The whole glorious mess creates a dramatic Wagnerian opera that's (barely) held together by Congleton's yelping. [Aug 2006, p.206]

A bold, uncompromising debut. [Feb 2016, p.100]

Instant Gratification cements the band's veteran status and solidifies what we've always hoped: Dance Gavin Dance will never die. [May 2015, p.98]

Often reaches back to the unfettered rawness and earthy seduction of earlier albums like Dry. [Aug 2004, p.116]

Thankfully, the electro-bleeped post-punk "All Night Disco Party" and buzz-band piss-take "Heard About Your Band" aren't just dead-on scenester satire; they're damned entertaining too. [Jan 2006, p.142]

Not The Actual Events is everything we would expect from Reznor and Ross, offering textures we’ve never visited and contexts with conscience.

Full of power and their trademark delicate storytelling, Shipping News' latest is their greatest. [Dec 2010, p.116]

A collection of stylistically diverse tunes that is cohesive and refreshing. [Jul 2002, p.76]

Their songs have a weight beyond the bell and whistles, retaining your interest once the shock of new sounds and the novelty of genre-hopping is gone. [Apr 2008, p.152]

Spin stacks up with just about anything in the Tigers Jaw canon, with melodic and memorable highlights with detailed flow and cohesion that invitingly solicits frequents listens. [Jun 2017, p.82]

The Blood Of Gods strips away unnecessary studio wizardry and presents GWAR in its rawest sonic state, opting for a rough-and-tumble attitude. Nearly every beat and riff on the record screams for listeners to pay attention.

Offend Maggie continues Deerhoof's winning streak and displays a band running at peak performance. [Nov 2008, p.154]

Power and passion haven't sounded this vibrant in a while.

It's almost silly to accouse An American Movie of being overproduced, because string-driven flights of fancy and studio gloss are simply what successful well-adjusted nice-guy bands do on their third album. [#146, p.89]

We Are Wolves', third album, Invisible Violence, features a bevy of captivating numbers and is a triumphant display of the Montreal trio's versatility. [Mar 2010, p.98]

The rich--and sometimes gorgeous--glitch-folk of Elephant Eyelash certainly does the trick. [Nov 2005, p.226]

Some songs' lyrics feel a bit too rote ("Makeout Party," "Lazy Bones") but that's when you realize Green Day never really had all that much to say in the first place, and they function at their best with hook-filled songs that are typically three minutes or less. Luckily for us, ¡Dos! is full of those tracks, and is definitely the highlight of the band's ongoing trilogy to date.

Sometimes, the hype is right. [Jul 2007, p.170]

For new fans, We Disappear is a solid entry point into the Thermals' world; for longtime fans, the new, calmer side of the band emerging is fresh, but still packed with the same spirit and punch that has endured for a decade-and-a-half. [Apr 2016, p.100]

Their noisy attack has downright melodic elements, and the album exudes an energy that was mostly sporadic in their previous material. [Sep 2004, p.140]

I See You [reveals] a more mature sound, one where the songwriting is top-notch and the intertwining vocals are more polished and mesmerizing than ever. [Feb 2017, p.82]

Noisy pop-punk that's bratty with pogoing entitlement. [Apr 2005, p.124]

The result is another unique and captivating record, one that melds dancehall reggae, hip-hop, Haitian percussion and a dozen other styles as if they were always meant to be together. [Jun 2014, p.111]

Their most complete-sounding disc to date. [Mar 2004, p.91]

Thankfully, there's enough variation in tempo, nuance and arrangements to stave off monotony. [Oct 2012, p.92]

It's the perfect addition to their ever idiosyncratic and unpredictable repertoire. [Apr 2013, p.86]

The proof [of the band's maturity] is in each one of the songs: Every member is playing with a richness and depth that can only come from spending all this time in the studio and onstage together. [Jun 2015, p.95]

Luminous certainly wears its influences proudly; however, the record boasts undeniable energy and urgency. [Jun 2014, p.107]