The ominous charm that had fans nose over tail is not completely lost in Agony & Irony. [Aug 2008, p.156]

They're at their best, though, on moodier fare like the suitably hymn-like 'God Loves You The Best,' with a Beatlesque snatch of orchestration fit for their old buddy Elliot Smith. [Sug 2008, p.170]

When the twins harmonize, the results are sweeter than sugar-dipped honeysuckle. What they really need, though, is some fire in their bellies. [July 2008, p.151]

Naturally focuses its atention on catchy, trashy rock, but this time, the seams stitching the riffs to the Automator's programming are less prominent. [Aug 2008, p.174]

If alt-country were truly alternative, it might sound more like Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, especially on 'What Is Not But Could Be If,' where Silver Jews leader David Berman's booming vocals run as deep as anything this side of Johnny Cash or Leonard Cohen in their prime. [July 2008, p.151]

Devil [is] a nusanced album that only slowly reveals its gifts. [July 2008, p.160]

The shimmering showcase for singer/songwriter Shara Worden--frustrates somewhat, retreating from the rocking thrust of her debut. August 2008, p.162]

O finds Tilly And The Wall perfecting the art of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses--without losing their inherent sweetness or zest for music's restorative qualities. [July 2008, p.150]

Robert Pollard breaks with several of his own traditions--fewer songs (only 10), and of those, eight break the 2-and-a-half-minute barrier. [Aug 2008, p.163]

The Fratellis may have simply have heightened our expectations by sounding too good too soon. [Aug 2008, p.170]

What matters is The Futureheads have made significant artistic and personal inroads to make sure their fans' enthusiasm rises to match theirs. [July 2008, p.158]

Exiting Arm is another step forward in the brillant career of a group unafraid to switch it up. [June 2008, p.137]

Ladytron suddenly sound evey bit as awesomely eclectic as, well, "Softcore Jukebox." [Aug 2008, p.174]

The Red Album is a wonderful jumping-off point for their second wind. [July 2008, p.145]

What Opeth do best is flat-out shred, and at its finest moments, Watershed howls like the unholy union of Queensryche, Yngwie Malmsteen and Morbid Angel. [Aug 2008, p.166]

Balancing a DIY mentality with a good ear for catch hooks, the Cool Kids have the ability to please both sides of the fence--which is exactly what the hip-hop world needs. [Aug 2008, p.174]

It's an honest record, a welcome return and a confident entry in the Spiritualized canon. [July 2008, p.156]

'The Motorcade Sped On,' a track that chops up funky beats with verteran newscaster Walter Cronkite reporting the death of President John F. Kennedy, is worth the price of admission alone. [July 2008, p.170]

The end result escalates The Lucky Ones into one of the finest albums Mudhoney has ever produced, as well as one of the best albums of the year thus far. [July 2008, p.158]

This collection comes together in a much more cohesive and fluid sense [than their debut.] [June 2008, p.131]

Given the collection's remarkable cohesion, No Virginia works as a proper third album, instead of merely being a companion piece to the previous disc. [July 2008, p.170]

Gardner and drummer Jason Hammel discover a prettier, fuller-bodied sound and enrich it with other instruments, such as strings on the inviting opener, 'Get Better.' [June 2008, p.130]

You could feel the Kicks reaching for this sort of grandeur in the more inspired moments of 2006's "Two thousands, " this time, they're bathing in it. [July 2008, p.158]

While Boo! is far less indulgent than JOA's most experimental records, it remains a far cry from Kinsells's earliest work in the mid-90s emo forefathers Cap'n Jazz. [June 2008, p.131]

While such eclecticism usually plays better across the pond, it's hard to resist the nimble melodies and kinetic enthusiasm the Scientists put on display, even if the authenticity is somewhat suspect. [July 2008, p.158]

The real reason narrow Stairs works so well is that despite the band's more esoteric experiments, they still contribute standalone pop hits. [June 2008, p.125]

What sounds like leftovers from Miller's last solo effort and bizarre surf-rock-inspired numbers rear their ugly heads, leaving these Lone Star Staters in jeopardy of repeating the grade. [July 2008, p.158]

It might have sucked the first time you went through [the year between high school and college], but here, it couldn't sound better. [Mar 2009, p.113]