"Appropriately labeled as "Dream-pop" ..." more

"Appropriately labeled as "Dream-pop" (although I think perhaps just "Dream-noise" would be better), Beach House is best listened to at half volume while gazing forlornly at a bare wall wondering, "how could something so simple, so bare, maintain so beautiful a tapestry?"" less

"Gypsyesque rhythms, heavy brass instr..." more

"Gypsyesque rhythms, heavy brass instrumentation and ukulele strums? Where are we, exactly? Frankly, I don't care and neither should you. Enjoy the scenery and the music. Oh. How enchanting!" less

"BML's eponymous debut is not restrain..." more

"BML's eponymous debut is not restrained (too suggestive of conflict), nor is it lazy, exactly. Instead, it moves at a fairly consistent pace and sound. These arrangements are so consistent that the track separations are almost meaningless as the listener floats from one track to the next. This is not to say that there is no progression or diversity in sound, but the album has a very connected feeling. I would recommend patience and openness when listening to the album as the mood of the listener greatly affects the impression of the album. (Recommended)" less

"Calexico's "Garden Ruin" is a departu..." more

"Calexico's "Garden Ruin" is a departure from earlier works as it features no purely instrumental tracks, not as diversified in instrumentation, and overall just feels more poppy. The result is a highly listenable, indie-rock album. This is not to say that they have forsaken all of their Southwestern setting (a la Mariachi-esque 'Roka') and the songs have a tendency to really move. You can really identify this 'moving' effect in some of my favorite tracks on the album: 'Cruel,' 'Bisbee Blue,' and 'Deep Down'. (If you like this album, especially the light acoustic guitar elements, check out Calexico and Iron & Wine's "In The Reins" EP.)" less

"Were you alive in the 50s? Neither we..." more

"Were you alive in the 50s? Neither were Camera Obscura, but that does not prevent them from recreating its sonic legacy. This album strolls along at a nice, comfortable pace with many instantly likable tracks ("Lloyd, I'm Ready..." "Let's Get Out..."), however CO refrains from breaking out of the groove instead preferring comfort over adventure. Still, a darn fine album." less

""The Greatest" by Cat Power opens wit..." more

""The Greatest" by Cat Power opens with its title track- a delicate, sincere ballad on failure and expectation- in my estimation the single 'greatest' (haha) track of 06. It is a mystery to me then why the next song, "Living Proof" - perhaps the weakest song on the album - follows it. This misstep disrupts the flow of the album considerably. The album quickly picks up again with lovely tracks "Lived in Bars" and "Empty Shell", but "Where is my love" is a directionless, repetitive mess. In sum, this is still a top tier album of 2006, but far from flawless." less

"The comparisons to Cat Power are obvi..." more

"The comparisons to Cat Power are obvious and mostly correct: both artists sing with gentleness and honesty. Similarly, both touch on the most humane and sensitive of human emotions in their music (love, tension, expectation). However, Damien Jurado, particularly in this album, maintains a very consistent sound with only minor variation song to song. Riding a very fine line between meditative and soporific, these tracks are restrained almost to a fault and will inevitably make you want to take refuge in a warm bed. Is it the sensation of stillness and loneliness that he is creating? Or rather the minimal instrumentation paired with pillowy sweet vocals? Definitely an album to check out - the first 5 tracks especially." less

"For me this is an album to secretly l..." more

"For me this is an album to secretly love. My friends would think me crazy if I were to admit my affection for this quirky and contagious album. With contributions from Sufjan, Why?, and Deerhoof, and not to mention the Danielson clan, the sound is conjures up comparisons to a band of pirates on the high seas that wear tie-dye sashes, without a set destination, and whose attitudes are as mercurial and unpredictable as the waves they travel on. Is this an album for everyone? Certainly not, but I doubt Danielson gives a ship (err, ships); it is genuine, and exciting." less

"Dan Bejar's vocal acrobatics and comp..." more

"Dan Bejar's vocal acrobatics and complex narratives are the single most endearing things about this album. The album and voice take a couple of spins to get used to, but there is no doubting the quality of this album. Whether it be "Rubies", (the album's epic opener and easily one of the best tracks of 2006) or the poetic "Painter in your Pocket", this album is highly rewarding. I highly recommend this. Go ahead and "Download All"." less

"Disclaimer: I am not the most intense..." more

"Disclaimer: I am not the most intense listener of electronic music. For me to love music within this genre it either needs to be danceable, highly catchy, or simply just 'click' with me. (I loved LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of Silver" but who didn't? Metronomy's "Light's Out" has also found my affection) Sadly, "The Lost Take" did not succeed in any of these areas, in my opinion. After many spins with my headphones, there are still no tracks that quite caught my ear. I did like "Mpls rock and roll" but this was still far from transcendent. In conclusion, this album is perhaps not well suited for the casual fan of electronic music but rather a more specific fan-base with far keener and more patient ears." less

"It seems that every band's breakout a..." more

"It seems that every band's breakout album finds its origin in a previous album's release; this is the case with the Evangelical's stellar "Evening Descends" and its predecessor, "So Gone". In "So Gone" we witness flashes of utter brilliance (a la 'My Headache', a syrupy ballad that is just as catchy and endearing as the later 'Snowflakes') among other areas of nice, catchy tracks. The geography of both album's is remarkably similar: both enter with a mood-setting instrumental track, followed by some catchy accessible tracks, throw in a palette cleanser around the middle of the album and ultimately close with a more subdued energy. "So Gone" is a fine, fine album - but "Evening Descends" has the cool swagger of a band that is more in tune with their sound and method." less

"Don't let the opening track "Race You..." more

"Don't let the opening track "Race You" (a bitter, fragile ballad) fool you. It is a beautiful song that expresses the delicacy and sweetness of Christian Hjelm's voice, but as the album progresses the character of the album changes dramatically: what was once angry and forlorn is now confident, poppy, and playful. "I Wonder" is upbeat and enjoyable, particularly the vocal wails of "Wa-ah-ah-ah-ah". Another highlight comes a few tracks later in "I Remember" a bouncy gem laced with catchy handclaps. Overall the album has many beautiful pop songs with only brief moments of filler. Lastly, I do not see the comparisons to Modest Mouse; they sound quite a bit more like Pete and the Pirates in terms of vocals and overall sound. (By the way, if you like Figurines, check out Pete and the Pirates "Little Death")" less

"Greg Gillis is either a crazy genius ..." more

"Greg Gillis is either a crazy genius or simply crazy. The first "Whoa" moment comes at the end of the third track when Biggie is rapping to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" piano melody. It is just one of a handful of sinfully delicious moments in this mash-up album. An upbeat, lively atmosphere with higher than expected replay value, I highly recommend Night Ripper." less

"Bolstered by immediately magnetic son..." more

"Bolstered by immediately magnetic songs in "See the World" and "How We Operate", it is perhaps inevitable to see the core of the album as somewhat of a filler. For me, I became disinterested and on the whole unsatisfied. For fans of the blues-country-rock genre, this is an album to check out. Otherwise, you are missing out on a couple stellar tracks but not a "must-get" album." less

"There is no denying the depth of Gran..." more

"There is no denying the depth of Granddaddy's discography or their musical craft, but this felinesque album seems like a bunch of fluff. Besides a cluster of tracks (Animal World, Skateboarding Saves Me Twice, Where I'm Anymore), the album is a bit flat." less

"Erika Wennerstrom, whether she likes ..." more

"Erika Wennerstrom, whether she likes it or not, is the face of Heartless Bastards and its success rests heavily on her vocal performance. This is great considering her voice is perfectly suited for the atmosphere she sings within; it is questioning, sensitive, but by no means weak. The album hits its stride with "Searching for the Ghost", a conflicted internal dialogue about relationships without being too "relationshipy". The next highlight two songs in later in "All This Time" we have Wennerstrom at her best. She is Feist-esque in her playfulness of tone, and the lyrics are sweet and catchy without being cliche. (Since you took my breath again / Oh would you share your oxygen? / So I can breathe one breath of air / Intoxicated by your stare.) In sum, a poppy, lovable album. Recommended!" less

"Time to bust out those headphones and..." more

"Time to bust out those headphones and go on a sonic journey via Herbert's latest album, "Scale". This journey spans many genres (blues, electronic) and features a great deal of natural instrumentation as well as fabricated sound. The progress of the album is also quite varied: it opens with the catchy and urgent "Something isn't Right" but from there moves into more exotic territory as the various arrangements and instrumentation become the feature. As an album, 'Scale' is very well arranged and I would recommend it to anyone with an eye out for something on 'the road less traveled by'." less

"Hailing from Memphis, Lucero wears th..." more

"Hailing from Memphis, Lucero wears their Southern-rock roots on their sleeves: the carefree (almost lazy) rhythms, the subtle intensity in every track, the edgy vocals - and yet, the album never really steps outside the genre. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the album fails to achieve a transcendent quality. In sum, though, a solid listen from a band whose greatest work perhaps is yet to come." less

""Obliterati" for me has a very restra..." more

""Obliterati" for me has a very restrained, contained feeling that prevents me from connecting with it. The sound is faint, the vocals fainter - perhaps it is the lo-fi production influencing this, but I think for post-punk to work you really need to have the urgency and pulse resonating inside you. I didn't get it, and for this reason I would not recommend this album." less

""Live a Little" is an overall solid a..." more

""Live a Little" is an overall solid album filled with many quality rock-pop ballads. Varied instrumentation and vanilla vocals are the Pernice Brothers strong points. The tracks share a very consistent sound, although I think the album still seems to lack cohesiveness (although this is nitpicking a bit). Overall, I recommend this album whether you are familiar with their works or not. Enjoy!" less

"No album in 2006, except maybe Island..." more

"No album in 2006, except maybe Islands' "Return to the Sea", featured as many instantly lovable pop songs. Of course by now everyone has heard Young Folks, but that is just one of the many gems. Amsterdam? Paris 2004? Let's Call if Off? So many amazing tracks. Highly recommended." less

""Be Still Please" has a pleasant soun..." more

""Be Still Please" has a pleasant sound that is likable and accessible. Portastatic, it seems, is not trying to blow anyone with epic productions but rather a subdued pleasure through mini-ballads. I particularly enjoy the string arrangements and the female backing vocals. However, the album still has a very pedestrian feel, with no track gripping the listener by the ear and saying, "Hey, listen to this!" Only one track, "I'm in Love (with Arthur Dove" perhaps comes close, but otherwise this is just a solid album, overall." less

"Spank Rock it seems has lots of naugh..." more

"Spank Rock it seems has lots of naughty sex and doesn't mind telling us all about it. Hailing from Screwville, USA, when Spank Rock gets around to making music, he is sure to make it plenty raunchy. Look no further than his idea of what constitutes "Sweet Talk" (track 7), which opens with a confident, suave Spank Rock: "Tap that ass / Tap that ass / Tap that ass." Another highlight is "Bump", a catchy, aggressive beat featuring Amanda Blankman. Recommended for both the casual and hardcore indie hip-hop follower." less

"The third album from Okie indie pop-b..." more

"The third album from Okie indie pop-band, Starlight Mints, opens the album with a joke: Drowaton is "not a word" backwards. A cute play on words that suggests that it is perhaps not as straight-forward (haha) as previous albums and further reveals a particular flaw of the album: a tendency for novelty and quirkiness to a fault. For example, the cutesy Rhino Stomp is creative and funny the first time around, but almost annoying thereafter. Drowaton does have periods of brilliance. The standout track for me is "What's Inside of Me", an urgent track that pretty much forces you to sing along, 'I don't need your sympathy / but I could use your company...' Two tracks later is another highly listenable 'Seventeen Devils' which is not as up-beat but features catchy hooks and vocals. Even late the album stays golden with "Killer" and "Sidewalk". Overall, a very solid album." less

"Leave it to Sufjan to throw together ..." more

"Leave it to Sufjan to throw together a hodge-podge of "outtakes" and B-sides and still produce a fine album that holds its own pretty well. Now, this album is a bit self-indulgent in a looong 75 minutes and contains two too many remixes of "Chicago" but still a delightful album with a few tracks that are up there with the best from his "Illinois" album. (See album opener, "Adlai Stevenson", "Pittsfield")" less

"And what did you expect from the trif..." more

"And what did you expect from the triforce of Krug, Mercer and Bejar - something ordinary and polished? Right. The album is complex certainly and not their most accessible work, but if you give it time you will come across some rewarding gems. Krug's "Are You Swimming in her Pools" is utterly beautiful musically and perhaps seems more suited for a Sunset Rubdown album. Another highlight of the album is Bejar's "The Freedom", a fairly straightforward ballad that takes advantage of Bejar's masterful narrating. In sum, I do not recommend this album for everyone due to its complexity and accessibility - for the rest of you though, there is definitely quality stuff in here especially for Mercer/Krug/Bejar fans." less

"Tanya Stephens "Rebelution" is a good..." more

"Tanya Stephens "Rebelution" is a good mix of club-ready beats, bouncy reggae, and social commentary. For the hot beats, look no further than my favorite track on the album, Put it on You. For the more serious stuff, check out the mellow "Do You Still Care" or Jamaica super-hit "These Streets". Her sound, although not exactly gimmicky, can seem a bit repetitive after a couple run-throughs. On the whole, though, a nice sound and accompanying feeling." less

"Sassy and urgent, this album is a bit..." more

"Sassy and urgent, this album is a bit of a nuisance if you want something pleasantly beautiful. Instead, these tracks are forthright and aggressive. Utterly addictive at moments (Parentheses,Babay, True Affection), this album has my approval!" less

"Joel Gibbs characterized The Hidden C..." more

"Joel Gibbs characterized The Hidden Cameras' sound as "gay church folk music" - I'm not sure I see it. For starters, THC is not "gay" in either sense of the word; there are no overt homosexual references and there are more serious tracks than light ones. For example, the opening track is catchy, but is ultimately contemplative and questioning of the nature of "silence" and "wordlessness". "She's Gone" has the speaker dealing with the recent departure of a lover. In the sweetly sweet "FeeFie", a young boy faces the challenges of maturation and adulthood. Looking at the "folk" aspect, it seems to be a bit heavy on the instrumentation to be classic folk. However, cosmetics aside, AWOO is a folk album at heart with its sense of movement, landscape and intimacy. Most fitting is the track "Wandering" (It's best to be wandering/Even if I can't find/What I think is the light). In sum, an album that bounces, wanders, questions and entertains." less

"Sassy, chic pop songs from a promisin..." more

"Sassy, chic pop songs from a promising and literate UK band, STDYH will hook you from the first listen. Recommended." less

"Minimalist in its instrumentation but..." more

"Minimalist in its instrumentation but quite a deep listen. Contemplative, quiet, and subtle without being overly soporific." less

"Guitar fans, in ALIC you have a yummy..." more

"Guitar fans, in ALIC you have a yummy EP from a promising young band. Without a dull moment, this EP certainly places TPC into the "Bands to watch out for in the next couple years" category. (And now, if only they weren't doing a world tour with Weezer. hmmm.)" less