Another genre-bending album full of scavenged sounds. [July 2003, p.113]

Since when is pairing Jewel's poetry outtakes with modern-rock riffs groundbreaking? [Aug 2003, p.102]

There are enough sparkly pop moments here to suggest Rooney could become, like the best Hollywood exports, a guilty pleasure. [Aug 2003, p.105]

Packs more moods and minx-like mischief than many albums twice its length. [Jul 2003, p.114]

There's plenty of killer talent to be found here. [Jul 2003, p.108]

After four very similar albums, they seem to be in danger of painting themselves into a corner. [Jun 2003, p.93]

His honky-tonk piano ballads are a little less haunted and more memorable. [June 2003, p.104]

Lound insanity is sexy; quiet insanity is sexier. [Sep 2003, p.118]

The army of noise behind his bitterness is at once massive and impressive. [Jul 2003, p.117]

If vocal distortion is to indie rock what the vocoder is to commercial pop, then Pleasure Forever's Alter is Sub Pop's answer to Cher's "Believe." [Jun 2003, p.97]

Boasts the accessibility and ambition of a true star. [Jul 2003, p.124]

Easy Listening has enough great riffs for Big Star and Cheap Trick to share, with leftovers to spare. [Jun 2003, p.103]

The closest punk has come to the dread of Robert Johnson, the mischief of Bessie Smith or the joy of Mahalia Jackson. [Jun 2003, p.94]

Consists entirely of samples yet sounds as organic as a 1960 Impulse! LP, largely because Hebden broadens his instrumental palette, fattens his beats and even gets cinematic. [June 2003, p.109]

An impressive, albeit highly schizophrenic, release that takes multiple listens to even begin to comprehend. [June 2003, p.98]

The kind of album that functions as both background BBQ beat and windows-down sing-along. [Jul 2003, p.112]

Original, brilliant and so avant-garde that less than one percent of the population will be able to sit through it. [Jun 2003, p.110]

A pop pin cushion that's incurably catchy, and as prickly as it is pretty. [Jun 2003, p.97]

A menacingly sweet and sweetly menacing set of electro pop. [June 2003, p.109]

Frankly, we think this is better than One Bedroom. [Jun 2003, p.98]

In the indie universe, rarely do groups making such live spectacles have albums to back up the show--but this charming, smart, lush pop is a notable exception. [June 2003, p.97]

A tame but rather satisfying affair. [Aug 2003, p.105]

On Song In The Air, they rock harder than ever. [Jun 2003, p.96]

While her songwriting is strong enough, it's Hayes' love of smeared guitar noise and other wordless joys of progressive production that are really on her side for this album. [June 2003, p.96]

Shine is simultaneously gentle and forceful, letting its dusky melodies and subtle surface tension shape its relatively less inventive subject matter. [June 2003, p.104]

For every great line on the album, there are three throaway verses. [June 2003, p.96]

All Around doesn't take you anywhere, but it does make where you are a little bit brighter. [Aug 2003, p.105]

There's nothing bad here, but also nothing new. [June 2003, p.103]