadium fillers. Sure, the production is tight as ever, it's a complete improvement from The Long Road and it even features some of the band's best songs ("If Everyone Cared", "Savin' Me"). Having said that, there's still not nearly enough on this record that makes it worth a start-to-finish listen: "Animals" is laughably un-subtle, "Far Away" is thickly layered with cheese and the irony of "Rockstar" is completely lost when you think that Chad Kroger most probably does all the things he mentions in the song. Keep a few songs for your guilty pleasures iTunes playlist, but the rest is not worth your time.
Oasis Don't Believe the Truth
Pink Funhouse
Pink Greatest Hits... So Far!!!
Placebo Battle for the Sun
Powderfinger Golden Rule
Queen Absolute Greatest
Queen and Paul Rodgers The Cosmos Rocks
Rammstein Rosenrot
Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium
Rihanna A Girl Like Me
Rise Against Appeal to Reason
Robbie Williams Greatest Hits
Sam Sparro Sam Sparro
Say Anything Say Anything
Scars on Broadway Scars on Broadway
Snow Patrol Fallen Empires
Soundtrack (Film) Moulin Rouge! - Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film
Sufjan Stevens The Age of Adz
Boy, those are some cool demos, Sufjan! Though, I think your drum machine is broken - might want to fix that up. Now, any chance of that album we were talking about?
Switchfoot Oh! Gravity.
An unfortunately huge dissapointment given the top quality record that was Nothing Is Sound. The band sound tired and out of ideas, and only a few songs actually go anywhere. The track "Circles" describes more than it means to with its chorus: "Spinning...in circles...in circles...in circles".
Taking Back Sunday New Again
Taking Back Sunday aren't new again. New implies freshness, uniqueness, originality. Practically everything that New Again is not - despite a catchy hook or two thrown in every now and then, Adam Lazzara and co. sound tired, almost lethargic - a shadow of their former selves; a rock band capable of pop perfection. For the diehard fans of the band only, this album shall most probably be perceived retrospectively as another nail in the Taking Back Sunday coffin.
The Answer Everyday Demons
The Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business
The Cat Empire Cinema
The Flaming Lips At War with the Mystics
The Hold Steady Stay Positive
The Smashing Pumpkins Oceania
The Used Vulnerable
The Veronicas Hook Me Up
The Wiggles Yummy Yummy
Three Days Grace One-X
Tokyo Police Club Champ
Two Door Cinema Club Beacon
Underoath 777 (DVD)
Underoath are a great band, any bozo could tell you that. However, watching an hour of them fucking about on tour and then getting less than ten songs of live footage from a MySpace session isn't exactly a quality DVD release. Their later full-scale performance DVD of Survive, Kaleidoscope owns this, so go and get yourself that. Good girl.
Weezer Raditude

2.0 poor
AC/DC Stiff Upper Lip
All Time Low So Wrong, It's Right
One thing I cannot comprehend is the success of so many pop punk bands that have follow the exact same formula. Such a band is All Time Low. Given, you can sing along happily to the chorus of Six Feet Under The Stars, and the band have a little more heart than, say, Cute is What We Aim For. But catchiness alone cannot save an entire record of the same kind of song; and having more heart than CIWWAF isn't exactly a huge feat. Perhaps when they've cut their teeth a little more over the course of a bit more touring and recording, we'll see All Time Low reach higher potential. Until then, we're stuck with this dross. Ho hum.
Atreyu Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses
Atreyu The Best of Atreyu
Audioslave Revelations
You could go on about how soulless and hollow Revelations sounds. You could rant about how bored Morello sounds with sports-montage guitar rock, how tired and forced Cornell sounds in his vocal delivery and the dire attempts at stadium rock (only coming slightly close with "Original Fire" and the title track). But really, everything about this record, as we would eventually find out, can be summed up with one song title: Nothing Left To Say But Goodbye.
Thanks for the memories, Audioslave. Now let's just forget this ever happened.
Ben Folds Way To Normal
Ben Lee Ripe
Congrats, Mr. Lee- you have officially taken out the title of The Biggest Dissapointment of The Year. The songs have become bland, the lyrics uninspired and starkly in contrast to his former records, and not even a couple of good singles (Love Me Like The World Is Ending and Numb) can save this. It's a step backwards from the already mainstream-leaning Awake Is The New Sleep when it could have been something so great in terms of pop music. I usually hate elitists who only like the "old school" music- but in this case, I am more than happy to make an exception. Oh, to think I used to hold you in such high regard...
Beyonce 4
Carpathian Isolation
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera
Circa Survive Juturna
Creed Greatest Hits
Disturbed The Sickness
YARRRGHHH DON'T DO IT AGAIN MOMMY
Django Django Django Django
DragonForce Ultra Beatdown
Enrique Iglesias Euphoria
Eskimo Joe Inshalla
Big, serious music for big, serious listeners of inoffensive and unambitious shiny pop-rock. The band capable of writing mesmerising music are only memorable here when they're being irritating - the dying swan noise that opens "Foreign Land" is a good example of this. Inshalla is an extravagantly uninteresting affair. Hands off the cocks and back onto the songwriting pens, Eskies.
Evanescence The Open Door
Evermore Dreams
Foster the People Torches
Frenzal Rhomb Shut Your Mouth
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album
I can Gleek out with the best of them, honest. But I draw the fucking line at a Christmas album. I've said it before and I'll say it again, anyone who makes a Christmas album is going to hell. Except Bob Dylan. Anyway, "Last Christmas" on this with Rachel and Finn rules, but the rest is so fucking cheesy. Yeah, even for Glee. Don't get this.
Good Charlotte Good Charlotte
Hands Like Houses Ground Dweller
Harvey Milk Life... The Best Game in Town
Was I supposed to like this? Do I lose cool points if I say it's miserable, monotonous trash with next to no redeeming features? What's that? I should just keep it to myself? Very well, then. Oh wait, I'm writing this right now. No turning back now, I guess.
Hawthorne Heights Fragile Future
Jonas Brothers Lines, Vines and Trying Times
Let's delete this album from iTunes. Well, most of it, at least. Tracks like "World War III" and "Poison Ivy" are not only fucking irritating, they're also home to some of the most sexually-frustrated vocals in pop music today - guess those promise rings were a mistake, 'ey lads? What to keep: the gorgeous piano-pop of "Fly With Me" (complete with epic keychange), the cutesy fun of "Paranoid" and the track with Common (because, come on! It's Common!). Their best release so far, but the Brothers still have a fuck-tonne of work to do.
Kasabian Kasabian
Kram Mix Tape
Lady Sovereign Jigsaw
Mika Life in Cartoon Motion
Nobody's saying that kitschy, camp pop can't be fun and likable. When it's done like this, however, in full spirit-finger form, it eventually makes one stabby. Away from the Queen-aping "Grace Kelly" and the charming "My Interpretation", you're left with MOR dross ("Relax, Take It Easy") and overly-boppy driving music ("Love Today"). Potential shown, but rarely impacted upon. Approach with caution.
Miley Cyrus Breakout
MM9 The Air Between
Motion City Soundtrack Go
Muse The Resistance
MMMMYEAHHH WE'RE IN A WARRRR AND THEYYYY WON'TTT WINNNN BECAUSEE I'M A WIZZZARDDD AND I'M IN LOOOOOVE AND LOOOOOVE CONQUERS ALLLL SO LET'S FIIIIIIIIIIGHTTTT MMMMYEAHHHH fin.
Nickelback The Long Road
Nine Black Alps Love/Hate
OutKast Idlewild
P.O.D. Payable on Death
Papa Roach The Paramour Sessions
Pendulum In Silico
Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon
Rick Astley Whenever You Need Somebody
Robbie Williams Sing When You're Winning
Saosin Translating the Name
Although Saosin would go onto great success, as would Anthony Green with Circa Survive, the two combined at this early stage of their career is really raw - and not in the good way, like you want. Green's voice is shrill and scratchy, still trying to find its feet. The band themselves, meanwhile, lapse far too much into generic structure for many of the songs to become particularly interesting. A good band with a good singer, but in a way it's kind of like the Audioslave of 2000s post-hardcore. They really worked better away from one another.
Secret And Whisper Great White Whale
Set Your Goals Mutiny!
There was hype and worship behind THIS? Sure, they're unique in the fact they have two vocalists- but this is quickly discarded when the only time you can tell the two apart is when they speak on the title track. Without direction (do they want to be pop-punk? Rock? Punk rock? Hardcore?), without any real talent at their instruments (typical guitar, inaudible bass, typical 4/4 rawk beats) and without anything relevant to say, Set Your Goals really need to do just that. And this time, achieve them.
Sleigh Bells Reign of Terror
Spice Girls Forever
The All-American Rejects When the World Comes Down
The Almost Monster, Monster
The Fray How to Save a Life
The Jezabels Dark Storm
You could refer to The Jezabels as a poor man's Tori Amos. Or a poor man's Megan Washington. Maybe even a poor man's Wendy Matthews. The truth of the matter, however, is that a poor man's Jezabels is The Jezabels themselves. Bland, uninspired and hopefully a part of a passing fad.
The Jezabels Prisoner
All style and no substance, The Jezabels make the kind of dull-as-dishwater AOR that resides squarely in the middle of the road. Brooding and self-serious to the point of hilarity, the band inadvertently express everything about the current batch of chart-topping Australian acts that is just plain boring. There's no heart or personality to be found, just some psuedo-atmospheric bullshit for indie kids to sob to and festival bogans to put proudly next to their Coastal Chill and Xavier Rudd records. This mediocrity might seem harmless, but it's slowly eating away at the core of Australian music and needs to be stopped. Right away.
The Middle East I Want That You Are Always Happy
Where do you go after penning one of the greatest songs in Australian music history all before you've released a debut album? Seemingly, in the Middle East's case, down a long and painful slope into sepia mediocrity. The magic of "Blood," the game-changing life-affirmer that started it all, is long gone on I Want That You Are Always Happy, in its place a dreary monotone that weeps, moans and mumbles for over an hour. Taking listeners on a meandering, uneventful journey that leaves them none the wiser on whatever the band is rambling on about, the entire affair is one of sore, devastating disappointment. Not long after its release, the band burned out and announced their split. Can you really blame them?
The Used Artwork
The Veronicas The Secret Life Of...
Trivium The Crusade
Underoath Ø (Disambiguation)
The slash over the O is actually meant to represent you covering your mouth as you yawn while listening to this record.
WWE WWE The Music: A New Day
Young Heretics We Are The Lost Loves

1.5 very poor
3OH!3 Want
Lol. More like "DO NOT WANT". Amirite, fellas?
Airbourne Runnin' Wild
Put on the worst AC/DC album you can think of. Now beat your head against a wall repeatedly in time with the music. Congratulations, you have just experienced Runnin' Wild.
Avril Lavigne The Best Damn Thing
It was going to go to Hell eventually. After she dropped the whole wearing neckties and trashing the mall dealio, she dyed her hair pink and started playing with the uglier side of her pop elements. While her whiny post-Alanis pop-rock style was once upon a time not only tolerable, but enjoyable, this just comes across as torturous - not to mention trying way too hard. Nothing works here, and she's got no-one to blame but herself.
Behind Crimson Eyes A Revelation For Despair
Few records give out an immediately negative response. But upon hearing this album, the first words I said? "Are you fucking serious?".
To put it lightly, this band is a joke- everything from the black-clad desperate fashion to the hugely irritating vocals. Even when they try and get quasi-political on "The Bonesman", it again results in the band embarrassing themselves. A very poor release from five sadly-potential-filled young men with dollar signs in their eyes.
Billy Talent Billy Talent III
Problem: Have made two respectable, catchy, well-produced and very energetic pop-punk records with a rock edge.
Solution: Make a third that completely drains all life and energy out of the music that made you popular to begin with.
Birds Of Tokyo Birds Of Tokyo
Dear Kenny,
Be less shit. You used to be one of my vocal heroes before you phoned in this particular piece of shit. Your home is in Karnivool, stop wrecking everything with the pedo-looking dude, the pro-wrestler looking dude and the boring drummer dude. Fuck you.

Best,
Atavan
Bon Jovi Crossroad
Boys Like Girls Boys Like Girls
British India Thieves
One of the most hollow, derivative, uninspired and generally weak bands that continues to plague Australia's live rock scene, British India look, play and sound like they couldn't give a fuck about anything - and that is most certainly not a compliment. As Declan Melia howls and groans in perfect monotone, the rest of the band thrashes about in what feels like a feeble attempt at rocking out. It's not appetising in the slightest, ultimately summing up what a few cashed-up bogans can do with switched on amplifiers and not doing a great deal for anyone or anything else - least of all themselves.
Bullet for My Valentine The Poison: Live at Brixton Academy
From the opening shots of the plethora of black-clad scenesters, we know we're in for something terrible. As the four members of Bullet for my Valentine take the stage, this is only confirmed even more. Like a poor man's Trivium, they generically "rock" the crowd, "shred" on their guitars and "thrash" like only a metalcore-by-numbers band can. Matt Tuck howls excitedly throughout, overwhelmed that people actually enjoy this t(h)rash- hell, I'm amazed myself.
Creed Weathered
Def Leppard Hysteria
A landmark, classic album...if Bon Jovi is the closest you come to heavy metal. Cheesy, overproduced rubbish that represents some of the eighties' worst trends. Even Poison did better than this shit. You can pour some sugar on me all you like, but Hysteria is a turd rolled in glitter.
Demi Lovato Unbroken
Eric Hutchinson Sounds Like This
Oh wow! Hey guys! Check out that cute whiteboy over there! Gosh, isn't that vanilla, inoffensive, cheap and bland take on acoustic funk-pop just a joy to listen to? Let's all gather around! Oh, look! There's Perez Hilton! You just KNOW he's got great taste. Gosh, I'm having such a great time...
Sounds Like This? More like Sounds Like Shit.
Escape the Fate This War Is Ours
Evermore Real Life
Five Invincible
Glee Cast The Rocky Horror Glee Show
Good Charlotte The Chronicles of Life and Death
Gypsy and the Cat Gilgamesh
House Vs. Hurricane Forfeiture
Shit band, shit dudes, shit music. Bleep bleep RAWR chug chugga duh duhh duhhh.
INXS Switch
Did anyone honestly think that replacing one of the greatest frontmen of all time in Michael Hutchence was a good idea? And through a fucking Idol styled show of all things. It's not that JD Fortune can't sing, it's that the songwriting is incredibly lazy and the entire thing sounds and feels like a way for the Farriss brothers to get themselves out of debt. Take a listen to the real INXS and their real classic in Kick, and leave this down the shitter where it belongs.
Jason Mraz We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
Jenny Wilson Hardships!
Kasabian West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Lou Reed and Metallica Lulu
Marilyn Manson The High End of Low
Metro Station Metro Station
Nickelback Dark Horse
Nonpoint Miracle
Way back in 2001, Nonpoint released Miracle, an album filled with anger, downtuned riffs and hate-filled lyrics. It did incredibly well for a market that was thriving on nu-metal and...wait...this came out in 2010? Holy fuck. Why?
OneRepublic Dreaming Out Loud
Puddle of Mudd Famous
Rise Against Endgame
How the mighty have fallen. A long, embarrassing downward spiral from smart, politically aware, hook-driven punk-flavoured rock right into dumb, politically apathetic, hollow corporate rock. It started with The Sufferer and the Witness back in 2006 and it's ended up here, somewhere several kilometres below the bottom of the barrell. The passion and the heart that turned you into an RA fan to begin with is nowhere to be seen here. A damn shame.
Robbie Williams Swing When You're Winning
Saliva Survival of the Sickest
AHHM A ROLLAH AHHM A RIDAHHH A NUMBAHH ONEE MUTHHA FUKKN SURVIVAAHHHH YEHYEHYEHHHHHHHHHH
Enjoy that? No?
Then don't get this album.
Secret And Whisper Teenage Fantasy
Cove Reber takes on the vocal duties here (as he did on the self-titled EP) and he does a very good job of bringing his own strengths to the table while occasionally channeling Green to good effect. Still intact, the remainder of the band adjust fittingly and while the technicality and complexity of their musicianship still very much exists, it is toned down a little. This results in more of a melodic brand of post-hardcore rock that cynics would suggest too similarly sounds like many emo rock bands on the scene. To me though, it is a successful and satisfying balance.
Soulja Boy Souljaboytellem.com
Soundtrack (Film) Almost Alice
super FLORENCE jam super FLORENCE jam EP
Various Artists Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 OST

1.0 awful
AC/DC Black Ice
Black ice is ice frozen without many air bubbles trapped inside, making it transparent. Black ice takes the color of the material it lies on top of, often wet asphalt or a darkened pond. Its difficult-to-detect nature makes it a significant hazard to drivers, pedestrians, and sailors.
Anyway, album sucks.
Aiden Nightmare Anatomy
Thankfully the proverbial ship of manic depressive black-haired pigment-challenged teens has long since sailed. For awhile, though, bands like Aiden reigned supreme, making the kind of music that could be used as torture on terrorist suspects. Blood, vampires and destruction all delivered through a horrid, nasal tone...as the title might suggest, this album is truly the stuff nightmares are made of.
Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All
Long before Hannah Montanna and Metro Station, Billy Ray Cyrus kept his cracker seed inside his stonewashed denim jeans and saddled up his geetar. His mission? To make stadium country-pop that rarely got worse than it did on this horrific collection of drawling man's-man horseshit. If you've heard Achy Breaky Heart, you've essentially heard it all, but take it from one of the six million who have had to suffer through this record - AVOID. This truly is the root of all evil. And you thought "Shake It" was bad?
Christina Aguilera My Kind of Christmas
Yes, she may be my avatar, but everyone who has ever made a Christmas album is going to Hell. Except Bob Dylan.
Creations Ruined
They can claim they're doing it for God as long as they please. Nothing will change my mind on the fact that I think this is the work of Satan himself. It's absolutely hideous, turgid droning, repetitive in nature and offensive to even listen to casually. This is everything that is wrong with hardcore.
Cute Is What We Aim For Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch
Why, oh why, does this band exist? Surely the latest in a long line of clean-cut and positive-thinking pop-punk kids could have simply admired the work of their superiors (The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack, Fall Out Boy) from afar without feeling the need to pick up some instruments and veinly attempting to mimick them.
Everything about this band, you've heard and scene (pun intended) elsewhere. Whiny, incessant and repetitive vocals? Check. Lame song titles? Check. Unexciting and uninspired guitar? Check. Practically inaubible basslines that are most probably following the guitar? Check. You get the idea.
If you're looking for an inoffensive guitar pop singalong, then you're on the ball. For the rest of us, it's just the first two words of the album title, over and over and over.
Escape the Fate Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Truly atrocious. What we have here is a collection of songs by guys who didn't learn to play instruments for their love of music - they did it because they wanted cash, a big fuckoff tourbus, GHD straighteners and blowjobs from underage girls that comment their MySpace profile every single day. Escape The Fate is a product of its environment in the sense that they are completely artificial, transparent in their intentions and vapidly hollow in their songwriting. For all that is good and sacred, do not listen to this music if you are over the age of sixteen and you don't think Gerard Way is your saviour who truly cares about you as a person. Fuck this band. One of them is in jail, surely we can get the others in for crimes against both music and humanity.
From First to Last Heroine
About as lame, painful and unfunny as that "Emo" song by Adam and Andrew all those years ago. Except it's not trying to be a parody.
Good Charlotte Good Morning Revival
If an android dressed like a scene kid but added formal touches of ties and collared shirts, and then proceeded to take the biggest dump known to mankind, it would more or less be the same as this record.
Goodnight Nurse Always and Never
Y'know what's worse than a pop-punk band from Australia trying to sound like they're from America?
One from New Zealand.
High School Musical High School Musical
High School Musical High School Musical 2
Hillsong United United We Stand
Hillsong United are fucking evil. There is no two ways about this statement - they take every negative aspect of overzealous, shove-it-down-your-throat Christianity and add truckloads of syrupy, psuedo-inspirational horseshit over the top of it. They don't care about the positives or the morals - they just want your fucking money. There are no redeeming features of this music - it's not even by a band, it's by a corporation and for a corporation. Give me the Devil's music over this any day of the week.
Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe
Love the Biebs. Love him. My World 2.0 was awesome. Never Say Never is one of my favourite movies of the past 18 months. This? I can't deal. I HATE Christmas music. I fucking HATE it. Infuriates me. Especially when it contains the word "shawty" and RAPPING OVER LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. FGSFDS.
Kasabian Empire
Whilst this gang of trendy British geezers were never creating anything excellent in their early input, there were still a couple of catchy tracks here and there. Not so here - Kasabian has devolved into self-centred, plodding yeah-yeah-rock-n-roll. If the appalling title track doesn't deter you completely, try experiencing Shoot the Runner when you're not smashed in an indie nightclub. Pass.
Lana Del Rey Paradise
Liars Drum's Not Dead
Half-baked ideas from a completely baked trio of droning, incoherent stoner hipsters. If you shed the New York "cool" image and focus on the songs themselves, you'll be left with nothing but boredom and quite possibly a strong migraine. This doesn't even have anything to do with the fact the main bastard used to date Karen O - it's just poorly arranged drivel; almost anti-music. Pass.
Lordi The Arockalypse
Hands down, this is one of the most embarrassing pieces of music ever recorded in history. If I personally had any part to do with the writing, recording, production, mastering, manufacturing or subsequent commercial release of this album, I would kill myself. No two ways about it.
Nothing Rhymes With David Beard Logic Riddles
Nothing Rhymes With David Double Negative, All The Way!
Nothing Rhymes With David =
Nothing Rhymes With David Little Bear
Robbie Williams Rudebox
This album is all the proof you need that Robbie Williams has devolved into absolute nothing. The once-substantial pop icon has released an album which is contrived, arrogant, weightless and ultimately, entirely disposable. "Why you so nasty?". Good fucking qestion, Robbie. Answer it by never making any more music.
Rogue Traders Here Come The Drums
Uninspired electronic mess of an album. Former Neighbours vixen Natalie Bassingthwaite took up the mic for this record, but adds no personality or anything of genuine interest. When they're not attempting generic guitar-based dance/pop, they'll be busy at work ripping off other songs - "Voodoo Child" not only steals its title from the Hendrix song, but is a direct rip of Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up". Let's not forget "Watching You" and its little "My Sharona" thieving, either. Truly terrible music. How this ever got the green light is beyond me.
Saliva Blood Stained Love Story
I envy the man who makes it through this record start to finish more than twice. Given this band were responsible for the excellent Back Into Your System, it's almost depressing to see that this is what they spiralled into. Absolutely everything on this album has been done better, catchier and more efficiently- not just by other bands, but by Saliva themselves. Hearing Josey Scott drawl about how he's "The black sheep of the family" insinuates here that the rest of his family actually know how to write interesting songs.
Short Stack Stack is the New Black
With thick fringes and little girls' clothing, this trio from coastal New South Wales, Australia, give off a pretty good idea of what they do from their aesthetic get-go. However, things get far worse from this point. The greatest challenge the listeners of Stack is the New Black face is surviving for longer than ninety seconds on each song. You have been warned.
Short Stack This is Bat Country
Simple Plan No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls
Simple Plan Still Not Getting Any...
Skrillex Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
We're all adults here, right? I mean, we realise that this is absolute fucking shit from a dumbfuck scene kid who's worked with people from both Korn AND Limp Bizkit and sung in one of the worst faux-emo bands of the 2000s? This sounds like a robot taking a shit. Fuck this.
Story of the Year Page Avenue
Story of the Year are the musical equivalent of a brick wall. Lumbering, dull and often unnecessary, they will never serve any greater purpose - no matter how many kids graffiti upon it. Page Avenue epitomizes exactly why this band are awful - amateurish songwriting, uninspired riffing, whining vocals and the most cliched lyrics you'll find this side of a burning city for your heart.
Not recommended for persons over fifteen years.
The Audition Self-Titled Album
You probably hate pop-punk. Undersevedly, but you do. This album is more than likely the reason for your hatred - faceless, blank and wholly derivative junk that appeals to nobody over the age of fourteen. Vapid horseshit for the MySpace generation, you can trust that this record does NOT pass the Audition. Don't call us, we sure as fuck won't be calling you.
The Fray The Fray
To truly appreciate the lifelessness of this record, get yourself a copy. Then, buy a bucket of paint and a brush.
Find something to paint. Once you're done, put on the CD.
See where you last longer - watching and waiting for the paint to dry, or listening to The Fray.
The Galvatrons Laser Graffiti
On the level with Short Stack as being one of the worst acts Australia has produced this century, this retro-mongling gang of arsewipe poseurs put together shitty pop hooks with Van Halen-lite riffage with laughable results. Perhaps if more time was spent actually focusing on creating real music than clenching their fists and thrusting in the name of RAWK N ROLLLLLL there might be a chance for the Galvatrons.
Shyeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.
Various Artists (Punk) Punk Goes Crunk
Bands that aren't punk covering artists that aren't crunk. A release made for deadshits, by deadshits. Listen to this and burn in hell.
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