An impressive album that points to a most promising future. [May 2004, p.84]

[A] brilliantly arranged debut album. [Oct 2005, p.84]

The most palatable Mike Patton project to date. [Jun 2006, p.113]

It's mighty moody stuff for a debut, but it's carried off just right. [Nov 2004, p.100]

Splendid. [Jun 2006, p.111]

Icky Thump is a fearless album, braving a bold bunch of weird rock transformations: slick studio radio glam, southern jukebox boogie, Scottish Highlander mandolin jaunts (!!), stuttering mariachi machismo, comedic skits, etc.

Phantom Power is pretty much your perfect experience, certainly alongside some jazzy cigarettes and a nubile lovely. [Oct 2003, p.84]

[An] outstanding album. [Mar 2005, p.110]

His best full-length. [May 2007, p.98]

Haines has... shown glimpses of a broken and beautiful solo artist just waiting to tell her story. This, my friends, is that breakout album in spades. [Oct 2006, p.122]

Ultimately, Xiu Xiu builds something sacred from tiny moments of pain. [Jun 2004, p.90]

It's just all so blissed-out and soothing you won't know what to do with yourself. [Dec 2002, p.92]

Pierce has broken down another barrier between elusive genius and sheer pleasure. [Jun 2005, p.79]

Featuring the production savvy of Soulwax (who also worked on "Sexor") is an extremely polished and solid release.

At times reminiscent of Neil Young. [Sep 2006, p.139]

It's nice to see Tha Liks are still vintage 1993 flavor. [Mar 2006, p.112]

Actions' unique and new-fangled deliverance of mostly acoustic and certainly threadbare beats see to it that Plan B doesn't fall into the grime or dubstep pigeonhole. [May 2007, p.97]

The band recalibrates toward rock structures but doesn't ditch the textures and sound experimentation of the recent past, resulting in songs with sonic depth and focus. [Sep/Oct 2007, p.129]

Surprising and fresh. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.103]

The Teenagers are pretty damn good at distilling all things incredible, wicked and true about being young.

From the preparation to the club to the dreaded hangover, Weekend takes you all over and in between, and is sure to leave you asking for more.

Boatloads of fresh, clunky beats land ashore with narrative tongue trickery. [Apr 2004, p.86]

Eventually the payoff makes all the setup completely worth it. [Dec 2005, p.99]

This is one groovy, swinging collection fans of all ages can dig. [Apr 2006, p.86]

Expect to see this album on 2006 Top 10 lists. [Oct 2006, p.118]

Depart From Me is a cohesive album of dark hip hop from an MC in top form.

La Roux’s selft-titled debut doesn’t disappoint, pulling obvious influences from the Human League and Depeche Mode.

The camp is still there, only now there's a newfound confidence (not to mention skill level) that make this one a winner. [Aug 2003, p.90]