Another gripping CD of thunder and grace.

As nihilistic and hostile as ever.

If it's true that music of this nature doesn't get anymore heartfelt, it also rarely gets more infectious.

Cracker sounds like it's having fun again.

Stronger than not and off-kilter enough to remain engaging even when the skits come on, "Theloneliest" might not have been worth a five-year layover, but it's weird and wide open.

Though the album grows stronger as it lurches on, the trio's pursuit of bombast leaves the killer melodies lost in outer space.

Lerche seems headed in a promising musical direction, but not all the songs here pack the expected punch. [10 Feb 2007]

This first new Dolls album in 32 years is not just a legitimate entry in their catalog, it's a great one.

A quality album. [6 May 2006]

The latest batch of tunes definitely includes some keepers.

QOTSA envelops many of the songs in a fog of menacing guitar squall that focuses as much on atmospherics as hooks. [16 Jun 2007]

Seem[s] like a missed opportunity.

The propulsive 11-track Horehound finds the White Stripes and Raconteurs frontman every bit as able on the drums as he is on guitar.

This new set fills in the spaces with sweeter, fuller arrangements, but the songs are hit and miss.

Easily its most lushly orchestrated and diverse output yet.

There isn't a standout single, but this is Dido's most fully realized and elegantly rendered collection.

It's hard to stay completely original album after album, but Ozomatli does exactly that when it sticks to the sounds of Los Angeles it helped put on the map. [14 Apr 2007]

Musically, the album is more languid than earlier efforts without sacrificing the urgency of her patented guitar pluck-strum.

Smacks of pure aggression, the kind which made household names out of such groundbreaking labels as SST and Amphetamine Reptile.

Even if it's easy to miss the full-tilt pyrotechnics of yore, Reis' new approach allows you to appreciate his wound-tight tunecraft like never before.

Her writing can be exceptional.

K'Naan's singular take on the parallels between Africa and America is the strongest thread running through this diverse, socially alert and frequently brilliant sophomore disc.

All in all, "How Animals Move" is a slow-burning, understated gem that intrigues and engages in equal measure.

It's pure cotton candy for the ears, and it sounds sublime.

"Silent Shout" excels with pulsating electro-rhythms, even though they don't include drums, bass or even a drum and bass sound.

More satisfying than its predecessor, Lifeline is a classic-sounding album that reminds us of the power and beauty of simplicity.

Beware is supremely sequenced, and is possibly Oldham's finest album yet.

Pretty much all John Darnielle's songs sound the same, but that sameness affords a remarkable consistency.