Blackjazz, by contrast, is fierce and unrelenting, a slavering beast of an album with the complexity and dissonance of the Flying Luttenbachers and the head-down intensity of upstate New York ultra-power trio Borbetomagus.

On the Impossible Past is an inspiring exploration of life as it should be--but rarely is--lived. [Mar 2012, p.98]

His most winsomely loveless lyrics yet. [Oct 2002, p.92]

Alice is unique within Waits' unique discography, and it may be his most fully realized work. [Jul 2002, p.96]

The proceedings sound loose, yet focused but never disappointing. [Apr 2008, p.160]

Their less-than-radio friendly name will likely keep them just outside of the mainstream, but what they've accomplished on this monolith of an LP is going to be impossible to ignore during this last half of 2013.

Enter Shikari prove that they have something substantial to say and a creative way of saying it.

This is a dazzling and haunting disc. [Aug 2002, p.74]

It's truly an incredible piece of work that excavates the very core of human existence. [Sep 2015, p.95]

What they did do was stick to their guns. And as the old guard of arena-filling hard rockers begin to diminish (physically, artistically), it’s good to know there’s someone dedicated to keeping the bar high.

With vocals creeping into the closer "Happiness," not once does Cooper put a foot wrong, creating an album that borders on perfection. [Jun 2013, p.96]

It's the most solid album in the group's discography, haunting with moments of near perfection. [Mar 2008, p.140]

Points to a genius that should overtake the world of IDM like a funky tsunami. [Jul 2002, p.81]

It truly does feel as if they've been holding this emotion back since the day they parted and now unleashing everything in an explosion of creative energy, delivering a magnificent record that while fresh and exciting, could only be the work of far. [Jun 2010, p.102]

MMW charge brazenly past cries of Jimmy Smith worship into territory rarely covered by artists either acoustic or electric. [Jun 2002, p.80]

There might be no other band working that so effortlessly transcends its myriad of influences, creating something authentically new, disturbing and beautiful. [Jul 2017, p.80]

On their fourth full-length, the Used have delivered not only the definitive album of thier career, butarguably one of the best records you'll hear in 2009. [Sep 2009, p.109]

It’s fast; it’s honest, and it’ll probably make you tear up more than once.

That's why artists like RJD2 are important: They're brave, they're risk takers, and modern music needs more of them. [Apr 2007, p.192]

The ambitiousness, imagination and craftsmanship on display place Weightless in a class all of its own, stridently redefining the parameters of heavy music in 2011,. [Dec 2011, p.120]

Their most accessible and uncompromising album.... !!! deftly balance adventurousness with fun--a potent combo that too few bands achieve. [Apr 2007, p.192]

Thanks to a vintage church organ, a sizzling saxophone and a little recording expertise, Pickin' Up The Pieces' deceptively analog sound has all the crackle and warmth of the music pouring out of an old AM radio. [[Sep 2010, p.109]

A righteous wallop of club-crawling, rave-slumming fun. [Oct 2002, p.83]

This is the most imaginative and urgent FNM have sounded in years--not to mention the most relevant. [Jun 2015, p.96]

Their stripped-back and organic-sounding punkish indie rock recalls early Jimmy Eat World, Texas Is The Reason, the Appleseed Cast, Penfold and the Weakerthans, and this album sees them stand toe to toe with any one of those bands, which is admirable to say the least.

This is an album of spontaneous originality and should be appreciated as such. [May 2009, p.114]

Lazaretto finds him simultaneously unbridled as a player, yet meticulous as both mad scientist and personal diarist.

Whereas the Beckster tends to wriggle cheekily along to his funk, and Badly Drawn Boy does his own thing in spite of it, Gorillaz don't give a rat's ass about acting funky; they just are. [July 2001, p.68]