2007 Music Journals

[Josh]

It's early. Some might even say TOO early. But many of us are already hearing 2007 release, be they leaks or advance copies, so starting up the ol' journal thread seems reasonable to me. We'll keep this one unpinned and the 2006 one pinned for a while yet, and then switch them out when it seems appropriate.

As always, record whatever 2007 albums you hear, link to your reviews, assign ratings or rankings, etc. Please don't make a bunch of separate threads for updates; just update your original post. Keep discussion of individual albums to separate, album-specific threads. And have fun! 

[Josh]

The Running Top 10:
1. Joe Henry-- Civilians... A
2. Josh Ritter-- Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter... A-
3. I'm Not There original soundtrack... A-
4. Loudon Wainwright III-- Strange Weirdos... A-
5. Radiohead-- In Rainbows ... A-
6. Mary Gauthier-- Between Daylight and Dark... A-
7. Arctic Monkeys-- Favourite Worst Nightmare... A-
8. Patti Scialfa-- Play it as it Lays... A-
9. Over the Rhine-- The Trumpet Child ... A-
10. Maria McKee-- Late December... A-


Honorable mentions:
Bettye Lavette-- The Scene of the Crime... B+
Linda Thompson-- Versatile Heart... B+
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss-- Raising Sand... B+
Richard Hawley-- Lady's Bridge... B+
Sp oon-- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga... B+
White Stripes-- Icky Thump... B+
Andrew Bird-- The Armchair Apocrapha... B+
Arcade Fire-- Neon Bible... B+
Patty Griffin-- Children Running Through... B+
Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down-- Phantom Punch... B+
Grinderman-- Grinderman... B+
Okkervil River-- The Stage Names... B+
Over the Rhine-- Live from Nowhere: Volume 2... B+
The Weakerthans-- Reunion Tour... B+
Wilco-- Sky Blue Sky... B+
Jarvis Cocker-- Jarvis... B+
Feist-- The Reminder... B
Fionn Regan-- The End of History... B
Paul McCartney-- Memory Almost Full... B
Art Brut-- It's a Bit Complicated... B
Ezra Furman and the Harpoons-- Banging Down the Doors.... B
Suzanne Vega-- Beauty and Crime... B
Eleni Mandell-- Miracle of Five... B
The Willard Grant Conspiracy-- Let it Roll... B
Devon Sproule-- Keep Your Silver Shined... B
Patrick Wolf-- Magic Position... B
Maroon 5-- It Won't Be Soon Before Long... B
Anberlin-- Cities... B
Danny Cohen-- Shades of Dorian Gray ... B
The Avett Brothers-- Emotionalism... B
Iron and Wine-- The Sheperd's Dog ... B
Richard Thompson-- Sweet Warrior... B
PJ Harvey-- White Chalk... B
Band of Horses-- Cease to Begin... B
Ian Hunter-- Shrunken Heads... B
The Clientele-- God Save the Clientele... B
The Ragbirds-- Wanderlove ... B
Graham Parker-- Don't Tell Columbus... B
Mavis Staples-- We'll Never Turn Back... B
Miranda Lambert-- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend... B
Jens Lekman-- Night Falls Over Kortedala... B
Modest Mouse-- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank... B
The Twilight Sad-- Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters... B
Nina Nastasia and Jim White-- You Follow Me... B
Rush-- Snakes and Arrows... B
Nick Lowe-- At My Age... B
Martin Sexton-- Seeds... B-
Sondre Lerche-- Dan in Real Life (soundtrack)... B-
Bruce Springsteen-- Magic... B-
New Pornographers-- Challengers... B-
Bright Eyes-- Cassadaga... B-
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists-- Living with the Living... B-
Relient K-- Five Score and Seven Years Ago... B-
Sarah Shannon-- City Morning Song... B-
Erin McKeown-- Sing You Sinners... B-
Derek Webb-- The Ringing Bell... B-
Ryan Adams-- Easy Tiger... B-
Beirut-- The Flying Club Cup... B-
LCD Soundsystem-- Sound of Silver... B-
Richard Swift-- Dressed Up for the Letdown... B-
The Innocence Mission-- We Walked in Song... B-

Eh, not so much:
Peter, Bjorn and John-- Writer's Block... B-
The Frames-- The Cost... B-
Rickie Lee Jones-- Sermon on Exposition Blvd.... B-
Bjork-- Volta... B-
The Shins-- Wincing the Night Away... B-
Brandi Carlisle-- The Story... B-
John Reuben-- Word of Mouth ... B-
KT Tunstall-- Drastic Fantastic... B-
Gretchen Wilson-- One of the Boys... B-
Dolorean-- You Can't Win... B-
A Bird and a Bee-- A Bird and a Bee... B-
Patti Smith-- Twelve... C+
Kristin Hersh-- Learn to Sing Like a Star... C+
Lucinda Williams-- West... C-

EPs and such:
Led Zeppelin-- Mothership... A
The Hold Steady-- Live at Fingerprints EP... B+
Matchbox 20-- Exile on Mainstream... B

Digesting:
Steven Delopoulos-- Straightjacket
Lyle Lovett-- It's Not Big, It's Large
The National-- Boxer

Lookin' Forward:
Anberlin
Blur
David Bowie
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-- Dig, Lazarus, Dig! (March)
Coldplay (February/March)
Rodney Cowell (produced by Joe Henry)
Death Cab for Cutie (May)
Drive-by Truckers
Bob Dylan-- Anchor (rumored)
Elbow
Emmylou Harris
Peter Gabriel-- i/o
Gnarls Barkley
Malcolm Holcombe-- Gamblin' House (January)
The Hold Steady (Spring/summer)
Jolie Holland
The Killers
Stephen Malkmus-- Real Emotional Trash (March)
Aimee Mann-- Smilers (Spring)
Nada Surf-- Lucky (February)
No Doubt
Passengers (U2, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois)
Sam Phillips-- Don't Do Anything (February)
Portishead
Cat Power-- Jukebox (Jan. 23)
The Raconteurs
REM (April 1)
The Roots
Ron Sexsmith (February)
Steely Dan-- Suffice to Say... (Summer)
U2
Loudon Wainwright III-- Recovery
Weezer (March)
Gillian Welch
Woven Hand

Last Update: 12/21

[murlough23]

Top 20:
1. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog A
2. Deas Vail - All the Houses Look the Same A
3. Anberlin - Cities A-
4. Future of Forestry - Twilight B+
5. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago B+
6. The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army B+
7. Falling Up - Captiva B+
8. Plumb - Blink B+
9. Over the Rhine - The Trumpet Child B+
10. Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vols. I & II - Fire & Water B+
11. Eisley - Combinations B+
12. Alter Bridge - Blackbird B+
13. John Reuben - Word of Mouth B+
14. Steven Delopoulos - Straightjacket B+
15. Mae - Singularity B
16. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky B
17. Radiohead - In Rainbows B
18. Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean B
19. Wavorly - Conquering the Fear of Flight B
20. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank B

Honorable Mention:
21. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible B
22. Jars of Clay - Christmas Songs B-
23. Caedmon's Call - Overdressed B-
24. Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell B-
25. Lifehouse - Who We Are B-
26. Fauxliage - Fauxliage B-
27. Feist - The Reminder B-
28. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter B-
29. The New Pornographers - Challengers B-
30. Relient K - Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer B-

The Rest:
Fono - Too Broken to Break B-
Sara Groves - Tell Me What You Know B-
Björk - Volta B-
Chris Rice - What a Heart Is Beating For B-
Tree63 - Sunday! B-
Project 86 - Rival Factions B-
Heath McNease - The Heath McNease Fanclub Meets Tonight B-
Joe Henry - Civilians B-
Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Men C+
Luna Halo - Luna Halo C+
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic C+
David Crowder Band - Remedy C+
Fiction Plane - Left Side of the Brain C+
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light C+
Toby Mac - Portable Sounds C+
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away C+
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha C+
Andrea Corr - Ten Feet High C+
Collective Soul - Afterwords C+
Tim Hughes - Holding Nothing Back C+
Casting Crowns - The Altar and the Door C+
Steven Curtis Chapman - This Moment C
Bethany Dillon - Waking Up C
Norah Jones - Not Too Late C
The Innocence Mission - We Walked in Song C

Dishonorable Mention:
13. Chevelle - Vena Sera C-
12. Maroon5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long C-
11. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight C-
10. 12 Stones - Anthem for the Underdog C-
9. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos C-
8. Corrinne May - Beautiful Seed D+
7. The Fiery Furnaces - Widow City D+
6. Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura D+
5. Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home D+
4. Kevin Max - The Blood D
3. Newsboys - Go Remixed D-
2. Building 429 - Iris to Iris F+
1. Joseph Arthur - Let's Just Be F

Compilations/EPs/Singles:
The Myriad - Prelude to Arrows EP B+
Blindside - The Black Rose EP B
Matchbox Twenty - Exile on Mainstream B-
Third Day - Chronology, Vol. 1 B-
Jars of Clay - Live Monsters EP B-
Sigur Rós - Hvarf-Heim C+
Anberlin - Lost Songs C+
Steven Delopoulos - Work to Be Done EP C+
Grey Holiday - The Glorious Revolution EP C
Cool Hand Luke - The Balancing Act D+
Third Day - Chronology, Vol. 2 D+

Still Interested in Hearing:
America - Here & Now
Sarah Masen - Magic That Works EP
Sarah Masen - A History of Lights and Shadows EP
Sarah Masen - Woman's Work Is Alchemy EP
Abra Moore - On the Way

Looking Back:
2006 Music Journal
2005 Music Journal
2004 Music Journal
2003 Music Journal
1991-2002 Music Journals

(Last Update: 12/4/09)

[NinjaRob17]

Top 10
1. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero (A-)
2. Anberlin - Cities (A-)
3. The White Stripes - Icky Thump (A-)
4. As Cities Burn - Come Now Sleep (A-)
5. Neon Horse - Neon Horse (A-)
6. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (A-)
7. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (B+)
8. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare (B+)
9. The Brothers Martin - The Brothers Martin (B+)
10. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (B+)

I Liked It
Deas Vail - All the Houses Look the Same (B+)
John Reuben - Word of Mouth (B+)
Project 86 - Rival Factions (B+)
The Chariot - The Fiancee  (B+)
Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell (B+)

I Was OK With It
Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago (B)
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (B)
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - II (B)
Demon Hunter - Storm the Gates of Hell (B)
Silverchair - Young Modern (B)
Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends (B)
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (B)
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - All the Love You Need (B)
Sherwood - A Different Light (B)
The Wedding - Polarity (B)
Joy Electric - The Otherly Opus (B)
Chasing Victory - Fiends (B)
Future of Forestry - Twilight (B)
The Almost - Southern Weather (B)
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away (B)
Amber Pacific - Truth In Sincerity (B)
Flatfoot 56 - Jungle of the Midwest Sea (B)
Red Cloud - Hawthorne's Most Wanted (B)
Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean (B)
The Fold - Secrets Keep You Sick  (B)
Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura (B-)
David Crowder Band - Remedy (B-)
Chevelle - Vena Sera (B-)
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad (B-)
Everyday Sunday - Wake Up! Wake Up! (B-)
Group 1 Crew - Group 1 Crew (B-)
This Beautiful Republic - Even Heroes Need A Parachute (B-)
Until June - Until June (B-)
High Flight Society - High Flight Society (C+)

I Did Not Like It
Bear Colony - We Came Here To Die (C)
Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight (C)
Toby Mac - Portable Sounds (C-)
Jason Gray - All the Lovely Losers (C-)
Jackson Waters - Come Undone (C-)
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High (D+)

EPs, Live Albums, Cover Albums, etc.
Daft Punk - Alive 2007 (B+)
Derek Webb - One Zero (Acoustic) (C)
Newsboys - Go Remixed (C-)
Derek Webb - One Zero (Remix) (D)

Digesting:
Swimfail - Self-Centered Tales From The Project That Failed
Theory Hazit - Hip Hop For Dummies 2007
Deal's Gone Bad - The Ramblers
Megadeth - United Abominations
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Medium Rare
Norah Jones - Not Too Late
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Wax Audio - Mashopolos
Tomahawk - Anonymous
Sp00n - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Panda Bear - Person Pitch

[plvarona]

Updated 7/25/2010

(* denotes an album I have heard in its entirety, but do not own.)

Top 10 (so far):
1. Over The Rhine: The Trumpet Child (A) (Full stream available on their website: Link)
2. Steven Delopoulos: Straightjacket (A)
3. Iron and Wine: The Shepherd's Dog (A)
4. Monarch: Lowly (A)
5. Anberlin: Cities (A)
6. Deas Vail: All The Houses Look The Same (A-)
7. Patty Griffin: Children Running Through (A-)
8. Derek Webb: The Ringing Bell (A-)
9. Caedmon's Call: Overdressed (A-)
10. Wavorly: Conquering The Fear of Flight (A-)

Honorable Mention:
11. Eisley: Combinations (B+)
12. John Reuben: Word of Mouth (B+)
13. Relient K: Five Score and Seven Years Ago (B+)
14. Future of Forestry: Twilight (B+)
15. Sara Groves: Tell Me What You Know (B+)
16. Lost Ocean: self-titled (B+)
17. Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (B+)
18. Ryan Ferguson: Only Trying to Help (B+) (Full album streaming on his Last FM page: Link)
19. Chris Rice: What a Heart is Beating For (B+)
20. Luna Halo: self-titled (B )
21. The Rocket Summer: Do You Feel (B )
22. NEEDTOBREATHE: The Heat (B )
23. Kevin Max: The Blood (B )
24. Ingram Hill: Cold in California (B )
25. The Shins: Wincing The Night Away (*) (B )
26. Bethany Dillon: Waking Up (B )
27. Chevelle: Vena Sera (B )

Mild Recommendations:
John Mellencamp: Freedom's Road (*) (B-)
Mae: Singularity (B-)
Half Past Forever: Take a Chance on Something Beautiful (B-)
Graham Colton: Here Right Now (B-)
Everyday Sunday: Wake Up!  Wake Up! (*) (C+) (Link to full clips of entire album)
Dustin Kensrue: Please Come Home (*) (C+) (Link to Myspace page - has entire album on it)

Nah:
This Beautiful Republic: Even Heroes Need a Parachute (C )
Jennifer Lopez: Como Ama Una Mujer (*) (C )
Until June: self-titled (*) (C-)
Article One: self-titled (*) (D+) (Link to full clips of entire album)

Greatest Hits, Live Albums, EPs, etc.:
The Myriad: Prelude to Arrows EP (A-)
Steven Delopoulos: Work to Be Done EP (B+)
Jars of Clay: Live Monsters EP (B )
Jars of Clay: Christmas Songs (B )
Cool Hand Luke: The Balancing Act (B-)
Anberlin: Lost Songs (B-)
Derek Webb: One Zero (Acoustic) (C )

Currently Digesting:
---

Current Releases I Plan to Check Out:
Kendall Payne: Paper Skin

Current Releases That Somewhat Intrigue Me:
Brothers Martin: self-titled
David Crowder Band: Remedy
Mike Farris: Salvation In Lights
Flatfoot 56: Jungle of the Midwest Sea
Moses Mayfield: The Inside
Plumb: Blink
Project 86: Rival Factions
Thrice: The Alchemy Index, Vol. I & II - Fire & Water

Will Check Out - if I'm Feeling Particularly Masochistic:
BarlowGirl: How Can We Be Silent
Building 429: Iris to Iris
Casting Crowns: The Altar and the Door
Echoing Angels: You Alone
Group 1 Crew: self-titled
Jackson Waters: Come Undone
PureNRG: self-titled

[murlough23]

Burlap to Cashmere
Caedmon's Call
John Reuben
Rachael Lampa
Mae
Derek Webb
Everyday Sunday
Luna Halo: Crash and Burn

I'll have to add these to my list. What's your source on Burlap to Cashmere?

Oh, and I think the Luna Halo album title is Crush and Burn, or at least it was a year ago when the release was planned for early '06.

[bloop]

Best of 2007
Buy It!
1  In Rainbows, Radiohead (9.5)
2  The Shepherd's Dog, Iron & Wine (9.5)
3  Boxer, The National (9.5)
4  Person Pitch, Panda Bear (9.5)
5  Civilians, Joe Henry (9.5)
6  The Trumpet Child, Over the Rhine (9.0)
7  Untrue, Burial (9.0)
8  Icky Thump, The White Stripes (9.0)
9  Children Running Through, Patty Griffin (9.0)
10 Neon Bible, The Arcade Fire (8.5)
11 The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, Josh Ritter (8.5)
12 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, S p o o n (8.5)
13 Marry Me, St. Vincent (8.5)
14 All the Houses Look the Same, Deas Vail (8.5)
15 The Stage Names, Okkervil River (8.5)
16 Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, Of Montreal (8.5)
17 Straightjacket, Steven Delopoulos (8.5)
18 Drums and Guns, Low (8.5)
19 Sky Blue Sky, Wilco (8.0)
20 The Reminder, Feist (8.0)
21 Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem (8.0)
22 Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (8.0)
23 Cryptograms, Deerhunter (8.0)
24 The Flying Club Cup, Beirut (8.0)
25 Atlantis:  Hymns for Disco, K-OS (8.0)
26 Strawberry Jam, Animal Collective (8.0)
27 Challengers, The New Pornographers (8.0)
28 And Their Refinement Of The Decline, Stars of the Lid (8.0)
29 Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters, The Twilight Sad (8.0)
30 Favourite Worst Nightmare, Arctic Monkeys (8.0)
31 Friend and Foe, Menomena (8.0)
32 Friend EP, Grizzly Bear (8.0)
33 Liars, Liars (8.0)
34 Chanson Du Vieux Carre, Harry Connick, Jr. (8.0)
35 The Armchair Apocrypha, Andrew Bird (8.0)
36 Rainbow, Boris with Michio Kurihara (8.0)
37 Fear of a Blank Planet, Porcupine Tree (8.0)
38 Play it as it Lays, Patti Scialfa (8.0)

Try It
39 We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse (7.5)
40 Trees Outside the Academy, Thurston Moore (7.5)
41 There Will Be Blood OST, Jonny Greenwood (7.5)
42 Tones of Town, Field Music (7.5)
43 Wizard of Ahhhs, Black Kids (7.5)
44 American Gangster, Jay-Z (7.5)
45 Beyond, Dinosaur Jr. (7.5)
46 Night Drive, Chromatics
47 Magic, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band (7.5)
48 Neon Horse, Neon Horse (7.5)
49 Five Score and Seven Years Ago, Relient K (7.5)
50 Transparent Things, Fujiya & Miyagi (7.5)
51 Spiderman Of The Rings, Dan Deacon (7.5)
52 Beauty & Crime, Suzanne Vega (7.5)
53 Myth Takes, !!! (7.5)
54 Walk Hard:  The Dewey Cox Story OST (7.5)
55 Year Zero, Nine Inch Nails (7.5)
56 Fall EP, Jon Foreman (7.5)
57 From Here We Go Sublime, The Field (7.5)
58 8, Supersilent (7.5)
59 Oh, My Nola, Harry Connick, Jr. (7.5)
60 Copia, Eluvium (7.5)
61 Wincing the Night Away, The Shins (7.0)
62 Friend Opportunity, Deerhoof (7.0)
63 Cities, Anberlin (7.0)
64 Cassadaga, Bright Eyes (7.0)
65 The Brothers Martin, The Brothers Martin (7.0)
66 Mirrored, Battles (7.0)
67 Fauxliage, Fauxliage (7.0)
68 Hey Venus!, Super Furry Animals (7.0)
69 The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, Saul Williams (7.0)
70 It's a Bit Complicated, Art Brut
71 Teenager, The Thrills (7.0)
72 Hvarf-Heim, Sigur Ros (7.0)
73 Widow City, The Fiery Furnaces (7.0)
74 Volta, Bjork (6.5)
75 We Walked in Song, The Innocence Mission (6.5)
76 Writer's Block, Peter, Bjorn & John (6.5)
77 Era Vulgaris, Queens of the Stone Age (6.5)
78 Zeitgeist, Smashing Pumpkins (6.5)
79 Leaves You Puzzled, At the Close of Every Day (6.5)
80 Graduation, Kanye West (6.5)
81 This Bliss, Pantha Du Prince (6.5)
82 Kala, M.I.A. (6.5)
83 The Alchemy Index, Vols. I & II - Fire & Water, Thrice (6.5)
84 Secret Weapon, MxPx (6.5)
85 Combinations, Eisley (6.5)
86 Singularity, Mae (6.5)
87 Curses, Future of the Left (6.5)
88 Our Love to Admire, Interpol (6.5)
89 I'll Sleep When You're Dead, El-P (6.5)
90 Word of Mouth, John Reuben (6.5)
91 Chase This Light, Jimmy Eat World (6.5)
92 Twilight, Future of Forestry (6.5)
93 Tell Me What You Know, Sara Groves (6.5)
94 Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood (6.5)

Be Warned
Some Loud Thunder, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (6.0)
Not Too Late, Norah Jones (5.5)
The Walk, Hanson (6.0)
West, Lucinda Williams (5.5)
My December, Kelly Clarkson (5.0)
White Chalk, PJ Harvey (5.5)
Drastic Fantastic, KT Tunstall (6.0)
Planet Earth, Prince (6.0)
Blackout, Britney Spears (5.0)
Audio Daydream, Blake Lewis (5.0)
Jordin Sparks, Jordin Sparks (5.0)
Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace, Foo Fighters (6.0)
Riot!, Paramore (5.5)

Don't Even Bother
True Magic, Mos Def (4.5)
Take a Chance on Something Beautiful, Half Past Forever (4.0)
Mtv Unplugged, Korn (3.5)
Minutes to Midnight, Linkin Park (3.5)
The Yearbook, KJ-52 (2.0)
How Can We Be Silent?, Barlow Girl (2.5)
Eat Me, Drink Me, Marilyn Manson (3.5)
This Moment, Steven Curtis Chapman (4.5)

Hey, You Cheated! (Live albums, cover albums, compilations and such)
I'm Not There, Various Artists (9.5)
Mothership, Led Zeppelin (9.0)
Live From Nowhere Vol. 2, Over the Rhine (8.5)
Death Proof OST (8.5)
Christmas Songs, Jars of Clay (7.5)
Planet Terror OST (7.0)

Digesting
An End Has a Start, Editors
Catch the Brass Ring, Ferraby Lionheart

DON'T EVEN BOTHER:
0.0: Not one redeeming characteristic (F)
0.5-1.5: Painful (F)
2.0-2.5: Terrible (F)
3.0-3.5: Poor  (F)
4.0-4.5: Nearing average (D)

BE WARNED:
5.0: Average  (C-)
5.5: Slightly above average (C )
6.0: Pretty Good; serious flaws (C+)

TRY IT:
6.5: Solid; detracting problems (B-)
7.0: Good; well above average (B )
7.5: Impressive; few major reservations (B+)

BUY IT:
8.0: Excellent; repeated listens suggested (A-)
8.5: Exceptional; repeated listens demanded (A)
9.0-9.5: Great; Very few, if any, notable flaws (A+)
10.0: Essential; Among the best of all time (A++)

updated 2/16/08

[Brenden]

Top 15
1. Iron & Wine - The Sheperd's Dog - A
2. Over The Rhine - The Trumpet Child - A
3. Low - Drums And Guns - A
4. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - A
5. Bogs Visionary Orchestra - Maladroits Union - A
6. Anberlin - Cities - A-
7. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter - A-
8. Steven Delopoulos - Straightjacket - A-
9. Martin Sexton - Seeds - A-
10. The White Stripes - Icky Thump - A-
11. Loudon Wainwright III - Strange Wierdos - A-
12. The New Pornographers - Challengers - A-
13. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha - A-
14. Spoo-n - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - A-
15. Over the Rhine - Live From Nowhere vol. 2 - A-

Special Cases
Over The Rhine - Discount Fireworks - A-
Steven Delopoulos - Work To Be Done EP - A-
Jars Of Clay - Christmas Songs - B
Andrew Osenga - Letters To The Editor, Vol. 1 EP - B
Jars Of Clay - Live Monsters EP - B
Blindside - The Black Rose EP - B-
Love Like Fire - An Ocean In The Air - B-

Honorable Mentions: The Good
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through - A-
Joni Mitchell - Shine - B+
Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars - B+
Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara - B+
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - B+
Alli Rogers - At Sea - B+
Neon Horse - Neon Horse - B+
Project 86 - Rival Factions - B+
Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell - B+
Jill Scott - Collaborations - B+
John Reuben - Word Of Mouth - B+
Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold - B
LCD Soundsystem - Sounds Of Silver - B
Fionn Regan - The End Of History - B
Brandi Carlisle - The Story - B
Caedmon's Call - Overdressed - B
Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band - Magic - B
Page France- ...And The Family Telephone - B
Future Of Forestry - Twilight - B
The Brothers Martin - The Brothers Martin - B
Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic And Weather - B
Silverchair - Young Modern - B
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero - B
!!! - Myth Takes - B

The Decent
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - B-
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - B-
Mae - Singularity - B-
Arctic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare - B-
Kanye West - Graduation - B-
Bright Eyes - Cassadega - B-
Joy Electric - The Otherly Opus - B-
One Republic - Dreaming Out Loud - B-
Hanson - The Walk - B-
Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean - B-
Eisley - Combinations - C+
Falling Up - Captiva - C+
Relient K - Five Score And Seven Years Ago - C+
Fauxliage - Fauxliage - C+

The Ugly
Vanessa Carlton - Heroes & Theives - C
Derek Webb - One Zero: Remix - C
Kelly Clarkson - My December - C
Chevelle - Vena Sera - C
Naked Lunch - This Atom Heart Of Ours - C
Kids In the Way - Love Hate Masquerade - C
Derek Webb - One Zero: Acoustic - C-
Maria Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower - C-
The Good, The Bad, And The Queen - The Good, The Bad, And The Queen - C-
Plain White T's - Every Second Counts - C-
Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long - C-
Mandy Moore - Wild Hope - C-
Lifehouse - Who We Are - D+
Half Past Forever - Take A Chance On Something Beautiful - D+
Joseph Arthur - Let's Just Be - D

Digesting

Luna Halo - Luna Halo
David Crowder Band - The Remedy
Fono - Too Broken To Break
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Perishers - Victorious
Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Vols. I & II - Fire & Water
Britney Spears - Blackout

[schilleriana]

favorites:
Ferraby Lionheart - Self-Titled EP
Ferraby Lionheart - Catch the Brass Ring
Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge

also liked a lot, at least some songs:
Bright Eyes - Four Winds EP
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Over the Rhine - The Trumpet Child
Over the Rhine - Live From Nowhere vol. 2
The Brunettes - Structure and Cosmetics
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife*

liked somewhat, at least some songs:
Willy Mason - If The Ocean Gets Rough
Fionn Regan - The End of History
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Cat Power - The Greatest
Melissa Ferrick - In the Eyes of Strangers*

set aside:
Norah Jones - Not Too Late
Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara

still haven't gotten around to giving a decent listen:
Rosie Thomas - These Friends of Mine
Feist - The Reminder
Joe Henry - Civilians

*2006 album but discovered in 2007 and worthy noting in my list.

[worldofcm]

LLast Updated:  11/07

The Running Top 10
1.  Mike Farris, Salvation In Lights - A+
2.  Sara Groves, Tell Me What You Know - A+
3.  Ron Block, DoorWay - A
4.  The Rocket Summer, Do You Feel - A
5.  Jon McLaughlin, Indiana - A
6.  Michael W. Smith, It's a Wonderful Christmas - A
7.  Relient K, Five Score and Seven Years Ago - A
8.  David Crowder Band, The Remedy - A
9.  Jars of Clay, Christmas Songs - A
10.  NEEDTOBREATHE, The Heat - A

Still Lovin' it...
Phil Wickham, Cannons - A
Karen Peck & New River, Journey of Joy - A
The Isaacs, Big Sky - A
Anberlin, Cities - A-
Robbie Seay Band, Give Yourself Away - A-
Chris Rice, What a Heart Is Beating For - A-
John Reuben, Word of Mouth - A-
Neon Horse, Neon Horse - A-
After Edmund, Hello - A-
Andrew Peterson & Randall Goodgame, Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies - A-
Nate Sallie, Ruined For Ordinary - A-
Matt Wertz, Everything In Between - A-
Tree63, Sunday! - A-
Shane & Shane, Pages - A-
Ronnie Freeman, God Speaking - A-
Jason Gray, All the Lovely Losers - A-
Derek Webb, The Ringing Bell - A-
Michael O'Brien, Something About Us - A-
Steven Delopoulos, Work to Be Done EP - A-
John Waller, The Blessing - B+
Tim McGraw, Let It Go - B+
Caedmon's Call, Overdressed - B+
Until June, Until June - B+
Britt Nicole, Say It - B+
Sevenglory, Atmosphere - B+
Bethany Dillon, Waking Up - B+
All Star United, Love & Radiation - B+
Hope's Call, Live to Love - B+
Future of Forestry, Twilight - B+
Jeff & Sheri Easter, Life Is Great and Getting Better - B+
CrossWay, A Beautiful Thing - B+
Bebo Norman, Christmas...From the Realms of Glory - B+
Sandi Patty, Falling Forward - B+
Wavorly, Conquering the Fear of Flight - B
Grey Holiday, Glorious Revolution - B
Fauxliage, Fauxliage - B
LeFevre Quartet, Total Praise - B
Jake Smith, Real - B
Heath McNease, The Heath McNease Fan Club Meets Tonight - B
Pocket Full of Rocks, Manifesto - B
Vicky Beeching, Painting the Invisible - B
Nichole Nordeman, Recollection - B
Jackson Waters, Come Undone - B
Brian Free & Assurance, Real Faith - B
Steven Curtis Chapman, This Moment - B
Point of Grace, How You Live - B
33Miles, 33Miles - B
Hello Kelly, Green Things Grow EP - B
Fee, Burn For You - B
Mainstay, Become Who You Are - B
Various Artists, Glory Revealed - B-
J Moss, V2 - B-
Todd Agnew, Better Questions - B-
Toby Mac, Portable Sounds - B-
Austins Bridge, Austins Bridge - B-
Aaron & Amanda Crabb, After the Rain - B-

Take It or Leave It...
Mark Roach, Every Reason Why - C+
Mandisa, True Beauty - C+
Nicole C. Mullen, Sharecroppers Seed, Vol. 1 - C+
JBIF, Possibilities - C+
Monk & Neagle, The Twenty-First Time - C+
Dizmas, Tension - C+
Michael Olson, Where Fear & Faith Collide - C+
The Send, Cosmos - C+
JoAnn Rosario, Joyous Salvation - C+
Group 1 Crew, Group 1 Crew - C+
Joel Engle, I Believe In You - C+
Daniel Kirkley, Let Love Win - C+
Story Side:B, We Are Not Alone - C+
Shawn McDonald, Shattered Pieces: Live - C
David Phelps, No More Night: Live - C
Aaron Shust, Whispered & Shouted - C
Newsboys, Go Remixed - C
Various Artists, Amazing Grace - C
Our Heroes Heart, Our Heroes Heart - C-
This Beautiful Republic, Even Heroes Need a Parachute - C-
Audio Adrenaline, Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Performance - C-
Paul Wright, Wright or Wrong These Songs Are Paul's - C-
Nate Huss, Here With Me - C-
Geoff Moore, Speak to Me - C-
Michael Neale, No Greater Audience - C-
Connersvine, Connersvine - C-
Rebecca St. James, aLIVE in Florida - C-
pureNRG, pureNRG - C-
Article One, AO - C-
Crabb Family, Letting Go - C-
Israel & New Breed, A Deeper Level - C-
Rush of Fools, Rush of Fools - C-

Let's Not Go There...
Plumb, Blink - D+
Jump5, Hello & Goodbye - D+
Third Day, Chronology Vol. 2 - D+
dc talk, Greatest Hits - D+
Jeff Deyo, Unveil - D+
High Flight Society, High Flight Society - D+
Tim Hughes, Holding Nothing Back - D+
Everyday Sunday, Wake Up! Wake Up! - D+
Stacie Orrico, Beautiful Awakening - D+
Casting Crowns, The Altar & the Door - D+
Mark Harris, Windows & Walls - D+
Half Past Forever, Take a Chance On Something Beautiful - D+
Echoing Angels, You Alone - D
Jeremy Riddle, Full Attention - D
Flatfoot56, Jungle of the Midwest Sea - D
BarlowGirl, How Can We Be Silent - D
Seventh Day Slumber, Finally Awake - D-
Building 429, Iris to Iris - D-

Currently Digesting...
A Dream Too Late, Intermission to the Moon
Aly & AJ, Insomniac
Brian Smith, Love Letter
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride
Cry of the Afflicted, The Unveiling
David Phelps, One Winter Night
Everyday Driven, Everyday Driven
Falling Up, Captiva
FFH, Worship In the Waiting
Kevin Max, The Blood
KJ-52, Yearbook
MercyMe, All That Is Within Me
Oceans Above, Oceans Above
Perrys, Look No Further
playradioplay, The Frequency EP
Robin Mark, East of the River
Ruth, Secondhand Dreaming
Thousand Foot Krutch, A Flame In All of Us
TK & McRae, When He Said Live
V3, V3
Various Artists, Bethlehem Skyline
Various Artists, Please Don't Make Us Sing This Song: Songs From The Voice, Vol. 1
Various Artists, Son of the Most High: Songs From The Voice, Vol. 2

Anticipating...
Anberlin, Lost Songs
Bebo Norman, Great Light of the World: The Best of Bebo Norman
Between the Trees, The Story & the Song
By the Tree, Beautiful One: The Best of By the Tree
CeCe Winans, Kingdom
Chris Rice, Peace Like a River
Eleventyseven, Galactic Conquest
Gordon Mote, Don't Let Me Miss the Glory
Inhabited, Love
Jars of Clay, Live Monsters
Kids In the Way, A Love Hate Masquerade
Mandy Moore, Wild Hope
Seven Places, Glowing
The Almost., Southern Weather
Third Day, Chronology Vol. 1
Tonex, Stereotype
Yolanda Adams, What a Wonderful Time

[Josh Powell]

 No order, no method... just likes and dislikes. I’m too lazy to do anything else after trying it for a short while with only a couple albums. =) Don’t be surprised if albums change groups a couple times.


I dig (a lot): “I’d buy these.”
Patty Griffin – Children Running Through
The Brothers Martin – The Brothers Martin
Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago
John Reuben – Word of Mouth
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Anberlin – Cities
The Innocence Mission – We Walked In Song
Derek Webb – The Ringing Bell
Over the Rhine – Live From Nowhere vol. 2
Over the Rhine – The Trumpet Child
Neon Horse – Neon Horse
August Burns Red – Messengers
Epica – The Divine Conspiracy
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – This Is Somewhere
Gregory and the Hawk – In Your Dreams
Honeyroot – The Sun Will Come
Kula Shaker – Strangefolk
L.A. Symphony – Unleashed
Terrene – The Indifferent Universe
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
Figurines – When the Deer Wore Blue
Page France – …and the Family Telephone
Eisley – Combinations
Cocorosie – The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn
Fauxliage – Fauxliage
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Joe Henry – Civilians
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Is Is EP
The Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
Forever Like Red – Distance
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton – What Is Free to a Good Home?
Love Like Fire – An Ocean In The Air
Bruce Springsteen – Magic
Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
David Crowder Band – Remedy


I dig (somewhere between the other two): “I’d likely buy [most of] these too if I could catch them on sale.”
Future of Forestry – Twilight
Cool Hand Luke – The Balancing Act
Mae – Singularity
Travis – The Boy With No Name
The Almost – Southern Weather
Fiest – The Reminder
A Fine Frenzy – One Cell In The Sea
Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
MxPx – Secret Weapon
Sixnationstate – Sixnationstate
The Orange Lights – Life Is Still Beautiful
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Asteroid – Asteroid
Bringing Down Broadway – It’s All Gone South
Wesley Jensen – Pirates and Cowboys
PInback – Autumn of The Seraphs
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
As Cities Burn – The EP
Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist
Against Me! – New Wave
Blindside – The Black Rose EP
Over the Rhine – Discount Fireworks
Lovedrug – Everything Starts Where it Ends
José González – In Our Nature
James Blunt – All the Lost Souls
KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic
Kanye West – Graduation
JoAnna James – Back of My Mind EP
Future of the Left – Curses
Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

I dig (somewhat): “I likely wouldn’t pay for these… save a song or two off iTunes.”
 Norah Jones – Not Too Late
Aqualung – Memory Man
Half Past Forever – Take a Chance On Something Beautiful
Paddy Milner – Based on a True Story
Ovum – Under the Lost Sky
Nedelle – The locksmith Cometh
Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
Derek Webb – One Zero (remix)
Kelly Clarkson – My December
Kinski – Down Below It’s Chaos
Making April – Runaway World
No Machine – No Machine EP
Songs Of Green Pheasant – Gyllyng Street
Danny Ross – Introducing Danny Ross! (EP)
Lilly Allen – Alfie EP
Talking Heads – The Collection
The Enemy – We’ll Live and Die in These Towns
Maximo Park – Our Earthly Pleasures
Early Next Year – Catch These Words
Kill The Vultures – Midnight Pine


I don’t:
Maroon 5 – It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
Newsboys – Go Remixed
Shane & Shane – Pages
Prinzhorn Dance School – Prinzhorn Dance School
Kids in the Way – Love Hate Masquerade
50 Cent – Curtis
Green Day – Transmissions


Just plain awful:
Derek Webb – One Zero (Acoustic)
tobyMac – Portable Sounds
Group 1 Crew – Group 1 Crew
Lifehouse – Who We Are
Prince – Planet Earth
12 Stones – Anthem for the Underdog
Pettidee – Resurrections: ...Past, Present and Future...
Eleventyseven – Galactic Conquest
Ben Lee – Ripe
Casting Crowns - The Altar and the Door
Castor Troy – Patience Above


Anticipating:
Edison Glass – Let Go EP
Josh Dies (of Showbread) – Aesthetics of Violence
Eagle Seagull – The Year of the How-To Book
Discover America – EP
The Glorious Unseen – Tonight the Stars Speak
Rob Thomas – Little Wonders
Relient K – New Christmas album
Falling Up – Captivia
Jose Gonzalez – In Our Nature
Demon Hunter – New Album – 11/5/07
Coheed and Cambria – Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow
Nightwish – Dark Passion Play
Plumb – Blink
Alanis Morissette
Blindside
Thrice
Cat Power
No Doubt
Matt Costa
U2
Jimmy Eat World
Gillian Welch
Coldplay



Maybe I can keep this updated. 9/21/07

[murlough23]

Future of Forestry - Twilight (Initial impressions, very good)

Where'd you get it?

[plvarona]

What's your source on Burlap to Cashmere?

Someone on CMC who seems to have a source close to the band posted that Steven is planning to release both a solo CD and a CD with Burlap to Cashmere.  Knowing what I know of this particular person, I don't think he'd make something like that up either, but take this to mean what you will.

[murlough23]

Someone on CMC who seems to have a source close to the band posted that Steven is planning to release both a solo CD and a CD with Burlap to Cashmere.  Knowing what I know of this particular person, I don't think he'd make something like that up either, but take this to mean what you will.

I don't think someone would intentionally make up a rumor like that; I've just seen similar rumors in the past that turned out to be nothing more than Delopoulos and Phillippidis getting together for a one-off live performance or two. This one does sound a little more credible, though, so I'm looking forward to it.

[bdg13disciple]

see if i do any better this year...

digesting
- Stacie Orrico - Beautiful Awakening
- Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
- Echoing Angels - You Alone
- Michael Olson - Where Faith and Fear Collide
- Future of Forestry - Twilight
- Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean
- Group 1 Crew - Group 1 Crew
- Jackson Waters - Come Undone
- Article One - ao
- Various Artists (Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Sara Groves, etc) - Songs from the Voice: Vol 1
- Various Artists (Tyler Burkum, Matt Wertz, Andrew Osenga, etc) - Songs from the Voice: Vol 2
- Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago
- Derek Webb - One Zero [acoustic]
- John Waller - The Blessing
- John Reuben - Word of Mouth
- FFH - Far From Home: The FFH Collection
- Kenny & Amanda Smith Band - Tell Someone

peace... love... bdg...

[cowdude]

Highly Recommended
01. Rock Plaza Central, Are We Not Horses? ... A
02. Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? ... A
03. Okkervil River, The Stage Names ... A-
04. Over The Rhine, The Trumpet Child ... A-
05. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible ... A-
06. Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha ... A-
07. Anberlin, Cities ... A-
08. Handsome Furs, Plauge Park ... A-
09. The National, Boxer ... A-
10. I'm From Barcelona, Let Me Introduce My Friends ... A-
11. The White Stripes, Icky Thump ... A-

Also Recommended
12. Project 86, Rival Factions ... B+
13. Spooon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga ... B+
14. Neon Horse, Neon Horse ... B+
15. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank ... B+
16. Low, Drums & Guns ... B+
17. Relient K, Five Score And Seven Years Ago ... B+
18. August Burns Red, Messengers ... B+
19. The Shins, Wincing The Night Away ... B
20. The Almost, Southern Weather ... B
21. Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight ... B
22. The New Pornographers, Challengers ... B
23. Deerhoof, Friend Opportunity ... B
24. Peter Bjorn & John, Writers Block ... B
25. Lovedrug, Everything Starts Where It Ends ... B
26. Eisley, Combinations ... B
27. Paramore, Riot! ... B-
28. Patty Griffin, Children Running Through ... B-
29. Mae, Singularity ... B-
30. LCD Soundsystem, Sound Of Silver ... B-
31. The Brothers Martin, The Brothers Martin ... B-
32. Brother Ali, The Undisputed Truth ... B-

In Limbo (Not Recommended, But Not Not Recommended)
33. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky ... C+
34. Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero ... C+
35. Lost Ocean, Lost Ocean ... C+
36. Future of Forestry, Twilight ... C+
37. Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City ... C-
38. Chevelle, Vena Sera ... C-

Not Recommended
39. Fall Out Boy, Infinity On High ... D+
40. Linkin Park, Minutes To Midnight ... D-

Digesting
Panda Bear, Person Pitch
The Good, The Bad & The Queen, The Good, The Bad & The Queen
El-P, I'll Sleep When Your Dead
Bright Eyes, Cassadaga
K-OS, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco
Battles, Mirrored
Menomena, Friend and Foe
Papercuts, Can't Go Back
Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
Chasing Victory, Fiends
The Sea And Cake, Everybody
Dntel, Dumb Luck
Immaculate Machine, Fables
Page France, ...And The Family Telephone
Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster, II
Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam


Updated: 9/12/2007

[ajyouthguy]

TOP 30:
1. Shane and Shane--Pages
2. David Crowder Band--Remedy
3. Caedmon's Call--Overdressed
4. Kevin Max--The Blood
5. Steven Delopoulous--Straightjacket
6. Mike Farris--Salvation in Lights
7. Future of Forestry--Twilight
8. Anberlin--Cities
9. Lovedrug--Everything Starts Where It Ends
10. Deas Vail--All the Houses Look the Same
11.  Relient K--Five Score...
12. Derek Webb--The Ringing Bell
13. Mae--Singularity
14. Dustin Kensrue--Please Come Home
15. Needtobreathe--Heat
16. Eisley--Combinations
17. Evoka--Cries from the Castlegate Empire
18.  The Glorious Unseen--Tonight the Stars Speak
19. Ruth--Secondhand Dreaming
20. Group1Crew--Group1Crew
21. Jon McLaughlin--Indiana
22. Lost Ocean--Lost Ocean
23. Wavorly--The Fear of Flight
24. Flatfoot 56--Jungle of the Midwest Sea
25. Project86--Rival Factions
26.The Wedding--Polarity
27. Lifehouse--Who We Are
28. The Almost--Southern Weather
29. Waking Ashland--The Well
30. Jake Smith--Real

Other Types of Albums (EP's, Special albums, etc.) that I liked:
Jon Foreman--Fall EP (EP)
Cool Hand Luke--The Balancing Act (Pseudo-best-of)
Thrice--Alchemy Vol I and II (wasn't sure how to count this one, but it's more like 2 EP's than a full album)
Jars--Christmas Songs (Christmas)
Relient K--Let it Snow...(Christmas)
Plumb--Blink (this is basically a kids album, so i didn't want to count it like a regular one)

Decent:
Kids in the Way--Love Hate Masquerade
LA Symphony--Unleashed
TobyMac--Portable Sounds
John Reuben--Word of Mouth
Derek Webb--OneZero Acoustic
The Showdown--Temptation Come My Way
Jeff Deyo--Unveil
Evan Almighty Soundtrack
After Edmund--Hello
The Rocket Summer--Do You Feel?
SCC--This Moment
Mercy Me--All That Is Within Me
Falling Up--Captiva
Everyday Sunday--Wake Up! Wake Up!

Still Need to Hear:
The Brothers Martin
Over the Rhine - The Trumpet Child

Didn't Personally Care For:
Michael Olson--Where Faith and Fear Collide
Jeremy Riddle--Full Attention
Jason Gray--All the Lovely Losers
Jackson Waters--Come Undone
Echoing Angels--You Alone
Building 429--Iris to Iris
Seventh Day Slumber--Finally Awake
KJ 52--The Yearbook
Joel Engle--I Believe In You
Aaron Shust--Whispered and Shouted
BlesstheFall--BlesstheFall
Mark Roach--Every Reason Why
Point of Grace--How You Live
Eleventyseven--Galactic Conquest
TFK--The Flame In All of Us
Pocket Full of Rocks--Manifesto
Barlowgirl--How Can We Be Silent
Daniel Kirkley--Let Love Win
Until June--Until June
This Beautiful Republic--Even Heroes Need a Parachute

LAST EDIT: JAN 14

[dgp11776]

Top 30
1.  Steven Delopoulos - Straightjacket  9.50
2.  Harry Connick, Jr. - Chanson Du Vieux Carre  9.50
3.  Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago  9.25
4.  Over the Rhine - The Trumpet Child  9.25
5.  Anberlin - Cities  9.25
6.  Sev Statik & DJ Dust - Back to Dust  9.25
7.  Joe Henry - Civilians  9.25
8.  Deas Vail - All the Houses Look the Same  9.25
9.  Mars Ill - Slow Flame  9.25
10.  Future of Forestry - Twilight  9.00
11.  Project 86 - Rival Factions  9.00
12.  Radiohead - In Rainbows  9.00
13.  Jeremy Casella - Recovery  9.00
14.  As Cities Burn - Come Now, Sleep  9.00
15.  Surreal, Braille, and Ohmega Watts - Four Days In Geneva  9.00
16.  The New Pornographers - Challengers  9.00
17.  The White Stripes - Icky Thump  9.00
18  The Brothers Martin - The Brothers Martin  9.00
19.  Wynton Marsalis - From the Plantation to the Penitentiary  8.75
20.  Harry Connick, Jr. - Oh, My Nola  8.75
21.  L.A. Symphony - Unleashed  8.75
22.  Arcade Fire - Neon Bible  8.75
23.  David Crowder Band - Remedy  8.75
24.  Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends  8.75
25.  Patty Griffin - Children Running Through  8.75
26.  Neon Horse - Neon Horse  8.75
27.  Eisley - Combinations  8.50
28.  John Reuben - Word of Mouth  8.50
29.  Heath McNease - The Heath McNease Fan Club Meets Tonight  8.50
30.  The Glorious Unseen - Tonight the Stars Speak  8.50

Also Recommended
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter  8.50
Ohmega Watts - Watts Happening  8.50
Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five  8.50
Immanu El - They'll Come, They Come  8.50
Sullivan - Cover Your Eyes  8.50
The Cinematics - A Strange Education  8.50
The Apathy Eulogy - Beauty For Ashes  8.50
Far-Less - A Toast to Bad Taste  8.25
Fauxliage - Fauxliage  8.25
The Wedding - Polarity  8.25
Radiant - We Hope You Win  8.25
Tegan and Sara - The Con  8.25
Feist - The Reminder  8.25
Weaver at the Loom - I Was Searching and I Found  8.25
Ryan Wilkins - Beautiful Disrepair:  The Edgerton Sessions  8.25
Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible  8.25
Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell  8.25
Tree 63 - Sunday!  8.25
The Dark Romantics - Some Midnight Kissin'  8.25
The Almost - Southern Weather  8.00
Wavorly - Conquering the Fear of Flight  8.00
Transistor Radio - A Legacy Between  8.00
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga  8.00
After Edmund - Hello  8.00
Ajax Starglider - Middle Class Broadcast  8.00
The Snake, The Cross, The Crown - Cotton Teeth  8.00
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away  8.00
Explosions In the Sky - All Of a Sudden I Miss Everyone  8.00
Page France - ...and the Family Telephone  8.00
K-os - Atlantis:  Hymns For Disco  8.00
Between the Trees - The Story and the Song  8.00
Paramore - RIOT!  8.00
Loudon Wainwright III - Strange Weirdos  8.00
Chris Rice - What a Heart Is Beating For  8.00
Caedmon's Call - Overdressed  8.00
Kids In the Way - Love Hate Masquerade  8.00
At the Close of Every Day - Leaves You Puzzled  8.00
Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice  8.00
Jeff Caylor - Okay  8.00
Surrogate - Love Is For the Rich  7.75
Falling Up - Captiva  7.75
Jon McLaughlin - Indiana  7.75
Bethany Dillon - Waking Up  7.75
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha  7.75
Admiral Twin - The Center of the Universe  7.75
Kevin Max - The Blood  7.50
Mike Farris - Salvation In Lights  7.50
MercyMe - With All That I Am  7.50
Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean  7.50
Waking Ashland - The Well  7.50
The Fold - Secrets Keep You Sick  7.50
Sherwood - A Different Light  7.50
MxPx - Secret Weapon  7.50
downhere - Thunder After Lightning  7.50
Kings To You - The Antidote  7.50
This Beautiful Republic - Even Heroes Need a Parachute  7.50
Mae - Singularity  7.50
Miss Vintage - Runways  7.50
Moses Mayfield - The Inside  7.50
Tim Hughes - Holding Nothing Back  7.50
Fono - Too Broken To Break  7.25
Phil Wickham - Cannons  7.25
High Flight Society - High Flight Society  7.25
Needtobreathe - The Heat  7.25
Emery - I'm Only a Man  7.25
Evoka - Cries From the Castlegate Empire  7.25
Circa Survive - On Letting Go  7.25
Kendall Payne - Paper Skin  7.25
The Canvas Waiting - In Search of Beginnings  7.25
Theory Hazit - Extra Credit  7.25
Ruth - Secondhand Dreaming  7.25
Group1Crew - Group1Crew  7.25 
Vicky Beeching - Painting the Invisible  7.25
Cross Movement - HIStory:  Our Place In His Story  7.00
The Contact - Canvas Tears  7.00
Aqualung - Memory Man  7.00
M.I.A. - Kala  7.00
Half Past Forever - Take a Chance On Something Beautiful  7.00
Joy Electric - The Otherly Opus/Memory of Alpha  7.00
Jeremy Riddle - Full Attention  7.00
The Innocence Mission - We Walked In Song  7.00
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga  7.00
Luna Halo - Luna Halo  7.00
Emerald Honor - Emerald Honor  7.00
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic  7.00
TobyMac - Portable Sounds  7.00
Everyday Sunday - Wake Up! Wake Up!  7.00
Chevelle - Vena Sera  7.00
Kelly Clarkson - My December  7.00
Steven Curtis Chapman - This Moment  6.75
Aaron Shust - Whispered and Shouted  6.75
Neal Morse - Songs From the Highway  6.75
The Send - Cosmos  6.50
This Holiday Life - The Beginning of the End of the World  6.50
The Washington Projects - Commanders of the Resistance  6.50
thebandwithnoname - Dying To Be There  6.50
Secondhand Serenade - Awake  6.50
The Vine - Who May Ascend?  6.50
Foreign Oren - Foreign Oren  6.25
Ill Harmonics - Modern Heart Exhibit  6.25
The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel  6.25

Not Recommended
Shane & Shane - Pages  6.00
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us  6.00
Robbie Seay Band - Give Yourself Away  6.00
Lifehouse - Who We Are  6.00
Plumb - Blink  6.00
Aly & AJ - Insomniatic  6.00
Schaeffer - Something Worth Fighting For  6.00
33Miles - 33Miles  6.00
Derek Webb - One Zero (Acoustic)  6.00
Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home  6.00
Bayside - The Walking Wounded  6.00
Norah Jones - Not Too Late  6.00
Britt Nicole - Say It  6.00
Dizmas - Tension  5.75
Athlete - Beyond the Neighborhood  5.50
A Dream Too Late - Intermission To the Moon  5.50
Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long  5.50
Amber Pacific - Truth In Sincerity  5.50
Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion  5.50
Until June - Until June  5.25
Mainstay - Become Who You Are  5.00
eleventyseven - Galactic Conquest  5.00
Jonah33 - The Heart of War  5.00
Building 429 - Iris To Iris  5.00
Parachute Band - Roadmaps and Revelations  4.75
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob  4.75
Jackson Waters - Come Undone  4.50
Crabb Family - Letting Go  4.25
SonsofDay - Fragile People  4.25
Casting Crowns - The Altar and the Door  4.25
Elliott Yamin - Elliott Yamin  4.25
Jeff Deyo - Unveil  4.00
Oceans Above - Oceans Above  4.00
Tyler Read - Only Rock and Roll Can Save Us Now  4.00
The Frames - The Cost  4.00
BarlowGirl - How Can We Be Silent  4.00
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High  4.00
Stacie Orrico - Beautiful Awakening  4.00
Jake Smith - Real  3.75
Tokyo Rose - The Promise In Compromise  3.50
Katharine McPhee - Katharine McPhee  3.00
Echoing Angels - You Alone - 2.00

Greatest Hits, Live Albums, EP's, Reissues, etc.
Jon Foreman - Fall EP  9.25
Over the Rhine - Live From Nowhere Volume 2  9.25
Third Day - Chronology Volume 1  9.25
Edison Glass - Let Go EP  9.00
The Reign of Kindo - The Reign of Kindo EP  9.00
Sleeptalker - Simplify, Simplify EP  9.00
Love Like Fire - An Ocean In the Air EP  8.75
Jars of Clay - Live Monsters EP  8.75
The Classic Crime - Acoustic Seattle Sessions EP  8.50
The Myriad - Prelude To Arrows EP  8.50
Copeland - Dressed Up & In Line  8.50
Anchor and Braille - Sound Asleep 7"  8.50
Blindside - The Black Rose EP  8.25
Steven Delopoulos - Work To Be Done EP  8.25
There For Tomorrow - Pages EP  8.00
Pomegranates - Two Eyes EP  8.00
Family Force 5 - Business Up Front/Party In the Back (Diamond Edition)  8.00
Othello & DJ Manwell - The Rain System EP  7.75
Project 86 - The Kane Mutiny EP  7.50
MercyMe - Coming Up To Breathe Acoustic  7.00
Everett - Destination EP  7.00
Cool Hand Luke - The Balancing Act  6.50
Various Artists - We All Love Ella:  A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald  6.25
Umbrellas - Beach Front Property EP  6.00
Newsboys - Go Remixed  6.00
The Send - Send EP  6.00
Ruth - Ruth EP  5.50
Forever the Sickest Kids - Television Off, Party On EP  5.00
PlayRadioPlay! - The Frequency EP  5.00
The Spill Canvas - Denial Feels So Good EP  5.00
Hello Kelly - Green Things Grow EP  4.00

Christmas Albums
Relient K - Let It Snow, Baby...Let It Reindeer  8.50
Josh Groban - Noel  8.25
Michael W. Smith - It's a Wonderful Christmas  8.00
Bebo Norman - Christmas From the Realms of Glory  7.25
Jars of Clay - Christmas Songs  7.00
David Phelps - One Winter Night  6.00

Last Updated:  1/17/08 (Graded Admiral Twin and This Holiday Life)

[dgp11776]

- Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago
- John Reuben - Word of Mouth

In order:
1.  Extremely jealous
2.  Quite jealous

[TheWanderer]

Top 10:

1. K-OS - Atlantis: Hymns for Disco  9.8
2. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago 9.2
3. Anberlin - Cities 8.9
4. The Brothers Martin - The Brothers Martin 8.9
5. Ron Sexsmith - Time Being - 8.8
6. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha 8.5
7. Future of Forestry - 7.5
8.
9.
10.



Digesting:


Eagerly Anticipating:
Maximo Park (no title yet)
Jimmy Eat World
Joseph Arthur - Abwoon (late 07)
Joseph Arthur - Let's Just Be (April 17)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Feb/March)
Gang of Four
Iron & Wine (August)
The New Pornographers (Summer 07)
Smashing Pumpkins (reunited at last)
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (March 6th)
Son Volt - The Search (March 6th)
Over The Rhine
Kevin Max
Steven Deloupoulos
Shane & Shane
Blindside
Flynn (February)
Phil Keaggy - Dream Again (Jan. 30)

Interested to hear:

Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy (March 6)
Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening? (May 8 )

Automatic trash compactor material:
Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival (March 9)


Edited on 3/6

[ewok20t3]

2007 Favorites
1. Anberlin - Cities - A
2. Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home - B
3. The Showdown - Temptation Come My Way - B
4. Maylene & The Sons of Disaster - B-
5. Haste The Day - Pressure The Hinges - B-
6. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago - B-
7. Life In Your Way - Waking Giants - B-
8. Comeback Kid - ...Broadcasting - B-

Anticipating :
Blindside
Project 86
Mae
U2
Luna Halo
Thrice
Lifehouse
Nine Inch Nails
Marilyn Manson
Smashing Pumpkins
Radiohead
Becoming The Archetype
Cry Of The Afflicted
August Burns Red
As I Lay Dying
Avenged Sevenfold
Burlap To Cashmere
Derek Webb
As Cities Burn
Chevelle
Evans Blue
Still Remains
Metallica
Pete Stewart
The Devil Wears Prada

Not sure if I'll buy these or not:
Linkin Park
Green Day
Guns N Roses
Korn
Velvet Revolver
Megadeth
HellYeah

Hopefully these will record albums!:
The Police
Rage Against The Machine

[dgp11776]

Digesting:
The Frames-- The Cost

So, Josh, do you need me to wake you up yet?  If you don't like recent stuff by Coldplay, certainly you're attempting to dig your ears out with a screwdriver after this one.

[Josh]

So, Josh, do you need me to wake you up yet?  If you don't like recent stuff by Coldplay, certainly you're attempting to dig your ears out with a screwdriver after this one.

Heh... I figured you'd say something, knowing that you dislike The Frames but do enjoy Coldplay. But believe it or not, I think The Cost is a fairly good record-- at least after a single listen-- and will try to explain why later. It's not going to make my year-end list or anything, but I actually find myself enjoying it much more than Coldplay's last record.

[dgp11776]

Heh... I figured you'd say something, knowing that you dislike The Frames but do enjoy Coldplay. But believe it or not, I think The Cost is a fairly good record-- at least after a single listen-- and will try to explain why later. It's not going to make my year-end list or anything, but I actually find myself enjoying it much more than Coldplay's last record.

Sheesh.  I thought you would be laughing hysterically at the cornball lyrics and predictable build of every.single.song.

[Josh]

Sheesh.  I thought you would be laughing hysterically at the cornball lyrics and predictable build of every.single.song.

The songs are indeed formulaic, and it becomes monotonous, but, as far as this particular formula goes, The Frames do it better than most. And I actually like the lyrics thus far, but I haven't spent too much time with them yet...

[danny316]

These are on a scale of 1 to 5, and again, 5 is only for absolute classics.
updated Oct/07
Own:
The Shepard's Dog, Iron and Wine 4.5
The Trumpet Child, Over the Rhine 4.5
In Rainbows, Radiohead 4
Live From Nowhere, Vol. 2, Over the Rhine 4
LA Symphony 4 (spacing on the name here, but it's waaay better than Kanye's latest)
Five Score and Seven Years Ago, Relient K 4
Christmas Songs, Jars of Clay 3.75
Neon Bible, The Arcade Fire 3.4
Drastic Fantastic, KT Tunstall, 3.2

Need:
Combinations, Eisley 4

Heard and Enjoyed:
Children Running Through, Patty Griffin   4.1
Sound of Silver LCD Soundsystem 3.5
Discount Fireworks, Over the Rhine 3
The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse, The Besnard Lakes 3
From the Plantation to the Penitentiary, Wynton Marsalis 3

Heard and didn't "get":
Drums and Guns, Low
Friend and Foe, Menomena
Silverchair
Loney Dear
Rilo Kiley
Kanye West
Lifehouse
Vanessa Carlton

Interested In
Super Fast Rock N' Roll Played Slow   Tess Wiley

Curious About   
Wincing the Night Away   The Shins
The Balancing Act   Cool Hand Luke

...and some of those rumoured new releases could be nice too. I think I saw KT Tunstall and Radiohead somewhere, and Steven Delopoulos?

[Brenden]

Arctic Monkeys-- Favourite Worst Nightmare... B+

Really, Josh? What am I missing about this one? I like it well enough, but I thought thier debut was the more memorable and interesting album and I only would give that one a B.

[ajyouthguy]

so i have a curiosity question that hopefully someone can answer...

Between the Trees released "The Story and the Song" last year from their website, but in the presses it's getting treated as if it is a 2007 release, and that was when it got label distribution.  I got it for Christmas 2006, but I saw it on a list or two on here...does it count as a 2007 or 2006 release?

[dgp11776]

I counted it as 2007 because that's when I got it.

[murlough23]

so i have a curiosity question that hopefully someone can answer...

Between the Trees released "The Story and the Song" last year from their website, but in the presses it's getting treated as if it is a 2007 release, and that was when it got label distribution.  I got it for Christmas 2006, but I saw it on a list or two on here...does it count as a 2007 or 2006 release?

Do whatever you want. I tend to go strictly with the actual year of release, so for example, Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity (released 12/26/06) would be a 2006 release. But sometimes the distinction gets muddy when an indie album gets a wider re-release, or an album was released in the UK or some other country first and then in the US, etc. But personally, when I start listening to an album that I know was released in a previous year, I go back and add it to that year's music journal.

[dgp11776]

updated 7/10/07 - Whoa!  The Pumpkins album lands right at #33.  Eerie.

Okay, I have to ask - why?

[bloop]

One of their songs that is pretty well-known was titled "33".  Just strange, but irrelevant coincidence.

Now, as to why it's at #33, well, it's the worst studio album under the Pumpkins name to date, but I still felt it warranted a B-.  I'm at least interested enough in hearing more from this line-up.

[TheWanderer]

It's saying something if their worst album is only a B-

[bloop]

Yeah, it's saying something about me, or about them, or about my relationship to them, or something. 

Corgan did worse with TheFutureEmbrace, but that wasn't a Pumpkins release.  The current band is no more The Smashing Pumpkins as we knew them than Zwan was, but I'll let him have the name because it was always really his anyway.

[TheWanderer]

Yeah, it's saying something about me, or about them, or about my relationship to them, or something. 

Corgan did worse with TheFutureEmbrace, but that wasn't a Pumpkins release.  The current band is no more The Smashing Pumpkins as we knew them than Zwan was, but I'll let him have the name because it was always really his anyway.

It could be worse.  This could be Billy and three newcomers instead of Billy, Jimmy, and two noobs.

[RedcoatJones]

Running Top 10
1. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago... 4.5
2. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible... 4.4
3. John Reuben - Word of Mouth... 4.3
4. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha... 4.1
5. The White Stripes... Icky Thump 4.0
6. Anberlin... Cities 3.8
7.
8.
9.
10.

Put it in Rotation

Send it to the Bargain Bin

5.0 - I absolutely loved this album
4.5 - I loved this album
4.0 - I really liked this album
3.5 - I liked this album
3.0 - This album was ok
2.5 - This album was just so-so
2.0 - I didn't like this album
1.5 - I really didn't like this album
1.0 - I hated this album
0.5 - I really hated this album

[TheWanderer]

Murlough, I am puzzled as to your grade for Neal Morse's Sola Scriptura.  I can only assume that either 1) you don't like progressive rock or 2) you don't really graso the concept of the album.  Please correct me if I have guessed incorrectly.

[murlough23]

Murlough, I am puzzled as to your grade for Neal Morse's Sola Scriptura.  I can only assume that either 1) you don't like progressive rock or 2) you don't really graso the concept of the album.  Please correct me if I have guessed incorrectly.

1) I like some aspects of progressive rock. I enjoy Dream Theater quite a bit, and Iona is one of my favorite bands of all time. I also got a decent amount of enjoyment out of Neal's Testimony album. The fact that this is progressive rock isn't the problem, but being a prog rocker doesn't give you a free pass to be as cheesy and overindulgent as you want. My biggest problem with Neal Morse is that since he started making music that focused on his faith, he's decided that it would be a good idea to incoroporate the worst possible CCM cliches into his prog rock style. It's as if he doesn't realize how bad some of that stuff is (shlocky MWS-style ballads and all that) - it should really be far beneath him. This seems to go along with the assumption made by many new Christians that just because something bears the name "Christian", it's good and therefore worth emulating.

2) I get the concept of the album, I really like the concept of the album, but that doesn't mean I like the way that the concept was executed. You can write about something that I wholeheartedly agree with, but not write about it in a way that I think is effective. Some of his lyrics are just plain awkward.

See the Round 10 thread for "Second Guess the Critic" in the Games section for an explanation of my grade that was actually given at the time that I assigned a rating to it.

[TheWanderer]

Fair enough.  I agree about some of the ballads, but i don't think it's in the "D" range for a grade. 

[murlough23]

Fair enough.  I agree about some of the ballads, but i don't think it's in the "D" range for a grade.

Sometimes two of us see the same things wrong with an album (or a movie), but they don't "ruin" the experience as much for one of us as they do for the other.

Also, while I don't mind the long songs that are typical on prog rock albums, I felt that it was a bit much to have three out of the four running twenty minutes to half an hour. There are certain sections of songs that I really like, while strongly disliking other sections of the same songs, so to have some of the song segments tracked separately may have made it easier to find the parts of the album that I would become most attached to, thereby raising the grade. I tend to prefer listening to albums straight through without skipping anything, but I also like to be able to take the highlights and put them on mix CDs and stuff, and this method makes it virtually impossible to weed those highlights out. It feels like separate songs that perhaps transitioned well into each other, but are really more like unique compositions unto themselves, were allowed to bleed together just to make track lengths very long and prove how "prog" the whole thing is.