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Mike SchillerAbout Mike SchillerMike Schiller is a software engineer in Buffalo, NY who enjoys filling the free time he finds with media of any sort—music, movies, and lately, video games. Stepping into the role of PopMatters Multimedia editor in 2006 after having written music and game reviews for two years previous, he has renewed his passion for gaming to levels not seen since his fondly-remembered college days of ethernet-enabled dorm rooms and all-night Goldeneye marathons. His three children unconditionally approve of their father’s most recent set of obsessions. Features
David Bowie and the Crisis PentalogyThe recently-released David Bowie Box documents the ten years or so before Bowie's heart attack, during which he worked his way through his midlife crisis. [4 January 2008] Foo Fighters: The Colour and the ShapeFor anyone who experienced the heyday of Nirvana, it's still surreal that the lanky, string-haired drummer is the guy who'd be on magazine covers and writing #1 rock radio hits 15 years later. [23 August 2007] Columns
Retro-ing GamesThe disparity in the approaches Capcom took to Mega Man 9 and Bionic Commando beg the question: what do we want out of a "retro" experience? [11 November 2008] (more Moving Pixels) But Where is the Art?They might make you think, they might make you cringe, they might inspire revulsion or admiration, but are they "art"? A look at some borderline videogames. [17 September 2008] (more Moving Pixels) Zarathustra-speakLet's set aside judging a game purely by the game play or plot, and analyze the actual experience of the game, instead. [3 June 2008] (more Moving Pixels) The Game World / Real World Interface"Interfacing" is Moving Pixels' way of taking a look at the tenuous relationship between the gaming world and the real world, and the awkwardness and enlightenment that the intersections between the two can achieve. [1 May 2008] (more Moving Pixels) Reviews
DJ HeroDJ Hero treads the line between authentic and artificial in terms of its grasp on DJ culture to a degree that's almost comical. [20 November 2009] 
Ray Charles: The Spirit of ChristmasIt's hard to imagine a better album for a dimly lit December evening indoors with eggnog and a roaring fire. [18 November 2009] 
Ambarchi / Fennesz / Pimmon / Rehberg / Rowe: Afternoon TeaAfternoon Tea is the rare collaboration that sounds like an exercise in restraint. [17 November 2009] 
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine: The Audacity of HypeWas it too much to expect an updated version of the revolutionary rhetoric? [16 November 2009] 
Katsen: It Hertz!It Hertz! is a decent, if inconsequential batch of synth-pop frivolity. [12 November 2009] 
Rival Consoles: IOIn the foreground, it's a solid slab of dance beats and sequencers; in the background, it's something more. [27 October 2009] 
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is one of the first games in which immersion is actually a strike against it. [23 October 2009] 
Squarepusher: Solo Electric Bass 1Solo Electric Bass 1 effortlessly careens from frenetic rhythmic études to moody atmospheric pieces that veer dangerously close to random instrument plucking, [21 October 2009] 
Ethernet: 144 Pulsations of LightTim Gray, in his first full-length work for Kranky as Ethernet, finds the heartbeat in drone. [20 October 2009] 
Andrew W.K.: 55 CadillacAndrew W.K.'s confounding muse takes him in the direction of solo piano. [15 October 2009] 
The Hardy Boys: Treasure on the TracksTreasure on the Tracks is the type of game that allows us to remember the good old days of adventure gaming while simultaneously reminding us that adventure for the sake of adventure can be a pretty hollow experience. [28 September 2009] 
Rubik: Dada BanditsDada Bandits rolls up the last five years or so of indie rock into one tight little album. [24 September 2009] 
Nurse with Wound: The Surveillance LoungeThe Surveillance Lounge is almost exactly what we have come to expect from Nurse With Wound: long, spooky soundscapes punctuated by noise, sinister voices, and the occasional rhythm section. [21 September 2009] 
Guitar Hero 5The year that Guitar Hero finally succumbs to Rock Band in terms of publicity (and perhaps sales) is also the year that Guitar Hero may well be the better game. [14 September 2009] 
Sudoku Ball DetectiveSudoku Ball Detective is a potentially brilliant idea marred by a half-formed story and the terrible decision to allow for guessing. [9 September 2009] 
Johan: 4The problem with 4 is just how many of these songs sound disposable, like toss-offs that would have made great B-sides or lost tracks for a download-only EP. [1 September 2009] 
Mellowdrone: Angry BearMellowdrone splashes around in the swimming pool, looking for a fish. [30 August 2009] 
Ice Age: Dawn of the DinosaursDawn of the Dinosaurs is harmless fluff that shows up, does its unassuming best to entertain for a couple of hours, and then wanders off into the night content never to be remembered. 
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the ultimate Michael Bay video game. [17 August 2009] 
Kronos Quartet: FloodplainFloodplain is a worldly album in every sense of the word, appropriating styles, melodies, and even musicians from spots around the globe. [7 August 2009] 
CéU: VagarosaVagarosa is a peaceful bit of summer that transcends the "world music" label it will inevitably be tagged with. [6 August 2009] 
Guitar Hero: Smash HitsFrankly, we're at the point where it feels like Activision is just showing off. [24 July 2009] 
Our Lady Peace: Burn BurnRaine Maida spends much of his time singing to an unnamed "you", eschewing universal sentiment for a much more personal set of emotions. [22 July 2009] 
Red Faction: GuerrillaRed Faction: Guerrilla's only failing is in its insistence on trying to have it both ways, appealing to some of our basest destructive instincts and then asking us to think about them. [10 July 2009] 
Moby: Wait for MeIt sounds a lot like Play again, sure, but ten years older, wiser, and more exhausted in the best possible way. [8 July 2009] 
Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the RipperSherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper makes brilliant use of the rare "based on a true story" tale that doesn't have a predetermined ending. [6 July 2009] 
The Crystal Method: Divided By NightWhile the vocalists and instrumentalists involved certainly contribute to a varied and interesting listen, many of those guests are either poorly chosen or awkwardly integrated into the sound. [23 June 2009] 
KlonoaWhen children accept that a "win" doesn't always mean happily ever after, their acceptance of gaming as a true storytelling medium is increased exponentially. [19 June 2009] 
Sword of the Stars: Ultimate CollectionThe Sword of the Stars Ultimate Collection demonstrates the inevitable progression of a PC strategy game from welcoming to unwieldy in the space of only two expansions. [8 June 2009] 
Franz Ferdinand: BloodThe problem with Blood is that it functions much more effectively as a companion to Tonight: Franz Ferdinand than as its own work. [3 June 2009] 
M. Nahadr: EclecticIsMR&B meets free jazz on an album every bit as eclectic as its title infers. [2 June 2009] 
Tiga: Ciao!Tiga actually turns out plenty of tracks worth hearing on Ciao!, thanks largely to his proficiency with a bassline. 
Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, the CommuterSomething broke him, something dashed all of his hopes, and the man in the second half of the album just isn't the same as the man in the first. [21 May 2009] 
Tori Amos: Abnormally Attracted to SinYou might be surprised, the way a little sin can pull you back in. [20 May 2009] 
Monsters vs. AliensMonsters vs. Aliens, despite the familiarity that so readily breeds contempt before the game is even out of the cellophane, is actually a pretty decent little game. [18 May 2009] 
Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis CollectionThe sheer scope of this collection -- and the wide variety of genres and franchises represented by it -- is enough to prompt the question of what we’ll be nostalgic for 15 or 20 years from now. [11 May 2009] 
Thunderheist: ThunderheistIt's almost impossible not to get up and get down when Thunderheist shows up on the stereo -- it's positively infectious. [8 May 2009] 
Xrabit + DMG$: Hello WorldCheck Hello World for the beats, but don't be surprised if you don't remember a word that the boys of DMG$ say. [26 April 2009] 
101-in-1 Explosive MegamixYou know things are going wrong when Sudoku feels like a refreshing change of pace; it's almost enough to make you wonder why you're not just playing Brain Age. [20 April 2009] 
Zombie Nation: ZombieliciousThere's not a single thing on Zombielicious that you won't want to dance to. [15 April 2009] 
Trackmania DSSome racers have stories, some racers aim for pure speed, but no racing game out there focuses on the art of building the perfect track like Trackmania. [23 March 2009] 
Lord of the Rings: ConquestLord of the Rings: Conquest feels in so many ways like a poorly-thought out genre exercise in service of a fantastic license. [13 March 2009] 
Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQHow are we to explain to our sons and daughters that we just blew up Santa Claus? [4 February 2009] 
Enigma: Seven Lives Many FacesSeven Lives Many Faces is recognizable as a work of art but not indicative of any sense of cohesion or mood. [3 February 2009] 
Various Artists: Johnny Cash RemixedAlmost all of these artists spent as much energy as possible preserving the spirit of the songs that these updated versions are based on. [29 January 2009] 
Ohgr: Devils in My DetailsDevils in My Details, then, is the complete and utter reversal of the artistic trajectory that Ogre's work with Ohgr and Skinny Puppy Mach II set up. [12 December 2008] 
Guitar Hero World TourBy trying to take the innovation that Rock Band offered and apply it to Guitar Hero, Neversoft has turned the mechanic into an awkward experience that is surpassed by the Rock Band franchise in almost every way. [8 December 2008] 
Psychic TV/PTV3: Mr. Alien Brain vs. the SkinwalkersIn the shadow of the passing of Lady Jaye, Genesis P-Orridge sounds worn, defeated by the realities of this world. [3 December 2008] 
pH10: Well ConnectedpH10 quite obviously knows what he does best, and for better or worse, he sticks to it like glue through the entirety of Well Connected. [24 November 2008] 
Crash: Mind Over MutantAll of the platforming in Crash: Mind Over Mutant takes place in one continuously-generated world, with every area eventually accessible from every other area in that world. [10 November 2008] 
The Cure: 4:13 DreamThe danger of so openly courting nostalgia like this is that a new entry into old canon is simply never going to live up to the standard that those who've come to live with said canon have built for it. [28 October 2008] 
Aqualung: Words and MusicCaution must be taken to avoid listening too hard lest you risk inescapable boredom. [23 October 2008] 
Merz: Presume Too MuchMerz releases an internet-only EP with an American target audience. [17 October 2008] 
The Legendary Pink Dots: Plutonium BlondePlutonium Blonde exemplifies the sound of the Legendary Pink Dots in every conceivable way, [14 October 2008] 
Klangwart: StadtlandflussStadtlandfluss is an ambient releases for the foreground. [10 October 2008] 
Antony & the Johnsons: Another WorldAnother World follows the depression and lament of I Am a Bird Now with a statement of hope. [6 October 2008] 
Little League World Series Baseball 2008The game's target audience might not have much patience for a game that offers a frustrating challenge, especially when the perception is that the game mechanics are at fault for much of the frustration. [3 October 2008] 
Ben Folds: Way to NormalWay to Normal is about the realization that the very concept of "normal" may well be a myth. [30 September 2008] 
Dracula: OriginDracula: Origin is one of those rare examples of the adventure genre that steadfastly avoids humor as if it will irrevocably damage its credibility. [24 September 2008] 
The Streets: Everything Is BorrowedHappy and healthy aren't really adjectives normally associated with Mike Skinner's output as the Streets thus far, and perhaps that's enough to make Everything Is Borrowed worth a listen. [15 September 2008] 
The Immortals of TerraThe Immortals of Terra represents the collision of the niche audience of adventure gamers with the niche audience of Perry Rhodan fans. [10 September 2008] 
Nurse With Wound: Huffin’ Rag BluesIt's possible that Huffin' Rag Blues represents one of the first times Steven Stapleton has taken the practice of toying with our expectations too far. [27 August 2008] 
Enemy Territory: Quake WarsEnemy Territory: Quake Wars' journey from PCs to consoles was apparently a bumpy one. [20 August 2008] 
The Sony Mylo COM-2Sony’s Mylo may be enough to get in touch with “my life online”, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that there are other devices out there that do just about everything the Mylo does, and better. [4 August 2008] 
Guitar Hero: On TourUsing the touchscreen as part of the Guitar Hero experience never gets past the point of feeling like it's an imperfect process. [28 July 2008] 
Deca SportsThere's a psychological advantage to a game that allows you to play as yourself, or at least as someone created by yourself, as opposed to one that simply offers someone who looks a little like you. [14 July 2008] 
Sam & Max Freelance Police: The Complete SeriesLoud and brash for the Cocoa Puffs crowd, this also makes obscure references to pop culture that only adults will understand. [9 July 2008] 
Kung Fu PandaIt's actually really refreshing to find this kind of difficulty in what is ostensibly a kids' game. 
Haale: No CeilingHaale's music is a bit like Tori Amos using her belting voice over Middle-East-influenced rock 'n' roll. [11 June 2008] 
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic GamesSeeing Sonic and Mario alongside each other in the same game is still a synapse fryer along the lines of seeing Mickey Mouse guest star as a cadaver on CSI. Something about it just...ain't...right. [9 June 2008] 
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FESWhile our blue-haired hero is essentially a blank slate, you actually feel something like sympathy for him, and, by proxy, for any high schooler with too much to do. [2 June 2008] 
Brooke Fraser: AlbertineThe sound of Brooke Fraser as it's presented on her latest album Albertine is that of the prototypical female singer-songwriter, complete with every trope and cliché that might imply. [27 May 2008] 
Ming & Ping: Causeway ArmyFinding a synth-pop CD with this much polish and straight-up style feels like an utter breath of fresh air. [13 May 2008] 
Walk the LineThere are so many positive aspects to this film that the empty feeling left when the it ends is utterly shocking. [12 May 2008] 
Nine Inch Nails: The SlipUnlike the "release everything we came up with" aesthetic of Ghosts I-IV, The Slip actually sounds like an album. [9 May 2008] 
AGF: Words Are MissingAGF's subject is the voice, as she goes ahead and puts various voices through various processors and comes up with something that veers between danceable and horrific. 
Michael Gordon / Alarm Will Sound: Van GoghThe Vincent of Van Gogh is a deeply troubled young soul, desperate to find his way in the world. [15 April 2008] 
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of MirrorsDragon Quest Swords turns out to be an interesting study in knowing one's audience. [14 April 2008] 
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a WhoIn the wake of the newly Jim Carrey-fied version of Dr. Seuss' classic tale, we revisit the first screen adaptation of the story of a faithful elephant and his tiny friends. [11 April 2008] 
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band: 13 Blues for Thirteen MoonsGroups like this particular Tra-La-La Band must be careful, lest they swallow themselves in their unapologetic, flailing attempts at true artistic merit. [9 April 2008] 
The Residents: The Voice of MidnightIt is in the ways that The Residents have changed the story of "Der Sandmann" that The Voice of Midnight most suffers. [4 April 2008] 
Ilya E. Monosov: Seven Lucky Plays, or How to Fix Songs for a Broken HeartIf his latest CD with the cumbersome title of is any indication, Ilya E. Monosov probably says profound things in between bouts of sitting and thinking. [2 April 2008] 
Nicky Click: I’m On My Cell PhoneMost people wouldn't record a song called "Fuck Machine" with their Dad in the same state, much less the same room. Nicky Click is not "most people". [27 March 2008] 
My Horse & MeYou'd think something with a title like My Horse & Me would be a pet sim. Think again. [26 March 2008] 
Gregor Tresher: A Thousand NightsFor 80-plus minutes, you'll hear examples of just about every subgenre of electronic music that involves a constant kick-drum backbeat. [20 March 2008] 
Bauhaus: Go Away WhiteThe men of Bauhaus bring closure to the band and the genre they spawned. [19 March 2008] 
Decomposure: Vertical Lines AVertical Lines A absolutely fulfills the promise of At Home and Unaffected, and then some. [14 March 2008] 
Kate Walsh: Tim’s HouseKate Walsh is like a compartmentalized version of Joni Mitchell, one who knows only how to write slow, sad, pretty songs about boys. [13 March 2008] 
Love Spirals Downwards: IdyllsRe-releases of Love Spirals Downwards' first two albums emphasizes the pretty, ephemeral nature of the duo's music. [11 March 2008] 
Chairs in the Arno: File FolderFile Folder is a fun, endearing little synthpop album that'll be good for anyone in the mood to listen to Casios and Korgs for half an hour. 
Mario Party DSMario Party DS benefits from the fact that a single-player game of Mario Party makes more sense on the Nintendo DS than it does on a home console. [7 March 2008] 
Pretendo: IIII is musical potpourri, a pleasant little side dish to be taken in between servings of something more substantial. [6 March 2008] 
Into the WildA "follow your dreams" narrative in a package that belies the cliché that it expounds upon. [5 March 2008] 
Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11iSupreme Beings of Leisure sound trapped by their genre of choice. [25 February 2008] 
The King of Kong: A Fistful of QuartersIf Steve Wiebe vs. Billy Mitchell is Good vs. Evil, Steve's relationship with his family touches on the price that good must pay to vanquish that evil. [20 February 2008] 
Euphon: A Brief History of the FutureYou can't help but think that with just a little bit of cash backing, these cats would be blowing up radios worldwide. [15 February 2008] 
British Sea Power: Do You Like Rock Music?The implication, of course, is that if you do like rock music, you'll like this particular collection of songs. [13 February 2008] 
VCV: 3753 CruithneOn 3753 Cruithne, all of the components of the prototypically perfect ambient album are present. [4 February 2008] 
Natasha Bedingfield: Pocketful of SunshineThis is the type of music for which God made butterflies. [1 February 2008] 
Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2High hopes for Uzumaki Chronicles 2 are quickly dashed, and in the first half-hour or so of gameplay no less. [30 January 2008] 
soso: Tinfoil on the Windowssoso offers poetry, offset by stretches where he sings refrains in a strained, broken, awkwardly high tenor. 
Theory Hazit: Extra CreditTheory Hazit has every intention of being a rapper in the socially conscious mode. [29 January 2008] 
Jonny Greenwood: There Will Be BloodThere is only the stultifying loneliness, sadness, and occasionally the twistedness of the film to be found in its music. [28 January 2008] 
Buzz! The Mega QuizThe attitude of Buzz! The Mega Quiz could rightly be summed up as over-the-top obnoxiousness, and intentionally so. [25 January 2008] 
Coburn: CoburnFive minutes of listening makes it perfectly clear that, at least for this album, Coburn has left house behind. [24 January 2008] Tom Middleton: LifetracksOn an album that surpasses 69 minutes, the one beautiful moment happens about 67 minutes too late. [23 January 2008] 
Alireza Mashayekhi and Ata Ebtekar: Persian Electronic MusicIt's often the case that, given any track from the set, one would be hard-pressed to tell if it was a Mashayekhi or an Ebtekar composition. [22 January 2008] 
VitusVitus is as thoughtful as it is heartwarming, its languid pace providing interesting juxtaposition to the story of a boy forced to grow up too fast. [21 January 2008] 
Innerpartysystem: The Download EPInnerpartysystem is like The Killers, except that Brandon Flowers' name is actually Biff Johnson, and his personality is that of an iron-pumping badly-stereotyped frat boy. [16 January 2008] 
Kim Hiorthøy: My Last DayInterestingly, Hiorthøy saves his best moments for the tracks with Norwegian titles. [3 January 2008] 
Sigur Rós: Heima [DVD]Play this in the background or simply give in to its slowly-building majesty, perhaps allowing yourself the liberty to fall asleep as it plays, and it's easy to love. [18 December 2007] 
Lego FeverThe play modes of Lego Fever, while not necessarily all that original in their design, are executed perfectly. [14 December 2007] 
Alter Ego: Why Not?!Alter Ego sacrifices subtlety for silliness, sublimity for splat. [13 December 2007] 
Various Artists: Soundboy PunishmentsShackleton and Appleblim compile the first batch of 12-inches from their groundbreaking Skull Disco label. [12 December 2007] 
Jars of Clay: Christmas SongsChristmas Songs is refuge from the bombast of the season, a perfectly subtle slice of Heaven. [5 December 2007] 
Dean Martin: Christmas with DinoDean Martin's voice on Christmas with Dino is the perfect one with which to be trapped on a particularly snowy night when nobody's going anywhere. [3 December 2007] 
Frank Sinatra: A Jolly Christmas from Frank SinatraSinatra sounds a little bit tired on A Jolly Christmas. [30 November 2007] 
RatatouilleRatatouille is wholesome entertainment that everyone's going to be happy with because it pulls off the feat of managing to be hilarious and engaging while offending pretty much nobody. [27 November 2007] 
Various Artists: Christmas with the Rat PackMore appearances by Sammy Davis Jr., and Christmas with the Rat Pack would have been brilliant. 
Super Mario GalaxySuper Mario Galaxy might be the first time old-school gamers have to accept that, y'know, maybe gamers these days do have it better than they did. [26 November 2007] 
RatatouilleIt's like Crash Bandicoot with more mobility, as rats can apparently walk tightropes, climb nets, and use conveniently-placed umbrellas to float around. [20 November 2007] 
The Goo Goo Dolls: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - The SinglesThis is a band that never wanted us to think too hard about what it was saying or how it was saying it. They just want the songs to be there, in your consciousness. [14 November 2007] 
Jay-Z: American GangsterAmerican Gangster may never be seen as Jay-Z's defining moment, but it marks his comeback far more effectively than Kingdom Come ever even tried to. [9 November 2007] 
Lisa Gerrard: The Best of Lisa GerrardClearly, someone in Dead Can Dance was headed toward soundtracks. Thank goodness it was Lisa Gerrard. [8 November 2007] 
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Roots, Rock, RemixedThe knowledge that Roots, Rock, Remixed is endorsed by the folks in charge of Marley's legacy lends it a sense of legitimacy. Plus, DJ Shadow's involved. How bad could it be? [7 November 2007] 
Hyperbubble: Airbrushed AlibisWhen the end result is as fun as this, who really needs change anyway? 
Barenaked Ladies: Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan [DVD]Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan is, at its heart, a perfect synopsis of the Barenaked Ladies live experience. [6 November 2007] 
DJ Alibi: One DayDespite all of the weapons in his own arsenal, it's made clear on One Day that Alibi shines brightest in his collaborations. [5 November 2007] 
Dälek: Deadverse Massive Vol. 1Deaverse Massive Vol. 1 is more fanservice than album proper. [30 October 2007] 
Britney Spears: BlackoutBritney is reduced to a disembodied voice hung robotically over the top of these tracks, purring disinterestedly into a microphone until someone tells her to stop. [29 October 2007] 
A.R.E. Weapons: Modern MayhemA.R.E. Weapons' fourth full-length just sounds like something that would come from New York. 
Odd Nosdam: Level Live WiresThe appeal of Level Live Wires lies in its pervasive stillness. [23 October 2007] 
Porn Sword Tobacco: New Exclusive Olympic HeightsNew Exclusive Olympic Heights continues the Porn Sword Tobacco tradition of finding the beauty in found sounds amongst traditional electronic ambient compositions. 
Luke Temple: SnowbeastWhere on the previous release, Hold a Match..., Luke Temple sounded humble and eager to please, he now sounds weary and wise. [22 October 2007] 
Tesla: Real to ReelThe band from the '80s that should have been from the '70s makes an album in the '00s. [18 October 2007] 
ATB: TrilogyTrilogy is aimed at least as much at pop radio as it is at the dancefloor. [9 October 2007] 
KMFDM: TohuvabohuTohuvabohu is KMFDM’s best effort in years. Even if you've lost your faith in the band, give it a listen; you might just find the spark you'd all but forgotten about. [5 October 2007] 
KT Tunstall: Drastic FantasticKT Tunstall's second full-length studio album is a wonderfully sage effort from an artist suddenly endowed with an audience. [4 October 2007] 
Def Tex: Thanks But No ThanksThanks But No Thanks might just be the most accomplished, accessible, and worthwhile album of Def Tex's long career thus far. [28 September 2007] rhacpThe fact that a game like rhacp feels as fun as it does might speak to a lowering of gamer standards, spurred by a glut of casual games and collections. [20 September 2007] 
108: A New Beat From a Dead HeartDespite a couple of missteps, 108 sounds alive and ready to take on the world once more. [10 September 2007] 
OffsideIn Offside, both the men and the women are captives, prisoners of what the film presents as an outdated, archaic mindset. 
Rabbit in the Moon: Decade [DVD]Decade would have sounded fresh, new, and exciting in the mid-'90s; now, it's a case of retro gone wrong, retro before we were ready. [7 September 2007] 
Angels of Light: We Are HimWe Are Him showcases a side of Michael Gira that shares more in common with, say, Jim Thirlwell than it does Johnny Cash. [30 August 2007] 
Digitalism: IdealismDigitalism truly clicks when its signature sound is all that is required to make a certain track function. [24 August 2007] 
Au: AuAu's Luke Wyland seems to have the right idea, with his commitment to individuality and willingness to go where his muse takes him; regrettably, that muse isn't quite ready for prime time. [20 August 2007] 
PTV3: Hell is Invisible…Heaven is Her/ePerhaps it is the changing musical landscape that is to blame for the apparent deficiencies of Genesis P-Orridge's latest musical outing. [16 August 2007] 
Ozma: PasadenaIn all, it's more like Weezer's green self-titled album than anything, eager to live up to an ideal and doing a good job of it. [14 August 2007] 
Strategy: Future RockStrategy's vision of "future rock", it seems, derives its vocals from the vocoders of Kraftwerk, its ambience from the kraut of Can, and its groove from the spaceship Funkadelic. [10 August 2007] 
Svoy: EclectricSvoy has a wonderful idea of who he wants to be, but he spends so much of the album trying to live up to that standard that he seems to forget what makes his best songs so great in the first place. [8 August 2007] 
Apparat: WallsApparat masters the art of balance, and does a bit too good a job of it. [2 August 2007] 
Veil Veil Vanish: Into a New MausoleumSure, Veil Veil Vanish sounds like the Cure, but at least they do a good job at it. [1 August 2007] 
Moka Only: VermilionAsk Moka Only, and he'll tell you that this is the album he "wanted" to make. [31 July 2007] 
The Young Gods: Super Ready / FragmentéSuper Ready / Fragmenté sounds neat, in just about every sense of the word. [26 July 2007] 
The Last Mimzy (2007)Where the science ends and the fantasy begins is made too clear in The Last Mimzy. [24 July 2007] 
Guitar: Dealin with Signal and NoiseThe most rewarding tracks on Dealin with Signal and Noise are the noisiest ones. [23 July 2007] 
U2: The DVD Collectors Box [DVD]U2: The DVD Collector's Box didn't have a chance, quite frankly. [18 July 2007] 
Thilges: La Double AbsenceLa Double Absence is a lovely approximation of Persian and Afghan songcraft, with surprisingly subtle bits of electronics mixed in. [17 July 2007] 
Kiko Navarro: Perceptions of PachaAll the production skill in the world can't infuse music with feeling. [12 July 2007] 
Smashing Pumpkins: ZeitgeistWhat Zeitgeist is really about, what all Pumpkins albums are really about, is Billy Corgan. [9 July 2007] 
Tiësto: Elements of LifeOn Elements of Life, Tiësto goes straight for what he knows, with another set of techno-trance anthems designed to get the dancefloors bumping. [6 July 2007] 
Gudrun Gut: I Put a Record OnI Put a Record On is hypnotic and fascinating in all the right ways. [29 June 2007] 
Tomahawk: AnonymousAnonymous succeeds almost entirely thanks to the effort and drive of Duane Denison. [27 June 2007] 
Bunny: Play to My Own TuneBunny is at his best when he's the humble sad clown of Play My Own Tune's mesmerizing cover. [26 June 2007] 
Beastie Boys: The Mix-UpBeastie Boys duct-tape their mouths shut and come up with a competent palette-cleanser-slash-chillout album. 
Mark Ronson: VersionIf Ronson is going to pander to an audience, he may as well be straightforward about it. [25 June 2007] 
Fridge: The SunIt's rather wonderful to see that the chemistry that they've always maintained as a collective seems all but untouched by that multitude of time away from each other. [20 June 2007] 
The Polyphonic Spree: The Fragile ArmyYou could put as many strings, horns, flutes and theremins as you'd like on these songs, and they'd still be pop songs, with glorious, ingratiating pop hooks. [19 June 2007] 
Glint: Mode to Joywhile Glint's humble, nice-guy act is a bit refreshing in an industry dominated by ego, the band would truly soar if it removed the shackles of its own making and just careened in every direction. 
Satanicpornocultshop: .aiff SkullThe .aiff Skull EP is little more than a vaguely interesting means to a massive headache. [6 June 2007] 
Noctorum: Offer the LightOffer the Light is a well-produced, well-performed set from an obvious veteran of the industry. [31 May 2007] 
Vandaveer: Grace & SpeedVandaveer's Mark Charles Heidinger can tell a pitch-black story in a way that makes it sound more like unfortunate happenstance than world-moving tragedy. 
Throbbing Gristle: Part Two: The Endless NotIt was 1982 when Throbbing Gristle last released an album of new material. It is now 25 years after that. Of course they sound a bit different. [18 May 2007] 
Mnemic: PassengerWhere Passenger manages to exceed Mnemic's previous efforts is in accessibility, due in no small part to new vocalist Guillaume Bideau's willingness to clean up his vocals for extended stretches. [15 May 2007] 
Sage Francis: Human the Death DanceIt is Sage Francis' self-inflicted precedent of thematically consistent albums that exposes the weaknesses of Human the Death Dance. [10 May 2007] 
Static of the Gods: Cycles Follow SignsStatic of the Gods is a fairly run-of-the-mill power pop band with a vocalist that occasionally evokes Gwen Stefani, but is more comfortable mimicking post-Matrix Liz Phair. [9 May 2007] 
The Loop: Season OneAs a first-season comedy, this showed flashes of the sort of quick-hit, chemistry-based comedy that could make for a surprise hit. 
Lumines PlusLumines Plus is just frustrating enough to be rewarding every time you keep the board clear for long enough to tackle another skin, just simple enough to allow you to zone out while playing it. [7 May 2007] 
Xbxrx: WarsRiff, time change, riff, time change, three-second drum solo, time change, riffriffriffriffriff, end. 
Kilo: KiloKilo's latest album is a largely quiet, humble masterpiece of misleading expectations. [2 May 2007] 
Sia: Lady CroissantFurler bends her vowels to the point that her words become nigh-unintelligible, perhaps to make up for the fact that every single song in the live set is a lush, slow-to-mid-tempo affair. 
Vega4: You and OthersThis is the music that puts images of perfectly-placed rainstorms and floating, windblown plastic bags in your head. [16 April 2007] 
Ollo: The If IfThe If If isn't about to blow any minds, but one gets the impression that that's not what Ollo set out to do. [13 April 2007] 
Timbaland: Shock ValueThe man who calls himself Thomas Crown steps into the spotlight for an above-average pop album that could have been so much more. [12 April 2007] 
Super Paper MarioIt is Super Paper Mario's quick wit, above all, that makes it such a joy to play. [9 April 2007] 
Fort Knox Five: RemintedThat Fort Knox Five can wrap so many sounds and styles into such a consistent, dancefloor-friendly package shows not only serious instrumental and production skills, but a remarkable consistency of vision. [5 April 2007] 
Naked: Lets Get Naked…and Start a RevolutionNaked: the Firehouse of the 21st century. [4 April 2007] 
Minmae: 835835 pushes songwriter Sean Brooks' cheeky sense of humor farther to the front than it's ever been before. [3 April 2007] 
Post Industrial Boys: TraumaThis is the music of a brave new world, where emotion is eliminated and only structure remains. [2 April 2007] 
Roxette: A Collection of Roxette HitsA Collection of Roxette Hits is what it is, it does its job just fine, and if you buy it, you know pretty much exactly what you're getting into. [30 March 2007] 
The Prize Fighter Inferno: My Brothers Blood MachineCoheed and Cambria's Claudio Sanchez has written some decent enough songs for his new project, but it's the clumsy attempts to tie it to the Coheed mythology that doom it to mediocrity. [29 March 2007] 
Hella: Theres No 666 in Outer SpaceDespite the precise playing, despite the fact that there are vocals, and despite the presence of plenty of startlingly fresh moments, There's No 666 in Outer Space is surprisingly forgettable. [26 March 2007] 
Laibach: Divided States of America [DVD]Like it or not, what Divided States of America ultimately does is give face to the beauty of America (and the rest of what is considered the "free world") via all of the ugly that it deigns to show. [21 March 2007] 
Zoodrive: Not Fully MedicatedZoodrive makes rock music, and Not Fully Medicated is an EP full of rock songs. 
Aereogramme: My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not GoAereogramme's latest album is entirely successful in just about everything save its choice of title. [16 March 2007] 
Football Mogul 2007There are too many little mistakes, too many annoyances, and far, far too many AI glitches to allow Football Mogul to succeed as the "thinking man's" American football game. Naruto: Uzumaki ChroniclesFor better or for worse, Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles gives us more time than any other recent Naruto title to become acquainted with Naruto himself. [2 March 2007] 
Bloc Party: A Weekend in the CityA Weekend in the City is the type of album made by bands that aren't quite sure where to go for their second statement to the world, after their first statement is received with almost universal acclaim. [22 February 2007] 
Tia Carrera: self-titledWhen the best you can say for an album is that one track incorporates an organ, there's something wrong. [16 February 2007] 
Laibach: VolkVolk shows that anthems are statements of defiance as much as of pride, expressions of the will of a country's people to die for the sake of a geographical and ideological boundary. 
Tor Lundvall: Empty CityThe predominant image that appears when listening to Empty City is that of a dark, blacklight-laden, smoke-filled apartment at 4:30 in the morning. [15 February 2007] 
Dead Voices on Air: From Labrador to MadagascarThough discordance and dread are Dead Voices on Air trademarks, the best moments on From Labrador to Madagascar are the pretty ones. [12 February 2007] 
Copeland: Eat, Sleep, RepeatPutting a new spin on an old formula doesn't always make for an improvement on that formula. 
Deerhunter: CryptogramsDeerhunter has skills that transcend the cheap shock value of its previous album, its members proving themselves equally adept at ambient, looped strums as they are at pleasing-if-barely-in-tune jangle pop. [8 February 2007] 
The Penny Loafers: QuicksandThis may be it -- this may be the album that puts the Penny Loafers back on track toward some serious national recognition. [7 February 2007] 
Teitur: Stay Under the StarsStay Under the Stars is admittedly unremarkable, but it's unremarkable in such a unique, gratifying way that one cannot help but be drawn to it. [5 February 2007] 
Shawn Lees Ping Pong Orchestra: Voices and ChoicesThese are songs crying out for indie films that don't necessarily take themselves too seriously, ones that, preferably, contain an action sequence or two; perhaps a car chase, or a well-dressed man flying an ornithopter to freedom. [31 January 2007] 
Sparta: ThreesSparta allows the "art" to return to the "rock," to decidedly mixed results. [23 January 2007] 
Eliot Morris: Whats Mine is YoursWhen the cover of a major label debut album makes your prize artist look like a statue, some marketing guy needs to get his hand slapped. [19 January 2007] 
2 Bit Pie: 2 Pie Island2 Pie Island, for the most part, might as well be the next Fluke record, even as it outshines anything Fluke ever did in both variety and scope. [17 January 2007] 
Glow WormGlow Worm is pretty, to be sure, but what good is a puzzle game that never actually puzzles? 
The Panic Channel: (ONe)There are flashes of talent that make it sound as though the Panic Channel very well could amount to something more than a mid-'90s tribute band. 
Of Montreal: Satanic TwinsSatanic Twins was meant for the club, and as a collection of club tunes, it does just fine. [15 January 2007] 
Thumbtack Smoothie: Fall BackFall Back is a unique take on electronic beatmaking, and therefore heartily recommended to the adventurous. [9 January 2007] 
Johan: THX JHNAn utterly appealing blend of driving pop guitars, melodies that you never quite see coming before they hit you, and smarter lyrics than you might expect. [PopMatters Pick] [4 January 2007] 
Sister Hazel: AbsolutelyIf you yearn for a return to the sensitive-guys-with-guitars movement of the late '90s, Absolutely is your ticket home. [3 January 2007] 
Incubus: Light GrenadesLight Grenades might actually be the album that could make people stop wishing that Incubus was the band it used to be. 
Various Artists: Jukebox BuddhaThe common thread of the Buddha Machine is simply not enough to provide the sense of purpose necessary for an effective ambient release. [21 December 2006] 
Seht: The Green MorningThe Green Morning is about empty space, barren metallic wastelands, and post-nuclear landscapes. [20 December 2006] 
Faithless: 3DMake yourself comfortable, and get ready for 230 minutes of Faithless mixtape action. [18 December 2006] 
The Crash: Pony RideOne of the best "Britpop" albums of the year, courtesy of a band from Finland. [12 December 2006] 
Snoop Dogg: Tha Blue Carpet TreatmentSnoop Dogg invites a bunch of friends to the studio, records a small army of songs, accomplishes not much of anything. [4 December 2006] 
FM3 and Dou Wei: Hou Guan YinCould we really have been expecting them to top the Buddha Machine? [29 November 2006] 
Darc Mind: Symptomatic of a Greater IllYou're telling me this album's 10 years old? Seriously? Damn. 
Rock Star Supernova: Rock Star SupernovaIf you want to prove to the world that you're not a cliché, shouldn't you be singing about something other than girls, kicking ass, and how awesome you are? 
Foo Fighters: Skin and BonesInadvertently, Foo Fighters have put out the most listenable, enjoyable disc of their career so far. [27 November 2006] 
Swollen Members: Black MagicFor a band whose name should imply otherwise, Swollen Members' latest album is oddly flaccid. [22 November 2006] 
Inca Ore: The Birds in the BushesInca Ore and Lemon Bear get together and put on a clinic in difficult listening. [21 November 2006] 
The You: For the MassesThe You is rough around the edges and stylistically all over the place, but Josh Verbanets' debut points to a bright future. [15 November 2006] 
Zea: Insert Parallel UniverseCopious quirk and a sense of humor. What's not to like? [9 November 2006] 
Yip-Yip: In the Reptile HouseThe goggled wonders actually put out a CD that has memorable style and memorable music! [6 November 2006] 
Tears for Fears: GoldJust about worth the purchase price for its single new track, Gold is the best summary thus far of Tears for Fears' 25 years. 
Steril: RealismApparently, the folks in Steril would prefer to forget their last couple albums ever existed. [1 November 2006] 
Headman: OnGerman DJ invites over some friends, records some vocals, phones in some production. [30 October 2006] 
Trivium: The CrusadeIf the closest point of comparison is mid-'80s Metallica, how bad could it be? [25 October 2006] 
James Kochalka Superstar: Spread Your Evil Wings and FlySo, uh, what exactly is "chooglin'," anyway? [24 October 2006] 
Polyphonic: Abstract Data ArkThat comparisons to obscure electronic artists come quite readily to mind could either add to the excitement or the frustration of listening to Abstract Data Ark. [18 October 2006] 
Harper Lee: He Holds a FlameHe Holds a Flame is an EP that draws you in, wraps you in blankets, and serves you hot cocoa. [17 October 2006] 
Crackhaus: Spells Disaster…Crackhaus, bar none the most successful Montreal micro-house humorists ever, drop a full-length anvil on the dancefloor. [12 October 2006] Michael Zapruders Rain of Frogs: New Ways of Letting GoIt's a bit tedious, but Michael Zapruder's latest album is also very, very pretty. [10 October 2006] 
Massiv in Mensch: Klang der UnterblichkeitThe so-called "darkravers" do their scary darkravey-like thing for six tracks on this iTunes-exclusive EP. [9 October 2006] 
Dan Bern: BreatheBreathe finds a Dan Bern whose Big Ideas have gotten smaller, as he tries to parse the personal relationships and struggles of everyday Americans. [6 October 2006] 
Boy Eats Drum Machine: PleasureBoy Eats Drum Machine mines some freely available breaks to create an album that's... interesting. [2 October 2006] 
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects: Listen UpWe may not know who Mr. Tube is, but we do know he writes a decent tune. [29 September 2006] 
The Penny Loafers: Side AThe Penny Loafers have recorded a decent little college a cappella album, but it's not enough to propel them from the shadows of UPenn's other a cappella groups... [26 September 2006] 
Akron/Family: Meek WarriorUnderground folk's least dysfunctional Family finds another way to one-up itself. 
Alien Ant Farm: Up in the AtticUp in the Attic is the sound of a band losing its identity in the transition from silly jokers to serious artists. 
Sleepthief: The DawnseekerIf you've heard Delerium, Conjure One, or even Enigma, you've heard this. [25 September 2006] 
Alias & Tarsier: Plane That Draws a White LineAlias and Tarsier are so reverential toward each others' work that they spend far too much time staying out of each others' way. [22 September 2006] 
The Never: AntarcticaAntarctica is an impressive, artistic audio-visual multimedia experience...or something like that. [21 September 2006] 
Rasmus Møbius: Medicine WalkRasmus Møbius sets out on his own to create a pure album, unfettered by guest appearances, of his own brand of cut-up dub-hop. [14 September 2006] 
Helios: EingyaAcheiving that fleeting balance between prettiness and interest, Helios delivers a lush instrumental that actually engages the heart. [13 September 2006] 
Mint: MagnetismBelgian group's second album is full of college radio-friendly charming pop. [12 September 2006] 
Lotterboys: AnimaliaAnimalia is good for a few nods of the head and a giggle or three, but its proud superficiality ultimately becomes its downfall. [8 September 2006] 
Audioslave: RevelationsA mere year and a half after Out of Exile, Audioslave tweaks the formula a bit, but manages nothing all that revelatory. [7 September 2006] Super Dragon Ball ZSuper Dragon Ball Z is a PlayStation 2 game with coin-op motivation. 
Psalm One: The Death of Frequent FlyerPsalm One has the fire, the flow, and the charisma to succeed -- once she finds the production, she'll fly. [6 September 2006] 
Orbit Service: Songs of Eta CarinaeSongs of Eta Carinae tempers a large helping of dark psychedelia with enough catharsis to keep it from becoming tedious. [5 September 2006] 
Darker My Love: Darker My LoveDarker My Love is an excellent debut from a band delightfully willing to spurn the pop charts in favor of a consistent, interesting, absorbing musical vision. [31 August 2006] 
The Slow Signal Fade: SteadyThe Slow Signal Fade taps Steve Albini for an all-or-nothing stab at the coveted next level. [30 August 2006] 
Pan•American: For Waiting, for ChasingEvery single track on For Waiting, for Chasing oozes with the love that Mark Nelson harbors for his young son. [28 August 2006] 
Sumo: The DancebandThe Danceband is the sound of a bunch of Swedes making Latin music... and it works. [24 August 2006] 
Jandek: What Else Does the Time MeanWhat Else Does the Time Mean is wonderful for those who appreciate Jandek's form of anti-music, and utterly impenetrable for the uninitiated. [22 August 2006] 
Hoobastank: Every Man for HimselfIt seems that until Hoobastank finally give in to their hidden adult-contemporary desires, they will be destined to languish in a morass of unoriginality. [18 August 2006] 
Rachael Sage: The Blistering SunWe may have a new leader in the battle of the fiery redheads with seven albums and an affinity for the piano... [14 August 2006] 
Matthew Friedberger: Winter Women / Holy Ghost Language SchoolChances are, a simple look at the name of the artist tells you all you need to know about what's contained on the album. [10 August 2006] 
Ani DiFranco: ReprieveAnother year, another Ani album, this one finding our hero examining herself as much as she does the world around her. [9 August 2006] 
Ryuichi Sakamoto: BricolagesThe best we can say for this remix album is that the original material still sounds great. [4 August 2006] 
Super Monkey Ball AdventureThis is about breathing new life into a series via an expanded, developed one-player experience. 
Powerman 5000: Destroy What You EnjoyDestroy What You Enjoy is so obviously directed toward the maintenance of a predefined image as to be a finger in the throat of all but the Hot Topic suburban drones that still find something appealing about this silly little band. [2 August 2006] 
Tony Bennett: Through the YearsThrough the Years is a compilation of Tony Bennett's hits. Need I say more? [20 July 2006] 
Lisa Germano: In the Maybe WorldLyrically, In the Maybe World is quite good. Musically, it could induce narcolepsy. [18 July 2006] 
Cex: Actual FuckingCex's Rjyan Kidwell goes back to indie rockin'. Think Maryland Mansions, except less depressing. [17 July 2006] 
CarsWe are finally getting to the point where controlling the avatar on-screen is actually like taking on the role of the movie's protagonist. [14 July 2006] 
The Buttless Chaps: Where Night Holds LightWhere Night Holds Light eschews novelty for soft pop/rock leanings. Occasionally, it works, too. [11 July 2006] 
Camille: Le FilAs far as pseudo-a cappella experimental pop albums go, Le Fil is undeniably excellent. [5 July 2006] 
Scientific Lifestyle: Modern Sounds for the New EraScientificLifestyle may call it "rocktronica", but Modern Sounds for the New Era is unabashedly pop. [29 June 2006] 
Codec & Flexor: KillermachineA little bit irreverent, a little bit aggressive, a little bit harsh and a little bit old school, Killermachine is a synth purist's dream. [16 June 2006] 
Klimek: Music to Fall AsleepGuitars add a lot to Klimek's ambience, but their presence doesn't stop an album called Music to Fall Asleep from working a little too well. [14 June 2006] 
Sofa Surfers: Sofa SurfersSofa Surfers expertly illuminate the dark side of a world with no easy answers -- and they do it with style. [12 June 2006] 
Mugison: Little TripAs a soundtrack, it's fairly interesting and engrossing. As a Mugison album, however, it lacks that special something... [2 June 2006] 
Peeping Tom: Peeping TomStop the presses! Mike Patton still knows how to sing like a (sort of) normal human being! [31 May 2006] 
Smoosh: Free to StayWhat if I don't like Free to Stay? What if I find the Smoosh sisters' dad on my doorstep with a baseball bat a couple days after this review runs? [30 May 2006] 
Sophie Barker: EarthboundIt's a shame when moments of such beauty can be swallowed by albums that fall into the same old downtempo traps. 
Phoenix: Its Never Been Like ThatThe lack of imperfections makes these supposed lightning bolts of inspiration sound awfully, well, calculated. [25 May 2006] 
Moov: The Arrivant Volume 1They look like concept albums, they smell like concept albums, but in the end, the two volumes of The Arrivant are just another bunch of Tracks. [12 May 2006] 
Lansing-Dreiden: The Dividing IslandAt what point does a piece of music turn from artful homage to unintentional parody? [11 May 2006] 
Smoking Popes: At MetroThe Smoking Popes mark their triumphant return with one pretty fantastic live album. Reunions rarely feel so vital. [4 May 2006] 
Guitar: TokyoHow did such a lovely-sounding experiment turn into rudimentary trip-hop with fancy guitars? [2 May 2006] 
Shalabi Effect: UnfortunatelyAs calculated as an improv-noise album can be, Unfortunately melds the accessible with the impenetrable. [26 April 2006] 
Super XX Man: XX looks back on ten years of Scott Garred's own little brand of musical therapy. [25 April 2006] 
CacheFlowe: Automate EverythingAutomate Everything is an appropriate title for an album on which nothing is left to chance, with every sequence, note, and sample meticulously placed in the mix. [20 April 2006] 
Gotan Project: LunáticoIf only updating an established style could always be as successful as this. [13 April 2006] 
Rah Bras: WHOHMRah Bras will eat you alive, digest you, regurgitate you, and then maybe eat you again, like cows, except greener and with alien antennae. [11 April 2006] 
Edwin McCain: Lost in AmericaLost in America is Americana through a mid-'90s singer-songwriter filter, except a little less exciting. [10 April 2006] 
MONO: You Are ThereMONO catches up to its legendary live experience not via brute force, but through an exquisite display of melodic and dynamic subtlety. 
Excepter: SunbomberSunbomber’s most obvious strength and most glaring flaw is entirely the point of its release: It was recorded on a hot summer day in one hour. [3 April 2006] 
Steril: 400 Years of Electronic MusicSteril summarizes their first 400 (give or take 390) years in the music biz, documenting the effect of evolution on an EBM band while they're at it. [31 March 2006] 
Juvenile: Reality CheckThe hype for Reality Check makes it out to be a statement album, a reaction to the recent plight of New Orleans. Don’t believe it. [28 March 2006] 
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones: The Hidden LandThe Flecktones manage to mature even as they return to their basic sound. The Hidden Land awaits. [24 March 2006] 
Mclusky: McluskyismWith the collector's version coming in at a robust three CDs, Mcluskyism is as comprehensive and well put together a parting shot as you're likely to see this year. 
Ursula 1000: Here Comes TomorrowIt's a party! And you're invited! Just don't expect to meet the host. [22 March 2006] 
Liars: Drum’s Not DeadOver the course of their short career thus far, Liars music has invited more analysis than emotion. Drum's Not Dead may be the first step in changing that. [20 March 2006] 
Hush: BulletproofOn Bulletproof, Hush flashes enough skill to demonstrate that he could one day step out of Eminem's shadow. Today is not that day. [16 March 2006] 
Revolting Cocks: Cocked and LoadedJust as revolting as the band's name would imply, Cocked and Loaded would have been better if Al Jourgensen passed gas into a microphone for 45 minutes and released the result as an album. [15 March 2006] 
Various Artists: Futurism Aint Shit to Me 2Germany’s KYO Records puts out an independent hip-hop compilation that’s everything you’d expect -- and it’s fun, too! [13 March 2006] 
Ghostigital: In Cod We TrustIn Cod We Trust is truly bizarre spazz-industrial from the ever-warped mind of ex-Sugarcube Einar Örn. [9 March 2006] 
The Dictionary of Corporate Bullshit: An A to Z Lexicon of Empty, Enraging, and Just Plain Stupid OfWe are getting a glimpse of someone else's office hell, and that makes it engaging in that car crash kind of way. [7 March 2006] Appareil: Judas KissDance beats can make almost anything worth tolerating, but Appareil’s debut is so laughably awful as to prove the exception to such a rule. [28 February 2006] Sevendust: NextSevendust cranks out a solid album, looking back at the aggression of the past while searching for a new identity for the future. [27 February 2006] William Orbit: Hello WaveformsNot that he was ever particularly "hard", per se, but the first album in six years from William Orbit is that of an artist gone soft. [24 February 2006] Prefuse 73: Security ScreeningsGuillermo Scott Herren’s new “mini-album” sounds to be entirely a reaction to his previous album, and a solid one at that. Even so, the two share a single damning trait... [21 February 2006] Part 2: Live from the BreadlineAs usual, Part 2 deviates from the norm, this time by releasing a solo album that somehow manages to be a completely collaborative effort. [20 February 2006] 
Quio: Like OoohQuio comes off like the infuriating classmate who seems intent on proving that charm alone can pass classes -- sure, she may often be right, but what will she have accomplished? [17 February 2006] 
Yellowcard: Lights and SoundsYellowcard reaches for its Big Important Statement but only manages to grab a heaping pile of utter mediocrity. [16 February 2006] Coldcut: Sound MirrorsSound Mirrors is the sound of two old friends having an absolute blast creating some stellar music. Who could expect anything less? [15 February 2006] 
Sia: Colour the Small OneSia takes difficult subject matter and lovingly dissects it, allowing her listeners a beautiful glimpse at a tortured psyche. [30 January 2006] 
Shakeyface: Bicycle Day BoogalooShakeyface sure knows how to bookend an album -- he’ll really be in business when he can figure out what to put in the middle. [25 January 2006] 
Sarah McLachlan: Bloom Remix AlbumThe producers of the remixes on Bloom do everything they can to make the songs their own, but the centerpiece remains McLachlan's beautiful voice. [17 January 2006] 
Horrorpops: Bring it On!For a band with as much attitude as Horrorpops convey, their sound is surprisingly poppy, an attribute that only works to their benefit. [16 January 2006] 
Cat Power: The GreatestSeventh full-length for indie singer-songwriter was recorded at Memphis' Ardent Studios with the help of some soul veterans. 
Prince Paul: Hip Hop Gold DustPrince Paul digs through the archives for lost masterpieces. Mostly, he finds castoffs that should have stayed as such, but a few tracks will have listeners doing double takes. [6 January 2006] 
INXS: SwitchHard as he might try, J.D. Fortune can't quite overcome the problem of a tight, American Idol-like turnaround time. [4 January 2006] Blockhead: Downtown ScienceBlockhead's latest foray into instrumental hip-hop isn't so much heavy as it is weighty, not so much oppressive as it is suffocating. [3 January 2006] 
The Prodigy: Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005Retrospectives usually deal in past glories, but few document a group in decline as obviously as this one. [23 December 2005] 
Windy and Carl: The Dream House / Dedications to FleaFrom tragic origins comes evocative, vital drone. [22 December 2005] 
Ms. Dynamite: Judgement DaysIt's a sense of responsibility that both blesses and dooms Judgement Days -- Ms. Dynamite takes on deadbeat dads, abusive priests, and the Prime Minister, all while embracing the joy of motherhood. [21 December 2005] 
Robbie Williams: Intensive CareWith the help of a new songwriting partner, Robbie Williams grounds himself and grows up a bit. [15 December 2005] 
Clapan: 21st Century Lullaby21st Century Lullaby is what happens when the Aphex Twin sound is coupled with inspiration from a young boy. [13 December 2005] 
Steve Dawson: Sweet is the AnchorSensitive songs about sensitive things, most often sung with an acoustic guitar. Yes, this has been done before, and better. [12 December 2005] 
Martin Sexton: Camp HolidayMartin Sexton kicks back, grabs a cup of hot cocoa and a guitar, and strums out a few Christmas tunes for all of us to enjoy. [9 December 2005] 
U2: Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago [DVD]Bono sets an example for us all, putting in a full night's work on his birthday. [8 December 2005] 
Nelly: SweatsuitNelly cuts the fat from last year's bloated double disc set, and somehow ends up with something almost as bad. [5 December 2005] 
LD & the New Criticism: Tragic RealismIf a cathartic set of silly breakup anthems that usually result in the death of one or more parties sounds like your cup of tea, LD is here to help. [1 December 2005] 
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (Special 25th Anniversary Edition)So maybe Jello Biafra wants nothing to do with this release -- his presence is still felt, all over this newest version of the classic, brilliant, first Dead Kennedys album. Accept no imitations. [30 November 2005] 
Jesus Jones: Live at the Marquee [DVD]Jesus Jones delivers a live show/interview combo that's sure to please the hardcore fans, but just as sure to alienate everyone else. [21 November 2005] 
Skinny Puppy: The Greater Wrong of the Right Live [DVD]The Greater Wrong of the Right Live is a truly astounding look at the Skinny Puppy live experience. [18 November 2005] 
Pilotdrift: Water SphereIf you find the Flaming Lips too conservative for your tastes, you may have found your new favorite band. [15 November 2005] 
Kid Icarus: The Metal WestThe Metal West is notable mostly for its creator's chosen band name, which is far from enough to justify its existence. 
Little Plastic Pilots: Little Plastic PilotsLittle Plastic Pilots treads the line between pleasant and boring just a little too closely. [14 November 2005] 
Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions [DVD]It isn't quite Queen that we're witnessing; it's more like Queen's rambunctious younger brother. [11 November 2005] 
Aphrodite: OverdriveThere's not a lot of variety to be found on Overdrive, but that's hardly a problem if all you're looking for is a shot of pure adrenaline. [10 November 2005] 
Meat Beat Manifesto: Off-CentreJack Dangers freaked out his fanbase with a jaunt into jazz on his last full-length release, At the Center. Off-Centre is where he tells that same fanbase to chill out, already. [8 November 2005] 
Bloodhound Gang: Hefty FineHefty Fine is repulsive in every possible way. Maybe if we ignore it, it'll go away. [7 November 2005] 
FM3: Buddha MachineThe Buddha Machine is a counterargument to the age of downloading housed in a little plastic box. [1 November 2005] 
Atmosphere: You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re HavingAtmosphere follows up the behemoth Seven's Travels with something a little smaller, a little more spontaneous, a little bit better. [31 October 2005] 
AFX: Hangable Auto BulbOut of eBay and into our CD players -- Richard D. James experiments with drill 'n' bass on this reissue of the rare EPs. [28 October 2005] 
John Arnold: Style and PatternJohn Arnold melds his influences to create an album true to its name -- Style and Pattern wields more style in one track than most entire albums. [26 October 2005] 
Bush: Zen X Four [DVD]Maybe Bush wasn't groundbreaking or particularly memorable, but the band deserves better than this incomplete, slapdash cash-grab of a DVD. [21 October 2005] 
Echo Depth Finders: The City of DollsEcho Depth Finders eschew the slick production and self-aggrandizement of traditional hip-hop, only to find themselves lost in figuring out how to deal with what's left. [19 October 2005] 
Conjure One: Extraordinary WaysFor music that sounds like it took so much effort to put together, Extraordinary Ways sure does slip easily into the background. [13 October 2005] 
Kid 606: ResilienceKid 606 finally finds the freedom to make the album he's always wanted to make -- a completely and utterly ordinary one. [12 October 2005] 
311: Don’t Tread on MeDespite its confrontational title, Don't Tread on Me is a lighter, happier version of the shtick 311 has all but trademarked over the past 15 years. [11 October 2005] 
Osvaldo Golijov / Luciano Berio: Ayre / Folk SongsUsing Folk Songs as a starting point and the lovely voice of Dawn Upshaw as inspiration, Golijov has created a work of remarkable breadth and nuance. [10 October 2005] 
Cold: A Different Kind of PainDespite lyrics that go beyond the usual themes, this is still the type of album that turned "nu" into a two-letter joke. [4 October 2005] 
Morcheeba: The AntidoteThis record is a study in the way a new vocalist can completely change the sound of a band. Your mileage may vary. [29 September 2005] 
Barbez: InsignificanceWith Insignificance, Barbez has created an album that plows headstrong into the unknown, aware of its own influences but never swayed by the influence (or fear) of outside opinion. [28 September 2005] 
David Gray: Life in Slow MotionDavid Gray leaves his bedroom behind, traveling with new producer Marius de Vries into the unknown of full-on studio wizardry. [27 September 2005] 
Various Artists: Latin Travels 2Latin Travels 2 is all about the dance, and at that it succeeds -- just don't go into it looking for education. [23 September 2005] 
Decomposure: At Home and UnaffectedTake piano pop. Stuff it in a blender. Push purée. Record to compact disc. Enjoy. [22 September 2005] 
Horace X: StrategyOn Strategy, Horace X combines serious musical chops with near-unmatched energy, all while doing away with the evidently outdated concept of 'genre'. [21 September 2005] 
Our Lady Peace: Healthy in Paranoid TimesThe lyrics are good. The melodies are decent. The problem is, the two can't manage to work together long enough to result in something compelling. [20 September 2005] 
Josh Joplin: JaywalkerJosh Joplin gets his feet wet as a solo artist. Regrettably, he forgot to take off his socks. [19 September 2005] 
Cranes: Particles and WavesCranes have put together an understated, subtle, and often utterly beautiful album. Still, the opinion of anyone who hears it will come down to one thing... [14 September 2005] 
Harold Budd and Eraldo Bernocchi: Music for ‘Fragments from the Inside’Budd and Bernocchi explore their minimalistic tendencies through a work that is too subtle, nuanced, and developed to even approach the label of 'minimal'. [1 September 2005] 
Peter Grummich: Switch Off the Soap OperaPeter Grummich is a master manipulator of minimalist mélange. He busts out some solid beats, too. [10 August 2005] 
Felix Laband: Dark Days ExitIt could be soothing us, or it could be lulling us into a false sense of security. Either way, it's quite wonderful. [9 August 2005] 
ZZZZ: Palm ReaderIt's obvious from the get-go that ZZZZ is kind of nuts, in the best of ways. Unfortunately, it takes a bit more than that to produce a great listen. [4 August 2005] 
Luke Vibert: Lover’s AcidBeware of a bad trip -- Lover's Acid is Luke Vibert on autopilot. [28 July 2005] 
Keith LeBlanc: Stop the Confusion (Global Interference)A solid career retrospective from one of the more important no-names in modern popular music. [26 July 2005] 
Luke Temple: Hold a Match for a Gasoline WorldOne part Jeff Buckley, one part Neil Young, and one part Wayne Coyne, Luke Temple is responsible for the surprise of the year thus far. [21 July 2005] 
Alarm Will Sound: Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex TwinAlarm Will Sound de-constructs and de-mixes the work of electronic madman Richard D. James. It's de-lightful. [20 July 2005] 
Eminem: The Anger Management Tour [DVD]Performances like this are the reason people get hooked on caffeine pills. You'll need a box just to stay awake. [19 July 2005] 
Vast Aire and Mighty Mi: The Best Damn Rap ShowThey get equal billing, but Mighty Mi is the star of this rap show. [13 July 2005] 
Felt: Felt, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Lisa BonetHey, maybe Slug and Murs can pull Lisa Bonet from obscurity into the public consciousness. Probably not, but anything's worth a try. [12 July 2005] 
Kanda: All the Good Meetings Are TakenHow refreshing: A synth-pop band that treats itself as more than simply '80s throwback. [11 July 2005] 
The Planet The: You Absorb My VisionWhat we've got here is failure to communicate. In a word, The Planet The confounds. [7 July 2005] 
Foo Fighters: In Your HonorWithout a rip or a roar, the first disc passes harmlessly -- it's the quieter second disc that truly demands attention. [29 June 2005] 
Kraftwerk: Minimum-MaximumMan or machine? Live or digital? Will the questions ever end?" [24 June 2005] 
C-Rayz Walz: Year of the BeastC-Rayz Walz can write a rhyme, that much is obvious -- now, he just needs to learn the art of building momentum. [23 June 2005] 
33Hz: 33HzSay it's the end of the night, and you need some music that's going to convince everyone to get off the dancefloor and leave the club immediately. 33Hz is your band. [21 June 2005] 
The Orange Peels: Circling the SunThis is a band that sounds legitimately happy -- an increasingly rare feat in the modern, alternative-rock world of lost religion, dirty ground, and digital ash. [17 June 2005] 
Hater: The 2ndFor God's sake, let sleeping dogs lie. The 2nd is a bunch of 10-year-old demos that we're supposed to treat like an album. Right. [15 June 2005] 
Static-X: Start a WarStart a War sees the return of some old friends and an old sound. Welcome home. [13 June 2005] 
Negativland: No BusinessNegativland fights the good fight against corporate America and the recording industry -- what they don't seem to realize is that winning that fight requires a hard and fast solution. [10 June 2005] 
COH: 0397 Post PopWhen you hear the music of COH, do you start salivating? Wait -- I'm getting my Pavlovs mixed up. [9 June 2005] 
Cex: Know DoubtRjyan Kidwell sounds confused. Sometimes it makes for good listening. Mostly, though, it's kind of boring. [7 June 2005] 
Gorillaz: Demon DaysDemon Days surpasses Gorillaz' debut in every conceivable way -- It's not just Damon's Wild Ride anymore. [26 May 2005] 
The Perishers: Let There Be MorningFrom The OC to your CD player, The Perishers are out to... well, not rock you so much as lull you to sleep. [20 May 2005] 
Nine Inch Nails: With TeethSecond verse, same as the first! Trent Reznor signals his triumphant return with more of the damn same. [18 May 2005] 
Ben Folds: Songs for SilvermanA disarmingly mature Ben Folds imparts his nuggets of easily digestible wisdom on the masses. The masses shrug. [13 May 2005] 
Et Sans: Par Noussss Touss les Trous de Vos CrânesTwo words to describe this particularly indescribable album: très bien. [10 May 2005] 
Plate Fork Knife Spoon: self-titledTheir name describes a table setting, but their music dishes out the whole meal, baby. [29 April 2005] 
Sole: Live from RomeSole wants you to think he goes deeper than other MCs -- if you believe it, he's got you fooled, too. [28 April 2005] 
Jane: BerserkerJoin Panda Bear of Animal Collective and his DJ friend Scott Mou for a spiritual hour of gentle noise and pleasant drones. Y'know, if you're into that sort of thing. [27 April 2005] 
Will Smith: Lost and FoundIt's hard to believe that a guy who makes 20 mil a movie would need a comeback album; still, when you've lost all credibility in the rap game, you'd better come out firing. [22 April 2005] 
War Against Sleep: Borderline PersonalityWar Against Sleep's Duncan Fleming is fighting the good fight against banal lyricism, even if his music has some catching up to do. [15 April 2005] 
Motormark: Chrome TapeMotormark's got the energy and the drive to be a great band. Now, if only they could learn to use their instruments... [12 April 2005] 
Jack Johnson: In Between DreamsJack Johnson will never be an artiste. Still -- the world needs him!" [8 April 2005] 
Aqualung: Strange and BeautifulAqualung is (unfortunately?) not a Jethro Tull cover band. It's more like what might happen if Coldplay had a brain. [7 April 2005] 
My Way My Love: Hypnotic Suggestion: 01If you hear this playing in your record store, it may just be time to find a new place to shop. [4 April 2005] 
Jarboe: A Mystery of FaithJarboe comes to terms with her past as a member of Swans and World of Skin, finding a pile of rarities to release in the process. Her fans rejoice. [1 April 2005] 
The Dissociatives: self-titledAdvanced genre math: Dance + Grunge = Pop. The Dissociatives are sweet enough to give you cavities. [31 March 2005] 
hEADaCHE: Fully Automated: The hEADaCHE re:mixesHopefully this release snags hEADaCHE some increased visibility -- he could use some better source material. [29 March 2005] 
Angels of Light: The Angels of Light Sing “Other People”The 'Other People' in the title could refer to Michael Jackson, George W. Bush, Johnny Cash... or perhaps you. [24 March 2005] 
Jennifer Lopez: RebirthShouldn't a 'rebirth' imply some sort of major shift? Not so, for J. Lo. [18 March 2005] 
Kelli Ali: Psychic CatPsychic Cat starts to lose its appeal as soon as you realize that its title isn't a metaphor -- it actually refers to a cat that just might be psychic. [17 February 2005] 
Die Warzau: ConvenienceDie Warzau goes pop! Never imagined it would ever happen, never imagined it could sound this good. [10 February 2005] 
Jarboe: AnhedoniacAn album that serves as a binge and purge of raw human emotion, on display for anyone who dares to look. [9 February 2005] 
Amethystium: EvermindEvermind is Eden without the allure of the poison apple, and really, how interesting is that?. [25 January 2005] 
Downtown: self-titledIf excitement and intrigue are what you're looking for, then Downtown is the last place you want to be. [24 January 2005] 
Weapon of Choice: Color Me FunkyWeapon of Choice is the loud, arrogant guy at the party trying to convince everyone that he's the man, and that everyone else had better respect. [12 January 2005] 
Norah Jones and the Handsome Band: Live in 2004 [DVD]The DVD serves as confirmation that, yes, Norah is Norah, and effectively drives home everything that has now become part of the 'Norah Package'. Quiet, withdrawn demeanor? Check. Slow, peaceful tunes? Check. Total control over a positively velvet voice? Check. [29 November 2004] 
William Shatner: Has BeenHas Been is a brilliant spoken-word album, performed by a man now 73 years old. And somehow, it just might be the pop album of the year. [10 November 2004] 
Rah Bras: EPSRah Bras' new collection is a little too much like an inside joke -- the band and its fans are laughing hysterically while the rest of us scratch our heads. [20 September 2004] 
Tony Hawk’s American WastelandIt's hard not to be struck by the apparent concession that the only people playing the game are going to be male. [1 January 1995]
Super Monkey Ball AdventureThis is about breathing new life into a series via an expanded, developed one-player experience. 
Samurai Champloo: SidetrackedUnfortunately, so much time was spent perfecting the style that gameplay got the shaft.
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