So, yes, these songs have melodies and choruses, but they are so trite and played-out that even the fifteen-year-olds that this is written for will smell something fishy in their neatly packaged emotional escapism.

Maladroit is a welcome - halfway - return to form.

With each successive song, the vocal shortcomings become more and more apparent.

Costello has never experimented so freely on an album in his entire career.

The smarmy lyrics are back in full force, but the music is so crisp, clean, and catchy that it hardly matters at all.

Granted, Kweller is still searching for an unique voice, as his music still wears its roots a little too blatantly, but he’s definitely on the right track.

A strange and somewhat inconsistent release.

The sonic consistency may bore fans thirsting for more of Cornelius’ spastic and unpredictable eclecticism, but the ensuing stereophonic experience is second to none.

Plenty of bands have hooks and good songs and retro-garage sounds, but none compares to The Strokes.

The most noteworthy aspect of The Photo Album is the band’s upward trajectory. The music is cohesive and even, though still somewhat sluggish.

Take away the insane lyrics, and you’ve still got music worth listening to. Granted, it sounds like Journey being raped by Ronnie James Dio, but you have to admit that’s intriguing.

The band’s finest release by far, it’s a swaggering, head-long dive into funk, rhythm and blues, gospel, roots rock and roll, and disco but with a very sleek modern edge.

As difficult as it is gorgeous, Vespertine ranks among Bjork’s finest albums.

It is the band’s most fully realized musical achievement.... A monumental album by a monumental band.

A classic case of style over substance.

Sunny Border Blue will go down as her finest album outside of the Throwing Muses because it’s her finest batch of songs.

A classic party record from start to finish.

It’s pleasant enough music if you’re having a Caribbean-themed barbecue in your backyard, I guess, but little here will challenge your musical senses or move you in any way.

Even though this compilation doesn’t rival any of the Pixies’ classic studio albums, it is still essential listening.