Props to McGuire for making an album exuding love, humbleness, and gratitude which didn't sacrifice any of his compositional complexity or overemphasize its conception. He should be proud of living with himself.

Dreamy at times (Crawlersout), with shimmering synths and picturesque melodies, there is a haunting beauty, almost terrifying, that surrounds the listener, almost as if one is sitting inside a sonic cocoon while taking it all in.

The fluidity of the music allows for interpretive wiggle room. New Universe sounds like a great, sun-slowed summer album, but I can also see it playing into the feel of other seasons, making for a subdued autumn album or a twinkling winter album.

This new album capitalizes on many of the singer/songwriter's strengths with songs that support his abilities.

The chemistry between the members of Rahim is quite apparent from the beginning to the end of the album.

There’s enough depth and variety here to keep you entertained after the first listen.

While there isn’t a song that will stick out immediately such as “When K Got Over Me” or “I Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” there are plenty of songs that will find themselves ingrained in your memory long after a listen.

Total Life Forever is still thoroughly identifiable as a Foals album, their personality and songwriting quirks shine through even the thickest of creative haze--they're making pop out of art, which is a pretty good recipe for a young band.

Throughout Light Of A Vaster Dark there is an overriding sense of closeness and inclusiveness that draws you in and belies any accusations of pretentiousness that might otherwise come from straying into musical terrain far off the road so over-travelled.

The Anomoanon spin small miracles of magic on Joji by merely using a 70s rock-radio framework as a springboard for deceptively modern and intricate synchronized guitar leads, vocal harmonies borrowed from the Flying Burrito Brothers, and a taut rhythm section lifted from On the Beach/Zuma-era Neil Young.

Sitek manages to conjure a musical playground within which Adebimpe’s vocals can frolic.

The trademark stridency of “Red Right Hand” or even “Mr Clarinet” is replaced with an altogether more measured and restrained vocal style, and the overall tone of Skeleton Tree is less abrasively didactic one than that of its fifteen predecessors.

For a de facto second bite of the comeback cherry, Snow Bound has plenty to warrant continued active-veteran status for The Chills.

The Joggers’ struggle against depression yields song after song of emotionally rending rock 'n roll, and the album tells the gritty tale of their fight against this epic beast.

Polvo have returned stronger and more single-minded. Regardless of whether you were around the first time, you should get in on this right now.

All in all, You Are the One I Pick is a compelling and enjoyable listen which, at 35 minutes in length, is smart not to overstay its welcome.

Packed with a convincing fusion of craftmanship, camaraderie and charm, We’re Not Talking certainly never comes close to a sophomore slump.

This album is as buzz-worthy as other similar acts like the Postal Service.

Bloom is as fetching a record as any in Beach House's growing canon of work.

This is the record Pulp could/should have made as a sequel to the seminal Different Class.

This is great music from a fantastic UK band.

Parts and Labor have expanded their sonic palette with Receivers and with it may find some new fans who wouldn't have been able to tolerate the overwhelming stimulation of previous releases.

Possibly the best Kristin Hersh solo album since 1994's classic Hips & Makers.

About as good as a live album can get.

The band's eponymous debut is a classy, memorable, and swooning collection of sophisticated pop.

There’s so much to love about Popular Songs and whether you think it’s the outstanding collection of music, the superb style choices, the fantastic lyrics or all of the above, it’s clear that Yo La Tengo is winningly superb.

It’s clairvoyantly obvious that Ghostface Killah’s ideas are abound. Forever flourishing, there is so much to love about an album as playfully awesome as this one.