Herren calls Savath And Savalas his vision of "Catalan acid folk"--and that should be all the encouragement required for fans of Four Tet, Tropicalia and early Animal Collective to dive right in. [Jul 2009, p.97]

Whatever meanings are to be gleaned here, Bleed Out still rates as one of the band’s hardest-rocking outings. [Sep 2022, p.28]

Nothing more than the uncomfortable sound of a band escaping their svengali. [Dec 2004, p.142]

Throughout, there's an ungainly combination of the leaden and the jaunty. [Aug 2009, p.102]

This box set might test that familiarity [of the Beatles catalogue]. It's like returning home to find the furniture has been moved around, or thayt someone has built new rooms to put your stuff in. It's not that these are bad rooms--they're just not quite where you expect them to be, and certainly not how the architects conceived the building. [Mar 2014, p.90]

Within its narrow punk framework, the music is reasonably effective. [Feb 2017, p.24]

Nau's real forte flies in gentle melodies that meander beguilingly, sung in a rich and warm baritone that is more Kurt Wagner than Springsteen. [Sep 2018, p.35]

Exercises proves Silver is in good shape. [Sep 2012, p.74]

Let's Go eat A factory is not a brilliant album and of itself, but it does cast guided By Voices in a slightly different light. [Feb 2012, p.95]

Black Hours knowingly and passionately charts a journey through make songwriting archetypes, from doomed fatalist to well-adjusted realist. [Jun 2014, p.84]

The result is Mascis's most fully formed and direct solo set to date. [Feb 2024, p.31]

As Shirt progresses, grungey riffs begin to cut through on “Itch” and the White Stripes-y chorus of “Rag”. Elsewhere, his slacker songcraft commands evermore empathy as “Voices In My Head” employs a neat acoustic motif and “Music” offers a piano-led lullaby to close a short, deceptively sweet affair. [Oct 2024, p.41]

Their debut's brevity and sharp hooks suggest a band with an acute sense of purpose. [Aug 2006, p.100]

The Afghan Whigs remain a high stakes band, conducting business not with a eye on self-preservation, but in the heat of the moment. [May 2014, p.72]

The backing are stately, most elegant on the trumpet and Wurlitzer of 'Mississippi River Running Backwards.' [Oct 2009, p.108]

Warpaint does, however, fall somewhat short of the triumphant comeback The Black Crowes set their 10-gallons at.

This take on the horrors of 9/11 could seem shallow, but he nails it. [Nov 2013, p.69]

Enchanting debut Oh My reveals itself slowly with each listen. [Feb 2018, p.30]

Mr Beast, by Mogwai's normally formidable standards, underwhelms. [Apr 2006, p.96]

While they're not doing anything particularly new, the mixture of bile and valedictory swagger here is exhilarating. [Apr 2014, p.73]

It's not a disaster, by any means.... It's just that, over 13 songs, it's abundantly clear that whatever the potency of this partnership, there's an old lack of range. [Jul 2005, p.89]

With every element wound so tight, the relentless pace grows exhausting over the long haul. [Jul 2010, p.108]

Ives Sepulveda's vocals can be a little puny, but the music is full of clever twists and suddenly blossoming choruses. [Mar 2013, p.73]

Pretty, poignant and educational, too. [Aug 2013, p.71]

It might just grow into an even better record than The Courage Of Others, as one get used to the way it replaces Smith's precision and popcraft with the new Midlake's love of digression and sonic adventure. [Dec 2013, p.62]

It's most persuasive setting is deluxe drive-time melancholia, purring with understated classicism. [Sep 2015, p.69]

He still writes lovely, dreamy psych-pop songs that position Luxury Alone as a strange, introverted companion to Tame Impala's Currents. [Jul 2016, p.82]

[Tim Burgess'] boyish voice sounds warmer than ever, too, while Johnny Marr and Paul Weller are among guests fortifying his band's fluid grooves. [Jul 2017, p.26]