2010 Music Journals

[murlough23]

Really? Seven days into the new year, and nobody's started this yet? Alrighty, guess I'll break the ice. The standard boilerplate instructions:

Create a post to record the music you hear in 2010. A running top ten list, links to reviews, whatever else, but please save discussion and commentary for separate threads about particular bands or albums.

[murlough23]

Top 20:
1. The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens A
2. Vampire Weekend - Contra A-
3. KT Tunstall - Tiger Suit A-
4. The River Empires - The River Empires - Epilogue B+
5. Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away B+
6. Vienna Teng & Alex Wong - The Moment Always Vanishing B+
7. House of Heroes - Suburba B+
8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs B+
9. OK Go - Of the Blue Colour of the Sky B+
10. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz B
11. Jennifer Knapp - Letting Go B
12. Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You? B
13. Steven Page - Page One B
14. Yoav - A Foolproof Escape Plan B
15. Caedmon's Call - Raising Up the Dead B
16. Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love B
17. Court Yard Hounds - Court Yard Hounds B
18. Gungor - Beautiful Things B
19. Anberlin - Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place B-
20. Andrew Peterson - Counting Stars B

Honorable Mention:
21. Kevin Max - Côtes-d'Armor (True Rebels) B-
22. Broken Bells - Broken Bells B-
23. Jars of Clay - The Shelter B-
24. Barenaked Ladies - All in Good Time B-
25. The New Pornographers - Together B-
26. Jónsi - Go B-
27. Maroon5 - Hands All Over B-
28. Fiction Plane - Sparks B-
29. Cindy Morgan - Hymns: Some Glad Morning B-

The Rest:
Linkin Park -  A Thousand Suns C+
Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors C+
Alter Bridge - AB III C+
Jimmy Eat World - Invented C+
Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void C+
Robert Randolph & the Family Band - We Walk This Road C+
Third Day - Move C+
Starfield - The Saving One C
Justis Kao - Always a Trace C
Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do C
Zoo Seven - Lifesaver C
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me C

Dishonorable Mention:
8. Michael W. Smith - Wonder C-
7. Newsboys - Born Again C-
6. We Are the Fallen - Tear the World Down C-
5. Toby Mac - Tonight C-
4. Ivoryline - Vessels C-
3. Sanctus Real - Pieces of a Real Heart D+
2. Brandon Flowers - Flamingo D+
1. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream D-

Compilations/EPs/Singles/Re-releases:
Doves - The Places Between: The Best of Doves A
Sleeping at Last - Yearbook - October EP A-
Sleeping at Last - Yearbook - November EP A-
Sleeping at Last - Yearbook - December EP B+
Michelle Branch - Everything Comes and Goes EP B
Future of Forestry - Travel III EP B-
Future of Forestry - Advent Christmas EP Volume 2 B-
Mew - Eggs Are Funny B-
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP B-
Iona - Live in London: Limited US Edition B-
Snowden - Slow Soft Syrup EP B-
Mae - (e)vening EP C+

Already Released, Need to Hear It:
Annie Moses Band - Pilgrims and Prodigals
Grammatrain - Imperium
Kye Kye - Young Love
Rachael Lampa - Human EP
The Listening - Animals Part 1: Criminals & Submarine Dwellings

Looking Back:
2009 Music Journal
2008 Music Journal
2007 Music Journal
2006 Music Journal
2005 Music Journal
2004 Music Journal
2003 Music Journal
1991-2002 Music Journals

(Last Update: 11/15/11)

[bloop]

Best of 2010
Buy It!
The Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens (9.5)
Have One on Me, Joanna Newsom (9.5)
Halcyon Digest, Deerhunter (9.5)
So Runs the World Away, Josh Ritter (9.5)
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty, Big Boi (9.0)
This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem (9.0)
How I Got Over, The Roots (9.0)
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West (9.0)
Grinderman 2, Grinderman (9.0)
IRM, Charlotte Gainsbourg (9.0)
Mines, Menomena (8.5)
High Violet, The National (8.5)
The Monitor, Titus Andronicus (8.5)
Lisbon, The Walkmen (8.5)
Swim, Caribou (8.5)
Heartland, Owen Pallett (8.5)
The Suburbs, The Arcade Fire (8.5)
Cosmogramma, Flying Lotus (8.5)
There Is Love In You, Four Tet (8.5)
The Wild Hunt, The Tallest Man on Earth (8.5)
(e)vening EP, Mae (8.0)
Transference, sthingy (8.0)
The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae (8.0)
Odd Blood, Yeasayer (8.0)
Teen Dream, Beach House (8.0)
Hadestown, Anais Mitchell (8.0)
Black City, Matthew Dear (8.0)
The Social Network OST, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (8.0)
Go, Jónsi (8.0)
New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), Erykah Badu (8.0)
Plastic Beach, Gorillaz (8.0)
This is What Happens, Reign of Kindo (8.0)
Astrocoast, Surfer Blood (8.0)


Try It
Majesty Shredding, Superchunk (7.5)
Before Today, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (7.5)
All Delighted People "E.P.", Sufjan Stevens (7.5)
Down There, Avey Tare (7.5)
Big Echo, The Morning Benders (7.5)
Contra, Vampire Weekend (7.5)
King of the Beach, Wavves (7.5)
Band of Joy, Robert Plant (7.5)
Body Talk pt. 1, Robyn (7.5)
Suburba, House of Heroes (7.5)
You Are Not Alone, Mavis Staples (7.5)
Together, The New Pornographers (7.5)
Letting Go, Jennifer Knapp (7.5)
We Walk This Road, Robert Randolph and the Family Band (7.5)
I Learned the Hard Way, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (7.5)
/\/\ /\ Y /\, M.I.A. (7.0)
Dear God, I Hate Myself, Xiu Xiu (7.0)
One Life Stand, Hot Chip (7.0)
A Sufi and a Killer, Gonjasufi (7.0)
Forgiveness Rock Records, Broken Social Scene (7.0)
Treats, Sleigh Bells (7.0)
Hurley, Weezer (7.0)
Women and Country, Jakob Dylan (7.0)
I Speak Because I Can, Laura Marling (7.0)
American VI, Johnny Cash (7.0)
Crazy for You, Best Coast (7.0)
Speak Now, Taylor Swift (7.0)
Lonely Avenue, Ben Folds and Nick Hornby (7.0)
Body Talk pt. 2, Robyn (7.0)
100 Miles from Memphis, Sheryl Crow (7.0)
Night Work, Scissor Sisters (7.0)
The Changing of the Guard, Starflyer 59 (7.0)
Diamond Eyes, Deftones (7.0)
Soldier of Love, Sade (7.0)
Congratulations, MGMT (6.5)
The Lady Killer, Cee-Lo Green (6.5)
Aphrodite, Kylie Minogue (6.5)
Heligoland, Massive Attack (6.5)
The Shelter, Jars of Clay (6.5)
Sigh No More, Mumford and Sons (6.5)
Zen Food, Kevin Eubanks (6.5)
Familial, Phil Selway (6.5)
Flockaveli, Waka Flocka Flame (6.5)
Thank You For Your Love EP, Antony and the Johnsons (6.5)


Be Warned
Teargarden by Kaleidyscope vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor, The Smashing Pumpkins (6.0)
Recovery, Eminem (6.0)
Nobody's Daughter, Hole (6.0)
Heaven is Whenever, The Hold Steady (6.0)
Bionic, Christina Aguilera (5.5)
Stone Temple Pilots, Stone Temple Pilots (5.5)
Cotes d'Armor, Kevin Max (5.5)
Vivian & Ondine, William Basinski (5.0)
Teenage Dream, Katy Perry (5.0)


Don't Even Bother
A Thousand Suns, Linkin Park (4.5)
Vessels, Ivoryline (4.5)
Smoke and Mirrors, Lifehouse (4.0)
Funstyle, Liz Phair (3.5)
Rebirth, Lil Wayne (2.5)


Hey, You Cheated! (Live albums, cover albums, compilations and such)
All Day, Girl Talk (8.0)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World OST, Various Artists (7.5)
Scratch My Back, Peter Gabriel (7.0)


Digesting
Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, OK Go
The Soft Pack, The Soft Pack
Measure, Field Music
Black Noise, Pantha du Prince
One Armed Bandit, Jaga Jazzist
Sisterworld, Liars
Romance is Boring, Los Campesinos!
Renihilation, Liturgy
I'm New Here, Gil Scott-Heron
Gorilla Manor, Local Natives
Kairos, White Hinterland
Fang Island, Fang Island
The Way of the World, Mose Allison
Steps Ahead, Mulatu Astatke
Mondo Cane, Mike Patton
At Echo Lake, Woods
Volume Two, She & Him
Destroyer of the World, Blitzen Trapper
Travelers in Space and Time, Apples in Stereo
True Love Cast Out All Evil, Roky Erickson w/ Okkervil River
Compass, Jamie Lidell
Brothers, The Black Keys
Subiza, Delorean
Daughters, Daughters
Clinging to a Scheme, The Radio Dept.
Port Entropy, Shugo Tokumaru
Sea of Cowards, The Dead Weather
Nothing Hurts, Male Bonding
Wake Up the Nation, Paul Weller
Innerspeaker, Tame Impala
Does It Look Like I'm Here, Emeralds
How to Destroy Angels, How to Destroy Angels
See You On the Moon, Tift Merritt
White Magic, ceo
Further, The Chemical Brothers
Mare, Julian Lynch
Mount Wittenburg Orca EP, Dirty Projectors & Bjork
Pilot Talk, Curren$y
Transit Transit, Autolux
All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood, The Body
Rain's A-Comin', Children 18:3
False Priest, Of Montreal
Raising Up the Dead, Caedmon's Call
Hawk, Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan
Special Moves, Mogwai
All Is Falling, James Blackshaw
Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place, Anberlin
Pop Negro, El Guincho
Love Remains, How to Dress Well
Everything In Between, No Age
Invented, Jimmy Eat World
Le Noise, Neil Young
Swanlights, Antony & the Johnsons
Forget, Twin Shadow
Tiger Suit, KT Tunstall
Broken Dreams Club, Girls
Body Talk pt. 3, Robyn


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++)

[NinjaRob17]

Top 10
1. The National - High Violet (A)
2. The Chariot - Long Live (A-)
3. The Black Keys - Brothers (B+)
4. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast (B+)
5. Deepspace 5 - The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (B+)
6. Living Sacrifice - The Infinite Order (B+)
7. Vampire Weekend - Contra (B)
8. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (B)
9. MGMT - Congratulations (B)
10. Secret and Whisper - Teenage Fantasy (B)

I Liked It
Apparatjik - We Are Here (B)
Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave (B)
Team Teamwork - Vinyl Fantasy 7 (B)
Fair - Disappearing World (B)
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever (B)
Angels & Airwaves - LOVE (B)

I Was Okay With It
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (B-)
Flatfoot 56 - Black Thorn (B-)
Beach House - Teen Dream (B-)
The Classic Crime - Vagabonds (B-)
OK Go - Of The Blue Colour of the Sky (B-)
Toro Y Moi - Causers Of This (B-)
Hammock - Chasing After Shadows... Living With the Ghosts (C+)

I Did Not Like It
Demon Hunter - The World Is A Thorn (C)
MercyMe - The Generous Mr. Lovewell (C)
TobyMac - Tonight (C-)
Number One Gun - To The Secrets & Knowledge (C-)
Darlene Zschech - Simply Darlene (D+)
Adie - Just You and Me (D)
Chasen - That Was Then, This Is Now (D)

EPs, Live Albums, Cover Albums, etc.
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People (B+)
The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights (B)
Streetlight Manifesto - 99 Songs Of Revolution: Volume I (C)
Stellar Kart - Everything Is Different Now (F)

Digesting
The River Empires - The River Empires (Epilogue)
Wavves - King of the Beach
The Reign of Kindo - This is What Happens
Norma Jean - Meridional
M.I.A. - /\/\/\Y/\
A Plea For Purging - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
The White Panda - Rematch
Future of Forestry - Travel III
Children 18:3 - Rain's 'a Comin'
How to Destroy Angels - How To Destroy Angels
Apparatjik - 4 Can Keep a Secret If 3 of Them Are Dead
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Sons of God - The Genesis Prologue
Torpeedoh - Party People
Mae - (E)vening
Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
Shugo Tokumaru - Port Entropy
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Weezer - Hurley
House of Heroes - Suburba
Anberlin - Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Adebisi Shank - This Is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs - ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界
The Sword - Warp Riders
Underoath - Ø (Disambiguation)
Showbread - Who Can Know It?
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

[plvarona]

Updated: 7/24/2011

(* denotes albums I have heard but do not own.)
Top 10 (So Far):
1. The Reign of Kindo: This is What Happens (A)
2. House of Heroes: Suburba (A)
3. Andrew Peterson: Counting Stars (A-)
4. Brooke Fraser: Flags (A-)
5. Jennifer Knapp: Letting Go (A-)
6. The Mynabirds: What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood (A-)
7. Caedmon's Call: Raising Up The Dead (A-)
8. Fair: Disappearing World (A-)
9. Josh Ritter: So Runs The World Away (B+)
10. Anberlin: Dark is the Way, Light is a Place (B+)

Honorable Mention:
11. KT Tunstall: Tiger Suit (B+)
12. Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More (B+)
13. Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz (B+)
14. Jars of Clay: The Shelter (B+)
15. The Rocket Summer: Of Men and Angels (B+)
16. The Classic Crime: Vagabonds (B+)
17. Kevin Max: Cotes d'Armor (B )
18. Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk: Stories From Home (B )
19. Children 18:3: Rain's 'a Comin' (B )
20. Robbie Seay Band: Miracle (B )
21. Sky Sailing: An Airplane Carried Me to Bed (B )
22. Trent Dabbs: Your Side Now (B )
23. Chris Sligh: The Anatomy of Broken (B )
24. Patty Griffin: Downtown Church (B )
25. Charmaine: Love Reality (B )
26. Robert Randolph & The Family Band: We Walk This Road (B )
27. Ivoryline: Vessels (*) (B )

Mild Recommendations:
Third Day: Move (*) (C+)
Sanctus Real: Pieces of a Real Heart (*) (C+)
Amanda Shaw: Good Southern Girl (C+)

Nah:
Michael W. Smith: Wonder (*) (C )
Newsboys: Born Again (*) (D+)
Tenth Avenue North: The Light Meets The Dark (*) (D+)
Me in Motion: self-titled (*) (D)

EPs, Live Albums, Greatest Hits, etc.
Future of Forestry: Travel III EP (B )
Jennifer Knapp: Evolve (B )
Sufjan Stevens: All Delighted People EP (*) (B-)

Currently Digesting:
Sleeping at Last: Yearbook - October, Yearbook - November and Yearbook - December

Current Releases I Plan to Check Out:
The Listening: Animals Part 1: Criminals & Submarine Dwellings
Mae: (e)vening EP
Joy Williams: We Mapped The World EP

Current Releases That Somewhat Intrigue Me:
Dave Barnes: What We Want, What We Get
Flatfoot 56: Black Thorn
Rachael Lampa: Human EP
Lifehouse: Smoke & Mirrors
Bebo Norman: Ocean
Sandra McCracken: In Feast or Fallow
Justin McRoberts: Through Songs I Became Undone
Andrew Osenga: Choosing Sides
Matthew West: The Story of Your Life

Current Releases I Will Check Out - if I Am Feeling Particularly Masochisitic
Stellar Kart: Everything is Different Now

Future Releases I Am Eagerly Anticipating:
downhere - 12/21

Future Releases I Am Somewhat Anticipating:
---

Future Releases I Am Morbidly Anticipating:
(Currently blissfully ignorant about this.)

Rumored, and Would Certainly Interest Me If True:
Fiction Family
Luna Halo
Monarch

2011 Releases I Am Anticipating:
Burlap to Cashmere
The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow
Deas Vail
Fleet Foxes
Iron & Wine
The Myriad
Over The Rhine: The Long Surrender - 1/11
Sixpence None The Richer: Strange Conversation
Sleeping at Last: Remainder of the Yearbook project
Switchfoot: Vice Verses
U2: Songs of Ascent
Wavorly

[Ian]

MUSIC JOURNAL 2010

RATED:

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - 9.4
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma - 9.2
Janelle Monae - The Archandroid - 9.1
The National - High Violet - 9.0
Emeralds - Does it Look Like I'm Here? - 9.0
The Black Keys - Brothers - 8.9
Yellow Swans - Going Places - 8.9
Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt - 8.8
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach - 8.7
Rova & Nels Cline Singers - The Celestial Septet - 8.7
Beach House - Teen Dream - 8.6
Nest - Retold - 8.5
Menomena - Mines - 8.5
Efdemin - Chicago - 8.5
James Blackshaw - All is Falling - 8.5
Motorpsycho - Heavy Metal Fruit - 8.5
Sleepy Sun - Fever - 8.4
Elephant9 - Walk the Nile - 8.4
Owen Pallett - Heartland - 8.4
Brasstronaut - Mt Chimaera - 8.4
Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées - 8.3
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record - 8.3
Jamie Lidell - Pop - 8.3
Voice of the Seven Thunders - Voice of the Seven Thunders - 8.3
Charlotte Gainsburg - IRM - 8.2
Geographer - Animal Shapes EP - 8.2
Wovenhand - The Threshingfloor - 8.2
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me - 8.2
Grasslung - Sincere Void - 8.1
Shining - Black Jazz - 8.1
Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit - 8.1
Jonsi - Go - 8.1
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty - 8.0
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening - 8.0
Alcest - Écailles de Lune - 8.0
Denseland - Chunk - 8.0
Food - Quiet Inlet - 8.0
Negură Bunget - Vîrstele Pămîntului - 8.0
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP - 8.0
Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago - 8.0
The Walkman - Lisbon - 8.0
The Besnard Lakes - Are the Roaring Night - 8.0
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can - 8.0
Paul Cary - Ghost of a Man - 8.0
The Fun Years - God Was Like, No - 8.0
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who Killed Sgt Pepper? - 8.0
Delorean - Subiza - 8.0
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Let it Sway - 8.0
Citay - Dream Get Together - 8.0
Actress - Splazsh - 8.0
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs - Zero Comma, Irotoridori no Sekai - 8.0
Balmorhea - Constellations - 7.9
Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle - 7.9
Yeasayer - Odd Blood - 7.9
sthingy - Transference - 7.9
Fang Island - Fang Island - 7.9
Drake - Thank Me Later - 7.9
Frog Eyes - Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph - 7.9
Thomas Fehlmann - Gute Luft - 7.9
Quadron - Quadron - 7.9
MV & EE - Liberty Rose - 7.9
65daysofstatic - We Were Exploding Anyways - 7.9
Vampire Weekend - Contra - 7.8
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs - 7.8
Retribution Gospel Choir - 2 - 7.8
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today - 7.8
Serena-Maneesh - Abyss in B Minor - 7.8
Bonobo - Black Sands - 7.8
Cloud Cult - Chase Lighters - 7.8
The Dream - Love King - 7.8
Of Montreal - False Priest - 7.8
White Hinterland - Kairos - 7.8
Hot Chip - One Life Stand - 7.7
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh) - 7.6
Ben Frost - By the Throat -7.6
School of Seven Bells - Disconnect from Desire - 7.6
Field Music - Measure - 7.5
Electric President - The Violent Blue - 7.4
Anberlin - Dark is the Way, Light is a Place - 7.4
Weezer - Hurley - 7.4
The Books - The Way Out - 7.4
High on Fire - Snakes for the Divine - 7.3
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor - 7.2
She & Him - Volume 2 - 7.2
These New Puritans - Hidden - 7.2
Laura Viers - July Flame - 7.1
Four Tet - There Is Love In You - 7.1
Toro y Moi - Causes of This - 7.0
Eluvium - Similies -  7.0
Have a Nice Life - Time of Land EP - 7.0
Holy Fuck - Latin - 6.9
The Knife - Tomorrow, In a Year - 6.8
Pangaea - Pangaea EP - 6.8
The Album Leaf - A Chorus of Storytellers - 6.8
Pantha du Prince - Black Noise - 6.7
Future Islands - In Evening Air - 6.5
Tuung - …And Then We Saw Land - 6.5
Stars - The Five Ghosts - 6.5
The Sight Below - It All Falls Apart - 6.5
Loscil - Endless Falls - 6.4
Goldfrapp - Head First - 6.4
Sun Son Sun - Lady Wind - 6.4
Azure Ray - Drawing Down the Moon - 6.4
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast - 6.4
The North Sea - Bloodlines -  6.4
OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky - 6.4
Burn Ruffians - Say It - 6.4
Kisses - The Heart of the Night Life - 6.4
Magnetic Fields - Realism - 6.3
Apparatjik - We Are Here - 6.3
The Tallest Man on Earth - Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird EP - 6.3
Maps & Atlases - Perch Patchwork - 6.3
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms - 6.2
Moon Duo - Escape - 6.2
Xiu Xiu - Dear God I Hate Myself - 6.2
Love is All - Two Thousand And Ten Injuries - 6.2
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Kollaps Tradixionales - 6.1
Oni Ayhn - OAR004 - 6.1
Sade - Soldier of Love - 6.0
William Basinski - Vivian & Ondine - 6.0
Liars - Sisterworld - 5.9
Best Coast - Crazy for You - 5.9
Dessa - A Badly Broken Code - 5.8
jj - jj n° 3 - 5.8
Basia Bulat - Heart of My Own - 5.8
Aidan Baker - Liminoid/Lifeforms - 5.7
Siva - Same Sights, New Light - 5.5
Midlake - The Courage of Others - 5.2
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo - 5.2
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream - 4.9
The Alps - Le Voyage - 4.9
MGMT - Congratulations - 4.8
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack - 4.5
Mugstar – ...Sun, Broken... - 4.5
RJD2 - The Colossus - 4.2
Pacific Ocean Fire - Hibernation Songs - 3.8
The Ocean - Heliocentric - 3.5
Rocky Votolato - True Devotion - 3.0
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles - 2.7
Tindersticks - Falling Down a Mountain - 2.5

[Brenden]

Top 10:

1. The Innocence Mission - My Room In The Trees - A
2. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach - A
3. Sufjan Stevens - The Age Of Adz - A-
4. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - A-
5. Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do - A-
6. Sarah Sample - Someday, Someday - A-
7. Ray Lamontagne And The Pariah Dogs - God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise - B+
8. The New Pornographers - Together - B+
9. Vampire Weekend - B+
10. The Migrant - Travels In Lowland - B+

Decent:
Jennifer Knapp - Letting Go - B+
S_poon - Transference - B+
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs - B
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People - B
Caedmon's Call - Raising Up The Dead - B
Jonsi - Go - B
Jakob Dylan - Women & Country B
Regie Hamm - Set It On Fire - B
Johnny Cash - American VI - B-
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever - B-
Chris August - No Far Away - B-
Jars Of Clay - The Shelter - B-
Jake Smith - Everyone Comes From Somewhere - B-
Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back - C+
Electric Six - Zodiac - C+
Third Day - Move - C
Britt Nicole - Acoustic EP - C

Avoid:
39 Stripes - Beyond Broken - C-
Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors - C-
Kanye West - VH1 Storytellers - C-
Rend Collective Experiment - Organic Family Hymnal - C-
FFH - Wide Open Spaces - D+
TobyMac - Tonight - D

Digesting:

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Kevin Max - Cotes De Amor
Franz Nicolay - Luck & Courage
Isaac Russell - Isaac Russell
The Mommyheads - Finest Specimens
Lucinda Black Bear - Knives

[ewok20t3]

STUDIO ALBUMS AND EP'S OVER 30 MINUTES
Five Stars

Four Stars
(1.) Mae - (e)vening EP
(2.) Hundredth - When Will We Surrender
(3.) Athletics - Why Aren't I Home
(4.) Ascend The Hill - Hymns: Take The World, But Give Me Jesus
(5.) Anberlin - Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place
(6.) Taylor Swift - Speak Now
(7.) Continuance - Carry Ourselves
(8.) Terrible Things - Terrible Things
(9.) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
(10.) The National - High Violet
Living Sacrifice - The Infinite Order
Evolett - For Your Consideration
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
My Epic - Yet
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Over The Ocean - Paper House
Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise

Three Stars
Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
Alcest - Écailles De Lune
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
Jimmy Eat World - Invented
Comeback Kid - Symtoms & Cures
Counterparts - Prophets
The Chariot - Long Live
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Underoath - Ø (Disambiguation)
A Hope For Home - Realis
As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise
Norma Jean - Meridional
The Rocketboys - Wellwisher
Caedmon's Call - Raising The Dead
Eluveitie - Everything Remains as It Never Was
Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
Wrench In The Works - Decrease/Increase
Our Last Night - We Will All Evolve
The Showdown- Blood In The Gears
War of Ages - Eternal
Gray Young - Staysail
Zoo Seven - Lifesaver
The Sleep Design - All That Is Not Music Is Silence
Cloudkicker - Beacons
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP
House of Heroes - Suburba
Number One Gun - To The Secrets and Knowledge
Demon Hunter - The World Is A Thorn
Greek National Road - Hues and Angels
The Narrative - The Narrative
Foals - Total Life Forever
Brett Detar - Bird In The Tangle
Tiger Riot - Look Up!
A Minor Bird - Where The River Breaks Free EP

Two Stars
Venice Is Sinking - Sand & Lines
The Bled - Heat Fetish
Haste The Day - Attack of The Wolf King
The Classic Crime - Vagabonds
Lovelite - All Color
Compelled - The Fight EP
Legend - Valediction

One Star



NON-STUDIO ALBUMS AND EP'S UNDER 30 MINUTES
Five Stars
(1.) States - Line 'em Up EP

Four Stars
(2.) All The Day Holiday - The Sloth Sessions
(3.) It Prevails - Findings EP
(4.) The Frozen Ocean - In Exile
(5.) Dependency - Convicted EP
Paper Route - Additions
Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down / New Year's Project 7"

Three Stars
Oceana - Clean Head EP
Sons of God - The Genesis Prologue EP
The King and The Thief - Castles EP
Shangrala - Shangrala EP
Vinyl Thief - Control EP
Anophora - Breathe In, Breathe Out EP
YEARS - No Confusion EP
The Listening - Animals: Part 1
Thrice - Daytrotter Session
The King and The Thief - Feathers EP
Killing Thursby - Across The Wires EP
My Sick Uncle - 500 Days of Weezy
Apparatjik - 4 Can Keep A Secret If 3 of Them Are Dead EP
Everett - Destinations EP
Jesiah - In His Hands EP
John Nolan - Songs I Didn't Write EP
White Collar Sideshow - White Collar Sideshow EP
Troubled Coast - Vegabonds EP
I Am Alpha and Omega - The War I Wage EP

Two Stars
Manners - Escapism
How To Destroy Angels - How To Destroy Angels EP

One Star

[Aaron]

Top 10:

The Next Best Albums:

Decent:

Avoid:

Bottom 10:

Digesting:

Day Of Fire - Losing All
FFH - Wide Open Spaces

I assume those two albums will get to avoid/bottom 10

[Brenden]

Pretty much, though the FFH album is better than anything I can remember by them, it's still bland as hell.

[murlough23]

Should we sticky this thread and unstick 2009?

[enemy anemone]

should be stickied/unstickied respectively now.

[ajyouthguy]

Liked It:
1. Robert Randolph and the Family Band--We Walk This Road
2. Andrew Peterson--Counting Stars
3. House of Heroes--Suburba
4. Gungor--Beautiful Things
5.Jennifer Knapp--Letting Go
6. Robbie Seay Band--Miracle
7. Sandra McCracken--In Feast or Fallow
8. The Rocket Summer--Of Men and Angels
9. Johnny Cash--American VI: Ain't No Grave
10. Dave Barnes--What We Want, What We Get
11.Justin McRoberts--Through Songs I Became Undone
12. Flatfoot 56--Black Thorn
13.

Special Albums (EP's, live, Christmas, etc.) that I liked:

ok, but not listworthy:
TobyMac--Tonight
Superchick--Reinvention
Sanctus Real--Pieces of a Real Heart
Danny Gokey--My Best Days
Lifehouse--Smoke and Mirrors
Sufjan Stevens--The Age of Adz

Not For Me:
Fireflight--For Those Who Wait
Starfield--The Saving One
Dreamlab--Worship Electronica
Day of Fire--Losing All
Atlas Takes Aim
The Washington Projects--Light Up the Dark
Mr. Talkbox--My Time
Petidee--Race 2 Nowhere
The Letter Black--Hanging on By a Thread
Sixteen Cities--Come As You Are
Stellar Kart--Everything is Different Now (a MARKED improvement for them, but they had, and have, a long way to go still)
Neworldson
Tenth Avenue North--The Light Meets the Dark

Currently Digesting:
Andrew Osenga--Choosing Sides
Anberlin--Dark is the Way, Light is a Place
Caedmon's Call--Raising Up the Dead
Jars of Clay--The Shelter
Shane and Shane--Unending Worship
Third Day--Move
Avett Brothers--Live Vol 3

Biggest Disappointments (artists with new albums I wanted to like a LOT more than I wound up liking):
Sufjan Stevens--The Age of Adz

[RedcoatJones]

Top 10:
1. Beach House - Teen Dream: 9
2. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma: 9
3. Sleigh Bells - Treats: 8
4. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening: 8
5. Wavves - King of the Beach: 8
6. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid: 8
7. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor: 8
8. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms: 8
9. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can: 8
10. These New Puritans - Hidden: 8

The Rest
Vampire Weekend - Contra: 8
sthingy - Transference: 8
Joe Pug - The Messenger: 7
Midlake - The Courage of Others: 7
DangerMouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul: 7
Various Artists - Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to Shel Silverstein: 7
Laura Veirs - July Flame: 7
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More: 6
Jimi Hendrix - Valley of Neptune: 6

Reissues or Previously Released Material
1. The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street: 10
2. Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs: 9
3. Van Morrison - T.B. Sheets: 6

Ratings Guide (stolen from Popmatters):
10 - The Best of the Best
9 - Very Nearly Perfect
8 - Excellent
7 - Damn Good
6 - Good
5 - Average
4 - Unexceptional
3 - Weak
2 - Seriously Flawed
1 - Terrible