It pushes many of the same buttons as DFA/LCD Soundsystem, but with a sensuous Gallic cool missing from the more angular Anglo-Americans. [Jul 2005, p.112]

Tightly controlled melodic songs reminiscent of R.E.M. or The Velvet Underground. [Oct 2006, p.120]

Shuttles between nerdy and mesmeric. [Oct 2005, p.119]

Punk funk can be a prickly thing, but they never overdo the art-rocking, always placing the emphasis on melody. [Feb 2005, p.101]

Less lush than their previous affairs, but still rich in Beach Boys-like vocal harmonies. [Jul 2005, p.120]

This shows they've lost little of their sonic clout. [Jun 2004, p.103]

Exhibits a grace and richness that is sometimes absent from Case's self-regarding live shows. [Apr 2006, p.112]

Whatever it lacks in cohesive identity it more than makes up for in chaotic invention. [Feb 2003, p.107]

Votolato invokes real empathy with the drifters, losers and hard-done-by who populate his songs, not unlike a more folky Elliott Smith. [Mar 2006, p.110]

Heath's high-octane hoedown riffs achieve the expected levels of raucousness. [Oct 2004, p.129]

A fine showcase for simmering, ethereal pop music. [Oct 2003, p.111]

Devoid of Hannon's penchant for the smugly esoteric, this is by far his most approachable album. [Aug 2006, p.111]

He sings with surprising forthrightness yet these 10 electronic daydreams are not songs in any conventional sense. [May 2003, p.100]

While a generic indie rock sound is flirted with, an amicable relationship deelops between that and their trademark hush. [Mar 2005, p.100]

[Her] reinvention, no matter how calculated, has worked wonders. [Aug 2005, p.127]

Their most focused album to date. [Apr 2006, p.118]

There's less of Califone's rootsy side here and more floaty mood-pieces or doomy dance grooves. [Feb 2004, p.98]

A very respectable pop-punk debut. [Oct 2005, p.121]

One thing that hasn't changed is Thorn's voice, which is as warming and mellow as ever. [Apr 2007, p.122]

An exquisite addition to the canon. [Apr 2003, p.104]

Proof positive that you can post-rock and still have a smile on your face. [May 2007, p.124]

Ambitiously wide-ranging. [Apr 2005, p.118]

This is laregly classic pastoral English whimsy at its best. [Apr 2007, p.119]

For newcomers to Smith's wonderful and frightening world it's a good introduction. [Mar 2007, p.111]

At times, the sugary vocals do become a little sickly; mostly, though, Universal Audio is a mastercalss in harmonious guitar pop. [Oct 2004, p.122]

They appear to have found their level: one of rock's best-kept secrets. [May 2007, p.124]

There's little new stylistically... but the results are remarkably strong. [Feb 2004, p.98]

Some of the shorter tracks feel like distractions, but when the fragile mixture of field recordings, samples from radio broadcasts and twanging folk instruments comes into focus, the results are quietly fascinating. [Dec 2003, p.120]