Underscored throughout is how thoroughly Amidon embodies all of his material, regardless of is origins, and how much his art lies not simply in the songs themselves but in the distinctive, impressionistic atmospherics. [No. 143, p.53]

If it isn't the most interesting Pink Mountaintops album on its own merits, it's still leagues more engaging than most of those. [No. 109, p.59]

If it's been a minute since you've spent time with BSS, Hug Of Thunder could be a revelation. Otherwise, you'll just have to settle for it being a very good album. [No. 145, p.53]

There's not a lot of post-punk, no-wave or noise to be found here, but more so a very topical sound for the right now. [No. 122, p.53]

Wilson is brilliant and creative yet hindered by his own expansive eclecticism and purple prose. [No. 150, p.61]

On Somersault, Beach Fossils continue to expand their sound, and the band gets better as it ventures further from home. [No. 143, p.53]

Rigorously minimalist like a rock in the road is--a lump, emotionalessly excavated from nature's chaos. [No 134, p.55]

At 30 years of age, it's only better than it was... It gets zero help from unnecessary remixes and wee heft from an era-appropriate Madison Square Garden concert recording. [No. 143, p.58]

There isn't a wasted moment in The High Country's 26 minutes, proving that brevity is the soul of pop/rock, as well as wit. [No. 122, p.61]

Hagerty’s Howling Hex, which plows the radically different but equally worked-over field of nerd-rock whimsy on Earth Junk, starts promisingly, with a spooky clutter of hooting keyboards and echo-soaked vocals.

Original Distance isn't, but it's a great hang.

The Brazilian foundation is here but so are glimmers of his signature unhinged, skronky electric-guitar work. [No. 142, p.57]

It's Melted Toys' hooks and songwriting that act as an anchor. [No. 111, p.57]

Even when Black Lips operate more on the obnoxious side of the coin--"We Know" grinds to intolerable, screeching halts in an attempt to prove themselves both edgy and improved--the fuzzy, surf swing of tracks such as "Occidental Front" prove the band can be powerfully charming. [No. 143, p.55]

The rhythm section kept the sleazy blues and gutter grunge on track and moving forward with bass locked into a pocket provided by some seriously pounding battery while still allowing for a loose feel that gives you the sense you're peaking in on a cathartic discharge of energy. [No. 143, p.61]

Miller is a clever, concrete writer, and The Traveler is full of melodies that lock into place with a sense of inevitability. [No. 121, p.58]

Stay Gold is First Aid Kit's most lush and shimmering work to date. [No. 111, p.55]

The album is the reliable mix of shorter, inverted blues-rock dirges and extended workouts one has to come to expect from this well-oiled machine. [No. 141, p.53]

It refracts light in multiple, appealing ways. [No. 121, p.61]

The whole of Dr. Dee is bucolic yet slightly nervy with Albarn's chatty croon acting as yet another gentle breeze wafting through the Arcadian affair. It's not the Damon-pop solo you hoped for. [No.88 p.52]

Boo Human is far from cohesive, but the playing is sharp, sympathetic and strong enough to create poetry out of everyday desperation.

The succinct 10 songs on Brood X are all upbeat workouts. [No. 141, p.53]

With two exceptions, he avoids the obvious hits, choosing to shine a light on Haggard's often downhearted love songs with arrangements that avoid country-music conventions. [No. 143, p.55]

Tillman wisely scales back the orchestration and flourishes to their bare minimum in order to put his voice and lyrics at the forefront. [No. 141, p.54]

The album features covers of songs they love, with folky, stripped-down arrangements that feature Amanda's smoky alto and Jack's rich, bass voice. [No. 134, p.59]

This secret society's sonic output is nothing short of sheer musical buggery, a hip-hop twilight realm where Dr. Octagon performs transplant surgery on Mellow Gold with the cast of Scooby Doo in the gallery. [#50, p.89]

For nine tracks in just 40 minutes, these are lighter than air and spry enough for your feet. [No. 101, p.60]

If there's a complaint to be leveled, it's that the off threesome might have smoothed out its differences a little too much. But it mostly works. [No. 101, p.57]