| A Winged Victory for the Sullen A Winged Victory for the Sullen | 4.5 |
| Adele 21 | 4.0 |
| Akira Kosemura Polaroid Piano | 3.5 |
| Alela Diane To Be Still | 4.0 |
| Alela Diane Alela Diane and Wild Divine | 4.0 |
| Alela Diane About Farewell | 4.0 |
| Ane Brun It All Starts With One | 4.0 |
| Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire for No Witness | 4.0 |
| Angel Olsen Whole New Mess | 2.5 |
| Angel Olsen All Mirrors | 3.0 |
| Angel Olsen My Woman | 4.5 |
| Angel Olsen Half Way Home | 4.5 |
| Angus and Julia Stone Down the Way | 4.0 |
| Ani DiFranco Which Side Are You On? | 3.5 |
| Ani DiFranco Red Letter Year | 4.0 |
| Ani DiFranco Reprieve | 4.5 |
| Ani DiFranco Knuckle Down | 4.0 |
| Ani DiFranco Evolve | 3.5 |
| Ani DiFranco Puddle Dive | 4.0 |
| Ani DiFranco Little Plastic Castle | 4.0 |
| Ani DiFranco Not a Pretty Girl | 4.5 |
| Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion | 4.5 |
| Animal Collective Strawberry Jam | 4.5 |
| Animal Collective Feels | 5.0 |
| Animal Collective Sung Tongs | 4.0 |
| Animal Collective Ark | 4.0 |
| Animal Collective Campfire Songs | 3.0 |
| Animal Collective Danse Manatee | 2.5 |
| Animal Collective Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished | 4.5 |
| Animal Collective Fall Be Kind | 3.5 |
| Animal Collective Water Curses | 4.0 |
| Animal Collective Centipede Hz | 3.5 |
| Anna von Hausswolff Ceremony | 4.0 |
| Anna von Hausswolff Singing from the Grave | 4.0 |
| Arcade Fire Funeral | 4.0 |
| Arcade Fire Neon Bible | 4.0 |
| Arcade Fire The Suburbs | 3.5 |
| Arcade Fire Reflektor | 3.0 |
| Asobi Seksu Rewolf | 3.5 |
| Asobi Seksu Hush | 3.5 |
| Asobi Seksu Citrus | 4.5 |
| Avey Tare Down There | 3.0 |
| Azure Ray Hold On Love | 4.0 |
| Azure Ray Burn and Shiver | 4.5 |
| Azure Ray November | 3.0 |
| The first two songs on this EP outdo the other ones incredibly. "November" is one of the duo's most depressing tracks, but also one of their most beautiful. And their cover of Townes Van Zandt's "For the Sake of The Song" is the duo's longest track on record, but also one of their best and most polished. |
| Azure Ray Azure Ray | 4.5 |
| Bat For Lashes Fur and Gold | 4.5 |
| Bat For Lashes Two Suns | 4.5 |
| Bat For Lashes The Haunted Man | 4.5 |
| Beach House Beach House | 4.0 |
| Beach House Teen Dream | 4.5 |
| Beach House Devotion | 4.5 |
| Beach House Bloom | 4.5 |
| Belle and Sebastian Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance | 4.0 |
| Beth Orton Comfort In Strangers | 4.0 |
| Beth Orton Daybreaker | 2.5 |
| Beth Orton Central Reservation | 3.0 |
| Beth Orton Trailer Park | 4.5 |
| Beth Orton Sugaring Season | 4.0 |
| Bibio Mind Bokeh | 4.0 |
| Bjork Volta | 4.0 |
My only real problem with this album... well, my couple problems... are: 1) The fact that each song is either tied to together by an unrelated outro, or ends immediately/abruptly for the next song. That works well once, on the transition between 'Dull Flame' and 'Innocence.' 2) The lyrics aren't as good. Especially on 'Hope,' the worst song she's ever done, in my opinion. The music is great, but I skip it because I just hate everything else. 3[kindof]) The singing isn't as consistently amazing. 'Pneumonia' features a dreary minute-long, nearly-monotone intro, and pretty much throughout it contains extremely boring music/vocals.
But I do really like this album all in all. It's not as bad as many critics say. So what if she isn't doing as complicated stuff as she's done. There'll never be another Homogenic, or Vespertine. Get over it.
my track pix: wanderlust, dull flame of desire, vertebrae by vertebrae, declare independence. |
| Bjork Medulla | 4.5 |
| Bjork Homogenic | 5.0 |
| This is her best album to date. I have no idea why you gave it a 3.5. It deserves a 5 (i would have given it one, but it wasn't working.) Everything is perfect here in its complexity. The mood is angry but the lyrics aren't as. 'Bachelorette' is one of her best tracks ever. 'Unravel' is beautiful, and 'All Is Full Of Love' is timeless. Beautiful work. Well-written review, I just don't agree. |
| Bjork Post | 4.5 |
| Bjork Debut | 4.0 |
| Bjork Bjork | 1.0 |
| Bjork Drawing Restraint 9 | 3.0 |
| Bjork Greatest Hits | 3.0 |
| Bjork Selmasongs | 3.0 |
| Bjork Biophilia | 4.5 |
| Bjork Vespertine | 4.5 |
| Bjork Bastards | 3.5 |
| Bjork Biophilia Live | 4.0 |
| Bjork Vulnicura | 4.5 |
| Blonde Redhead 23 | 4.0 |
| Blonde Redhead Penny Sparkle | 4.5 |
| Blonde Redhead Misery is a Butterfly | 4.0 |
| Blonde Redhead Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons | 4.0 |
| Blonde Redhead In an Expression of the Inexpressible | 2.5 |
| Blonde Redhead Fake Can Be Just As Good | 3.5 |
| Blonde Redhead Blonde Redhead | 3.0 |
| Blonde Redhead Barragan | 2.5 |
| Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver | 3.5 |
| very good listen, not quite as good as Emma, but still good. i think the music and the vocals shine the brightest, but his lyrics really (and im surprised so many are even able to argue) are just beautiful poetic mumbo jumbo. pretty images piled ontop of each other with no discerinble meaning, most of the time. still, a solid release. |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Wolfroy Goes To Town | 4.5 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy The Wonder Show of the World | 4.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Beware! | 3.5 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lie Down in the Light | 4.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Wilding in the West | 3.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy The Letting Go | 5.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Greatest Palace Music | 3.5 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Master And Everyone | 4.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Ease Down The Road | 4.0 |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy I See a Darkness | 4.5 |
| Braids Flourish // Perish | 4.5 |
| Braids Native Speaker | 4.0 |
| Braids Deep In The Iris | 4.0 |
| Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning | 4.5 |
| Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene | 4.0 |
| Broken Social Scene You Forgot It in People | 3.5 |
| Broken Social Scene Feel Good Lost | 2.0 |
| Burial Untrue | 4.5 |
| Burial Burial | 4.0 |
| Burial Kindred | 4.0 |
| Camera Obscura Desire Lines | 4.0 |
| Camera Obscura Biggest Bluest Hi Fi | 3.5 |
| Camera Obscura Underachievers Please Try Harder | 4.0 |
| Camera Obscura Let's Get Out of This Country | 4.5 |
| Camera Obscura My Maudlin Career | 4.5 |
| Cat Power You Are Free | 4.5 |
| Cat Power Moon Pix | 4.5 |
| Cat Power The Greatest | 4.0 |
| Cat Power Jukebox | 2.0 |
| Cat Power The Covers Record | 3.0 |
| Cat Power What Would the Community Think | 4.0 |
| Cat Power Myra Lee | 4.0 |
| Cat Power Dear Sir | 3.5 |
| Cat Power Sun | 4.5 |
| Chairlift Something | 4.0 |
| Chelsea Wolfe Pain Is Beauty | 4.0 |
| CocoRosie The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillbo | 4.5 |
I think is this is a remarkable album, from one of the most unique groups out there. These girls are so unafraid of being themselves, and that's ALMOST enough to sell it to me right now. I think Werwolf is the best track, and Black Poppies is the worst.
Also, i THOUGHT that Sierra sang on Sunshine. I think she does, cause Bianca doesn't go that high, and also, Sierra sings it live. It's a beautiful number. |
| CocoRosie Noah's Ark | 2.5 |
| CocoRosie La Maison De Mon Reve | 4.0 |
| CocoRosie Grey Oceans | 4.0 |
| CocoRosie Put the Shine On | 2.0 |
| CocoRosie Tales of a Grass Widow | 4.0 |
| CocoRosie Heartache City | 3.0 |
| Crystal Castles Crystal Castles II | 4.5 |
| Crystal Castles Crystal Castles | 4.0 |
| Crystal Castles Crystal Castles III | 4.0 |
| Damien Rice O | 4.0 |
| Damien Rice 9 | 3.0 |
| Deafheaven Sunbather | 1.5 |
| Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism | 4.0 |
| Death Cab for Cutie Plans | 3.0 |
| Death Cab for Cutie Codes and Keys | 4.0 |
| Deerhoof Deerhoof vs. Evil | 4.5 |
| Deerhoof Offend Maggie | 4.0 |
| Deerhoof Friend Opportunity | 4.5 |
| Deerhoof The Runners Four | 4.0 |
| Deerhoof Milk Man | 3.5 |
| Deerhoof Apple O' | 4.0 |
| Deerhoof Reveille | 3.5 |
| Destroyer Trouble In Dreams | 3.5 |
| Destroyer Kaputt | 4.0 |
| Destroyer Your Blues | 4.5 |
| Eisley Room Noises | 3.5 |
Good review.
While Eisley are undeniably charming, they are almost too sugar-sweet. Even when the lyrics are sad (Telescope Eyes) they make it sound happier than it is. Bright Wound and Golly Sandra are the two best tracks. I actually don't like Telescope Eyes. I vaguely remember a very old 5-minute-ish piano-driven Telescope Eyes, but I think I'm the only one. Must've been a dream.
Overall, a very good album, and nice to listen to when you're down.
Their new album hits stores in august.
It's called COMBINATIONS. |
| Eleanor Friedberger Last Summer | 4.0 |
| Eleanor Friedberger Personal Record | 4.0 |
| Ellen Allien Sool | 4.5 |
| Ellen Allien Dust | 3.5 |
| Ellen Allien Berlinette | 3.0 |
| Emiliana Torrini Me and Armini | 4.0 |
| Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton Knives Don't Have Your Back | 4.5 |
| Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton What Is Free To A Good Home? | 3.5 |
| Essie Jain We Made This Ourselves | 4.0 |
| Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork Tree | 1.0 |
| Farrah Abraham My Teenage Dream Ended | 1.0 |
| Feist The Reminder | 4.5 |
| Feist Let It Die | 4.5 |
| Feist Monarch (Lay Your Jewelled Head Down) | 4.0 |
| Fever Ray Fever Ray | 4.5 |
| Fiona Apple When the Pawn... | 4.5 |
| Fiona Apple Tidal | 4.0 |
| Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine | 4.5 |
| Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel... | 5.0 |
| FKA Twigs LP1 | 4.5 |
| Florence and the Machine Ceremonials | 3.0 |
| Goldfrapp Supernature | 3.0 |
I don't think it's a coincidence that my favorite song is "Let It Take You," seeing as it's the most like old Goldfrapp. Sure, "Ooh La La" is fun, and "Satin Chic" is quaint and cute. However, I am a Felt Mountain boy. That shall stay as it is.
Seventh Tree comes out in two weeks, and I am looking forward to that. Finally: a much-needed change. |
| Goldfrapp Black Cherry | 4.0 |
| Goldfrapp Felt Mountain | 4.5 |
| Goldfrapp Seventh Tree | 4.5 |
| Goldfrapp Head First | 3.5 |
| Goldfrapp Tales Of Us | 4.0 |
| Gregory and the Hawk In Your Dreams | 3.5 |
| Grimes Visions | 4.0 |
| Grizzly Bear Yellow House | 4.0 |
I don't usually enjoy albums like this. Extremely brief, could-be-more writing, and tons and tons and tons of instrumental. I like that maybe on a track or two, or an entirely instrumental album with no words, or a regular album of words and instrumental.
But there's something about this tapestry that captures me. I can't even be sure of what it is, but whatever it is, it's truly compelling. |
| Grouper Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill | 4.5 |
| Grouper Wide | 4.0 |
| Grouper Way Their Crept | 4.0 |
| Grouper Ruins | 4.5 |
| Grouper A I A | 4.5 |
| Grouper Cover the Windows and the Walls | 4.0 |
| Grouper Violet Replacement | 4.0 |
| Grouper Water People | 4.5 |
| Grouper The Man Who Died in His Boat | 4.5 |
| High Places High Places | 4.5 |
| How to Dress Well Love Remains | 4.5 |
| iamamiwhoami Kin | 3.5 |
| Imogen Heap Speak For Yourself | 4.0 |
| Imogen Heap I Megaphone | 4.0 |
| Imogen Heap Ellipse | 3.5 |
| Janelle Monae The Electric Lady | 4.5 |
| Jenny Hval and Susanna Meshes Of Voice | 4.0 |
| Jenny Lewis The Voyager | 4.0 |
| Jens Lekman I Know What Love Isn't | 4.5 |
| Jens Lekman Night Falls Over Kortedala | 4.5 |
| Jessica Pratt Jessica Pratt | 4.5 |
| Jessie Ware Devotion | 3.0 |
| Joan as Police Woman Real Life | 4.0 |
| Joan as Police Woman To Survive | 4.0 |
| Joanna Newsom The Milk-Eyed Mender | 4.5 |
You are completely right. She is an acquired taste. In all forms of the terms. Her voice is atrocious, and remarkably untrained. But you're also right when you say it works.
Take the advice:
If you hated her at first because she made you want to shoot someone, or cut your ears off, I don't blame you. I feel like almost everyone has this reaction. I said "Why the hell does this chick get a record deal? My God!" when I frist heard her. But there was something about her that struck me. Maybe it was her originality, her beautiful harping, her wondrous stories, or all of it. At first, you are blinded (and deafened) by the vocals, and you miss the harp work and lyrics. Go back. Give her 3 or 4 tries and that will prove if you like her.
You just have to get over the intial shock. |
| Joanna Newsom Ys | 5.0 |
| Joanna Newsom Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band | 4.0 |
| Joanna Newsom Have One on Me | 4.5 |
| Joanna Newsom Divers | 4.5 |
| Juana Molina Wed 21 | 4.5 |
| Juana Molina Un Dia | 4.5 |
| Juana Molina Son | 4.0 |
| Julia Holter Ekstasis | 4.0 |
| Julia Holter Loud City Song | 4.5 |
| Julia Holter Have You In My Wilderness | 4.5 |
| Julianna Barwick The Magic Place | 3.5 |
| Julianna Barwick Nepenthe | 4.0 |
| Kanye West Yeezus | 2.0 |
| Kate Bush Aerial | 4.0 |
| Kate Bush Hounds of Love | 5.0 |
| Kate Bush 50 Words for Snow | 4.5 |
| Kate Bush The Red Shoes | 3.0 |
| Kate Bush The Sensual World | 4.5 |
| Kate Bush The Dreaming | 4.5 |
| Kate Bush Never for Ever | 4.0 |
| Kate Bush Lionheart | 3.0 |
| Kate Bush The Kick Inside | 4.0 |
| Kate Bush Director's Cut | 4.0 |
| Kimbra The Golden Echo | 2.0 |
| Kimya Dawson My Cute Friend Sweet Princess | 4.5 |
| Kimya Dawson Remember That I Love You | 4.5 |
| Kimya Dawson Hidden Vagenda | 4.0 |
| Kimya Dawson I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean | 3.5 |
| King Krule 6 Feet Beneath the Moon | 3.0 |
| La Roux Trouble In Paradise | 4.0 |
| Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence | 1.5 |
| Land Of Talk Cloak and Cipher | 4.5 |
| Land Of Talk Some Are Lakes | 4.0 |
| Land Of Talk Fun And Laughter | 4.0 |
| Land Of Talk Indistinct Conversations | 3.5 |
| Laura Marling A Creature I Don't Know | 4.0 |
| Laura Marling I Speak Because I Can | 4.5 |
| Laura Marling Alas, I Cannot Swim | 3.5 |
| Laura Marling Once I Was an Eagle | 4.5 |
| Laura Stevenson Wheel | 3.0 |
| Laura Veirs Year Of Meteors | 3.5 |
This a wonderful album by a wonderful artist. My 2nd favorite by Laura Veirs (the first being Troubled by the Fire.)
I don't really like Black Gold Blues. it rubs me the wrong way.
good review of what you reviewed though.
i recommend:
galaxies
magnetized (beautifully simplistic)
where gravity is dead (my favorite. when i first heard this i played it over 30 times in a row.) |
| Laura Veirs Saltbreakers | 2.5 |
| Lavender Diamond Imagine Our Love | 4.0 |
| LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening | 4.5 |
| LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver | 3.0 |
| Lianne La Havas Is Your Love Big Enough? | 4.5 |
| Local Natives Gorilla Manor | 4.0 |
| Local Natives Hummingbird | 3.5 |
| Lorde Pure Heroine | 3.5 |
| Loscil Submers | 4.5 |
| Loscil Endless Falls | 4.5 |
| Loscil Sketches From New Brighton | 4.0 |
| Lost In The Trees A Church That Fits Our Needs | 4.5 |
| Low Long Division | 3.5 |
| Low Songs for a Dead Pilot | 4.0 |
| Low Live At Eindhoven | 3.5 |
| Low Drums and Guns | 4.5 |
| Low The Curtain Hits the Cast | 4.5 |
| Low Things We Lost in the Fire | 4.5 |
| Low I Could Live in Hope | 4.5 |
| Low C'Mon | 4.5 |
| Low The Invisible Way | 3.5 |
| Low Plays Nice Places | 4.0 |
| M. Ward Transfiguration of Vincent | 3.5 |
| M. Ward Transistor Radio | 4.0 |
| M. Ward Post-War | 4.5 |
| M.I.A. Arular | 4.5 |
| M.I.A. Maya | 3.5 |
| M.I.A. Kala | 4.5 |
| M.I.A. Matangi | 4.0 |
| Maria Taylor 11:11 | 4.0 |
| Mariam the Believer Blood Donation | 4.5 |
| Marissa Nadler Marissa Nadler | 4.0 |
| Marissa Nadler July | 4.5 |
| Marissa Nadler Strangers | 4.5 |
| Mark Kozelek & Jimmy Lavalle Perils from the Sea | 4.5 |
| Marnie Stern Marnie Stern | 4.5 |
| Marnie Stern This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It... | 4.0 |
| Marnie Stern The Chronicles of Marnia | 4.5 |
| Matana Roberts COIN COIN Chapter One: Gens de couleur libres | 4.0 |
| Matana Roberts COIN COIN Chapter Four: Memphis | 4.5 |
| Matana Roberts COIN COIN Chapter Three: river run thee | 4.5 |
| Matana Roberts COIN COIN Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile | 4.5 |
| Mates of State Re-Arrange Us | 4.5 |
| Mates of State Bring it Back | 4.5 |
| Mates of State Team Boo | 4.5 |
| Mates of State My Solo Project | 4.0 |
| Mates of State Mountaintops | 4.0 |
| Mates of State Our Constant Concern | 4.0 |
| Matteah Baim Death of the Sun | 3.0 |
| Mazzy Star So Tonight That I Might See | 4.0 |
| Metric Live It Out | 4.0 |
| Metric Old World Underground, Where Are You Now | 4.5 |
| Metric Grow Up and Blow Away | 4.0 |
I think this is a good review... of your favorite tracks. You should have talked about a couple more tracks than the ones that are your favorites. Like, talked about one song you don't think is quite up to par. Or how two of the better tracks were cut for this release - Parkdale, and Torture Me.
That aside, I agree with you mostly. My favorite tracks is On The Sly, always has been, and I love White Gold and Hardwire. This is a fantastic album, and I THINK I read somewhere that their new album has this album's feel to it. |
| Metric Synthetica | 4.0 |
| Metric Fantasies | 3.0 |
| Mirel Wagner Mirel Wagner | 4.0 |
| Mirrorring Foreign Body | 4.5 |
| Miserable Uncontrollable | 4.0 |
| Just a wonderful shoegaze record - wanted to give it a review so people might discover it. |
| Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love Bad News | 4.0 |
| Modest Mouse's Good News For People Who Love Bad News is a strange mess of an album. This is a very good review that's good at expressing that. You mention the drunkenness (I say irritation) of Dance Hall, and the filler of the shouting Bury Me With It. But, The World at Large, the best track here, completely does not fit in with the handful after it. It's, like I said, a crazy mess. But the few brilliant songs (World At Large, Float On, Ocean Breathes Salty, Burkowski, and Good Times Are Killing Me) are enough for me. |
| mum Summer Make Good | 4.0 |
| mum Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy | 3.5 |
| mum Finally We Are No One | 4.5 |
| mum Smilewound | 4.0 |
| mum Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know | 3.0 |
| mum Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK | 4.5 |
| My Brightest Diamond Bring Me the Workhorse | 4.0 |
| My Brightest Diamond A Thousand Shark's Teeth | 4.0 |
| My Brightest Diamond All Things Will Unwind | 4.5 |
| My Brightest Diamond This Is My Hand | 4.0 |
| My Brightest Diamond None More Than You | 4.0 |
| Neko Case Middle Cyclone | 4.5 |
| Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings The Flood | 4.5 |
| Neko Case Blacklisted | 4.0 |
| Neko Case Furnace Room Lullaby | 4.0 |
| Neko Case The Tigers Have Spoken | 3.5 |
| Neko Case The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight... | 4.0 |
| Neko Case Hell-On | 4.5 |
| Nellie McKay Obligatory Villagers | 4.5 |
| Nellie McKay Pretty Little Head | 4.0 |
| Neneh Cherry Blank Project | 4.0 |
| Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea | 2.5 |
| I never got into them. Some will say I just can't appreciate it, and that I know nothing. But I seriously think theyre quite irritating. The only songs I like are King Of Carrot Flowers pt. 1 and Two Headed Boy. |
| No Doubt Push and Shove | 2.5 |
| No Doubt Rock Steady | 4.5 |
| No Doubt Return of Saturn | 4.5 |
| No Doubt Tragic Kingdom | 5.0 |
| Noisettes What's the Time Mr. Wolf? | 4.0 |
| Orenda Fink Blue Dream | 4.5 |
| Orenda Fink Invisible Ones | 4.0 |
| Owen Pallett Heartland | 4.5 |
| Panda Bear Person Pitch | 1.5 |
Completely overrated. I think this is some of the worst material of the year. The only thing I give props to him for is his talent to create this type of music. But it's way too drawn out, and boring, and really spacious (spacey?) It's just bad, and totally not my cup of tea.
OVERHYPE!
Good review, though. |
| Panda Bear Young Prayer | 4.0 |
| Patrick Wolf Wind in the Wires | 4.5 |
| Patrick Wolf Lycanthropy | 4.0 |
| Patrick Wolf The Magic Position | 3.5 |
| Patrick Wolf The Bachelor | 3.0 |
| Patti Smith Horses | 4.5 |
| Peaches I Feel Cream | 4.5 |
| Peaches Impeach My Bush | 4.0 |
| Peaches Fatherfucker | 3.0 |
| Peaches The Teaches of Peaches | 4.0 |
| Perfume Genius Learning | 4.5 |
| Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It | 4.5 |
| Peter Bjorn and John Writer's Block | 2.5 |
| Phosphorescent Pride | 4.5 |
| "Tell me where you've been, I'll tell you where I've been; It will be okay" Matthew Houck sings on "A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise," the opener to his most recent record under the moniker Phosphorescent. Pride is a delicate, hymnal record with hints of acid-folk (in sound.) The aforementioned "Picture" is a beautiful, warm welcome, with multi-layered harmonies and one of the best triple threat songs (melody, lyrics, music) of 2007. The 6-minute "Wolves" is another highlight, with its extremely beautiful vocals, perfect instrumentation, and great imagery ("They tumble and fight and they're beautiful") The marching band-esque drumming of the brief "At Death, A Proclamation" seems out of place, but nonetheless, this short number is undoubtedly good. The epic "My Dove, My Lamb" perfectly mixes acoustic and soft electronic elements, into an opus of deep passion and the most believably lovelorn vocals of the record. Aside from the unfortunate title-track closer (such a jump away, it consists almost entirely of odd vocal noises for 6 long minutes that seem like 10) Pride is a marvelous, breathtaking record that deserves the downtime of anyone and everyone. |
| Phosphorescent Aw Come Aw Wry | 3.5 |
| Phosphorescent A Hundred Times Or More | 4.0 |
| Phosphorescent Muchacho | 4.5 |
| Pink M!ssundaztood | 4.5 |
| Pink Can't Take Me Home | 1.0 |
| Pink Try This | 3.0 |
| Pink I'm Not Dead | 3.5 |
| PJ Harvey White Chalk | 4.0 |
| PJ Harvey Uh Huh Her | 3.5 |
| PJ Harvey Is This Desire? | 4.0 |
| PJ Harvey Rid of Me | 5.0 |
| PJ Harvey Dry | 4.5 |
| PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love | 4.5 |
| PJ Harvey Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea | 4.0 |
| PJ Harvey Let England Shake | 5.0 |
| Polly Scattergood Polly Scattergood | 3.5 |
| Portishead Dummy | 4.5 |
| Portishead Roseland NYC Live | 4.0 |
| Portishead Portishead | 4.5 |
| Portishead Third | 4.5 |
| Rachael Yamagata Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart | 3.5 |
| Rachael Yamagata Happenstance | 3.5 |
| Radiohead In Rainbows | 4.0 |
| Radiohead The King of Limbs | 3.5 |
| Rain Machine Rain Machine | 4.5 |
| Rasputina Oh Perilous World | 4.5 |
| Raum The Event of Your Leaving | 4.0 |
| Red House Painters Red House Painters | 4.0 |
| Red House Painters Ocean Beach | 4.5 |
| Regina Spektor Begin To Hope EP | 4.5 |
| The songs on this bonus EP are the type that should have been more frequent on the regular record. Another Town is delightful. Uh-Merica is fun and quite the crowd-sing-a-long. Baobobs is excellent in it's bouncy, yet impressive vocals. Dusseldorf is a cute story that brings you backpacking through Europe. Music Box is the best here, using an extremely quirky vocal work, with even quirkier lyrics, and fantastic piano work. |
| Regina Spektor Soviet Kitsch | 4.5 |
| Regina Spektor Songs | 4.5 |
| Regina Spektor 11:11 | 4.5 |
| Regina Spektor Begin To Hope | 2.5 |
| This album is okay. I honestly hate Samson. I love love love the original version, and I think the new version is completely unnecessary. I also don't like that she's getting tons more fans based on Fidelity. Sure its a good song, but it's hardly the bare, core Regina all her REAL fans know and love. I think the bonus EP is better than the real cd. But, Apres Moi, Lady, and Summer in the City are my three track picks, and are some of her best. But really, I think this isn't as good as it should have been. Humph. We'll have to wait til 2009 or so (assuming that's when it will be) for her new album. |
| Regina Spektor Far | 2.0 |
| Regina Spektor What We Saw from the Cheap Seats | 2.5 |
| Regina Spektor Remember Us To Life | 4.0 |
| Rilo Kiley More Adventurous | 4.0 |
| Rilo Kiley Take-Offs and Landings | 4.0 |
| Rilo Kiley The Execution of All Things | 4.5 |
| Robyn Body Talk Pt. 1 | 4.5 |
| Robyn Body Talk Pt. 2 | 3.0 |
| S. Carey All We Grow | 3.5 |
| Santigold Santogold | 4.0 |
| Sarah Kirkland Snider Penelope | 4.5 |
| School of Seven Bells Ghostory | 4.0 |
| Scott Walker The Drift | 4.5 |
| Scott Walker Bish Bosch | 4.5 |
| Scout Niblett It's Up To Emma | 4.5 |
| Scout Niblett The Calcination of Scout Niblett | 4.5 |
| Scout Niblett This Fool Can Die Now | 4.0 |
| Scout Niblett Kidnapped by Neptune | 3.0 |
| Scout Niblett I Am | 3.5 |
| Scout Niblett Sweet Heart Fever | 4.5 |
| Selena Gomez Kiss & Tell | 2.0 |
| Sharon Van Etten Tramp | 4.5 |
| Sharon Van Etten Are We There | 4.0 |
| Shearwater Rook | 4.5 |
| Shearwater The Golden Archipelago | 3.5 |
| Sia 1000 Forms Of Fear | 4.0 |
| Sigur Ros Von | 4.0 |
| Sigur Ros Agætis byrjun | 4.5 |
| Sigur Ros ( ) | 4.5 |
| Sigur Ros Med Sud i Eyrum vid Spilum Endalaust | 4.0 |
| Sigur Ros Takk... | 4.0 |
| Sigur Ros Valtari | 4.0 |
| Sigur Ros Kveikur | 4.0 |
| Sleater-Kinney One Beat | 4.0 |
| Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out | 4.0 |
| Sleater-Kinney The Woods | 4.5 |
| Smog Red Apple Falls | 4.5 |
| Smog Knock Knock | 4.0 |
| Smog Dongs of Sevotion | 4.5 |
| Smog A River Ain't Too Much To Love | 3.5 |
| Smog Wild Love | 4.0 |
| Smog The Doctor Came at Dawn | 4.0 |
| Smog Supper | 3.5 |
| St. Vincent Marry Me | 3.5 |
Original, and impressive instrumentally, but it does tend to bore after a couple songs. "Now, Now" is overlong. "Paris is Burning" is much better live, which is good and bad. And she sometimes has such plain lyrics. But she has a pretty voice and plays every single instrument ever.
Although, I HIGHLY disagree with you when you say she could make Leslie Feist jealous. No way. Feist has such a better voice. |
| St. Vincent Strange Mercy | 5.0 |
| St. Vincent Actor | 4.0 |
| St. Vincent St. Vincent | 4.5 |
| Stars Heart | 4.0 |
| Stars The Five Ghosts | 3.0 |
| Stars The North | 4.5 |
| Stars of the Lid And Their Refinement Of The Decline | 5.0 |
| Stars of the Lid The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid | 4.5 |
| Stars of the Lid Avec Laudenum | 4.0 |
| Stars of the Lid Per Aspera Ad Astra | 3.5 |
| Stars of the Lid The Ballasted Orchestra | 4.0 |
| Stars of the Lid Music For Nitrous Oxide | 4.0 |
| Sufjan Stevens The Age of Adz | 4.5 |
| Sufjan Stevens Illinois | 4.5 |
| Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans | 4.5 |
| Sufjan Stevens Michigan | 4.0 |
| Sufjan Stevens Enjoy Your Rabbit | 3.5 |
| Sufjan Stevens All Delighted People | 3.0 |
| Sufjan Stevens Carrie and Lowell | 5.0 |
| Sun Kil Moon Admiral Fell Promises | 4.5 |
| Sun Kil Moon April | 4.0 |
| Sun Kil Moon Tiny Cities | 3.0 |
| Sun Kil Moon Ghosts of the Great Highway | 3.5 |
| Sun Kil Moon Among the Leaves | 4.0 |
| Sun Kil Moon Benji | 4.5 |
| Svarte Greiner Knive | 4.5 |
| Svarte Greiner Kappe | 3.0 |
| Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso | 4.0 |
| Sylvan Esso What Now | 4.5 |
| Sylvan Esso Free Love | 3.5 |
| Taken By Trees Open Field | 4.0 |
| Taken By Trees East of Eden | 4.5 |
| Taken By Trees Other Worlds | 4.5 |
| Tegan and Sara So Jealous | 3.5 |
| Tegan and Sara The Con | 4.5 |
| Tegan and Sara This Business of Art | 3.0 |
| Tegan and Sara Under Feet Like Ours | 4.0 |
| Tegan and Sara If It Was You | 3.0 |
| Tegan and Sara Heartthrob | 4.0 |
| The Antlers Burst Apart | 4.0 |
| The Antlers Familiars | 4.0 |
| The Besnard Lakes The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse | 4.0 |
| The Decemberists Picaresque | 4.5 |
| The Decemberists Her Majesty the Decemberists | 2.5 |
| The Decemberists Castaways and Cutouts | 3.5 |
| The Decemberists The Crane Wife | 4.5 |
| The Dodos Carrier | 4.0 |
| The Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia... | 4.0 |
Awww, I love Mandy Goes To Med School. It's humorous, she's obviously not serious, and it's offensive. Yayy!!
Good review otherwise. |
| The Dresden Dolls A Is For Accident | 4.0 |
| The Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls | 4.5 |
| The Fiery Furnaces Blueberry Boat | 4.5 |
| Unpredictable music combined with great storytelling. It's a really intriguing album of sometimes-comically epic proportions. |
| The Fiery Furnaces Rehearsing My Choir | 4.0 |
| The Fiery Furnaces Widow City | 3.5 |
| The Fiery Furnaces I'm Going Away | 4.0 |
| The Fiery Furnaces Bitter Tea | 4.5 |
| The Fiery Furnaces Gallowsbird's Bark | 4.0 |
| The Fiery Furnaces EP | 4.5 |
| The Killers Imploding the Mirage | 4.5 |
| The Knife Shaking the Habitual | 4.5 |
| The Luyas Animator | 4.0 |
| The New Pornographers Together | 4.0 |
| The New Pornographers Twin Cinema | 4.0 |
| The New Pornographers Challengers | 4.0 |
| The New Pornographers Electric Version | 4.0 |
| The New Pornographers Mass Romantic | 3.5 |
| The Raveonettes Lust Lust Lust | 4.0 |
| The Raveonettes Raven in the Grave | 4.0 |
| The Tallest Man on Earth Shallow Grave | 4.5 |
| The Tallest Man on Earth The Wild Hunt | 4.5 |
| The Tallest Man on Earth There's No Leaving Now | 4.5 |
| The Tallest Man on Earth Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird | 4.5 |
| The Tallest Man on Earth The Tallest Man on Earth | 4.0 |
| The xx xx | 4.5 |
| The xx Coexist | 3.5 |
| Tim Hecker Virgins | 4.5 |
| Tiny Vipers Life on Earth | 4.5 |
| Tiny Vipers Hands Across the Void | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Bad As Me | 3.5 |
| Tom Waits Real Gone | 4.0 |
| Tom Waits Alice | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Blood Money | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Mule Variations | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Rain Dogs | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones | 4.5 |
| Tom Waits Blue Valentine | 4.0 |
| Tom Waits Closing Time | 2.5 |
| Tori Amos Little Earthquakes | 4.5 |
| Torres Torres | 4.5 |
| tUnE-yArDs BiRd-BrAiNs | 4.0 |
| tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l | 4.5 |
| tUnE-yArDs Nikki Nack | 4.5 |
| Valet Blood Is Clean | 4.0 |
| Valet Naked Acid | 4.5 |
| Vashti Bunyan Heartleap | 4.0 |
| Warpaint The Fool | 4.5 |
| Warpaint Warpaint | 4.5 |
| White Hinterland Baby | 4.0 |
| Wild Beasts Two Dancers | 4.0 |
| Wild Beasts Limbo, Panto | 3.0 |
| Wild Beasts Smother | 4.5 |
| Wild Beasts Present Tense | 4.0 |
| Wildbirds and Peacedrums Heartcore | 4.5 |
| Unclassifiable mix of jazz, soul, rock, and untamed emotion. Many different styles are presented in this album, and after getting used to it, this album proves to be a true gem. Best tracks: Pony, I Can't Tell In His Eyes, Doubt/Hope, The Battle in Water, The Ones That Should Save Me Get Me Down. |
| Wildbirds and Peacedrums The Snake | 4.0 |
| Wildbirds and Peacedrums Rhythm | 4.0 |
| Windy and Carl We Will Always Be | 4.5 |
| Windy and Carl Songs For The Broken Hearted | 4.0 |
| Windy and Carl Consciousness | 4.5 |
| Windy and Carl The Dream House | 4.0 |
| Windy and Carl Antarctica (The Bliss Out, Vol. 2) | 4.0 |
| Wye Oak Shriek | 4.0 |
| Wye Oak Civilian | 4.0 |
| Xenia Rubinos Black Terry Cat | 4.5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones | 4.0 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever To Tell | 4.5 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Yeah Yeah Yeahs | 4.0 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Is Is | 4.0 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Machine | 3.0 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito | 4.0 |
| Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz! | 4.5 |
| Zola Jesus The Spoils | 4.5 |
| Zola Jesus Stridulum | 4.5 |
| Zola Jesus New Amsterdam | 4.0 |
| Zola Jesus Stridulum II | 4.5 |
| Zola Jesus Tsar Bomba | 2.5 |
| Zola Jesus Valusia | 4.0 |
| Zola Jesus Conatus | 4.0 |
