Editorial Review

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Reviews (45)

Hello? Beck is still brilliant and he proves it with THE INFORMATION
I admit that my first impression of THE INFORMATION was that Beck had phoned this one in, kinda like a "Beck-By-Numbers" pastiche. But it only took a few more listens for his fantastic songwriting ability to shine through for me. Beck already merged just about every conceivable music genre on MELLOW GOLD and ODELAY, so it's not really fair to expect him to reinvent the freakin' wheel with every new album.
Get your hands on the Best Buy bonus track "This Girl That I Know"!!
This is not really a review for the CD which is just sick (that's good).I downloaded the bonus track thinking whatever, it's free. I'll listen then delete it.I have no idea why it's not on the CD!I guess they're really trying to get legitimate songs as bonus tracks so you'll actually read about how good it is and feel like you need to go rebuy it which sucks.But anyway, get your hand on it somehow.It's one of the best tracks on the CD (or not on the CD I should say!)

Beck's Fourth Best Album!
Rumor is on the street that Beck was deep in the mix on this project then abandoned it to release "Guero" instead. Next thing he knew, he was overseeing "Guerolito" and embroiled in a seemingly non-stop tour in support of both of those runaway projects.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

This soundtrack to the hit TV series starts off with a melancholy ballad by Denver's the Fray (fittingly titled "How to Save a Life"), but the well-curated CD isn't all thoughtful adult alt-rock--reflecting the series' mood changes, it offers a wide range of modern sounds. In addition to the expected acoustical numbers (in this case, from Anya Marina, KT Tunstall, and Snow Patrol's live version of "Chasing Cars"), the album reaches across genres and continents to offer the sunny-'60s-pop vibe of Jim Noir's "I Me You," Jamie Lidell's electro-jazzy "Multiply," the edgy punky-pop aggro of Metric, the rambunctious "Sexy Mistake" from the Chalets, and the winning singalong misanthropy of singer-songwriter Foy Vance's "I Hate Everyone." Ursula 1000's Alex Gimeno lightens up the proceedings with one of his trademark upbeat, hip-gyrating numbers (which seems to pay tribute to Serge Gainsbourg's "Comic Strip"), while the Moonbabies' sweet, swirling harmonies deliver the kind of perfectly crafted pop we've come to expect from the Swedes. If this compilation turns people on to these deserving acts, it will have done its job. Read more

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Reviews (7)

help
All of your reviews I have to agree with. But there is a song that I believe isn't on the CD for Greys. I don't know the exact title for it. But it was in the episode with the bomb. It was Breath, or Just Breath. Can someone please find out the title so that I may purchase this.
Could have been so much better
Overall there are some great songs on here and then there are some that had me changing the track to the next song.In my opinion, Vol 2 is not as good as Vol 1.Would have been alot better if Breathe was on here.That was the best scene in the entire 2nd season of GA.Shame on you Anna Nalick and GA for not putting that song on here!!!

Another Great TV Soundtrack!
I loved the first Grey's Anatomy soundtrack so I thought I might like the 2nd one.It has been on almost constant rotation on my ipod since I got it last week!!If you liked the first one, you will like this one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Electronic    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks & Film Scores    8. TV Soundtracks   

Editorial Review

Snow Patrol are frequently compared to Coldplay in the press, which seems strange as they write far better songs and do not appear to be quite so self-hating, nor as rich. Their delightfully dour little pop songs do touch on the melancholic side of things, but the lyrics are wonderfully slice-of-life descriptions. Singer/lyricist Gary Lightbody gives a shout-out to Sufjan Stevens when on the punchy "Open Your Eyes" he sings, "The anger swells in my guts." Perhaps a better comparison would be American indie-rock act Sebadoh? Regardless, this band continues to surprise. If you went to see this mixed Scottish/Irish group on tour after hearing their wistful, breakout third album Final Straw, you might have been a bit confused by the rock juggernaut confronting you. Read more

Reviews (91)

A Small Step Backward
I was a big fan of Final Straw.Tracks like Wow, Chocolate, Run, and Somewhere a Clock is Ticking led the playcount on my ipod for months.I thought Final Straw was a huge step foward from albums like Songs for Polarbears, which was, in my view, boring.I think Eyes Open is a small step back.Overall, it is a solid album, but it lacks the depth of Final Straw.I agree with a previous reviewer who stated that some of the tracks are too simple to be interesting.However, tracks like Chasing Cars, It's Beginning to Get to Me, You Could Be Happy, the Finish Line, and, to a lesser degree, You're All I Have and Hands Open and are good enough to make the album worth the money.Add Gary Lightbody's always subperb vocals (if you don't think a good lead singer can make a big difference, listen to the train-wreck that is the Killers' new album) and you have a pretty enjoyable album.
The Grey's Effect
From the moment Snow Patrols song "Chasing Cars" played over the final minutes of the season finale from Grey's Anatomy, I have been hooked. Since I bought the album "Eyes Open" it has rarely left my media player of choice. From the heavy handed pop rock tracks like "Hands Open" to the bitter sweet "You Could be Happy" the album is a complete package of radio friendly hits. Though it has yet to be seen if it is completely thrashable.
"It's so clear now..."
Snow Patrol strikes again and again with Eyes Open. Each song on this album stands out on it's own while still keeping a general flow of a complete album alive. Unlike their contemporaries Coldplay and Keane (and indeed there own previous albums) this album is fantastic from first listen on. Right away I had "You're All I Have", "Hands Open", and "Open Your Eyes" blasting throughout my room for weeks. I was very surprised to find out that "Chasing Cars" had become a huge hit (I ban myself from radio) because within a collection of outstanding tracks this one seemed more average and is definatly a weaker single then, let's say, "Run" off Final Straw. Generally, i would maintain Final Straw is the stronger album but Eyes Open has a refreshing throwback to the grunge-esque sounds on Songs For Polar Bears. Other Fantastic tracks include "Make This Go On Forever" and "Headlights On Dark Roads". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Scotland   

Editorial Review

Capitol raised a few eyebrows when they signed indie stalwarts the Decemberists. There's nothing blatantly commercial about the Portland quintet, from Colin Meloy's quavery voice and hyper-literate lyrics to the band's wide-ranging music, which encompasses baroque pop, prog rock, and dozens of other styles. Then again, he did once sing, "I was made for the stage," and those who've seen the group live know this to be true. Sure, they're storytellers, but they're entertainers, too--just not in the Top 40 sense. Never ones to play it safe, their major label debut takes its inspiration from a Japanese folk tale. It travels from the Replacements-style balladry of "The Crane Wife 3"--which joins words like "Each feather it fell from skin/'Til threadbare while she grew thin" to the melody from "Here Comes a Regular"--to the ELP hoedown of three-part epic "The Island" to the haunting duet between Meloy and Laura Veirs on "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)." It's an impressively eclectic effort that somehow manages to avoid sounding scattered. Co-produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie) and Tucker Martine (the Long Winters), the Decemberists' fourth full-length is richer, less immediately catchy than its predecessor (there's nothing as bouncy here as Read more

Reviews (25)

3 and a half really....But Very Solid and Good
Right then let's get down too it.I'm not going to list the songs and what not as most reviewers have done so already and have pretty much nailed the jist of what they convey.
They've Done It Again
I've been counting down the days till October 3rd, and when it finally arrived, I bribed my mom with cleaning my room to go to NYC Virgin Records and get me the new Decemberists album. I put it on my CD player, and I may hav had a small corinary stroke. I love all of Colin Meloy's stuff, including all the old albums and tarkio etc etc. but this CD was great. It still had that Decemberists backround, but was a little more poppy and maybe more major record label-ish. All I know, is that "The Crance Wife 3" and "Sons and Daughters" and "Summersong" will be my most played songs on my ipod within the next 2 months.

Slight Disappointment
I really set myself up to be disappointed with The Crane Wife cause I bought the pre-release hype. After reading all the good words, I was expecting to be blown away. Then after a couple of listens I realized I had had tricked myself. The Decemberists aren't the kind of band that blows people away. The Decemberists are a band that charms you and soothes you with loving songcraft and theatrical whimsy. Crane Wife didn't inject directly into my blood stream like the infectious Picaresque (my first of the band's CDs). In fact, some two weeks later, Crane Wife is still slowly soaking in. I dont hear the adventuresome and free spirited Decemberists I've grown to love. In fact Collin even seems a little more uncertain in his singing on Crane Wife. Not the lyrics, just the execution. "When the War Came", "Yankee Bayonet" and "Shankhill Butchers" are standouts. 4 stars is being nice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chamber Pop    2. Indie Pop    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

It's no surprise that a group named after something said during a baseball game would title an album after something said during a basketball match. It is a bit of a surprise that this band remains so incredibly good, and capable of surprising even longtime listeners. This one's so diverse and such a mixture of different styles, it's reminiscent of the group's all-request on-air shows they play annually to support New Jersey-based radio station WFMU. Book-ended by two long, droney tunes, you've got garage-rock rave-ups, country-pop, horn-driven R&B, little gorgeous atmospheric songs, some brilliant falsetto singing, and... this list could go on and on. Who else would think to pair conga-style percussion to a Suicide-esque synth drone? Or even to work with longtime Dylan collaborator and strings arranger and violinist David Mansfield and have genius illustrator Gary Panter do the artwork at the same time? It's the little things that matter, especially when you mastered the big ones twenty-plus years ago.Read more

Reviews (9)

subpar
i think 3 stars is generous.i am pretty dissapointed with the album.. i thought that Summer Sun was a good direction for them to go in, but this does not meet the bar they made for themselves with 'I Can Hear..' or 'And Then Nothing..'There are a few good tracks but the album is not consistent and it's way too long.Hopefully the next one will be better

an eclectic album by YLT
All of you who already know YLT wide musical affinities, will sure enjoy the last effort by the outstanding Hoboken trio. You'll find all sorts of songs in here, up and downbeat, but, trust me, all of them excellent. The LP runs 70' long, which is a lot, but keeps the level high all the way through.Understand me, it's not a mood album, like Electropura or Summer Sun are, but does pretty well the job, which is, delivering 15 pop-rock nuggets for the forthcoming fall winds. Don't miss it!
terrific indie record that runs a little long
Before I talk about how good this album is, I want to get my major gripe out of the way. This album is too long. 15 tracks, 77 minutes long, and it demonstrates that it is very hard, if not impossible, for a record that length to maintain any cohesion.
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Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Noise Pop    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Their second album and first for Interscope is almost wholly brilliant. Like Mogwai, Sigur Ros and a dozen others, TVOTR excels at making slowly-evolving tunes with vaguely anthemic choruses and lots of loud-soft dynamics. Unlike virtually any of those other bands, TV on the Radio mix a genuine and actual songwriting ability with their knack for finding sounds that appear to be "new." This record is crisper-sounding and incorporates more dance-based elements, but it's essentially a pop album. While the lack of the free web-released "Dry Drunk Emperor, a tribute to President Bush, is initially a bummer, the album percolates with enough pre-apocalyptic tension to satisfy anyone. In a Prince-pitched falsetto, the group sings "I was a lover/ Before this war," While throughout, the combination of melody and invention is always pitch-perfect (well, except on "Province" and "Let the Devil In," those songs sort of suck.) People of Earth: please make this band into total superstars and buy several copies of their album: one for the car, another for the office, etc. What we really need in our popular music is more weirdness, and more truth.Read more

Reviews (11)

The best of 2006 so far.
This album is so good that I finally decided to write a review. I had to add some thoughts especially since some of the other reviews aren't that positive. Return To Cookie Mountain sounds fresher than anything I have heard in a long time. "Wolf Like Me" is amazing and what drew me to them in the first place. But it's the other songs that will hold onto you for much longer. "I Was A Lover" is a great intro and sets the tone perfectly. "A Method" which no one here has really discussed much, is a beautiful song with layers of harmony that lead into wonderfully sinister drums. It is that kind of juxtapostioning that keeps you on your toes through out. the last part of the album drags a bit, but it's only because the first part is so extraordinary. If you really like eclectic and beautifully crafted music you can go wrong with this. Gets better with every listen!

Turn off the tv on the radio!
This band is getting alot of critical acclaim right now, but I'm just not feeling it. The single "Wolf like me" is the only song that stands out to me on the whole album. It is a great song, but everything else is just blah. I think the band could use a different singer, the guy they got doesn't sing very well or very "soulful". The music is good, very original and the only reason I haven't sold the cd yet. I really think ppl need to hear this one for themselves before they buy. Don't be fooled by these 5 star reviews. Just listen to the cd before you buy it. That's my advice.

When it works it is friggin' wonderful...
...but when in doesn't, it really, really doesn't.I have to admit that if the review were based solely on the songs I really enjoy from this album it would be 5 instead of only 3 stars, but alas as a whole the album, for me at least, doesn't work.That is not, however, to say I don't respect these guys for trying something new.On the contrary, I think that their mistakes are brilliant attempts.That said, the songs that work are, as the headline says, "Friggin' Wonderful"."I Was A Lover" and "Wolf Like Me" are fantastic.The later of the two will definitely stay in constant rotation on my Nanopod for years to come(Not that the Nanopod will actually last that long, but that is another story all together).I would definitely suggest it to fans of the first.The album is a logical progression in their sound, and I can't wait to hear what they do next. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Rock/Experimental    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Smothered by the indulgence of his rock star ranking, Jack White steps into the eccentricities of the supergroup, and at first glance, this seems to be a band where White's imposing presence could overshadow the rest. Not the case with these Raconteurs. Teaming with fellow Detroit songwriter Brendan Benson and Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, the rhythm section from Cincinnati band the Greenhornes, White exhales a bit, deferring enough to his mates to make Read more

Reviews (90)

A must-have!! Two thumbs up!
THIS is a great album!! I've always been a nominal fan of The White Stripes, but I heard "Steady As She Goes" and it just stuck in my head and I knew I had to buy this CD, and what a great investment it was. I would highly recommend it. The White Stripes are great, but I can only take them in small doses, if you know what I mean. The Raconteurs are different. I can listen to this entire CD over and over.

wow!
I came to Amazon awhile back and listened to a couple of tracks, didn't think much of it.A few weeks later, I had some extra cash and decided to buy it, as I love The White Stripes.From the first listen I was blown away. I had heard "Steady as She Goes" on the radio, but the rest of the cd lives up to that song, and surpasses it.Loved the vocals on "Hands," the Middle Eastern flair on "Broken Boy Soldiers," and the silliness of "Intimate Secretary."The rest of the songs are solid, with "Blue Veins" being one of Jack White's best songs ever.Don't know if this is a one and done thing, hopefully not!Saw an interview with Jack and Meg on the Charlie Rose Show, and this guy is for real.What he did with Loretta Lynn was amazing, and I'll buy pretty much anything in the future from him.

*****WOW*****
Wow, this is one of the best cd's I have heard in years, not a bad track on here! There are elements of great bands (Zeppelin, Beatles) here but with a modern edge that makes this effort sound almost experimental.Check out Broken Boy Soldiers and Blue Veins, freakin' amazing!The beat on the title track is driving, raw and practically primal.Blue Veins is bluesy with a provocative edge.Run, don't walk to your favorite music store and buy this!Be warned, tho, this cd has teeth, once they sink into you, it won't let go. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Garage Rock Revival    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop Underground    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

On its self-titled 2002 debut, OK Go nailed the two things every decent power-pop band needs--deadly looks and deadly hooks--to deliver the knock-out hit "Get Over It." Its follow up, produced by Tore Johansson (Franz Ferdinand, the Cardigans) and recorded in Malmöö, Sweden, offers more of the same. Much more. The Chicago quartet can't seem to move through its record collection fast enough, piling on the Beach Boys harmonies, Cars synthesizer squelches and Queen-inspired fanfare on breakneck songs like "Here It Goes Again" and "Crash The Party." Without any pauses for breath or quiet contemplation, it's frankly almost too much to take in one sitting. Then again, it can't be easy trying to cram the entire history of pop in just under an hour. Read more

Reviews (92)

OK GO is the best new thing
Let me get straight to the point: OK GO's Oh No is the best album I have ever owned in my life. Yes, this is a very bold statement, and no, this isn't the only album I've ever bought, but after listening to the album about 50+ times, I still stand by this claim.
Oh ...
While OK Go still is a little to concerned with their fashion and try a little too hard, they have managed to produces a fairly satifying album that was much better than their first (nothing was as good as Get Over It though).
Not terribly innovative, but fun nevertheless
If you feel they sound familiar, they do. OK Go may be the "most recent" revival bands to hit the airwaves (think Franz Ferdinand). However, they've managed to reach pseudo-cult status thanks to their fun videos. If you can, check them out on YouTube: you will have a good laugh! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Craig Finn loves books and bars. It's not just that he pinched the title of he Hold Steady's third album from the ultimate manual for boozehounds, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" ("Boys and Girls in America have such a sad time together"), but that every leery line of every song is crammed with the wayward poetry and passion of someone who is more familiar with the bottom of a whiskey glass than the sun. Thanks to his raucous Brooklyn band, his music--louder than its predecessors this time, with a few more ballads--also happens to make a great soundtrack for an all-night bender where broken-hearts and broken bottles become one.Read more

Reviews (10)

nauseating
if i could give this music negative stars i would. no kidding i got nauseous listening to this band. i seriously was on the verge of losing my lunch as one song led into the next and i headed straight to the bathroom after being tortured by them all. a hard-to-believe reaction, i know -- i was wondering myself how it was possible to get physically sickened by a cd, but then i figured it out: it just goes in circles and circles and circles and circles and circles and circles and circles. HOLD STEADY? i WISH! it's TORTUROUS. on top of having a boring-as-hell voice, vocally this guy "sings" the SAME 2 or 3-note "melodies" for every song. wtf? + musicwise it's the same level of Abysmally Boring and Uninventive -- and let me repeat -- CIRCLES. the "band" does the exactly the same "music" for EVERY song. how can anyone say good things about these guys??? bravo to the other two reviewers who gave them one star. i'm happy to see that at least two people in the world have ears. it's astounding to me that crap like this gets recorded. even more astounding that crap like this generates fans.

Good for Hold Steady beginners
Okay, I didn't really care for Hold Steady's previous album, "Separation Sundays."It had great lyrics, but the musical side was lackluster and the lyrics, though the saving grace, were often hard to decipher."Boys and Girls in America" is, however, excellent.The lyrics maintain the same quality, and the musical end has improved drastically.If you've heard a little of the Hold Steady and don't get the appeal, check out this album.Or, if you're looking for a jump-off point, this is it.If you like this album, then you should look into "Separation Sundays," but I would advise going with this one first.

It's always entertaining....
Being an Eastsider a stone's throw from Sweet Payne Ave., I am once again thrilled to know solidarity with a (at one time local) band that makes room for a lot of life in their music--not just romantic idealism and not just defeatist nihilism--they tend to capture pieces of life's dialectic nature, which is nice, nice: Hope/Despair, Progress/Setback, Connection/Isolation--life that always ends in death, but death that has at least lost its sting.The Hold Steady continue to be who they are, you may or may not like them, but it is hard to judge or dismiss something this unapologetically unique.The more you demand likeability from music the less you'll probably like The Holdsteady--not because they aren't likeable, but because you'd be missing the point.This album is good alone and better when put in its narrative context (following Almost Killed Me and Sep. Sunday).I was pleased to get an update on the messed up teenage lives of Holly et al.And was especially glad to hear something resembling a ballad or two (First Night, Citrus, Arms and Hearts), Crucifixion Cruise got me wanting more of that.If you're not into or can't meet the demands of the recorded poetic/talk lyrics of an Ivy League grad, then I beseech you to see The Hold Steady in concert--I've been three times and can testify that what might be lacking in a snapshot recording is made up in the storytelling energy of the moment--stories are meant to be told not recorded after all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

The Killers match postpunk guitars with a synthesizer overlay that recalls '80s New Wave without burying their sound in nostalgia. On their debut, Read more

Reviews (596)

Much overrated
When I first bought this cd I really liked it, but unlike most other cd's it sounded worse with time. After 2-3 months it was just sitting in my drawer and I found myself skipping stations on the radio when they played the Killers. After seeing them live at the Virgin Festival this weekend I know they are totally phony, not only is their cd bland but they are the worst live band ever. Do yourself a favor save your money on this one.

A New Rock
I loved the style of The Killers ever since I was first introduced to their hit song "Somebody Told Me." The vibe that the group gave off, uniquely combine rock with a techno-ish feel to it, so not only could you rock out to it and bang your head but you could also put it on at a dance party and get down to it.
Amazing
Hot Fuss is amazing. Every track on the cd is worth listening to. It is filled with catchy songs that will most likely get stuck in your head and stay there for a good long time.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Bass    3. Drums    4. Guitar (Electric)    5. Indie Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Synthesizer    10. Vocals   

Editorial Review

An enviable multitasker, M. Ward deftly charts the varied dusty soundscapes of Americana. Since 2005, he's toured with the White Stripes, coproduced the debut from Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, compiled a John Fahey tribute, and relocated from Oregon to New Hampshire--and that's just to start. Somehow, he found time to knock out Read more

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Reviews (9)

A triumph - and one of the best of 2006
I happened to catch M. Ward in a live performance on "Letterman," and rushed out the very next day to buy the CD. I think the tune he performed was "Chinese Translation," which is among the many standouts on this excellent disc. I would rank this as the second-best release of the year so far - right beneath Neko Case's "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" (and it's no surprise that Ms. Case herself makes a cameo appearance here - talent tends to attract talent). Trying to place this disc into a genre is a bit difficult, but I sort of like the "lo-fi indie folk" term used by another reviewer. But this is not coffee-house snooze music by any stretch of the imagination. On tunes like "Magic Trick" you can hear echoes of the loose, raucous sound that used to be the trademark of King Bruce and the E Street-ers themselves. Genre almost doesn't matter, though, with music this good. Buy it, slip it into your car stereo and take a long drive - preferably out in the country. I guarantee you'll keep it in your car player for weeks, if not months.

Beautiful album -- a Voice from the roots of Americana music
I just saw M. Ward last night in San Diego -- what a show!Every song was beautifully rendered, particularly the great songs from Post-War (the newest album).This album is rootsy -- reaching back into the best of the Blues, early jazz, country, folk -- and yet also modern in the sense of being "lo-fi" and "alt-rock" yet not so self-conscious as other practitioners of those "genres" of music.Buy this album and enjoy the mostly mellow, well-thought out tones and lyrics.And see him live with his talented backing band if you ever get the chance!

Right in the Head
I am so glad that 4AD signed M Ward because I would have not discovered this cd. I consider this disc as one of the best of 2006. My favorite tracks are: Poison Cup, To Go Home, Right in the Head and of course, Chinese Translation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

When an indie-rock band as intimately and fiercely loved as Death Cab for Cutie makes the inevitable major-label jump, it often telegraphs a painful death. Witness Husker Du, the Replacements, Nirvana--hell, even R.E.M. After a successful four-album run on tiny Seattle imprint Barsuk, however, Death Cab for Cutie just might buck the trend on its Atlantic premiere. Yes, you can grumble about the production (a little too slick), the proportion of ballads (a little too many) and the overall feeling of restraint (a little too much), but ultimately the album delivers everything the group does best in emotional, experimental songs such as "What Sarah Said" and "I Will Follow You into the Dark," which both blend stark lyrical details with acoustic guitars and soft-focus electronics. In "Soul Meets Body," meanwhile, songwriter Ben Gibbard has come up with the kind of blissful, beatific pop song that's capable of disarming even the harshest skeptic. "A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere," he sings. Read more

Reviews (250)

Remarkable
"Plans" is a subtle but crucial development for Death Cab For Cutie. While the songwriting approach is recognisable from their previous albums, their production has opened up - the music sounds wider, richer, and their palette of sound is far wider.
A heart-breaking disappointment...
I'm not going to say I'm a long-time Death Cab fan, but my fondness for the band has led me through their entire catalogue, from Transatlanticism all the way back to You Can Play These Songs With Chords, my personal favorite being We Have The Facts... I tend to prefer lo-fi indie rock, though the sheer strength of Death Cab's songwriting kept me a fan up through Trans.
Transatlanticism wasn't as good as this...
DCFC has really peaked with this one.A solid performance through and through, this one is more enjoyable from start to finish than their last album was.They received a lot of radio airplay for a couple of the songs off of this one and it was well-deserved as they finally received national attention. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Twee Pop   

Editorial Review

Having long recorded as Palace Music or Palace, the enigmatic, elusive Bonnie "Prince" Billy continues to confound musical expectations.His latest may well be his loveliest, a series of meditations and tone poems on love and mortality, with the autumnal strains of a chamber quartet and the vocal counterpoint of Dawn McCarthy supporting Billy's tremulous expression of his surreal, stream-of-consciousness lyricism.Results range from the dreamy, bluesy "Cursed Sleep" and the evocation of a British madrigal on "No Bad News" to the discordant propulsion of "The Seedling" and the call and response of the folkish "Then the Letting Go." It all fits together in a manner that defies categorization and dares the listener to resist its aural seduction. Read more

Reviews (2)

Recommended
This might be the best CD that has come out this year.It may be Will Oldham's best CD since "Viva Last Blues." It may be better than "Viva Last Blues" although these are two different styled CDs."The letting go" has a mostly very mellow sound.Almost every song is beautiful.The string and guitar melodies are uplifting.Will Oldham's voice is grounding, it is the familiar voice you have heard for the past decade or so.Dawn McCarthy's voice will then again lift you up.McCarthy's voice is a fantastic companion to Oldham's.Other singers/bands have tried to use a female voice to echo or accompany the lead vocal and it has often become irritating.This is not the case with "the letting go," McCarthy's accompaniment adds so much to the album but without taking away from Oldham.I haven't listened to a Will Oldham album since "Ease down the Road." This makes me want to go back and listen to those albums I have missed.One song in particular, "The Seedling" (I believe) has a different sound than the rest of the album.It has a harsher sound, but is still a good song.
Pleasant surprise
My copy of The Letting Go came with a free bonus disc called Little Lost Blues.It's a 10 track compilation of singles and rarities.The track listing for the bonus disc is:
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Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (234)

His best record
One song in particular, JOHN WAYNE GACY JR, is startling.The first few times I played the CD, without really listening to the lyrics, I heard it as a love song, due to the gorgeous minor-key melody, then only realized later what it was about. The song is eerily beautiful, and at the same time, stunningly creepy, about the love a serial killer feels for his victims."He dressed up like a clown for them."I wasn't aware that pop music could do something as complex as this, until Stevens did so.

Recycled goods
Having listened to Steven's previous albums, Greetings from Michigan and Seven Swans countless times, I cannot help but to notice the amount of regurgitation on this album.Stevens blatantly rips off his own music.I consider Michigan to be Sufjan's masterpiece.Do yourself a favor and start there.

Rewards with time and patience.
Ok where to begin. I am some what astonished by the few reviews I have read for this album that have been negative (i.e. 2 stars or lower). Not because "oh these people are idiots, or this music is just to much for them" but precisely the opposite reason. There were a few reviews that were 2 stars or lower from people who wrote somewhat intelligent and thoughtful comments. My advice to these people is to just give this some time to sink in. I know that it is not above these people, and If they give it a few extra listens it will eventually catch them.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Indie Pop    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Progressive Folk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

All hail the riff king! The Black Keys' guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach has the meanest way with a hook since Jimmy Page. He adds to his arsenal on the band's fourth full-length release, on which each track pounds its way into your skull with fuzzy, swampy fury. Less is very definitely more in Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney's world as the stripped-down guitar/drums attack smolders, burns, and then ignites without shifting into heavy-metal overdrive. But even with the occasional ballad such as "You're the One" slowing the momentum, this is an intoxicating blast of raw, thudding blues power. The duo impressively control the dynamics, raising and lowering the tension in a yin-yang struggle of ominous, greasy, heavy blues-rock that never sounds forced. With the exception of a few subtle but effective overdubs, this is the sound Auerbach and Carney heard in the drummer's basement studio where the music was recorded. Like the best rock and roll, the disc exudes a dark, cramped claustrophobia and foreboding sense of danger, just like wandering through a haunted house, unaware of what is behind the next corner. It's the main ingredient in the band's deceptively simple yet potent formula that creates this addictive, compelling, and often intense album. Read more

Reviews (9)

Unadorned rock and roll
The Black Keys are one of my favorite rock and roll bands with their garage band minimalism tempered by touches of blues and psychedelia. But I was a little surprised when the band signed to the eclectic Nonesuch label and wondered how this would affect their sound. Well, I needn't wonder at all as this album was literally recorded in a band member's basement and keeps the same raw and exciting sound as the bands previous work. Most of the songs are kept short and sweet with blistering blues based guitar and basic drumming giving way to melodic hooks like in "Your Touch" which is very catchy and has elements of pop without compromising their rough and tumble sound.
Magic Potion
Focus: that's the element that seems to be missing from The Black Keys' latest long-player, their fourth album in all. The blues-rockin' riffs, courtesy of Dan Auerbach, are present and correct, and Patrick Carney's drums are rarely less than suitably bombastic, but Magic Potion suffers, rather, from alarming dips in concentration. For every romper-stomper of a four-minute fuzz-soaked foot-stamper, there's a meandering exercise in mediocrity just around the metaphysical bend.
Magic indeed...
Unlike many of the other reviewers here, this is the first Black Keys album I have heard, and I was extremely impressed.The vocals remind me of a mix between Bob Dylan, Led Zeplin, and Jimmi Hendrix and the guitar work is absolutely amazing.Many of the reviewers here stated that this album may not be as good as their previous releases; if that statement is remotely true I will be buying every one of their cds.After hearing the first 3 tracks I knew instantly that this band will be one of my all-time favorites.Do yourself a favor and check this out.I highly recommend this album. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Garage Punk    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Punk Blues    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8.