wagimus | Sputnikmusic

	Scar Symmetry Dark Matter Dimensions Scar Symmetry is still a good BAND, but if they are going to use a pair of vocalists to "replicate" Alvestam's vocals, they should probably quit now. The clean vocals lost a lot of punch, and the melody just isn't there for me. These two new guys need to quit concerning themselves with recreating the old Scar Symmetry, and just do what they can do well. This CD just blends in.	2.5 08.27.10
	Paramore Brand New Eyes There are a few songs on Riot! that click with me, but this CD is 90% comprised of great tracks. Hayley's vocals really stepped it up a notch, and all you need to do is you're a non-believer is listen to, "All I Wanted."	4.0 08.27.10
	Trivium Ascendancy Trivium is a strange band for me, because I saw them live when they were on the fringe of stardom. No one present knew who this Asian looking dude was, but it was obvious he was determined to get a bunch of wandering onlookers to chant "HEY!" along with his fist-pump action. A few people did, but most people just continued wondering who these acne-kids were. Trivium finished off with a plug to their new album, the track called Like Light to the Flies, and everyone was suddenly in to this show. A nobody band moved everyone in the crowd, and I mean, you moved whether you wanted to move or not. Ember to Inferno sucked, but it was all I could get	4.5 08.09.10
	xDEATHSTARx We Are The Threat Heavy, but appealing in that hardcore, chant-along way where everyone is pumping their fist like it's a techno rave party. Catchy hooks and choruses, solid layered clean vocals that don't distract from the fact that this is a hardcore outfit, and pounding guitars and drums. I love this CD.	4.0 08.09.10
	Thrice The Artist in the Ambulance I have this album to thank for a lot of the diversity in my musical tastes to date. Had I not heard this in a tattoo parlor, I may have continued listening to cruddy radio metal and rap. I initially only liked a few songs and shelved it, but upon extensive plays, The Artist in the Ambulance began to reveal an entire CD of high grade tracks. I haven't listened to Beggars or Illusion of Safety yet, but I commend Thrice for being able to remain critically stellar despite a constant change of sound. The Artist in the Ambulance needs a direct sequel however, because there is nothing out there like it.	4.5 08.09.10
	Miss May I Apologies Are for the Weak One of my favorite albums from last year. Nothing but pure, maniacal, shredding energy. Great screaming, great pacing, great consistency and all from a youthful act on their pioneering voyage. Monument will either be epic or an epic fail.	4.0 08.09.10
	Eminem Recovery I hear a lot of shit talking about the previous two efforts, which collectively make up a third of Marshall Mather's career. This brings me to wondering when exactly critics find that Eminem WAS relevant. After 14 years, he's still got it. Strangely enough, after all of the hooplah about Dre not producing, one of the weakest tracks on Recovery is Dre produced. The Khalil tracks really do it for me, despite the hooks involving an interesting cast of characters, to say the least. Other tracks often follow suit, but I think that as a whole, Recovery is the best CD Eminem has put out. After a few listens, and the a retrospective listen to past re	3.5 08.08.10