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Reviews 6
Soundoffs 53
News Articles 29
Band Edits + Tags 87
Album Edits 132

Album Ratings 639
Objectivity 67%

Last Active 01-10-23 11:58 am
Joined 04-30-01

Review Comments 752

Average Rating: 3.69
Rating Variance: 0.38
Objectivity Score: 67%
(Fairly Balanced)

Chart.

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2020
Crippled Black Phoenix Ellengaest4.5
Rival Consoles Articulation4.0
Special Interest The Passion Of4.0

2019
Hiss Golden Messenger Terms of Surrender4.0
Alex G House Of Sugar4.0
Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell!4.5
Blanck Mass Animated Violence Mild4.0
Bon Iver i,i3.0

2018
Shame (UK) Songs of Praise4.0
2017
Gang of Youths Go Farther in Lightness5.0
Alex G Rocket4.0
Blanck Mass World Eater4.5

2016
Frightened Rabbit Painting of a Panic Attack4.0
DIIV Is the Is Are3.5

2015
Grimes Art Angels4.5
The Oh Hellos Dear Wormwood3.5
Deerhunter Fading Frontier4.0
Jamie xx In Colour4.0
Turnover Peripheral Vision4.0
Alabama Shakes Sound & Color4.0
This Good Robot The Light is Taking Me to Pieces2.5
Death Cab for Cutie Kintsugi2.5
Godspeed You! Black Emperor 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress'4.0
Sufjan Stevens Carrie and Lowell5.0
Sufjan has spent the past eleven years fleeing the stripped-back indie folk of 'To Be Alone with You' and
'Romulus' in favor of more dramatic arrangements. Carrie & Lowell represents a stunning return to form.
Tobias Jesso Jr. Goon4.0
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly4.5
John Joseph Brill Pieces4.0
Susanne Sundfor Ten Love Songs4.0
Father John Misty I Love You, Honeybear4.0
JD McPherson Let the Good Times Roll4.5
Team Me Blind as Night4.0
Andy Shauf The Bearer of Bad News4.0
The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World3.0
Sleater-Kinney No Cities to Love3.5

2014
Taylor Swift 19894.0
Tove Lo Queen of the Clouds4.0
Tweedy Sukierae3.5
Hiss Golden Messenger Lateness of Dancers3.5
Banks Goddess4.0
Broken Witt Rebels Howlin4.0
King Creosote From Scotland With Love4.0
Reigning Sound Shattered4.0
Low Roar 03.5
Brontide Artery4.0
Keaton Henson Romantic Works4.0
First Aid Kit Stay Gold3.0
Fucked Up Glass Boys4.0
Sharon Van Etten Are We There3.0
Conor Oberst Upside Down Mountain3.5
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Revelation4.0
Casualties of Cool Casualties of Cool4.5
Kishi Bashi Lighght4.5
Fennesz Becs4.0
Trophy Scars Holy Vacants4.0
Todd Terje It's Album Time4.0
Saintseneca Dark Arc3.5
Manchester Orchestra Cope3.5
Cloud Nothings Here and Nowhere Else4.0
'I'm not part of me' is my favorite single of the year so far. But the rest of the album isn't nearly as memorable.
Tokyo Police Club Forcefield3.0
Future Islands Singles3.0
Kevin Drew Darlings4.0
The War On Drugs Lost in the Dream4.5
Real Estate Atlas3.5
Highasakite Silent Treatment3.5
St. Vincent St. Vincent3.5
The Hotelier Home, Like NoPlace Is There4.5
Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire for No Witness4.0
Bear Hands Distraction4.0
Noah Gundersen Ledges4.0
Bombay Bicycle Club So Long, See You Tomorrow3.0
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything4.5

2013
There Will Be Fireworks The Dark, Dark Bright4.5
Midlake Antiphon2.5
Arcade Fire Reflektor4.0
Radical Face The Family Tree: The Branches4.5
Danny Brown Old4.0
PUP PUP4.0
Lorde Pure Heroine3.5
Good pop music. But hard to get past the lyrics. Class clowns, hairpins, riding buses and bikes, and teen poetry.
HAIM Days Are Gone4.0
Oneohtrix Point Never R Plus Seven4.5
Casper Hinterland4.0
CHVRCHES The Bones of What You Believe4.0
65daysofstatic Wild Light3.5
Okkervil River The Silver Gymnasium3.5
Volcano Choir Repave4.0
The Dodos Carrier4.0
Laura Veirs Warp & Weft4.0
Typhoon (USA-OR) White Lighter4.5
Quirky at first; brilliant after repeated listens.
Run the Jewels Run the Jewels4.5
The World Is a Beautiful Place... Whenever, If Ever4.0
Surfer Blood Pythons3.0
Jason Isbell Southeastern4.5
Jon Hopkins Immunity4.0
Have Mercy (Indie) The Earth Pushed Back2.5
The National Trouble Will Find Me4.0
Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City4.0
Deerhunter Monomania4.0
Savages Silence Yourself4.0
Laura Stevenson Wheel3.0
Phoenix (FRA) Bankrupt!3.0
Generationals Heza4.0
Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience3.5
The Men New Moon3.5
Youth Lagoon Wondrous Bughouse3.5
Waxahatchee Cerulean Salt4.5
The Drones I See Seaweed3.5
'How to See Through Fog' is a tour de force. Unfortunately, some of the other songs aren't nearly as
memorable, largely because Gareth Liddiard's vocals can be...droning.
K Sera Collisions and Near Misses3.0
Iceage You're Nothing2.5
HRVRD From the Bird's Cage2.5
Cloud Cult Love4.0
Foals Holy Fire3.5
Frightened Rabbit Pedestrian Verse4.0
Tegan and Sara Heartthrob3.0
Local Natives Hummingbird3.5
Torres Torres4.5
TTNG 13.0.0.0.02.5
Polyenso One Big Particular Loop3.5
The Lone Bellow The Lone Bellow3.5
Foxygen We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors...4.0
Mountains Centralia4.0

2012
The Babies Our House on the Hill3.5
The Oh Hellos Through The Deep, Dark Valley4.5
Andy Stott Luxury Problems3.5
Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams4.0
Tame Impala Lonerism3.5
LAU Race The Loser4.0
Mumford and Sons Babel3.0
Frightened Rabbit State Hospital3.0
Grizzly Bear Shields3.5
Woods Bend Beyond4.0
Amanda Palmer Theatre Is Evil3.5
Gallows (UK) Gallows3.0
Divine Fits A Thing Called Divine Fits3.5
Holy Other Held2.5
Swans The Seer4.5
Shovels and Rope O' Be Joyful4.0
Passion Pit Gossamer4.0
Twin Shadow Confess3.0
DIIV Oshin4.5
Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel...3.5
Right Away, Great Captain! The Church of the Good Thief4.0
Japandroids Celebration Rock4.0
Mount Eerie Clear Moon3.5
Beach House Bloom3.5
Hop Along Get Disowned2.5
Father John Misty Fear Fun4.0
Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls3.5
Lotus Plaza Spooky Action At A Distance4.0
The Men Open Your Heart3.5
Now, Now Threads3.5
Alex Winston King Con4.0
Anais Mitchell Young Man in America4.5
The Menzingers On the Impossible Past3.5
Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It3.5
Burial Kindred3.5
Punch Brothers Who's Feeling Young Now?4.0
Sharon Van Etten Tramp3.0
Cloud Nothings Attack on Memory3.0
First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar4.0

2011
Youth Lagoon The Year of Hibernation4.5
Wilco The Whole Love4.5
Of Monsters and Men My Head is an Animal4.0
St. Vincent Strange Mercy4.5
Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost4.5
Deer Leap/The World Is A Beautiful Place... Are Here To Help You4.5
Strawberry Girls Italian Ghosts4.0
Beirut The Rip Tide3.0
Trophy Scars Never Born, Never Dead4.0
Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver4.5
WU LYF Go Tell Fire to the Mountain4.5
City and Colour Little Hell2.5
Touche Amore Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me3.0
Fucked Up David Comes to Life4.5
My Morning Jacket Circuital3.0
Death Cab for Cutie Codes and Keys4.0
Lady Gaga Born This Way2.0
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math2.5
The Antlers Burst Apart3.5
Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues4.0
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l3.0
The Weeknd House of Balloons4.0
The Dodos No Color3.0
Kurt Vile Smoke Ring For My Halo3.0
Team Me To The Treetops!3.5
Eisley The Valley2.5
Yuck Yuck4.0
Bright Eyes The People's Key3.0
PJ Harvey Let England Shake4.5
James Blake James Blake3.5
Destroyer Kaputt4.5
The Decemberists The King Is Dead3.0

2010
Hellogoodbye Would It Kill You?4.0
Bear Hands Burning Bush Supper Club4.0
Sufjan Stevens The Age of Adz4.0
Deerhunter Halcyon Digest4.5
The Tallest Man on Earth Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird3.5
Sufjan Stevens All Delighted People4.0
Arcade Fire The Suburbs4.5
Best Coast Crazy For You3.5
Wolf Parade Expo 864.0
Tame Impala Innerspeaker4.0
Tokyo Police Club Champ4.0
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Before Today4.5
Wild Nothing Gemini4.0
The Black Keys Brothers4.0
Janelle Monae The ArchAndroid4.5
Sleigh Bells Treats3.0
The National High Violet4.5
Minus the Bear Omni2.5
Broken Social Scene Forgiveness Rock Record4.5
Young Heretics We Are The Lost Loves4.0
The Radio Dept. Clinging to a Scheme3.5
MGMT Congratulations2.5
Six Gallery Breakthroughs in Modern Art3.5
Delorean Subiza3.5
Liars Sisterworld3.0
The Morning Benders Big Echo3.5
Broken Bells Broken Bells4.0
Titus Andronicus The Monitor5.0
The Reign of Kindo This Is What Happens2.5
Anais Mitchell Hadestown4.0
Frightened Rabbit The Winter of Mixed Drinks4.5
The Rocket Summer Of Men and Angels3.5
Brings back memories of Something Corporate at their height.
Fang Island Fang Island4.0
Joanna Newsom Have One on Me4.5
The Knife Tomorrow, In a Year2.5
If this album was comprised solely of 'Colouring of Pigeons', it would potentially vie for album of the year. Unfortunately, there are other songs on the album. Enough said.
Beach House Teen Dream4.0
Surfer Blood Astro Coast4.0
Owen Pallett Heartland3.5

2009
Real Estate Real Estate4.0
Bear in Heaven Beast Rest Forth Mouth4.0
Julian Casablancas Phrazes for the Young3.0
Local Natives Gorilla Manor3.0
'Wide Eyes' is exceptional -- the rest of the tracks are simultaneously pleasant and unmemorable.
Do Make Say Think Other Truths4.0
Joe Gideon and the Shark Harum Scarum3.5
A stripped-down affair that strikes a delicate balance between minimalism and grittiness. Spoken word rock done right.
Brand New Daisy3.5
Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk4.0
The Cribs Ignore The Ignorant3.5
Noah and the Whale The First Days of Spring4.5
Mew No More Stories4.0
fun. Aim and Ignite4.5
If you don't like it, listen to it again. Alternately, place 'Barlights' on repeat and dance around your house like a maniac.
As Tall As Lions You Can't Take It With You3.5
The xx xx4.0
Anchor and Braille Felt3.0
Felt is a pretty album. Unfortunately, it is often too pretty -- under the weight of Stephen Christian's cooing vocals, songs tend to dissolve into a warm and fuzzy mush. Best listened to in small doses.
Throw Me The Statue Creaturesque3.5
Wild Beasts Two Dancers3.5
Rx Bandits Mandala3.0
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Up From Below4.0
Kiss Kiss The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left2.5
We Were Promised Jetpacks These Four Walls3.5
Bombay Bicycle Club I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose4.0
Florence and the Machine Lungs4.5
Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer4.0
Sarah Jarosz Song Up In Her Head4.5
Dave Matthews Band Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King3.0
Taking Back Sunday New Again4.0
Grizzly Bear Veckatimest4.0
Phoenix (FRA) Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix4.0
White Rabbits It's Frightening3.5
Passion Pit Manners4.0
Try listening to 'Little Secrets', 'Moth's Wings', and 'Sleepyhead' without cracking a smile.
Hey Champ Cold Dust Girl4.0
Japandroids Post-Nothing4.0
Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to Nothing4.5
Silversun Pickups Swoon4.0
Metric Fantasies3.5
Death Cab for Cutie The Open Door4.0
Dan Deacon Bromst3.0
The Decemberists The Hazards of Love4.5
Fever Ray Fever Ray4.0
Cursive Mama, I'm Swollen3.0
Say Hi Oohs & Aahs3.0
The Antlers Hospice4.0
Gavin Castleton Home2.5
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart The Pains of Being Pure at Heart4.0
Matt and Kim Grand3.5
Cymbals Eat Guitars Why There Are Mountains4.0

2008
The Killers Day & Age2.5
Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns3.5
Cynic Traced in Air4.0
Deerhunter Weird Era Cont.4.0
TV on the Radio Dear Science4.5
Passion Pit Chunk of Change3.0
Mother Mother O My Heart3.5
Okkervil River The Stand Ins4.0
Horse Feathers House With No Home4.0
Bloc Party Intimacy4.0
Deerhunter Microcastle4.5
The Gaslight Anthem The '59 Sound3.5
Conor Oberst Conor Oberst4.0
Beck Modern Guilt3.0
Although far better than the pedestrian 'Information', Beck's latest album isn't entirely consistent or even noteworthy. Fortunately, what it lacks as a whole is redeemed somewhat by the few excellent songs scattered among the tracklist such as 'Youthless', 'Profanity Prayers', 'Modern Love', and 'Gamma Ray'. Think Guero with fuzz.
Ratatat LP33.5
Sigur Ros Med Sud i Eyrum vid Spilum Endalaust3.0
Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer3.0
Although ostensibly 'Mount Zoomer' is a solid album, it's also an unremarkable one. Fans of Wolf Parade have become accustomed to hearing dashes of musical genius throughout everything Krug and Boeckner touch, whether it be the brilliant 'Queen Mary' or side projects such as Handsome Furs or Sunset Rubdown. 'Mount Zoomer' seems to largely be playing it safe, despite the excess of the 10 minute Kissing the Beehive and the typically obtuse song titles. Rather than pushing the envelope of every song, Zoomer plods along, fitting comfortably within the bounds of Wolf Parade's music rather than expanding it. The result is a few good songs and an altogether forgettable album.
The Notwist The Devil, You + Me4.0
Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends4.5
Shearwater Rook3.0
Air France No Way Down4.0
Mates of State Re-Arrange Us3.5
Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs3.0
Forever the Sickest Kids Underdog Alma Mater2.5
Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell4.0
Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight4.5
Titus Andronicus The Airing of Grievances3.5
Fleet Foxes Sun Giant3.5
Sun Kil Moon April4.0
The Dodos Visiter4.0
Why? Alopecia3.0
Lykke Li Youth Novels3.5
Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend3.5

2007
Yeasayer All Hour Cymbals4.5
Radiohead In Rainbows4.5
Band of Horses Cease to Begin4.0
MGMT Oracular Spectacular4.0
The Weakerthans Reunion Tour4.0
Shout Out Louds Our Ill Wills3.0
Josh Ritter The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter4.2
The New Pornographers Challengers3.5
Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago5.0
.hinge The Rise & Fall Of Living Great2.0
Ryan Adams Easy Tiger3.0
If this album is anything, it's safe. Ryan publishes few of the cringe-worthy tracks that he has sometimes included in the past, but there is a real lack of the brilliance that shines through in his other albums. Songs like 'Two' and 'Halloweenhead' are great, but nothing to write home about.
Paramore Riot!3.5
Handsome Furs Plague Park3.5
I don't even like Wolf Parade. But this side project with an equally strange name seems to be a little more straightforward, with plenty of musical gems. "What We Had" and "Handsome Furs Hate This City" in particular are fantastic.
The National Boxer5.0
Battles Mirrored3.5
The Clientele God Save the Clientele3.0
Great Lake Swimmers Ongiara3.5
Feist The Reminder3.5
Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare3.5
Blonde Redhead 233.5
Laura Veirs Saltbreakers3.5
Caspian The Four Trees4.0
Klaxons Myths of the Near Future3.5
Relient K Five Score and Seven Years Ago3.5
Arcade Fire Neon Bible4.0
Anberlin Cities3.5
Do Make Say Think You, You're a History in Rust4.0
Bloc Party A Weekend in the City3.5
Field Music Tones of Town3.5
The Shins Wincing the Night Away3.5

2006
Switchfoot Oh! Gravity.3.5
Beirut Lon Gisland4.0
Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me3.0
My Chemical Romance The Black Parade3.0
Duke Special Songs From The Deep Forest4.0
Cold War Kids Robbers and Cowards3.0
k-os Atlantis: Hymns For Disco4.0
Califone Roots and Crowns3.5
Beck The Information2.5
"No complaints, but it's overrated, that's for sure," sings Beck on his latest album, The Information. And although I'm a huge Beck fan, this album has so far been a huge dissapointment to me, despite receiving relatively positive reviews... It's a mixture of Guero and Sea Change, without the style of either. Although there are some excellent tracks like 'Cellphone's Dead', most of them seem to drone on with little sense of energy. Although I need to listen more, right now this album feels very shallow.
The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America2.5
The Decemberists The Crane Wife4.5
Many associate major label debuts by indie bands as a formn of selling out. They don't want the uniqeness of the band dumbed down for the masses, or even worse, they don't want to lose the indie chic of being a dedicated fan of a relatively obscure band. But for the Decemberists, their move to a major label has actually improved their sound. Although the minstrel tinged voice has predictably become more mainstream, the Decemberists feature some of their best songwriting yet, and perhaps more importantly, begin to show a breadth lacking in their previous albums. In the three part track "The Island, Come and See, The Landlord's Daughter", the Decemberists surprisingly display a classic rock influence, while the vocal melody in "When the War Came" sounds eerily like a Led Zeppelin song. While there are some typical Decemberist's songs on here like "Yankee Bayonet", they begin to branch out on song's like "The Perfect Crime", and display surprising musical skill in the process. All in all, the Crane Wife is not a story of a band selling out, but of a band growing up.
Manchester Orchestra I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child4.0
Mutemath Mutemath3.5
Mutemath are hard to figure out. On one hand the lead singer sounds like Sting, they imitate Coldplay pop hooks, and they have a decided tinge of the mainstream. On the other hand they are stunningly experimental and undefinable, using hip-hop rhythms, indie instrumentation, and an almost electronica undercurrent. The resulting record is uneven, but hints at future promise. Expect big things from this band in the future; in the meantime check out 'Chaos', 'Noticed', and 'Typical'
The Changes Today is Tonight3.5
TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain3.0
John Mayer Continuum4.5
John Mayer's most mature work to date, Continuum blends both the pop sensibilities of Mayer's earlier work with the blues styling he recently displayed on the album Try!. Although the album lacks cohesion, the songwriting is fantastical, filled with excellent musicianship and laudable restraint. Check out 'Belief', 'Heart of Life','Vultures' and 'Stop this Train'
Audioslave Revelations3.5
Grizzly Bear Yellow House4.0
At first listen, "Yellow House" is almost inaccessible. A dizzying maze of song structures and moods, it sounds as if Pink Floyd and My Morning Jacket combined and decided to go Indie. But if you can get past the initial audio barrage, you'll find a gem of an album filled with fantastic moments. The dazzlingly beautiful outro on 'Knife', the acoustic breakdown on 'On A Neck, On A Spit' and the climbing choruses on 'Lullabye' show that Grizzly Bear know exactly what they are doing. Highly recommended.
Ray LaMontagne Till the Sun Turns Black3.5
Wow. I hadn't even heard of this guy, and was surprised to find him at #2 on the iTunes charts. I don't know what I've been missing - this guy writes stellar, and I mean stellar, singer-songwriter folk. The musing, the emotion, the melodies -- the complete package is here. Listen to the opening track 'Be Here Now' and prepared to be blown away.
Pete Yorn Nightcrawler4.5
When I first heard this album I absolutely hated it. So much in fact, that I didn't give it another chance in 4 months, and only then when I was completely in a state of musical boredom. I don't know what I missed the first time around, but this is a beautiful alternative pop album that ranks up there with Yorn's other work. 'Maybe I'm Right', 'The Man', 'Bandstand in the Sky,' and 'Undercover' are highly recommended.
M. Ward Post-War4.5
A crackling radio spits out snatches of Western tunes, accompanied by a cracked baritone. It's 'Post-War' by M. Ward, and it's an absolutely stunning album that feels both old and new at the same time. This isn't necessarily singer-songwriter folk; it heralds back to an older tradition (think Johnny Cash minus the country). In any case, it's superb. Check out 'Poison Cup' and 'Chinese Translation' especially.
Under the Influence of Giants Under the Influence of Giants3.0
Backed by incredibly catchy and dance-inflected singles such as "Mama's Room", Under the Influence of Giants seems to be trying to put the funk back into pop music. Their formula, (an eclectic mix of dance, electronica, indie, and pop) is refreshingly new, and is b acked by an undeniably strong groove and vocals. With that being said, however, the music isn't particularly sophisticated - although this stuff will get stuck in your head, it fades fast after a few listens, and is probably best suited for party music. Not to mention that along with the significant hits here, there are also a lot of faceless misses. Buy the singles.

Recommended: "In the Clouds," "Mama's Room," "Faces"
Hellogoodbye Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!3.5
Silversun Pickups Carnavas4.0
Say Hi Impeccable Blahs3.5
Midlake The Trials of Van Occupanther4.0
Midlake's music is instantly disorienting. Although other indie acts such as the Decemberists have freely adopted older musical styles, few have embraced these musical influences to the degree present on "The Trials of Van Occupanther." From the opening notes of Roscoe, the listener is transported back to 70's folk rock and perhaps even more confusingly, immersed in the lore of the late 19th century. Surprisingly, this odd approach is a stunning success. Each song feels handcrafted, and contrary to expectations, indie music, Steely Dan, and the Doobie Brothers work together in harmony. Highly recommended.
The Knife Silent Shout4.5
I don't normally like Electronic music. Although it's often shiny and brilliant on the surface, it usually disguises a shallow musical base that expires after about 3 listens. Fortunately, Sweden's The Knife have managed to break the mold by crafting a cohesive, fantastic album that sheds pop hooks for long lasting appeal. The synth tones here are simply beautiful, especially when contrasted with the apparent harshness of the vocals. Check out the first two songs and you'll be hooked.
The Format Dog Problems3.5
The first few tracks threw me off a little bit, as it wasn't what I was expecting at all. The Format's signature - driving pop beats and indie hooks seemed to be missing somewhat, and the album felt a little more experimental. Despite a few misses, however, this is a quality album with several spectacular songs, notably 'She Doesn't Get It','Oceans','Snails', and 'The Compromise'
Rise Against The Sufferer and the Witness4.0
Guster Ganging Up on the Sun3.0
I've always loved Guster. In fact, I can confidently say they are one of my favorite bands. So in anticipation, I waiting 3 long years for their latest release, 'Ganging Up on The Sun.' And I'm dissapointed. Guster sound has matured yes, and their songwriting skills are improving, but this lacks the drive and energy that made Guster well, fun to listen to. Guster has never been a generic alt-rock band, they've always had a special something, whether it be driving bongo beats, crazy lyrics, or just pure energy. This album is laid back and -- drab. Although it's a new step for Guster, I preferred the old Guster.
Rodrigo y Gabriela Rodrigo y Gabriela4.0
Regina Spektor Begin To Hope4.0
Sound Team Movie Monster2.5
Camera Obscura Let's Get Out of This Country3.5
This Scottish indie-op group sounds almost predictably like Belle & Sebastian with a female lead singer. But the focus here is more on pop polish than their Scottish indie brethren -- and they accomplish it admirably check out "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken " and "Let's Get Out Of This Country "
This Will Destroy You Young Mountain4.0
The Raconteurs Broken Boy Soldiers3.5
Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium4.0
This album really grows on you - after a brief listen I thought the first side was terrible, and would have given the complete album a 2.5. But after listening to it a lot more, I began to see a lot of things in tracks that before had only blended together - this is a solid album that any RHCP fan would love, given the patience. Of course there are a few tracks to bump (as on any double disc), but there is a lot of good material here that could merit the double album.
Shearwater Palo Santo3.5
Tokyo Police Club A Lesson in Crime3.0
Islands Return To The Sea4.0
Most bubble gum indie pop gets old after a few listens. Even though it's 'fun' in the beginning, it has little musical depth, and as a result, little staying power. Islands, the side project from the Unicorns, breaks this mold pretty well. Although the music is quintessentially 'happy', with calypso beats, high pitched humming, and bouncing rhythms, it's also sophisticating enough to remain interesting. Check out the beautiful 'Rough Gem' and you'll see what I mean.
Snow Patrol Eyes Open4.5
The Appleseed Cast Peregrine3.0
Band of Horses Everything All the Time3.0
The Weepies Say I Am You3.0
This album starts out on a beautiful note, with the stunning 'Take It From Me', and 'Gotta Have You'. The former's vocal hook is absolutely infectious, but not in a flashy modern pop way - it heralds to an older singer-songwriter style of writing. The album continues with the excellent 'World Spins Madly On', but eventually really slows down. It's not that the songwriting is bad on the latter half of the album, but it lacks the energy and interest that the beginning few songs held. Overall, this album would probably have been better as an EP.
Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings The Flood3.5
Office Q&A4.0
Secret Machines Ten Silver Drops4.0
Peter Bjorn and John Writer's Block3.5
Anathallo Floating World2.5
Anathallo can perhaps best be described as a bizarre mix of Dredg and Sufan Stevens, with the cohesion and songwriting talent of neither. Throwing a variety of musical styles into the pot in search of something that sticks, Anathallo seems to always be reaching for the perfect song, but always seems to fall short. The only remotely interesting tracks are the "Hanasakajiji" sequence, but even those lack enough to draw the listener back.
Lovehammers Marty Casey and Lovehammers3.0
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not4.5
We Are Scientists With Love and Squalor2.5
The Strokes First Impressions of Earth3.5

2005
Ryan Adams 293.5
John Mayer Trio Try!4.0
Jens Lekman Oh You're So Silent Jens4.5
"Oh You're So Silent Jens" is a strange album. It sounds like an old 70's music soundtrack, mixed with equal parts of European indie and folk, and coupled with Jens' rather Frank Sinatra-like baritone. It's also one of the best albums that came out last year. Songs like 'Black Cab', both 'Rocky Dennis Farewell' Songs, 'Maple Leaves', and 'Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill' are musical and songwriting gems that are powerful from the first listen. Although the rest of the album isn't quite as poignant or immediately accessible, there are certainly no abject failures either -- all in all, this is a relatively cohesive and solid work. Pick this up immediately if you have a penchant for other similarly self-indulgent indie artists such as Sufjan Stevens. All in all, a great find, and a spectacular demonstration of old-school songwriting and positive musical pretentiousness.
Sun Kil Moon Tiny Cities4.0
If you don't listen to Modest Mouse, you'd have no chance guessing that every song on this album is a cover. But these aren't your typical covers - Sun Kil Moon changes not only the feel of the songs but the phrasing and structure as well, in the end leaving merely the lyrics intact. Some songs, especially 'Ocean Breathes Salty,' are stunners
Rogue Wave Descended Like Vultures4.0
Animal Collective Feels3.0
Boards of Canada The Campfire Headphase3.5
Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene4.0
Jimmy Eat World Stay on My Side Tonight2.5
Metric Live It Out4.0
My Morning Jacket Z4.0
Panic! at the Disco A Fever You Can't Sweat Out3.0
Ryan Adams Jacksonville City Nights3.0
Wolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary5.0
Mew And the Glass Handed Kites4.0
Mew makes rock music with grandeur. Soaring vocals, anthemic melodies, all done in a very non-cheesy way. Think back to the grand days of Queen and similar bands, add an indie twist and pop hooks, and you have Mew, who are simply making good rock music.
Nine Black Alps Everything Is3.0
Clue to Kalo One Way, It's Every Way3.5
Coheed and Cambria From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness4.0
The Brakes Give Blood3.0
Switchfoot Nothing is Sound3.5
Nada Surf The Weight Is a Gift4.0
Sigur Ros Takk...4.5
Calexico and Iron and Wine In the Reins3.0
Augustana All the Stars and Boulevards3.0
Jets Overhead Bridges3.5
Death Cab for Cutie Plans3.5
OK Go Oh No3.5
Fun party music, pure and simple. Ok Go's music isn't quite pop punk, not quite indie rock, and not quite pop either. But it's undeniable that this album has energy, and a lot of it. Although the album tends to fall into a slight cliche of formulas, without much variation, there are some great tracks scattered throughout: The first set of predictably clustered singles, 'Invincible, ' Do What You Want', and 'Here it Goes Again' are actually quite good, and later tracks such as 'No Sign of Life' and 'Crash the Party' keep the energy from dying. Recommended - for a shallow fix.
The New Pornographers Twin Cinema4.5
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Howl2.0
The Rakes Capture/Release3.0
James Blunt Back To Bedlam3.0
Amadou and Mariam Dimanche a Bamako3.0
Fruit Bats Spelled in Bones3.0
The first thing you'll notice about this indie band is that their lead singer appears to be the bastard step son of any member of the Beatles. If not for the modern music and structure, this album, especially 'Lives of Crime' could easily slip within a Beatles playlist unnoticed. That being said, however, this album is no ripoff - the Fruit Bats have their own distinctive sound that fits within the larger indie/pop/electronic genre. And some songs, include the aforementioned 'Lives of Crime' are simply outstanding. However, this formula seems to largely get old by the end of the album. Pick up one or two songs, or if you like the genre, the album as a whole is pretty solid.

Comparisons: Beatles, The Shins, Clue for Kalo
Silversun Pickups Pikul4.0
The Boy Least Likely To Best Party Ever3.0
The All-American Rejects Move Along3.5
Sufjan Stevens Illinois5.0
What should I say about Illinois? Let's just say that I'm head over heels in love with this album. It's not about the indie rock cred, the press, or style points. It's about the quiet beauty underlying every song. This is an album about life, not just a state or a style of music. Although there are a lot of segues in this album, which has tended to receive some negative press, this isn't an album about instant gratification. Despite the 'soft' style of the music, this isn't meant for mere easy listening. Songs gradually reveal levels of complexity as the album plays, such as when Sufjan moves from the show tune style of 'Come on feel the Illinoise' to an absolutely spectacular chorus. Within the tapestry, there are some true golden threads; songs like 'Predatory Wasp of the Palisades', ' Casimir Pulaski Day', 'Chicago', and 'Jacksonville' are absolute masterpeices, both lyrically and musically. This is truly one of my favorite albums - not just of 2005, but ever. Open up your ears and hear the Illinoise.
The Cribs New Fellas3.0
dredg Catch Without Arms4.0
The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers2.5
Coldplay X&Y3.5
The Soviettes LP III3.0
Audioslave Out of Exile3.0
Dave Matthews Band Stand Up2.5
Spoon Gimme Fiction4.0
Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork Tree3.0
Eels Blinking Lights & Other Revelations3.0
Jaga Jazzist What We Must3.0
of Montreal The Sunlandic Twins3.5
The National Alligator4.5
The Subways Young For Eternity3.5
Mae The Everglow3.5
Beck Guero4.0
Glen Phillips Winter Pays For Summer4.0
The Decemberists Picaresque3.5
Stars Set Yourself On Fire3.5
Ryan Adams Cold Roses4.0
Jack Johnson In Between Dreams4.0
Iron And Wine Woman King4.5
Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production Of Eggs4.5
Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning4.0
KT Tunstall Eye To The Telescope4.0
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah3.0
Dzihan and Kamien Gran Riserva3.0
Lemon Jelly '64-'953.0

2004
Rufus Wainwright Want Two1.0
Relient K Mmhmm4.5
Death From Above 1979 You're a Woman, I'm a Machine3.5
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus4.0
Jimmy Eat World Futures4.0
Pinback Summer in Abaddon4.0
Joseph Arthur Our Shadows Will Remain3.0
Chevelle This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)3.0
Arcade Fire Funeral4.5
Medeski, Martin and Wood End of the World Party (Just in Case)3.5
Rilo Kiley More Adventurous3.0
Rise Against Siren Song of the Counter Culture4.5
Kings of Convenience Riot on an Empty Street3.5
The Album Leaf In A Safe Place3.0
The Killers Hot Fuss3.0
Sanctus Real Fight The Tide4.0
'Fight the Tide' is a perfect mainstream Christian rock album. In the vein of Switchfoot and other similar acts, Sanctus Real combines pop hooks with heavy guitars and rhythms to create memorable tunes. Although the album drags a bit in the middle, on the whole, this is a solid album from start to finish, with excellent tracks such as 'Everything About You','Alone','The Show','Message', and 'Deeds'. Highly recommended for anyone into Christian rock.
My Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge3.0
A.C. Newman The Slow Wonder3.5
Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters3.5
Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love Bad News3.0
Snow Patrol Final Straw4.0
Jem Finally Woken3.0
Youth Group Skeleton Jar3.0
Iron And Wine Our Endless Numbered Days4.0
Matt Pond PA Emblems3.5
Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans4.5
Sufjan Steven's Seven Swans is a rather quiet affair, lacking the sprawling arrangements, lengthy song titles, and interludes of his more famous 'states' albums. Sufjan's formula here is much simpler: banjo, acoustic guitar, and his signature hushed vocals. While the album tends to get slow by the end, there are some truly beautiful songs here, including the phenomenal 'The Dress Looks Nice On You', and perhaps Sufjan's best song 'To Be Alone With You'. Other songs such as 'Sister' show an experimental approach, using complicated vocal harmonies in what is a prelude to much of the material on Illinois. At the end of the day, however, this is a quiet album that lovers of Iron & Wine and mellow folk/indie would love.
Air Talkie Walkie4.5
Say Hi Numbers & Mumbles4.0
Incubus (USA-CA) A Crow Left of the Murder...3.0
Secret Machines Now Here is Nowhere4.0
The Honorary Title Anything Else But The Truth4.0
The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike3.5
Matisyahu Shake Off the Dust...Arise4.0
Kelly Clarkson Breakaway4.0
Ryan Adams Love is Hell4.5

2003
blink-182 Blink-1823.0
Ryan Adams Rock 'n' Roll3.0
Explosions in the Sky The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place3.5
Jars Of Clay Who We Are Instead3.5
Jose Gonzalez Veneer3.5
Something Corporate North4.0
The Shins Chutes Too Narrow4.0
The Format Interventions and Lullabies4.0
Jet Get Born3.0
Howie Day Stop All The World Now3.5
Belle and Sebastian Dear Catastrophe Waitress4.0
Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism5.0
On 'Transatlanticism', DCFC showcases a more mature sound than on their earlier works, while remaining true to their indie principles. If anything, the best word to describe this album would be 'cohesive'. Although the grandeur of the opening track, 'The New Year', contrasts sharply with the slow-paced and dramatic 'Transatlanticism', there is little, if any, feeling of discontinuity. Rather than relying on singles or catchy hooks, this album is best listened to as a whole. By the end of the album, Death Cab has taken you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and beautiful, moody songwriting. Highly Recommended
Muse Absolution3.0
Metric Old World Underground, Where Are You Now3.5
John Mayer Heavier Things4.5
Teitur Poetry & Airplanes3.5
The Appleseed Cast Two Conversations4.0
Sufjan Stevens Michigan5.0
Guster Keep It Together4.0
Radiohead Hail to the Thief3.0
Deftones Deftones2.5
Jack Johnson On and On4.0
Rise Against Revolutions per Minute4.0
Pete Yorn Day I Forgot4.0
Linkin Park Meteora2.5
M. Ward Transfiguration of Vincent4.0
Evanescence Fallen2.0
Cursive The Ugly Organ4.0
Cat Power You Are Free3.5
The Postal Service Give Up4.0
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Worn Copy2.5
Switchfoot The Beautiful Letdown3.5

2002
Audioslave Audioslave2.5
Joseph Arthur Redemption's Son3.5
Foo Fighters One by One3.0
Jason Mraz Waiting For My Rocket To Come3.0
Broken Social Scene You Forgot It in People4.5
Chevelle Wonder What's Next3.5
Jurassic 5 Power in Numbers4.0
Beck Sea Change4.0
Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head4.0
Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights2.5
Nickel Creek This Side4.0
Reindeer Section Son of Evil Reindeer3.0
Frou Frou Details4.0
Dave Matthews Band Busted Stuff2.5
The Vines Highly Evolved3.5
The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots4.5
Red Hot Chili Peppers By the Way3.0
Howie Day Australia3.5
Something Corporate Leaving Through The Window3.5
Do Make Say Think & Yet & Yet4.0
dredg El Cielo5.0
Stanton Moore Flyin' the Koop3.0
Reveille Bleed the Sky2.5
Rich Price Night Opens4.5
Matt Nathanson When Everything Meant Everything EP4.5

2001
Sevendust Animosity2.0
Radiohead I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings3.5
Dispatch Gut the Van4.5
Death Cab for Cutie The Photo Album4.5
Incubus (USA-CA) Morning View4.5
Broken Social Scene Feel Good Lost2.5
Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot3.5
P.O.D. Satellite3.0
Ben Folds Rockin' The Suburbs4.0
The American Analog Set Know By Heart4.5
Jimmy Eat World Bleed American4.0
John Mayer Room for Squares4.0
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club B.R.M.C.4.0
Pete Yorn musicforthemorningafter4.5
Pete Yorn's debut presented a fresh face to the tried and true alternative singer-songwriter genre. Adding a bit of country twang, a heavy emphasis on rhythmic music, and above all his gravelly lyrics and pop hooks, Yorn created a truly solid album. The only knack against this type of formula is that the music is a bit superficial -- and it is true that this is largely simple music. But it feels earnest, and doesn't resort to usual songwriting cliches. Additionally, the music quality is consistent, with there being few, if any, bad tracks. Highlights include 'Life on a Chain', 'Black', 'For Nancy', 'Closet', and the spectacular 'On Your Side'. Recommended for fans of pop rock and alternative music alike.
Jack Johnson Brushfire Fairytales4.0
Dave Matthews Band Everyday2.5

2000
U2 All That You Can't Leave Behind3.0
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory4.0
Dispatch Who Are We Living For?3.5
Phoenix (FRA) United3.0
At the Drive-In Relationship of Command4.0
Coldplay Parachutes3.5
Cursive Domestica3.0
Rage Against the Machine Renegades3.0
Nickel Creek Nickel Creek5.0
Yo La Tengo And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside...4.0
3 Doors Down The Better Life2.5
Death Cab for Cutie We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes3.5
Jurassic 5 Quality Control4.0

1999
Blue Man Group Audio3.5
Metallica S&M4.0
Led Zeppelin Best Of, Vol. 1: Early Days4.5
Jars Of Clay If I Left The Zoo2.5
Creed Human Clay3.5
Guster Lost And Gone Forever4.5
Incubus (USA-CA) Make Yourself4.0
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication4.5
dredg Leitmotif3.5
Bush The Science of Things3.0
Travis The Man Who3.5
Wilco Summerteeth4.0
Dispatch Four-Day Trials4.0
Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles4.5

1998
David Gray White Ladder4.0
Refused The Shape Of Punk To Come3.5
Eels Electro-Shock Blues3.5
Death Cab for Cutie Something About Airplanes3.0
Dave Matthews Band Before These Crowded Streets4.0
Guster Goldfly4.0
Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea4.0
Dc Talk Supernatural4.0

1997
Jars Of Clay Much Afraid4.0
Following up their classic self-titled album, Jars of Clay produced the melancholic 'Much Afraid'. Drastically changing their music, the album featured a much higher singing voice and depressing subject matter. This can be seen in the beautiful and haunting song 'Frail', as well as in 'Tea & Sympathy'. In many ways this is a more indie album than the previous, featuring interesting musical arrangements and subdued tones. Notable also is the lack of immediate pop hooks within the music. Nevertheless, the music remains highly moving and achieves a depth not existing in their first record. So although this album is not as immediately accessible as their debut, it compensates by adding surprising depth.
Jimi Hendrix Experience Hendrix: The Best of Hendrix5.0
Incubus (USA-CA) S.C.I.E.N.C.E.4.5
Dispatch Bang Bang4.5
Creed My Own Prison3.5
Radiohead OK Computer4.0
Our Lady Peace Clumsy3.5
Ben Folds Five Whatever and Ever, Amen4.0
Elliott Smith Either/Or4.5

1996
Sublime Sublime3.0
Beck Odelay4.0
Jimmy Buffett Banana Wind3.5
Incubus (USA-CA) Enjoy Incubus4.0
Dave Matthews Band Crash4.5
I grew up listening to Dave Matthews on the radio, but I only really appreciated the band until my Sophomore Year in high school. A developing drummer, I was sucked in by Carter Beauford's beautiful grooves, and was soon hooked on the fantastic music on this cd. From 'Two Step' to the spectacular #41, this album is all about one thing: pure music. Although I don't listen to DMB as much as I used to, this album remains a classic of the jam rock genre and a lesson in musicianship.
Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire4.0
Sting Mercury Falling3.5

1995
Jars Of Clay Jars Of Clay4.5
Dc Talk Jesus Freak4.5
Radiohead The Bends4.5

1994
Dave Matthews Band Under The Table And Dreaming4.5
Jeff Buckley Grace2.5
I found this album to be a great dissapointment, given its reputation on Sputnik. Although there are a few spectacular songs like "Lover, You Should`ve Come Over," Jeff has more confidence in his voice than it deserves. He often whines, or drones, in an almost tuneless fashion, that destroys much of the beauty of his songs. Despite being pretty good musically, this album seems to be trying too hard.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Let Love In4.0

1993
The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream4.5
1992
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine5.0

1991
My Bloody Valentine Loveless4.0

1990
Dc Talk Nu Thang2.0

1986
The Smiths The Queen Is Dead4.0
Metallica Master of Puppets4.0

1971
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV4.5

1968
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison4.5
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