Average Rating: 3.57 Rating Variance: 0.81 Objectivity Score: 77% (Well Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAir Moon SafariBeck OdelayCourtney Barnett sometimes i sit and think, and sometimes i just sitGrace Jones NightclubbingGrimes Art AngelsSinead O'Connor The Lion And The CobraSleigh Bells TreatsThe Shangri-Las Leader of the Pack4.5 superbBanks The AltarChumbawamba TubthumperFeist The ReminderFolk-tinged indie pop with something to say and great rhythms. "1234" and "My Moon, My Man" rank among the best pop songs of the year, and the whole album proves remarkably cohesive.Fiona Apple When the Pawn...Garbage GarbageJeri Silverman LeaflikeJoanna Newsom YsKehlani Sweet Sexy SavageKehlani's debut studio album is excellent. She samples Aaliyah on the clever "Too Much" (sample lyric: "too much of a woman, three much of a woman, four much of a woman, too much of a bad bad b*tch"), and edges close to the dancefloor on tunes like "I Wanna Be" and "CRZY" (no, that's not a typo). Comparisons to Janet Jackson aren't unwarranted, but throughout the album, Kehlani demonstrates a sassy personality and cleverness that has been missing from hip-hop for quite some time.Kelis TastyLittle Jackie The StoopMelanie Martinez Cry BabyPet Shop Boys VeryThough this record has lots of dancefloor-ready tunes ("A Different Point of View," "One and One Make Five"), there are some weighty lyrics - "Dreaming of the Queen" deals with AIDS, while "Can You Forgive Her" examines a relationship in which the woman is unsatisfied and close to learning the truth about her partner. A dance classic.Robert Palmer DriveRobert Palmer CluesRobyn RobynThe B-52s Whammy!Tinashe AquariusYeah Yeah Yeahs Fever To Tell4.0 excellentAlanis Morissette Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette Under Rug SweptAlice Russell To DustAlice Russell Pot of GoldCarly Rae Jepsen EmotionCharlotte Sometimes Waves And The Both Of UsChristina Aguilera BionicCollective Soul DosageEsthero Wikked Lil GrrrlsFiona Apple TidalImani Coppola ChupacabraA lesson in clever lyrics and interesting sampling.Imani Coppola The Black And White AlbumJulia Michaels Nervous SystemKelis Kelis Was HereKelis Flesh ToneLiz Phair WhitechocolatespaceeggMacy Gray The Sellout"The Sellout" is one of her best albums. It's more poppy than its predecessors, but that doesn't spell out disaster in her case. "The Sellout" is surprisingly deep, discussing her hunger for fame and her desire to stay true to herself, while songs like "Lately" provide an opportunity to dance. The Velvet Revolver team-up "Kissed It" brings to mind Black Keys, and though its lyrics aren't phenomenal, it's still refreshing on an album of confessionals, apologies, and love songs. Even the balladry here is impressive - "Let You Win" could be sung by Adele, but it really pops with Gray's vocals. There's only one big misstep on the album: "Beauty in the World," a "the world is wonderful" song whose lyrics ("shake your booty, boys and girls, so much beauty in the world") leave much to be desired. The album is a testament to her range and talent; she wrote almost everything on it, and gives it a unique spin with her raspy voice, which sounds jagged but authentic, especially in a time when auto-tune is making 99% of the pop sound as if it came from a sterile factory in Hollywood. Though her vocals and eclecticism may be a turn-off for some, this record shows that Macy Gray is back, and with good reason.Madison Park BoutiqueA sleek, sophisticated collection of electropop. Perfect for cocktail parties, romantic evenings, and days at the beach alike.Marina FrootMichelle Branch Hopeless RomanticMichelle Branch Hotel PaperMichelle Branch The Spirit RoomParamore After LaughterPerfume Genius Too BrightPet Shop Boys ActuallyPet Shop Boys SuperA pleasantly clever record, with tongue-in-cheek guilty pleasures like "Groovy" alongside interesting electronic arrangements and well-written lyrics ("The Pop Kids," "Happiness").Phases For LifeSkye Sweetnam Sound SoldierSuzanne Vega Lover BelovedTelepopmusik Genetic WorldToni Basil Toni BasilToni Basil's second LP feels a little dated, but the songs are so much fun that that hardly matters. "Space Walkin' the Dog," which sounds eerily similar to Madonna's "Material Girl," is a must-hear (Toni's came first), and the MTV hit "Over My Head" has the new wave sound perfected.3.5 greatAmy Winehouse Back to BlackCascada Evacuate The DancefloorNot exactly the Holy Grail of dance tunes, but there are some great songs here: "Evacuate the Dancefloor" and "Fever" are charming, if unoriginal, dance tracks, while "Everytime I Hear Your Name" is the sort of shiny, heartfelt electro-ballad that only Cascada could pull off.Cascada Everytime We TouchCharli XCX SuckerDiane Renay Navy BlueEmblematic of early 60s girl-pop. Though it's clear that she wants to be Lesley Gore, Diane Renay avoids sounding like a copycat. Highlights include "Watch Out, Sally," an exciting tale of a girl who falls for a bad boy only to be dumped for another girl, and the title track, a top 10 hit in the US.Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton Choir of the MindFeist Open SeasonFlorence and the Machine How Big, How Blue, How BeautifulHoku HokuNot exactly Shakespeare, but it's a fun, innocent pop album that's far superior to anything Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera has ever done.Joanna Newsom DiversKate Nash AgendaLiz Phair Whip-SmartMadonna American LifeA fun effort full of sparse electronica and lyrics that ream modern American life and ideals. Her criticism of beauty-obsessed culture would sound a lot more convincing if her career hadn't hinged on sensationalist showing of skin since Record No. 2, but most of her complaints are valid. At times, the record sounds like a precursor to M.I.A.; elsewhere, it sounds like a stripped-down "Music." It's not perfect, but it's more of a risk than her prior few albums, and that is worth applauding. At least it's different, another color Madonna the Chameleon effortlessly morphs into.Melanie Martinez Cry Baby's Extra ClutterThis EP offers listeners the bonus tracks from the deluxe version of "Cry Baby," plus her holiday song "Gingerbread Man." The tracks are sure to please those who are already fans of her warped-music-box sound and reuse of children's items as symbols of heartbreak and pain, though it's unlikely that the EP will earn her any new fans. The highlights, "Cake" and "Play Date," sound more dancefloor-ready than most of her tunes, while "Teddy Bear," whose lyrics appear to tell the tale of a stalker, comes off more sinister and demented than interesting. A must-have for Martinez fans; best ignored by everyone else.Michelle Branch Broken BraceletMichelle Branch Everything Comes and GoesSuzanne Vega Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of PentaclesThe Veronicas Hook Me UpTM Juke ForwardToni Basil Word of MouthWeird Al Yankovic Poodle Hat3.0 goodAlanis Morissette Supposed Former Infatuation JunkieCascada Perfect DayCascada Original MeDirty Vegas Dirty VegasFrank Ocean BlondeGrace FMA (Forgive My Attitude)An entertaining debut LP from a promising Australian songstress. She has a sweet tooth for the retro (check out her cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me"), but that doesn't stop her from composing modern pop tunes.Kate Nash My Best Friend Is YouKelly Rowland Ms. KellyLiz Phair Liz PhairLiz Phair FunstyleM.I.A. AIMPussycat Dolls Doll DominationRihanna ANTISnake River Conspiracy Sonic JihadTaylor Swift 1989Telepopmusik Angel MilkTelepopmusik's second LP is fair, but it frequently tries too hard on puzzling experimental tracks that are mostly silent. They're best om songs like "Into Everything," a Deborah Anderson collab that sounds like "Breathe"'s more-complex cousin. Vitamin C Vitamin C2.5 averageAriana Grande Dangerous WomanBush Black and White RainbowsEsthero Everything is ExpensiveKelly Rowland Simply DeepFor a while, it looked as if Kelly Rowland was going to be the Destiny's Child member with the big solo career. First, she helped Nelly with "Dilemma," then hit the charts solo with "Stole," a touching song that tells the story of a school shooting and the lives of those involved; a simple but haunting arrangement completes the package, making it one of the best singles of 2002. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is a disappointment. "Train on a Track" is a cool, laid-back tune about falling in love helplessly, and "Love/Hate" and "Can't Nobody" are good as far as dance-R&B goes, but too much of the rest sounds like dated filler.rKendrick Lamar DAMN.Morrissey World Peace Is None of Your BusinessNivea NiveaSkye Sweetnam Noise From The BasementZara Larsson So Good2.0 poorAlice Smith For Lovers, Dreamers & MeCherish UnappreciatedA tepid and utterly faceless foray into mid-2000s R&B. Though hit single "Do It To It" is fun and "That Boi" boasts a good beat, the rest sounds like something a Destiny's Child cover band would record. The worst offender? "Taken," where they shamelessly attempt to emulate Beyonce and end up sounding like a second-rate Kelly Rowland. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a ButterflyLorde MelodramaPet Shop Boys NightlifeThough the album has some good songs, like the disco-inspired "New York City Boy" and the toned-down Kylie Minogue duet "In Denial," much of the album feels nondescript and lacks the wit on the Boys' earlier work.Sorority Noise You're Not As ____ As You Think1.5 very poorKorn UntitledLiz Phair Exile In GuyvilleVitamin C MoreA mushy collection on painfully dated pop; most of the album sounds like it was influenced by "Genie in a Bottle" and Britney Spears. Each track sounds Radio Disney-ready, but the lyrics would have parents changing the channel ASAP - just look at "Sex Has Come Between Us." The worst track? Her cover of "I Know What Boys Like." It has 0 self-awareness and her voice sounds like a chipmunk on helium. Her first record was at least bearable, but this album is another story...1.0 awfulThe Chainsmokers Memories...Do Not OpenThe Chainsmokers Collage
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