AltWeeklies Wire
Mates of State Satisfy with More Catchy Cutsnew
For the most part brushing aside the experimental flourishes that informed some of their earlier work, here the two instead focus on what they do best, setting oft-devastating lyrics to electric-organ- and drum-based tunes.
Girl Named Kyle Needs Some More Buildingnew
No, the world hasn't been waiting for another folkish band fronted by a precocious, big-voiced singer, and the familiar nature of the strummier material on Let's Build doesn't help separate Girl Named Kyle from the pack.
Silver Jews Pair Simple Melodies with Complex Lyricsnew
Even after trading chemical dependency for religion, David Berman remains a deadpan wit of charm and skill, as he demonstrates on Lookout, the first Silver Jews record made without assistance from Berman's longtime cohort, Pavement leader Stephen Malkmus.
The Roots Get Heavynew
Thematically, it's heavier than Jared Fogle before he realized how much money he could make crediting his weight loss to sandwiches.
Death Cab for Cutie Already Made This Albumnew
Narrow Stairs sounds just like Plans, right down to the obvious production, weepy lyrics and inoffensive guitar, continuing Death Cab's tradition of aping Morrissey lyrics without Moz's counterintuitive turns of phrase or dark jokes.
Latest Disc Will Only Enhance Snoop's Increasingly Cuddly Imagenew
Thanks to his charming obliviousness, he generally gets away with lyrics and arrangements that range from timeworn to ridiculous.
Tags: Ego Trippin', Snoop Dogg
DeVotchKa's Hybridnew
When music-industry experts advise fledgling musicians how to achieve success, few probably suggest developing a weird blend of rock, pop and exotic folk music.
Hot Chip Flirt with Campinessnew
Alexis Taylor and the rest of the Hot Chip crew are so devoted to dis-playing their intelligence and cheek that the band's electro-pop shenanigans can seem positively exhausting at times.
Tags: Hot Chip, Made in the Dark
Bob Mould Sounds Sugary Once Morenew
Although remnants of his electronic era linger on District Line, it mainly follows the playbook of his last CD, Body of Song, sounding more like his earlier stuff than something you'd hear at a club.
Tags: Bob Mould, District Line
Dojo's Shared Visionnew
Analog Suspect fills the sensei role on Duality, with Selecta Roswell holding the spotlight on the strength of her sharp wordplay and a verbal style that encompasses rapid-paced syllable twisting and impassioned spitting.
Jack Johnson Sure Seems Nicenew
But niceness doesn't translate to interesting music on Sleep Through the Static, an album snoozy enough to put Ambien out of business.
'Creation's Dark' is 19 Songs' Worth of American Music Done Rightnew
The departure of a performer as strong as Jason Isbell, who went solo last year, would cripple most bands -- but not Drive-By Truckers.
More Than a Product Tie-Innew
The best soundtracks enhance the flicks from which they sprang even as they make a statement of their own. And Juno's CD companion more than accomplishes this goal.
Sanity Clausnew
Separating holiday-music gifts from seasonal disorders.
What Would Iggy and Joey Do?new
Primasonic clearly asked the question as it created their self-titled debut, a fairly enjoyable disc thanks to the considerable energy and fanatical exactitude they bring to their acts of homage.
Tags: Primasonic
