Average Rating: 3.57 Rating Variance: 0.73 Objectivity Score: 76% (Well Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicArcade Fire FuneralFuneral is an unforgettable classic from the 2000s. Arcade Fire rode onto the scene on an unrelenting wave of hype, which they lived up to, and are here to stay. Funeral is basically everything that people say it is. It's deeply personal and emotional, with a true, sincere heart beating at its core, wrapped up in a grand and sprawling baroque pop sound. While many bands have tried to copy Arcade Fire's brilliant combination of orchestra instruments and traditional rock band instruments, none do it quite as well as Arcade Fire does. I have no complaints about this album. Arcade Fire hits all the right notes with their debut release, and I think that many people will be very surprised if they ever top it. In fact, there may not be an album quite like Funeral for many, many years to come. Bruce Springsteen Born to RunWhat exactly is there to say about Bruce Springsteen that hasn't already been said by hundreds of music publications, adoring fans, and even casual music listeners? Bruce Springsteen is definitely one of the best rock artists, well, ever. He could actually rock, without trying too hard and without any pretensions. The band he assembled could really play, and there are not enough adjectives to describe Clarence Clemons masterful skill at the saxophone. And Born to Run is Springsteen's opus. His defining moment. The album that all of his other releases would be inevitably compared to, in one way or another. Here the band is at its strongest and the songwriting at its best. There is never a bad, or mediocre, or even merely good moment on this album. Every song is amazing. From the classic opener "Thunder Road" to the epic and emotional "Jungleland," there are really no missteps or misfires. I know I sound like a fanboy, but I really can't help it. Bruce Springsteen is one of my favorite musical artists, and Born to Run one of my favorite albums. Godspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenNas IllmaticI don't listen to a whole lot of hip-hop. I do, however, listen to Illmatic. A lot. I'm not sure exactly why I love Illmatic so much. Perhaps its Nas's flow, complex yet smooth and easygoing. Or maybe it's his excellent lyricism, his ability to paint vivid pictures with just his words. Or it could be the production. Nas got together a hell of a great production team for Illmatic, and it shows. Whatever it is that makes it so great, Illmatic may be one of the finest hip-hop albums ever released. Phoenix (FRA) Wolfgang Amadeus PhoenixPhoenix has created an interesting album with Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. At first listen it's easy to dismiss it as overproduced and too polished, sticking too firmly to pretty guitar chords and pop-influenced drum beats. But listen to it a couple more times, and the emotion and energy that Phoenix possess becomes apparent. Even with their music's electronic flair and polished pop sound, it's definitely not lifeless. In fact, Phoenix created one of the most fun albums of 2009 with Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, especially with the two exemplary songs that kick the album off. However, they don't stick only to slick pop songs like Lisztomania or 1901, they also make a quite successful foray into electronic ambiance with "Love Like a Sunset", which is one of the most expansive and beautiful moments on the album. I can say with much confidence that Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the best album of 2009, and one of the greatest pop albums released in recent memory.The Beach Boys Pet SoundsWhat can really be said about this album that hasn't already? This is without a doubt the best pop album ever made. Brian Wilson was a musical genius of unparalleled skill and talent, and it really shows. Pet Sounds is the product of Brian's skill, struggle, and pain, and it is truly a beautiful thing to behold. It's truly perfect. The Beach Boys The Smile SessionsThe National AlligatorOh, The National, trying so hard to make Boxer pristine and airtight when they had a perfect album under their belt the entire time. The Walkmen You & MeI can't describe how perfect this album is. Maybe it's the beautiful instrumentation, mixing upright pianos with horns. Or maybe it's the lyrics, simple yet wistful. It could even be Leithauser's broken croon, each scratchy note and yelp adding such emotional depth to each song. Maybe it's the way they manage to be so captivating while still being laidback and calm. Whatever it is, every single thing that makes The Walkmen, well, The Walkmen is brought together so beautifully and organically on this album. The Walkmen make no missteps on this album, no stumbles. This is, without a doubt, their magnum opus, their grand, crowning achievement. Titus Andronicus The MonitorIf you haven't already, listen to this album. Listen to it over and over again. You'll fall in love with it immediately. If you don't, well, then there's not much hope for you. The Monitor is pure musical awesomeness. It's energetic, it's catchy and it's just so much fun. From its well-placed historical quotes ("A More Perfect ", "The Battle of Hampton Roads", etc.) to its stadium-filling climaxes ("A Pot In Which To Piss"), the album never ceases to amaze. It uses lyrics from Cheers and borrows from the great Bruce Springsteen ("Tramps like us, baby we were born to die!") It even has a fucking bagpipe solo in "The Battle of Hampton Roads". A bagpipe solo. Music doesn't get much better than this. This album is angry, angsty (without being whiny), and completley awesome. However, some people may be turned off by it's rather indulgent length, but it's hardly a problem as the tracks are mostly energetic enough to make you ignore their length and simply enjoy the ride. Titus Andronicus Forever. 4.5 superbArcade Fire The SuburbsAnother great album from the seemingly can-do-no-wrong Indie band, Arcade Fire. The Suburbs is sprawling, grand album, but never retreads too much of the same ground of their previous albums. They also draw in more 70s and 80s influences, ranging from classic rock to Depeche Mode and even some Blondie. Wrapped up in their usual use of strings and brass, this creates a rather unique sound. Arcade Fire also treads new lyrical ground, eschewing the angst and introspection of Funeral and the dramatic finger-pointing of Neon Bible and instead focuses on the loneliness and nostalgia of the suburbs. My main complaint with this album is its length. While no song is especially awful, some could have been safely cut from the album, and others shortened. For the most part, Arcade Fire keeps it interesting enough, but the album verges on feeling bloated in some parts. Overall, this is another excellent release from Arcade Fire.Bob Dylan Blood on the TracksBon Iver For Emma, Forever AgoI didn't really know anything about Indie music or folk music when I went into this album. So, I was kind of bored by it. Who could get excited over some acoustic guitars and a guy who sings in falsetto? But with all of the rave review it got, I decided to listen to it again. And again. And finally, it clicked. I could finally understand why everyone was so obsessed with this album. I was drawn in by his intimate lyrics, his delicate use of acoustic guitars. Everything song on this album feels isolated, alone; you can really tell that he spent 3 months in a cabin coming up with these songs. And it is a beautiful result of his self-imposed exile. Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsDJ Shadow Endtroducing.....DJ Shadow is a painfully talented at what he does. The turntable wizard has a certain innate skill with music. For him, there is no sample too strange or too outlandish, it somehow all fits. Endtroducing... is a testament to this skill, and is such a cohesive and simply perfect piece of work that I was shocked that it was created from samples of other music. The atmosphere he creates is never broken, and as I said earlier, everything simply works. Endtroducing... is simply one of the greatest albums of the '90s. Fleet Foxes Fleet FoxesFrightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ FightGodspeed You! Black Emperor F♯ A♯ ∞This album is subtle yet epic, a post-rock masterpiece. It's all incredible; from every slow start to the eventual crescendo and dramatic climax. It's almost hard to explain how incredible this album is. It's amazingly good at painting a picture of a bleary apocalyptic world. It will draw you in, breaking your heart and taking your breath away. There seems to be no part of this album that isn't perfect. From every note the strings play to every beat of the percussion, it feels airtight without being forced and robotic, an almost organic creation. This is the kind of music that you'll remember; the kind that really stays with you. This is a true masterpiece, something that will stay out of the mainstream forever but the ones who do listen to it will treasure it. It's not often that an album like this comes out. Godspeed You! Black Emperor Slow Riot For New Zero KanadaGodspeed You! Black Emperor for dummies. That having been said, this is no less complex or masterful than their previous releases. With Slow Riot For New Zero Canada, GY!BE has simply taken what made F#A#? so great and has condensed it down into a thirty minute EP. It has a similarly dark atmosphere, and equally haunting spoken word parts. And yes, it is still pretentious, but the music is good enough that you won't really care. The trademark buildups and releases are here, complete with the gloomy strings, guitars, and drums. Slow Riot is another powerful entry into Godspeed's amazing discography. Gustav Holst The Planets, Op. 32Hopesfall The Satellite YearsHopesfall No Wings To Speak OfJames Blake James BlakeLudwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67Modest Mouse The Moon & AntarcticaNeutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the SeaWhat can I really say? Excellent lyrics and interesting instrumentation all come together to form one of the most concise and intriguing albums of the 90s. Nick Drake Pink Moonpg.99 Document #8Pyotr Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64Pyotr Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ Minor, Op. 23Explain my rating? Uh, it's fucking TCHAIKOVSKY. What more could you want?Pyotr Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48Radiohead Kid ARadiohead OK ComputerRadiohead In RainbowsRefused The Shape Of Punk To ComeSergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18This is an absolutely beautiful composition. This is one of Rachmaninoff's most emotional and haunting composition. The melodic lines are are both graceful and extremely powerful, the harmonies are gorgeous; this concerto is simply incredible. It's hard to capture just how much emotion Rachmaninoff manages to coax out of the piano and orchestra. This is definitely one of the best compositions of the late Romantic era. Silver Jews American WaterSlint SpiderlandSonic Youth Daydream NationSpokes Everyone I Ever MetEVERYONE NEEDS TO LISTEN TO THIS RIGHT NOW. Talk Talk Laughing StockTalking Heads Remain in LightThe Beatles Abbey RoadThe Decemberists The Crane WifeThe Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, StrikeThis is pure energy bundled up into 11 amazing tracks. The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike [US Reissue]This is pure energy bundled up into even more amazing tracks.The National BoxerYeah, I'm pretty sure you all know why this is so great by now. The National High VioletThe National is an indie band like no other. After two masterful albums, other bands may have faltered in coming up with another. The National did not. High Violet builds upon the band's past successes beautifully, and is another powerful addition to their extremely powerful discography. High Violet is immediately wonderful, but is still a slow-burner in the sense that each song will continue to grow on you every time you listen to the album. You'll hear little touches of brilliance you may have missed during each spin of the album. Each song is immaculately constructed, and not even so much as a single misstep can be found. The National really can't do any wrong.The Notwist Neon GoldenThe Replacements Let It BeThe Tallest Man on Earth The Wild HuntIt's hard for me to say what's just so perfect about The Wild Hunt. There's something endlessly refreshing to hear something as simple as this. The Tallest Man on Earth, armed only with his acoustic guitar and distinctive voice, he needs no production flourish or layers of instrumentation to make his music good. The songs are amazingly expressive, and the album covers a whole range of emotions. There's the spry and humorous "King of Spain," the plaintive and reflective "Burden of Tomorrow," the direct and affecting "You're Going Back" - the list goes on and on. I can say with confidence that The Wild Hunt is the best album I've listened to this year. The Walkmen LisbonTitus Andronicus The Airing of GrievancesLife sucks. Feels good, man. Touche Amore ...To the Beat of a Dead HorseGuys how the balls are the only two sound-offs 3s? That's total bullshit, but I'm here to change all that.Touche Amore/La Dispute Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the WorldWolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary4.0 excellent(The) Slowest Runner (In All The World) We, Burning GiraffesA Tribe Called Quest The Low End TheoryAmerican Football American FootballAnathema We're Here Because We're HereAntonio Vivaldi The Four SeasonsArcade Fire Neon BibleNeon Bible is a completely different beast than Arcade Fire's much lauded debut album, Funeral. While Funeral was introspective and deeply personal, Neon Bible looks out into the world with the same energy, emotion, and bombast that has become one of Arcade Fire's calling cards. And in doing so, they've expanded their already grand sound. While this does lead to beautifully lush orchestrations, they, at times, feel almost too overblown and huge. However, it's easy to overlook this minor weakness as songs like "Antichrist Television Blues" and "No Cars Go" will have you singing, and wailing, along. BATS Red In Tooth and ClawBig Boi Sir Lucious Left FootBoards of Canada Music Has the Right to ChildrenBon Iver Bon Iver, Bon IverBrand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeWell. This album is pretty fucking good. That is all. Eventually I will write a proper sound-off, but right now I'd like to say that "The Archers Bows Are Broken" is a badass song. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of TownBurial UntrueCoheed and Cambria In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3Coheed and Cambria The Second Stage Turbine BladeColdplay A Rush of Blood to the HeadColdplay ParachutesCynic FocusDangers AngerDangers Messy, Isn't It?Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting VegetablesDeath SymbolicDeath Cab for Cutie TransatlanticismYou have to be a cruel, heartless bastard to dislike this album. Defeater TravelsDefeater Lost GroundDinosaur Jr. You're Living All Over MeDirty Projectors Bitte OrcaDmitri Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110Down NOLAThis is manly as fuck. Elliott Smith Either/OrEmpire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) What It Takes to Move ForwardFang Island Fang IslandIf I could, I would have Fang Island soundtrack my every high-five, hug, clap-on-the-back; every time I got an A, every time I finished a Lego model, every time I beat a video game, etc. The list could go on and on. What I'm trying to say is that Fang Island manages to capture, in music, that feeling you get every time you do something awesome. While it's by no means perfect, every "whoa-oh" and handclap is just so infectious that you'll listen to it over and over again. Fleet Foxes Helplessness BluesFugazi Repeaterfun. Aim and Ignite"I can't help but remember James Dean. See, we are part of the few who agree that hey, he lived life fast, but he died. Me, I'm going to live forever!"Glassjaw Worship and TributeISIS OceanicISIS PanopticonJanelle Monae The ArchAndroidSo, basically, if you don't like this, you're an idiot. Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyKanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted 10-point-fucking-0 from Pitchfork Media.La Dispute Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair Latterman No Matter Where We Go...!Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IVLos Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster...Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92Beethoven often referred to this piece as "one of [his] best works." And who are we to dispute that?Madvillain MadvillainyMastodon LeviathanMax Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26Megadeth Rust in PeaceMetallica Master of PuppetsMichelle Branch The Spirit RoomSo this is pretty awesome. Mogwai Young TeamMy Bloody Valentine LovelessPassion Pit MannersIt's definitely top-heavy, but the first four songs that make it top-heavy are simply incredible. Make Light will have you air-drumming, Little Secrets will be stuck in your head for weeks, Moth's Wings will have you frantically searching for a lighter to wave in the air, and The Reeling's chorus will definitely have you singing along. This is a very fun synth-pop album, and it, or at least its first four tracks, should be played over and over again.Pavement Slanted and EnchantedPhoenix (FRA) It's Never Been Like ThatPianos Become the Teeth Old PridePink Floyd The Dark Side of the MoonQueen A Night at the OperaR.E.M. Automatic for the PeopleRadiohead AmnesiacRosetta The Galilean SatellitesRosetta A Determinism of MoralitySed Non Satiata Sed Non SatiataSergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43Variation 18, man. Powerful stuff. Sleigh Bells TreatsSufjan Stevens IllinoisSomebody should get Sufjan Stevens a good editor. Sufjan Stevens The Age of AdzThe Antlers HospiceI respect any album that can make my cry like a little girl. The Avalanches Since I Left YouThe perfect summer record. The Avalanches are sampling wizards, taking weird and obscure pieces of music and speech and somehow pulling them all together to make incredibly catchy and danceable tracks. One of the best examples of their sampling skills is on the track "Frontier Psychiatrist", where they layer sample upon sample, matching the theme of the song (insanity) perfectly. While the length may seem off-putting, no second is wasting. You'll be bombarded (in a good way) with beats and creative samples the entire time. It's a fun, ecstatic listen and is worth every second. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Clash London CallingThe Decemberists PicaresqueThe Decemberists Castaways and CutoutsThis is a great debut album from The Decemberists, but it suffers from inconsistency. While many of the songs are great, nearly classics in their quality, others take a good start and drag them out too far, stretching a good idea thin. For example, many of the songs in the middle of the album are nice to listen to but slightly overlong. With songs like "July, July!" and "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect", it's clear that The Decemberists are capable of creating some very beautiful songs. Also, the album does start and end very strongly. The beautiful, sprawling, and epic finishing song, "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade" will almost make you forget about the unfortunate middle of the album, but not quite. Overall, this album features many great songs, some good songs, and, unfortunately, a few forgettable songs. The Decemberists The King Is DeadThe latest Decemberists release goes down easy. While they did change their sound up, they seem more confident and comfortable than ever, and this shows and the music. The music is energetic but never feels rushed or hurried. And speaking of their new sound, it sounds as if The Decemberists had been playing this style for their entire career. It's a very nice fit. This is also definitely the most accessible Decemberists album. The songs are definitely more pop influenced this time around, and it's much shorter than their previous albums. While some might miss the 11 minute long song epics from, say, The Crane Wife, the songs on this album are good enough that you'll forgive them for it. The King is Dead is another excellent addition to the Decemberist's very consistent discography.The Dillinger Escape Plan Option ParalysisThe Dismemberment Plan Emergency & IThe Gaslight Anthem Sink or SwimThe Gaslight Anthem Señor and the QueenThe Gaslight Anthem The '59 SoundThe Gaslight Anthem American SlangThe Gathering if_then_elseThe Hold Steady Boys and Girls in AmericaThe Knife Silent ShoutThe Menzingers Chamberlain WaitsThe Notorious B.I.G. Ready to DieThe Ocean PrecambrianThe Pogues Rum Sodomy & the LashThe Postal Service Give UpThe Rolling Stones Exile on Main St.The State Lottery When the Night ComesDAT SAX The Strokes Is This ItAre The Strokes really the saviors of Rock & Roll? Well, Nickelback is still selling, like, a million albums a year while Julian Casablancas has already moved on to a (failed) solo project. But, I do know that they released one hell of a debut album. They injected some life into a bloated genre with their fun, energetic, and very catchy release, Is This It. While it's certainly not perfect, there are definitely more high points than low points and requires repeat listens. The Tallest Man on Earth Shallow GraveThe Walkmen Bows + ArrowsA cool name? Check. Vintage instrumentation? Check. A lead singer with an...interesting voice? Check. Yup, it's The Walkmen. And with Bows + Arrows, they use all of these things (except for the cool name) to create a very, very good album. The instruments are slick and never too loud and the lead singer has a unique but interesting voice. The Weakerthans Reconstruction SiteThrice VheissuTigers on Trains GrandfatherTouche Amore Parting The Sea Between Brightness And MeThis is another excellent release from Touche Amore, featuring the same short, yet powerful songs and concise album length. And this time around, the guitars are more melodic and the production values overall are better. However, the lyrics haven't exactly improved, and the sense of energy and intensity that was so palpable in "...To The Beat" feels a bit lessened here. Regardless, this is still an extremely enjoyable album, and certainly among the best of the year so far. Trophy Scars Darkness, Oh HellUnited Nations Never Mind the Bombings, Here's Your Six FiguresWilco Yankee Hotel FoxtrotWolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Haffner" Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 3853.5 great65daysofstatic We Were Exploding AnywayAmia Venera Landscape The Long ProcessionAnimal Collective Merriweather Post PavilionAnimal Collective Fall Be KindArcade Fire The Arcade FireThis is their worst release, but it's still better than what some bands will do throughout their entire existence. Battles MirroredBeach House Teen DreamBirds Of Tokyo UniversesBon Iver Blood BankBruce Springsteen The PromiseCloudkicker BeaconsCoheed and Cambria From Fear Through the Eyes of MadnessCoheed and Cambria No World for TomorrowCoheed and Cambria Year of the Black RainbowColdplay Live 2003Coldplay X&YColdplay Prospekt's MarchWhy oh why, Coldplay did you not include some of these songs on Viva la Vida? Life in Technicolor ii is an amazing song. Glass of Water rocks out pretty hard (for Coldplay). And finally, Rainy Day introduces an interesting electronic touch to Coldplay's sound. If you liked Viva la Vida, you will definitely enjoy Prospekt's March. Coldplay LeftRightLeftRightLeftCut Copy In Ghost ColoursDaft Punk DiscoveryDaft Punk Tron: LegacyDeath Cab for Cutie PlansDeath Cab for Cutie Narrow StairsDeerhunter Halcyon DigestDefeater Empty Days and Sleepless NightsDestroyer KaputtDirty Projectors Ascending MelodyExplosions in the Sky The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead PlaceFelix Mendelssohn String Symphony XI in F major, MWVN11Flying Lotus CosmogrammaFrank Turner Love, Ire & SongGeorge Gershwin Concerto in FGrizzly Bear VeckatimestHow to Dress Well Love RemainsInterpol Turn on the Bright LightsJapandroids Post-NothingJeff Buckley GraceJonsi GoSO MUCH FUCKING HAPPINESS Apparently this sound-off is too short. Now it isn't.Kvelertak KvelertakKylesa Spiral ShadowLa Dispute VancouverLa Dispute Untitled La Dispute/Koji Never Come Undoneletlive. Fake HistoryLone Wolf The Devil and ILupe Fiasco Food & LiquorI find this album to be overlong but there are some amazing tracks to be found. Kick, Push, Daydreamin', I Gotcha, and The Instrumental are all great, catchy songs, but the album never really builds up enough steam to match its early-album push. Mae (e)veningThe incredible Seasons suite and some other stuff. Maybeshewill Sing The Word Hope In Four-Part HarmonymewithoutYou Catch For Us the FoxesMono Hymn to the Immortal WindMonogrim / Slow Dreams 1300+ Miles of SoundMos Def Black on Both SidesMuse AbsolutionMuse Origin of SymmetryPanda Bear Person PitchPort Blue The AirshipQueens of the Stone Age Songs for the DeafRadiohead The BendsProbably their second worst album. Radiohead Hail to the ThiefThis album seems to take influence from pretty much all of their previous ones. Their The Bends/Ok Computer guitars from make an appearance here, but there is certainly still a lot of Kid A/Amnesiac-esque sounds to be heard. It seems like the band is pulling from the two "extremes" of their sound to create this one. The result is a very solid album. I don't think it's quite as memorable as OK Computer or Kid A, but it still has some soaring high points. It also, unfortunately has some low points, but it's not enough to detract from the overall experience. Hail to the Thief is another great album in Radiohead's catalogue, and while it may not be as amazing or innovative as earlier ones, it's still worth many, many listens.Radiohead The King of LimbsRamones RamonesScale the Summit Carving Desert CanyonsSix Gallery Breakthroughs in Modern ArtSpoon Kill the MoonlightTalib Kweli QualityQuality is a great album. Talib Kweli is very intelligent, and this really shows in all of his lyrics and rhymes. The production is good, sometimes great, much more than it isn't. However, if you don't have the time to listen to the entire album, just listen to "Get By". It's by far the best song on the album (which is saying something) and your ears will thank you.Talib Kweli LiberationThis is one of my favorite Talib Kweli albums. Why? Most of it has to do with one Mr. Otis Jackson Jr., better known as Madlib. Other Tailb Kweli solo albums have faltered from occasionally iffy production. Madlib, being one of the greatest producers of this decade, completely eliminates that problem. Madlib's incredible beats combined with, well, Talib Kweli is like a match made in heaven. Really, the only problem with Liberation is that it doesn't last longer.The Go! Team Rolling BlackoutsThe Killers Hot FussThe Knife Tomorrow, In a YearI don't even know. The Notorious B.I.G. Life After DeathThe Ocean AnthropocentricThis band would have been so much better off if after they had released Precambrian they had just slowly faded into obscurity. The Radio Dept. Clinging to a SchemeWhile the observations & complaints about "Clinging to a Scheme" and The Radio Dept. being unassuming are definitely true, they craft such beautiful and exquisite pop songs that it's easy to ignore. The reverb and fuzz keep the songs pleasantly dreamy and distant. The best example of this is one the track "Heaven's on Fire", which also happens to be the best song on the album. So while the extremely calm and laid-back nature of this album may be a turn-off for some, it's hard to deny that The Radio Dept. are very good at making pretty pop tunes. The Saddest Landscape You Will Not SurviveThe Strokes AnglesThe Sword Warp RidersThe Tallest Man on Earth Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing BirdThe Tallest Man on Earth can do absolutely no wrong. The White Stripes White Blood CellsThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. I & IIThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IVTokyo Police Club ChampVampire Weekend Vampire WeekendVolbeat Beyond Hell/Above Heaven3.0 good2Pac All Eyez on MeA Sunny Day in Glasgow Ashes GrammarAir France No Way DownB.o.B The Adventures of Bobby RayBroken Social Scene You Forgot It in Peopleceo White MagicDeftones Diamond EyesDelorean SubizaDntel Life is Full of PossibilitiesEminem The Eminem ShowEminem RecoveryFoals AntidotesFranz Ferdinand Franz FerdinandGirls Broken Dreams ClubHans Zimmer InceptionIntronaut Valley of SmokeJay-Z The Black AlbumJay-Z American GangsterLCD Soundsystem Sound of SilverLiars SisterworldLittle Brother The Minstrel ShowLupe Fiasco The CoolAn ambitious album that's dragged down by iffy production and it's rather ridiculous length.Marnie Stern Marnie SternMuse Black Holes & RevelationsThe beginning of the end for Muse. Muse The ResistanceMy Chemical Romance The Black ParadeMy Disco Little JoyParades Foreign TapesPort Blue The AlbatrossRadiohead Pablo HoneyRogue Wave PermalightS. Carey All We GrowSurfer Blood Astro CoastA fun, if forgettable, summer album. However, while the magic lasts you'll be lost amidst its catchy guitar riffs, excellent vocals, and catchy drumming. Talib Kweli EardrumThis album certainly isn't bad. I mean, it's Talib Kweli. However, compared to all of his other albums, it's nothing remarkable. It's overlong, it suffers from the use of multiple producers, and even the lyrical content isn't as good as his previous albums. There are definitely great songs on this album, but as a whole it's just a solid album. The Graduate Only Every TimeThe Killers Sam's TownThe Killers Day & AgeThe Morning Benders Big EchoThe New Pornographers Twin CinemaThe Ocean HeliocentricThe Raconteurs Consolers of the LonelyThe Shins Chutes Too NarrowThem Crooked Vultures Them Crooked VulturesDespite the incredible lineup of this supergroup, it still suffers from many of the same flaws that pretty much every supergroup does. Namely, most of the songs are bloated and overlong, probably a result of the massive egos at play. However, it's still a good rock album and does have its high points.Twin Shadow ForgetU2 The Joshua TreeVampire Weekend ContraWashed Out Life of LeisureWild Nothing GeminiWomen Public StrainYoung Heretics We Are The Lost Loves2.5 averageEminem Curtain Call: The HitsEric Hutchinson Sounds Like ThisMenomena MinesMGMT Oracular SpectacularYeah, this is pretty bad. Don't know what else to say. MGMT CongratulationsMumford and Sons Sigh No MoreThe xx xx2.0 poorAdam Lambert For Your EntertainmentDrake Thank Me LaterUnfortunately, given his curious success, Drake is the sad, sad future of rap. Jack Johnson In Between DreamsJay-Z The Blueprint 3Owl City Maybe I'm DreamingOwl City Ocean EyesThere's one song I kind of like from this album (Fireflies). A couple songs I can tolerate (Hello Seattle, Cave In). However, everything else I completely dislike. It's so full of pandering, over-sentimental bullshit that it becomes painful to listen to. The entire album just falls apart into a big, sickeningly sugary mess. However, in small doses, Owl City isn't bad. It's certainly not as good as the group it's always compared to, Postal Service, but it's better than some mainstream music. Swimming With Dolphins Ambient BlueThis isn't that bad, but it really isn't that good, either. The beats never stray too far from what Adam Young is best at, but I do prefer them to the ones that are found on Ocean Eyes. The lyrics aren't as laughably bad as they are on Adam Young's songs, but that's not saying much. Overall, it really isn't much different than Ocean Eyes. It's a collection of stupidly bright and overly cheery songs with decent beats and dumb lyrics. However, the beats and lyrics are a little better than Adam Young's previous efforts, but they're still not great. I wouldn't suggest listening to this unless you really like Owl City. Wavves King of the Beach1.5 very poorEminem RelapseWhy Eminem? What happened? You were so good, spitting clever rhymes and pure venom on your tracks. You were interesting, you were engaging, you were funny (at times), and you were good. But now you've turned into some pathetic self-parody. Yes, we know you hate your mother and your girlfriend. Isn't it time to start rapping about something else? You lyrics were once so intelligent, now they're just stupid. Hopefully your next record won't suck so much. Jack Johnson Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for Curious GeorgeJack Johnson To the SeaOwl City Of JuneOwl City All Things Bright And BeautifulI can always count on Owl City to boost my objectivity!Sky Sailing An Airplane Carried Me to Bed1.0 awfulbrokeNCYDE BC 13brokeNCYDE The BrokenbrokeNCYDE I'm Not a Fan, but the Kids Like It!Kesha AnimalKesha CannibalNickelback All the Right ReasonsDoes anyone actually LIKE Nickelback? And if they do, WHY?Nickelback Dark HorseAgain, does anyone actually LIKE Nickelback? And if they do, WHY?Prussian Blue Fragment Of The FuturePrussian Blue The Path We ChoseSoulja Boy Souljaboytellem.comSoulja Boy iSouljaBoyTellEmSoulja Boy Unsigned & Still MajorSoulja Boy Dat PiffVessels Helioscope
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