3 Mar
The Boy Least Likely To - The Law of the Playground
"Pop music given an overly alternative feel, and it's very successful- very, very successful. So much detail on the lines, without all the nonsense rock guitars or mad synths- it's acoustically sound."
A2
6 Mar
Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted To
"Bits and pieces of shiny pop, but none really stand out- so it's messed up and mostly a cloggy wild ride. Interesting nonetheless, and her highlight album of her career."
Highly Recommended: "All I Ever Wanted"
C5
9 Mar
Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country
"The looming UFOs over you; they are nothing; stay at peace and let us take you up to the sky OOPS WE TURNED OFF THE ABDUCTION RAYS BEFORE YOU COULD GO UP AND YOU fall down to your death. Like the story I said above, so much promise, but barely meets expectations."
C5
AGF / Delay - Symptoms
"Spaced out Japanese woman with bongo drums. Hints of LCD Soundsystem too. Not very captivating, but it's not supposed to anyway, I guess?"
C5
10 Mar
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
"Sophisticated Killers with a female vocalist is what I've always viewed Yeah Yeah Yeahs as- and It's Blitz has pretty much justified my saying. But they've achieved what Killers have failed to do so here, which is invoking ambient atmospheres into their alternative vibe."
B4
The Answer - Everyday Demons
"May sound like old head posing boppers here, but beneath the overly amplified vocals and guitar, the overall setup of the album is commendable. Strong anthems and absolutely wild tenures, but if they'd made this album in the 1980's, it'd be nothing special though."
B3
Rocco DeLuca & The Burden - Mercy
"Strange, aggressive and indecisive blues rock we got here- the album starts out rather soft, but as the songs go on, you'll realise a slow, steady push of bizarre anger and confusion... before exploding with the White Stripes-esque "Save Yourself". All downhill from that point onward- clever album structure?"
B4
Taylor Hicks - The Distance
"Simply put, pop for the rather refined cool dog stance men, and also Obama fans. No doubting his voice here, just doubting his intentions. It sounds way too clean, and Hicks should hook up with blues."
C6
Corbin Bleu - Speed of Light
"peed of shite"
F9
Ari Hest - Twelve Mondays
"Broken down pop, when I was 4 years old, I used to call this "old men music", and it's either that this has that vocal appeal throughout the whole album, or that I'm very old. Very very old."
B3
Ballas Hough Band - BHB
"Return of the boybands- 'cept this boy band got a girl, so this don't look good- Might've sounded better without the girl too, she's such a bloody extra asshole. See "Do You Love Me", their album starter, for the instance. Smart pop, ruined by woman."
E8
Bo Burnham - Bo Burnham
"'Square root of NBA/is Africa in a box' Burnham has the lyrics of an absolute mindblower here. He takes digs at society more than most of his comedian buddies out there, and at the same time, keeps it real, unlike i.e. the Lonely Island. Fresh off the oven."
B4
Brother Ali - The Truth is Here
"Think happier, more coolio 18 Mile class on the theatre stage."
B3
John Wesley Harding - Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead
"Thing is, even when he's live, he sounds off the studio, or vice versa. Other than that, it's clever, quick, occasionally cheesy blues-pop style- sometimes, even sounding like Japanese music on acoustic. Awkward, yet somewhat enlightening."
B3
Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
"As wandering and wonderment can go with the album title, Julie Doiron takes you places ballads can go, and yet keeping you heavy on the ground with a sides of edgy guitar works. Images of pastures, greener pastures and that old windmill or two, yet an industrialism of a city by its side. Amazing."
A1
Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
"With the burden of a gun on your best friend's head and a psychotic mind, Cursive comes with the intent of unease. He discusses with you why he should kill your friend, but it probably makes no sense to you. But with the emotion throbbing out, you should understand - He just wants to feel strong."
A2
Mstrkrft - Fist of God
"Bloody delayed his album by a few days he did- but the point is that it was certainly worth the wait, Fist of God is smoothly damaging music, bloodcurdling synth breaks while guest singers are prancing center-stage- it's interesting, oh yes."
A2
Mirah - (A)spera
"Mellow voice, mellow everything, yet it feels like a lot is going on- unbalanced, but the rhythm can push the diarrhea smoothly, don't worry."
B3
The Mole - Greatest Hits (Ha Ha Ha), Vol. 1 - EP
"What a hardcore EP this is- it's Bran Flakes except now it's the teenagers who are taking the drugs by the alley. Oh wait, that's normal? Then so is this album then."
Highly Recommended: "Zombie Dance Mind Programme"
B4
