Fantasies - Metric

Fantasies by Metric (2009)

really pop-y rock (or rock-ish pop) but I dig it.  the female vocalist, Emily Haines, has a very straightforward, sweet voice that pairs nicely with their simplistic keyboard-heavy melodies.

Favorite: "Sick Muse" "Front Row" "Stadium Love"

Least Favorite: "Gimme Sympathy"

Sea of Cowards - The Dead Weather

Sea of Cowards by The Dead Weather (2010)

2nd album in as many years from this quartet of rock stars.  Uneven as their first, with the singing taking on an even rougher edge this time around.  There are some gems tho, for sure, just none that grabbed me as much as "Hang You From The Heavens" did from their first album, "Horehound".

I did see them live after the release of both albums tho and thoroughly enjoyed both shows.  I'd recommend seeing them live without hesitation...go see them if you get the chance!

Favorite:"The Difference Between Us"

This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem

This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem (2010)

most recent (and apparently last ever!) album by this electronic rock outfit.  some songs are more rock, some more electro.

"Pow Pow" reminds me of something from David Byrne/The Talking Heads.

Favorite: "I Can Change" "You Wanted A Hit" "Home"

Least Favorite: "Drunk Girls" "One Touch" gets too repetitive with the shouting on the hook

Maximum Balloon - Maximum Balloon

Maximum Balloon by Maximum Balloon (2010) 

I take no effort to conceal my adoration for TV On The Radio. So when I heard that there was a side project coming out from their engineer, I was all about it.  Then I forgot all about it until a remix of the first single popped up on RCRDLBL.  

I'm still kind of digesting the full album. There's definitely a lot going on there. Tons of guest appearances (on every track actually), including one by David Byrne! 

Favorites: "If You Return" (ft. Little Dragon)  "Tiger" (ft. Aku Orraca-Tetteh)  "Pink Bricks" (ft. Ambrosia Parsley) "Absence of Light" (ft. Tunde Adebimpe) and I really like that remix! 

Doo-Wops & Hoodlums - Bruno Mars

Doo-Wops & Hoodlums - Bruno Mars (2010)

This album...ugh! so sappy. I don't know exactly why, but this album infuriates me. It's so squeaky clean with its crystal clear vocals and bright melodies.

Not totally sure why I thought I should even listen to this album.  I had heard a few of his songs..."Billionaire" being the obvious one, invasive as it is.  Clearly I'm not his target audience...pretty sure that's teen and tween girls.. I guess what aggravates me is precisely that: this is what's being produced and marketed to tweens and teens right now.  With so many talented and genuine artists making music out there, that this is what someone deemed worth of attention just blows my mind.
Not that it's bad, per se, it just lacks soul, and I don't mean that he needs more bass in his voice or anything like that.  It's a spirit thing and this record just ain't got it.  The producers even tried to manufacture some soul credibility by adding a few guest appearances by Damian Marley, B.o.B. and Cee Lo Green (the latter being the highlight of the album). But even that did little to hide the fact that this is a mass marketed product plain and simple.

Favorite (if you can call it that): "The Other Side" (ft. Cee Lo Green and B.o.B.)

Georgia Warhorse - JJ Grey & Mofro

been listening to a lot of new music lately.  just keep forgetting to take some time and post about it here. I'm going to try to remedy that going forward here.... but reviews will likely be more sparse. 

Georgia Warhorse by JJ Grey & Mofro (2010)

heard an interview with JJ on NPR the other day. That's how I found out this album was even around. He did a live studio performance of "Lullaby"...very pretty.
The rest of the album has more of a rock edge, but is all very soulful.

Favorite: "Lullaby"

Something For The Rest of Us - Goo Goo Dolls

"Something For The Rest Of Us" by the Goo Goo Dolls (2010)

Guess I'm not the "us" they're talking about for this title.
Nothing appealing about this for me... to the point that I couldn't even listen through every track to find a favorite & least favorite.
Too much good music to waste my time listening to things that don't do it for me.
Actually, just finished skipping through, and the final track "Soldier" isn't awful, but I probably wouldn't add it to the rotation.