Second Guess the Critic: SMACKDOWN!

[bloop]

You know the game.  Phorum hacks Critics choose an album to grade from 1-5 stars, while their fellows and the commoners guess what they would give their chosen whipping boy (or sacred cow).  At a given due date (in this case, each Friday), the critic reveals their rating with a short rant on the album.  Read their mind, and earn the maximum of 10 points, 5 points for a difference of 1, 2 for a difference of 2.  You're SOL if you manage to suck more than that.  Scores against each critic are then averaged each round.  Pretty clear, yes?

Critics:  Choose your album anytime from right now up to and including Sunday (EST).  Try to give a link to at least sample.

Swabs:  Just tell me you're playing to help me prepare an Excel.  If you aren't interested in being a critic, feel free to contribute by suggesting a theme round.

We'll begin Round 1 Monday.

(Also, if you can think of a better, less derivative subtitle than "SMACKDOWN!", feel free.)

[bloop]

I'm electing to take care of an album I meant to get to in 08:

Anathallo - Canopy Glow
http://www.myspace.com/anathallo

[Brenden]

I choose Julian Drive - My Coming Day

http://www.myspace.com/juliandrive

[plvarona]

Here's my pick:

Ingram Hill: Cold in California

Clips: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-California-Ingram-Hill/dp/B000SQLBQ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232166697&sr=1-1

[ajyouthguy]

I'll be in the peanut gallery...I suppose you need a couple of non-critics as players too, and i didn't get in on it as much when you guys did it before.

[murlough23]

I'm in as a critic. I still need to grade Temporary People by Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts, so that'll be my pick.

http://www.amazon.com/Temporary-People-Joseph-Arthur/dp/B001ELXRMC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232174144&sr=8-1

[Josh]

I'll do the self-titled album from Fever Ray.

http://www.myspace.com/feverray

[bloop]

If anyone else wants in this round, speak up.  I'll start the round promptly on Monday EST.

The excel spreadsheet I whipped up to help me score this can be found here.  I'll double check it the first round at least, but if anyone wants to check to make sure I didn't make any mistakes, go for it.