There’s not a song on the album that hasn’t been written better a hundred times over, and with more memorable hooks.
The album foregrounds the cold-blooded calculation of its technological origin while still capturing emotions that are recognizably, powerfully human.
Crushing Love is as sharp and insightful as 2005’s Made in China was juvenile and sloppy.
The quality and the spirit of I Stand Alone reveal why Elliott has been and continues to be such an influential figure.
Since this is still ostensibly an album of outtakes, there’s perhaps an even stronger case to be made for excising the instrumental cuts this time.
Sinners Like Me doesn’t capitalize on Eric Churchs distinctive writing with an identifiable sound.
Like former blog darlings Annie and M.I.A., CSS doesn’t have an obvious analogue on either the mainstream or indie-pop scenes.
Martyr complexes rarely make for real art.
Ganging Up on the Sun is easily Guster’s most sonically adventurous work to date.
Keane’s Under the Iron Sea is an uncanny impression of U2 and The Bends-era Radiohead.
Sinner finds the rock icon’s trademark sneer turned on the conservative sociopolitical climate.
Nelly Furtado’s style-hopping nature makes her a never less-than-interesting artist.
There’s an unmistakable soulfulness to the Futureheads’s songwriting and their performances.
Laps in Seven is a remarkably focused work that nonetheless manages to capture the freewheeling spirit of Sam Bush’s live shows.
Getting Somewhere suffers from the disconnect between Moorer’s delivery and the quote-unquote content of her songs.
All American Bluegrass Girl’s artistic vision matches Rhonda Vincent’s technical gifts.
The album finds Camera Obscura stepping out from the considerable shadow cast by Belle and Sebastian.
Soldiers of Love pales in comparison to the band’s live reputation.
With enough of a promotional push—and CMT seems game—Povertyneck Hillbillies are primed for far more than just localized success.
This is a solid and even occasionally great example of contemporary bluegrass music.