April Album Reviews

Hold Steady: Positive Rage, Rating 5.2

As much as I love The Hold Steady and as much as I love seeing The Hold Steady live, a live Hold Steady album really disappoints. I'm not really surprised either. Seeing The Hold Steady live is an experience, one I think everyone should go through sometime in your life. You get to see 5 great musicians that absolutely love what they do and they pull the crowd right into it with them. This experience does not carry over to a live album. True fans put it in you collection just to have, others stay away.

Bat For Lashes: Two Suns, Rating 8.3

If you are fan of artists such as PJ Harvey, Bjork, Kate Bush and early Tori Amos, Bat For Lashes is right down your alley. This album caught me by surprise. I wasn't familiar with the band but thought I'd give it a shot. First listen I was hooked. Amazing voice and some intense dark grooves. The Track "Daniel" will probably be somewhere in my top 5 tracks of the year.

Prince: Lotus Flow3r/MPLSound, Rating 2.1

Hmmm, where do I start. I am a huge fan a of Prince (who isn't). I've even been patient with he last few releases because embedded between a bunch of mediocre songs there are some gems. but this double CD could be the worst material I've every heard from Prince. To be honest I couldn't find a song on either album that keep my attention all the way through before skipping to the next tune. Prince, I would like to tell you the same thing I told Ryan Adams, Fans don't care about the quantity of music you release, it's the quality that keeps us coming back.

Metric: Fantasies, Rating 7.0

Have you ever listened to an album by the band "Stars" and go "Man, I wish this was better. They have the right idea but just can't pull it off"? if so, buy Fantasies by Metric. If you have no clue what I am talking about, buy Fantasies by Metric. You'll like it. It's a great pop album that sounds like it's had it's corners bent a little.

Lady Sovereign: Jigsaw, Rating 6.2

Jigsaw is a whole new feel from British rapper Lady Sovereign. SOV's debut album was a good hip hop album filled with some great tongue in cheek lyrics backed with contagious beats. On Jigsaw SOV takes a more dance/club turn. I would say Jigsaw has 3 or 4 solid tracks the will make the iPod and be played loudly at a party.

Bill Callahan: Sometime I wish I were an Eagle, Rating 8.0

Let me start out by saying this album won't be for everyone. Callahan's voice is one of those you embrace or you hear it once and your done with it. For me his low dark voice fits the instrumentation on this album so well. Each song is a great story pulls you in and then after you are done with it you say "I'm glad Bill is like this so I don't have to be."

Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career, Rating 7.9

Camera Obscura is probably best summed up as great pop music. I thought My Maudlin Career was decent on first listen but the more I listen to it the more and more I enjoy it. At times it has 50's girl group sound to it but then on the next track might go a little country or maybe a ballad. I hate to say this but Camera Obscura might make me start listening to Belle and Sebastian...eek.