Kathleen Edwards "Asking for Flowers" 4 out of 5 stars Is there another female singer/songwriter out there right now who is as talented as Kathleen Edwards? Over the course of her first three full-length albums, Edwards has established herself as a fine musician and songwriter, calling on an eclectic mix of influences to make a sound all her own.
R.E.M. "Accelerate" 3.5 out of 5 stars R.E.M.'s last album was, in the opinion of many people (myself included), somewhat of a disappointment. It was not that "Around the Sun" was a bad record, but it was missing the band's trademark jangly guitars and upbeat nature, leaving us with Michael Stipe imitating his favorite lounge singer.
The Raconteurs "Consoler of the Lonely" 3.5 out of 5 stars Better known as Jack White's other band, you may remember that the Raconteurs had a top-10 album in "Broken Boy Soldiers" and a moderately big single in "Steady, as She Goes" back in 2006.
Flogging Molly "Float" 3.5 out of 5 stars Why it took Flogging Molly almost four years to release a proper studio follow-up to "Within a Mile of Home," is a mystery to me. Either way, "Float" made it to the shelves just in time for St. Patty's Day.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks "Real Emotional Trash" 4.5 out of 5 stars The boys over at Matador Records, the home of Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, say this record verifies that Malkmus remains a ridiculously hot guitarist. To be honest, that statement is not far from the truth.
Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend" 3.5 out of 5 stars As the latest in a line of huge buzz bands to come out of New York City, Vampire Weekend has accomplished a lot since forming while students at Columbia University in 2006. They've sold out shows all across the city, toured Europe with The Shins and released their debut LP on XL Recordings, home of Basement Jaxx and Thom Yorke.
Bob Mould "District Line" 4 out of 5 stars Bob Mould is a veritable legend in alternative music circles. As a founding member and front man for the wildly influential '80s post-hardcore outfit Hüsker Dü, Mould helped pave the way for almost all alt-rock that would follow.
Nada Surf "Lucky" 4.5 out of 5 stars As far as alternative pop outfits go, Nada Surf has one of the most interesting sagas going. Some of you may remember that they scored a hit with the song "Popular" on their 1996 debut. But a lengthy period of label strife followed and their second album went nearly unheard.
Drive-By Truckers "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" 4.5 out of 5 stars The Drive-By Truckers (DBT) don't like to be pigeonholed. Upon the release of their third album, "Southern Rock Opera," the band found itself constantly shadowed by the term "southern rock band.
The Hives "The Black and White Album" 3 out of 5 stars You may best remember The Hives as part of a trifecta of bands, along with The Strokes and The Vines, that were supposed to save rock 'n' roll. Who would've thought that more than half a decade later The Hives would stand as the most commercially viable of the three? This album, the band's first since 2004's "Tyrannosaurus Hives," is more bombastic than its predecessor.
If Davey Von Bohlen and the rest of Maritime continue putting up efforts like this one, people are soon going to forget that Von Bohlen used to be the frontman for the seminal indie/emo outfit the Promise Ring. The band's last album, 2006's "We, The Vehicles," was one of the most pleasantly enjoyable records of the year and a major improvement over its debut, 2004's "Glass Floor."
I'm going to be completely and brutally honest on this one: I've always really liked the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl and the rest of his coterie of ne'er-do-wells have consistently been one of my favorite mainstream groups since they late '90s.
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