The consistency from past to present is resolute and the drifting more uplifting than heard before, but the moments of poignancy heard on earlier records still ring truest.

Even when you can't quite understand what she's on about, you are happily lured into a world where classic myth yearns for modern ritual, and you're quite happy to be in a place nobody will quite understand. [Winter 2009, p.106]

The success of Bromst is in Deacon's ability to stretch his compositions out, giving space and finding a better bridge between saccharine hooks and sampling experiments than he was able to provide on his previous LP. [Winter 2009, p.98]

The Harzards Of Love is an unbelievable show, but its director should have spent more time on the script and less on the pomp and circumstance. [Winter 2009, p.90]

The songs on Ten actually sound shockingly more insufferable this far out of their original grunge context. [Winter 2009, p.97]

The rhymes and stripped, off-kilter soul samplings are more "Mm...Food" than "Madvillainy," which is to say they're colorful with phrases clipped to punctuate a particularly satifactory punchline or rhyme conclusion. [Spring 2009, p.91]

The mood is undeniably American, and Bonnie (or Oldham) seems incomprehensibly at peace with his hallmark solitude. [Winter 2009, p.91]

Listening to this record, made me feel like the Andy Rooney of dance/electronic music. [Winter 2009, p.92]

Together they've embraced more experience and experimentation for captivating results. [Winter 2009, p.100]

Perkins is joined by a three-piece ensemble of multi-instrumentalists that do a great deal to boost his soulful ballads with circus-like arrangements, while putting a little extra pep in his step. [Winter 2009, p.96]

While the melodies and rhythms won't escape most listeners, it is the aforementioned instrumental prowess and attention to detail that help build appreciation with each listen. [Winter 2009, p.94]

Start-stop measures, tempo changes and harmonized vocals all make the album a grand listen. [Winter 2009, p.98]

The Prodigy has been treading water for a few years, most likely looking for the inspiration, sentiment and spooky samples which they now unleash on Invader Must Die--a treat for anyone with a thirst for the twisted and ferocious. [Winter 2009, p.92]

Cyclone might lack the raw beauty of her last project, but Case's emotional honesty is surely a sign that more meaningful transformations are in store. [Winter 2009, p.92]

Most tracks feel as if they'd fit neatly onto classics from The Who, The Kinks and even The Band, but none of the Swedes' songs stand out too far from behind their influences. [Winter 2009, p.106]

If you're looking to be moved, inspired, to scream or cry, look elsewhere. But the kids need to have their fun...so, bring it on. [Winter 2009, p.96]

K'Naan is one of the realest cats going, and although Troubadour feels somewhat derivative, you should at least agree when he notes, "It's OK to feel good." [Holiday 2008, p.100]

They arise triumphant with their own footprint in the soil of rock and roll. [Winter 2009, p.91]

Hold Time marks Ward's third, and best chance to skip the three-peat pattern for sneaking under the radar with his name near the top. [Winter 2009, p.92]

The sense of movement is missing here, that raw immediacy that powered "Full Collapse's" better tracks; the howls and breakdowns feel almost like quota-meters. Still, though, there are enough feedback squalls and keyboard squelches in Dave Friedmann's production to suggest Thursday have yet to run their course. [Winter 2009, p.100]

N.A.S.A. is, like its government counterpart, bloated with potential and rife with inefficiencies, resulting in a record which is more impressive fotr its guest list than its track list. [Winter 2009, p.91]

The effort drags a tad in its center, but the heaviness of The Drones' material has never been devalued by a bit of lag. [Winter 2009, p.106]

After seven years of experiementing, Petersen has found his niche. [Winter 2009, p.100]

While Auerbach may or may not be keeping anything removed from sight, what he's revealed so far will keep us coming back for more. [Winter 2009, p.92]

Rather than coming across as note-for-note recreations, each song takes on a new, softer life with Houck's delicate vocals. [Winter 2009, p.98]

The simplicity and dusty sunshine that prevades this album can't but raise a smile and lower your blood presure. [Winter 2009, p.96]

The Mountain may not be the repositioning kick-in-the-pants that the Heartless Bastards' peddle it as, but Wennerstorm's Midwestern maelstrom's been assuaged by new members and country/folk memes. [Holiday 2008, p.100]

The lurching rhythms, slick hooks and stomping choruses are still everywhere you turn, but the Fraz lads have branched out, with seemingly mixed results. [Holiday 2008, p.90]