Average Rating: 3.83 Rating Variance: 1.28 Objectivity Score: 67% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicArcade Fire FuneralThis is pure energy and emotion portrayed as music. Arcade Fire takes what the voice can't express and channels it into pure sound that makes me smile, dance, and tear up a little (or a lot). It's lyrically brilliant, musically gorgeous; it tells a story and it gives hope; it will be remembered for decades.R.E.M. Automatic for the PeopleR.E.M.'s best album, and one of the greatest albums ever made. It's perfectly paced, and always succeeds in keeping things interesting and beautiful. It slowly reels you in until the midsection. Here, where so many albums dip into mediocrity, songs keep getting more interesting and foot-tapping, with a couple of breathers before the finale. The last act is incredible. "Man on the Moon," "Nightswimming," and finally "Find the River" flow perfectly into each other to an immensely satisfying, peaceful ending with the promise of more journeys to come. This album is a light at the end of a tunnel. The Beach Boys Pet SoundsWhat can I say about Pet Sounds that hasn't already been said? It's a classic, period.The Beatles Abbey RoadSome grit, some hope, and a lot of joy make up this album. It teaches and it entertains; it's still a masterpiece, decades later.4.5 superbBon Iver For Emma, Forever AgoI tend to shy away from lonely music, but this album is engaging. On my first listen, it clicked for me. It is made from sadness; the lyrics are the emotions of a man with no company but himself and his inescapable thoughts. But this isolation gives the album its beauty and its intimate snapshot of someone healing from heartache; while listening, it's like I'm there in a cold winter cabin.Death Cab for Cutie TransatlanticismThis is the album with Death Cab for Cutie's boldest, most interesting, best written material. While the themes and emotions explored aren't exactly new, DCFC makes them seem that way with beautiful lyrics and common themes interwoven throughout the length of the album. It may lag a few times along the way, but overall, Transatlanticism is pretty wonderful.4.0 excellentAnimal Collective Merriweather Post PavilionOne of the most striking things about this album is its exuberance. For me, it was hard to get into at first; I couldn't really get past the wall of sound or the all-over-the-place lyrics. But it grew on me. I got totally absorbed into songs such as "In the Flowers" and "Summertime Clothes" with their joyous, dreamlike feel, and "My Girls" and "Blueish" with their anecdotes about life and some really cool sound effects. The occasional heap of craziness helps, too. As a whole, the album is difficult to dance to, but it sure makes me feel like dancing.Animal Collective Fall Be KindThis is a really solid EP. "Bleed" pretty much goes in one ear and out the other, and "I Think I Can" takes a while to get anywhere (albeit with a rather satisfying result). But it's well-paced and pretty catchy, and "What Would I Want? Sky" is basically a masterpiece.Passion Pit MannersManners is kind of hit-or-miss. The meandering middle is pretty much forgettable, as is the final song. That being said, I LOVE this album. Its basic sound is sugary and sweet, but this is perfectly balanced by gritty lyrics about searching for sanity in the world. Most of these songs are irresistible to sing or dance along to. This is one of my favorite albums. U2 Rattle and HumI like U2 well enough, but this is the only album I can listen to straight through and love. It's a bit of a mishmash, but is paced well with explosive, joyful rocking scattered throughout and a great, climactic ending. It's a great snapshot of a time when U2 was a band that really played rock and roll. 3.5 greatDaft Punk DiscoveryThis album is overlong and ridiculously top-heavy -- the memorable, fantastic songs here are the first four. "One More Time" is a really fun song and leads nicely into "Aerodynamic." "Digital Love" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" are so well-made and always make me smile. Then, "Nightvision," "High Life," and "Voyager" attempt to keep things interesting, but it just gets pretty forgettable afterward. It's good, but it could be a lot more concise.3.0 goodOneRepublic Waking UpOneRepublic has always been really overblown and melodramatic, and they still are. But this album's sound is pretty interesting and experimental while still being catchy and well-balanced.U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic BombAs a whole, this isn't anything special or groundbreaking; many of the songs don't hook me in, or are particularly original. The gold on this album is in the obvious singles "Vertigo" and "City of Blinding Lights," which are incredibly infectious and joyful.2.0 poorSwimming With Dolphins Ambient Blue1.0 awfulOwl City Of June
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