There is little else that stands out amid the polite noodling. [Mar 2008, p.104]

Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth deserves praise for the way he's reinterpreted "Damaged." [Dec 2007, p.116]

[A] palatable solo debut. [Oct 2007, p.101]

While hopes of stardom might have passed, there are a few minor gems in here. [June 2008, p.148]

Entertaining in the flesh maybe, but a considerably less engaging proposition on record. [Jan 2008, p.105]

Civilians is the most approachable and coherent of his recent offerings. [Oct 2007, p.98]

As ever, North Star Deserter doesn't pull many punches, with the bare-boned 'Warm' making the starkest of openers. [Oct 2007, p.94]

Any promise it shows [early on], howeever, soon gives way to yet another album of baroque rock and Beach Boys harmonies that strives towards being some lost Brian Wilson opus. [Feb 2008, p.95]

[In the UK], he's still something of a curiousity and likely to remain so, despite Tristeza Maleza's sweet, summery lilt and the Bob Marley-like festival anthem 'Politik Kills.'

Scialfa has surrendered and retreated into singer-songwriter orthodoxy, despite the appealing doo-wop backing vocals of 'Like Any Woman Would' and the lyrical twists of 'Black Ladder.' [Oct 2007, p.105]

They have turned in their most conventional set of songs yet. [Sep 2007. p.95]

Ian Bavitz delivers some typically extravagant wordplay. [Oct 2007, p.101]

His most impressive feat is that the whole thing never once descends into Kravitz-sytle pastiche. [Dec 2007, p.116]

There's a new post-punk, white-funk edge to their sound on the glorious 'Debbie' that surely comes from Bird's new locale, While 'Lazy (Lazy)' slinks along with Talking Heads-esque subtlety. [Sep 2007, p.88]

Everything here is a fantastic hybrid, M.I.A. and her platoon of producers thieving fashionable street sounds from Baltimore hip hop to Brazil's baile funk. [Sep 2007, p.89]

Challengers, their fourth album, sees the band and its three main songwriters at the top of their game. [Sep 2007, p.99]

On an album tat is filled with gems, Jenny Lewis is the crown jewel. [Sep 2007, p.85]

Articulate and thoughtful as Kweli's rhymrs are, few of the star producers he's invited along rise to the occasion. [Sep 2007, p.95]

Their fourth album is another collection of winning boy-girl-harmony-laden indie confections. [Jan 2008, p.106]

Too much of the rest--an urgent Mr. Lif aside--is seriously lacking in flavour. [Apr 2008, p.112]

Far out stuff indeed, but very listenable. [Oct 2007, p.101]

His fifth album is a triumph where his previous efforts have promised but fallen just short. [Oct 2007, p.105]

It is just that, a combination of converging influences, namely Evanescence and The Cranberries, their propensity for choral harmonies ratcheting up the twee factor exponentially. [Oct 2007, p.109]

Broder's lyrics are as evocative as ever. [Sep 2007, p.92]

Sheff's unorthodox, often beautiful songs blend folk and country with left-field rock influences.

The world will still ignore them, but mustering such firepower this late in the game is noble. [Oct 2007, p.105]

None of this would work, of course, if there wasn't pop-rock nous at the core of this band whose opening shot is relentlessly, exhilaratingly effective. [Dec 2008, p.123]

Those familiar with their late-'80s classics will be glad to hear them back on form, though it's hard to see this winning over many new fans. [Nov 2007, p.144]