Intimacy is arguably Bloc Party's finest moment thus far, offering sweat and circuitry, savagery and submission, and a captivating energy that's severely lacking in many music scenes on the planet. [Dec 2008, p.144]

Singer Ricky Wilson holds it together with his charismatic personality, demanding you sit up and listen the second he opens his mouth to kick things off. [Dec 2008, p.146]

Heart On is on par with the band's previous efforts when it comes to ultra-swarthy innuendos. [Dec 2008, p.146]

The richly recorded songs spool out with a natural ease. [Nov 2008, p.154]

Ryan Adams asserts a distinctly Americana ethos into dynamic, woven layers of rock on Cardinology, showcasing the diverse range of this prolific songwriter nd his backing band. [Jan 2008, p.129]

He further hones his flamboyant jazz chops while elevating his melodic and rocking abilties to new heights. [Jan 2008, p.131]

Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder sees the Brits at thie operatic best and completely unafraid to fill their songs with orchestral keyboards. [Dec 208, p.142]

For the Malin faithful, these are the seeds from which the glitter in the gutter sprung. [Nov 2008, p.129]

'Bells of Creation (Machete Mix)' confirms they're not budging from their patented brans of symphonic rock....It's a sizzling cauldron of rock magic, grand in sound and scope. The other songs aren't quite as compelling. [Dec 2008, p.146]

Skeletal Laming furthers the notion that Kevin Barnes is, in fact, the Prince of our generation. [Dec 2008, p.138]

True to form, the band deliver yet again on Car Alarm. [Nov 2008, p.155]

Dymphna's genre distinctions are more sophisticated and nuanced. [Dec 2008, p.152]

Lightburn's musings are best met with equal grandeur--such as the low-key but effective sort Missiles usually provides. [Dec 2008, p.138]

It's a decent disc that'll simultaneously satisfy your cravings for pop music and the avant-garde. [Dec 2008, p.153]

Grainger's vocals, however, hang a little harsh in the mix without the jagged musical edges around them. Still, the essential energy in his performance powers through the awkward spots, making the disc a welcome payoff to a dance-punk dream destroyed.

Secret Machines is a bit of a misstep, failing keep their languid, explorative tracks from growing dull. [Dec 2008, p.148]

I'm From Barcelona have already moved on from the instantly infectious sense of fun that made the better cuts of "Let Me Introduce My Friends" so endearing. But it's not as though they've turned their backs completely on the quirks that brought them this far. [Nov 2008, p.154]

The vocals occasionally become rhythmic and robotic, as if filtered through a demonic Vocoder, but there's no denying this album's rich humanity. [Nov 2008, p.158]

The Mighty Underdogs are like the Westside Connection of the indie-rap world--maybe a little less threatening, but just as bangin'. [Nov 2008, p.164]

Though written and recorded quickly, it's hard to imagine how these tracks could have been improved on, as they effortlessly cover a wide musical expanse. [Jan 2008, p.124]

While the album has bright spots, overall it feels a bit dull and without the spark that made 1998's "Midwestern Songs Of The Americas" so fresh and exciting. [Dec 2008, p.132]

In spite of the repetitiveness, Fucked Up Friends comes out gold and crispy and ready, for you to get your hands on it. [Nov 2008, p.164]

What matters is that Everything Is Borrowed is enough of a triumph that despite all evidence to the contrary, you'll be convinced the world is indeed a beautiful place. [Dec 2008, p.153]

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

It all boils down to the simple question of which songs grab you, so there are certainly reasons to give Appeal a whirl and decide for yourself. [Nov 2008, p.151]

'Always Do' is the pinnacle of this record's minimal momentum; it's a leisurely stroll past the mediocrity of te album's second half (with the exception of the bluesy cadence 'Hair Don't Grow'). [Nov 2008, p.151]

Fucked Up aren't the easiest band to like, but they're worth the effort. [Nov 2008, p.156]

It doesn't quite have the emotional snap their debut so admirably possessed, but the musicians have an apparent precision of craft. [Jan 2008, p.125]