"Adele truly has a strong voice. The a..." more

"Adele truly has a strong voice. The album has a nice consistent progression featuring some softer tracks as well as some more "soul" tracks that move and groove. At 43 minutes, the album is not overly dense. Overall, just a pleasure to listen to over and over." less

"A pleasant atmosphere, but perhaps a ..." more

"A pleasant atmosphere, but perhaps a bit light and forgettable." less

"Energetic power-pop. Fans of AC Newma..." more

"Energetic power-pop. Fans of AC Newman, New Pornographers, etc. will be right at home in this promising debut. The vocals are solid (they remind me of the Flaming Lips Mark Coyne) and the album is loaded front to back with accessible pop goodness. Recommended!" less

"Sometimes melancholy, sometimes uplif..." more

"Sometimes melancholy, sometimes uplifting, but always tender, "Devotion" is easily one of my favorite albums of 2008. The pace and sound of the album take a little getting used to, but it is definitely worth it. I highly recommend a listen!" less

""For Emma, Forever Ago" is intimate f..." more

""For Emma, Forever Ago" is intimate folk music that even the most stoic of hipsters can appreciate. Accompanied by minimal acoustic guitar arrangements, it is the fragile vocals that dip in and out of the falsetto register that really make this troubled, contemplative album. Individually the tracks are amazing - Flume, Skinny Love, and Creature Fear are some of the best pieces of music I have heard all year - but it is the feeling of the album as a whole with its "relaxed-yet-urgent" approach that makes it worth listening. I highly recommend it, "For Emma" is a top ten album of 2008." less

"In Crystal Castles' debut album we ha..." more

"In Crystal Castles' debut album we have my front-runner for electronic album of the year. From the first listen I was pulled in by the shrill vocals, thick bass, and unwavering urgency present in each track. Listen to "Untrust Us", "Crimewave", and "Vanished" to give you just a taste of this brilliant and complete album." less

"Danceable, energetic, and rewarding f..." more

"Danceable, energetic, and rewarding from the first listen, Cut Copy's 2008 release is a definite hit. Highly recommend for electronic and pop fans alike!" less

"Definitely one of the highlights of 2..." more

"Definitely one of the highlights of 2008. A dreamy, soft sound with tasteful vocals. This album also features some of my favorite tracks of 2008: "No One Does It...", "Teengagers", and Herringbone" are all great. The end of the album drags a bit, but otherwise very, very solid." less

"Destroyer is back (mostly). Standout ..." more

"Destroyer is back (mostly). Standout tracks Blue Flower / Blue Flame and Foam Hands both remind us of Destroyer's strengths: singular vocal timbre, witty lyrics, and catchy guitar anthems. However, as the album continues we see that relatively scarce are the contagious hooks and aggressive Bejar vocal acrobatics. Instead, the album moves at a more comfortable, soporific pace that just sounds too controlled and orderly. In sum though, TiD is a solid album in its own right and well worth a couple spins from even the most lukewarm fans of Dan Bejar - however, the album unfortunately registers as a misstep at worst, and at best a sort of less catchy "Destroyer's Rubies"." less

"Unlike some albums, this one is appro..." more

"Unlike some albums, this one is appropriately named - it is night music at its finest. Don't get me wrong though; this is not the type of night music that puts you to bed. Rather, it is the kind that makes you curl up under thick sheets convinced that large, furry monsters live in your closet. Whether it be the high-pitched vocals or eerie skits that precede some of the tracks, this album will demand your full attention. Some specific points about the album: (1) it feels somewhat frontloaded. That is, its most memorable tracks lurk in the first 25 minutes. (2) the album requires patience. Give it three or four listens before you make any judgments. Overall, very solid album with tons of creativity. Put Evangelicals on your "Bands to Watch" list." less

"A truly solid opener - the rest kind ..." more

"A truly solid opener - the rest kind of puts me to sleep. In truth though, this is not really my genre. Perhaps then, accessibility is a challenge of this album." less

"The album never really clicked for me..." more

"The album never really clicked for me despite repeated listens. It wasn't a terribly bad listen, I was simply not moved by any of the tracks. Mediocre vocals, not exactly danceable or exciting for me." less

"Whoever is responsible for the naming..." more

"Whoever is responsible for the naming of this album and band needs to be fired; not only is the "large piano with pipes" markedly absent, the manner of the band is decidedly not "frightened". On the contrary, the band emits a careless cool and a willingness to let it all out. Deemed "relationshipy" by Hutchinson, this album offers itself to the listener without restraint. Enjoy!" less

"FTA should be familiar ground for fan..." more

"FTA should be familiar ground for fans of Gillis' earlier work albeit with a healthier, more diverse mix of samples. Night Ripper, for all of its interesting combinations (Elton John+Biggy? Timeless.) ultimately sounded a bit too much like a showcase of the Billboard Hip-Hop Top 40 . FTA however shifts outward to include some fresh sounds. For example, Ludacris ( 7 appearances in Night Ripper) chimes in only 3 times while 50 Cent and Jay-z also see reduced roles. In their places we see more classic rock (Queen, Aerosmith) as well as some new faces on the scene (The Cool Kids). Don't worry, though: FTA can still ignite your next party. Highly recommend! (Lastly, my favorite moment on the album: the end of "No Pause" where Yael Naim's 'New Soul' backs Eminem rapping. Timeless.)" less

"Listenable and even enjoyable at time..." more

"Listenable and even enjoyable at times, but except for a few tracks highly un-danceable. KP pushes the limits and perceptions of electronic music (which I wholeheartedly support) but at the expense of accessibility and tunefulness. For example, "Chrysanthemum" opens with desperate gasps for breath and pounding bass only to limp into some repetitive, robotic vocals. The flashes of brilliance in "Entropy Reigns" and "Satellites" are apparent yet unsustained as both songs become disinteresting loops minutes in." less

"High energy music with lyrics that ar..." more

"High energy music with lyrics that are enjoyable albeit seemingly random. This album has an interesting feel in that its tracks aren't quite distinguishable from one another due to their very consistent and uniform tone-character. Overall, a very f-u-n summer album." less

"This is my first time listening to Mi..." more

"This is my first time listening to Mith Hedberg and I must say I was surprised by the crass language - I was not offended but I would definitely not recommend this for more sensitive ears. As for the humor, it ranges from the acutely perceptive ("I bet the inside of a bottle of cleaning fluid is f*cking clean!) to the more obvious (Hedberg notes the apparent singularity of Real World receiving exactly 40,000 applicants).I particularly liked the "Phil" track as Mitch Hedberg extemporizes some light, self-deprecatory humor. In sum, a hilarious album and good for laughs even by the 3rd or 4th listen. For what it is worth, this was my favorite comedy album of 2008, although it may or may not have been the only comedy album I listened to in 2008. (It was, actually.)" less

"Kevin Barnes looks to shock and awe w..." more

"Kevin Barnes looks to shock and awe with his latest, "Skeletal Lamping" (mostly shock). Experimental and impulsive, the album has delicious pop moments. However, you get the feeling that Barnes became distracted as the songs seem half-baked, and never completely reach appropriate expansion or conclusion. For example, the opening track, "Nonpareil of Favor" begins with a delicious entrance only to soon after dissolve into sonic muddle. "Plastis Wafers" equal parts raunchy and lovely, but it quickly veers meaninglessly in all different directions. Now, I am not advocating Barnes take the safe path and write an album of 3 minute pop songs (although he is so, so good at it: check out "Gallery Piece"), but there needs to be a better balance between experimental departures and solid musicianship." less

"The sequel to Okkervil River's highly..." more

"The sequel to Okkervil River's highly successful Stage Names does not disappoint. On one hand, The Stand Ins inherits the consistent songwriting and highly literate verses of Stage Names, however unlike Stage Names it has a more cohesive, album-like feel to it as three appropriately placed instrumental tracks produce a nice atmosphere. That being said, this album perhaps is also a bit more difficult to initially locate and enjoy than Stage Names - probably because there isn't a track as crazy good as "Life is not a Movie or Maybe"(although hand-clap happy "Pop Lies" comes close and the opener "Lost Coastlines" ain't bad either). These minor differences though shouldn't steer you away from one of my favorite albums of 2008 - it requires a bit of patience, but the payoff is certainly worth it. Highly recommended!" less

"Not quite as polished (or as acclaime..." more

"Not quite as polished (or as acclaimed) as 2009's "Manners", but honestly I like this EP more. I find the tracks more energetic (read: dance-friendly), simpler, and overall more interesting. I am incredibly happy I found this EP - every track is fantastic." less

"Adorable vocals and an upbeat, energe..." more

"Adorable vocals and an upbeat, energetic sound. As a whole, the album really picks up in the second half with some of my favorite tracks of 2008 (Knots, Mr. Understanding, Eyes Like Tar). The New Pornographers didn't release an album in 2008, but at least I had Pete and the Pirates to (mostly) fill that void!" less

"Let me be honest: I still haven't fig..." more

"Let me be honest: I still haven't figured these guys out yet. Some tracks they surprise you with creative lyrics and catchy hooks, but at other times Parc Avenue tends to drag, bogged down by superfluous repetition. These qualities seem to suggest that this album might take a bit of getting used to. I am especially fond of opening track "Bye Bye Bye" and "Feedback in the Fields"" less

"Clocking in at 37 minutes and 10 trac..." more

"Clocking in at 37 minutes and 10 tracks, Ra Ra Riot's first full length album is springy and digestable, however there are many moments that are simply repetitive and altogether uninspiring. Still, there is much to love about their sound, whether it be the pleasant (yet somewhat limited) vocals, or the crisp cello flourishes - and as their brilliant opener "Ghost under Rocks" can attest, Ra Ra Riot is more than capable of producing literate chamber pop." less

"Multi-genred and catchy, Santogold's ..." more

"Multi-genred and catchy, Santogold's eponymous debut certainly doesn't sound like a debut album. A polished production with lots of lovable tracks, this album really shines, highlighted by Santi's confident vocals. Recommended!" less

"Shearwater's most recent project "Roo..." more

"Shearwater's most recent project "Rook", is, as the album art suggests, something larger than life and fantastically imaginative. Shearwater includes not oft used instruments like the glockenspiel, harp, and trumpet while retaining the earthiness of its folk music roots. The most distinctive aspect of the album is its whimsicalness. A song, take the opening track for example, may begin with a whisper only to later be rudely interrupted moments later by crashing brass instrumentation. These dynamic changes suggest a degree of attentiveness required during each listen. And so, for those who desire a challenge with a worthy payoff, look no further than "Rook"." less

"Unconventional beats and light, witty..." more

"Unconventional beats and light, witty flows make this a great listen. The utter "triviality-ness" of their subjects (Fruity Pebbles, souped-up bikes, pagers, dance parties)is exactly what endears the listener to the Cool Kids." less

"Organic and folksy, the lightness of ..." more

"Organic and folksy, the lightness of the guitar strums and non-intrusive vocals as well as some repetitive melodies may initially turn people away, but this album definitely grows over time. The vocals are a highlight and I particularly liked the male-female vocals on "Ashley" and "Undeclared". The unconventional use of percussion and occasional handclaps are another strength of the album. Many stellar tracks and an even more impressive album - I definitely recommend the Dodos." less

"Though they perform music in oversize..." more

"Though they perform music in oversized sweaters, they don't let them get in the way of their playing. In 2008 you would be hard-pressed to find an album that is catchier or more accessible than this. Enjoy!" less

"Angry. Urgent. The opening line of th..." more

"Angry. Urgent. The opening line of the album just scratches the surface: "I'm not a ladies man I'm a landmine, chasing my own fake death." Yoni Wolf describes the the chaotic world before him so nonchalantly, with such detachment that the listener has no choice but to listen and find out why. Heavy stuff with a great payoff." less