I'll give them some credit for trying some new things, I only wish they would have taken things a step further.

In the end, it's not going to change the world, but it shows that the group is definitely expanding (in a good way) their sound from their early days.

It's not the sort of release that's going to really knock you out, but it's spry and sharp and arrives as just the perfect time in early summer.

As with many releases like this, I wish the ride were just a little bit more bumpy just to throw off expectations, but nonetheless Fleet Foxes have put out quite an enjoyable little debut here.

With ten songs running a hair under forty minutes, it's a concise debut that hits the mark a good portion of the time while introducing All The Saints as someone to really keep an eye on.

Considering at least part of the groups charm was their ability to surprise, there's simply not enough of that here as a whole, and In Arm's Way suffers because of it.

Taking things up a small notch in terms of recording quality (medium-fi would probably be apt, as it's still a long shot from glossy), this is certainly a more cohesive release than their debut, with some absolutely killer songs mixed in with some rather middling ones.

It's one of the most vital releases I've heard this year, and while I can hear fans of their past work being a bit puzzled, I simply can't imagine anyone not being at least a bit thrilled by it.

If you go back to the touchpoints of the era in terms of music, there's certainly plenty of awful lyrics, and while I can often overlook lyrics if the music itself is strong, Saturdays = Youth sometimes lapses into a sort of emo shoegazer feel that's simply a bit too sickly-sweet for me.

While it's true that the sheer precision of their playing is what makes some songs as great as they are, the organic touches of horns and textural washes of electronics help the group move into ground that hasn't been mined as much.

Although In Ghost Colours is certainly a step up in terms of how cohesive it sounds, it loses some of the spontaneity in the process.

It's the sort of album that at times sounds like the group simply threw everything against the wall and hoped that something would stick. In many cases, it did, but in others it sounds like a raucous mess.

Not as good as the best work from Kozelek, and a long shot from the worst, April is a solid, if not surprising album that should be just enough for fans.

In the end, Parc Avenue finds a band creating some amazing music, but still putting out some feelers along the way.

It's not their best work to date, but it definitely taps into a deep well of both anger and despair.

If you can't get enough of Bejar, you'll obviously want to check this out, but most others will feel like they've been down this road before.

It's not quite straight-up noise, and it's certainly not dance music, but if you like a bit of both, this debut from Fuck Buttons should make you a bit giddy.

Sounding somewhat like a lot of groups but not exactly like anyone, this is an album you shouldn't miss.

It's not the sort of release that throws a lot of curveballs, but Saturnalia is nonetheless a solid album from two veteran musicians.

It's not a world-changer, but it's certainly one of the more fun pop albums that I've heard this year so far.

Layered, and a bit rough-around-the-edges, Sean Lion is also a heck of a lot of fun, and marks The Ruby Suns as a young group to keep an eye on.

Great in moments and undecided in others, The Grand Archives show hints of promise here, but don't really have enough to set them apart.

It's fun stuff, and I imagine their live show would be even better.

It's probably not substantial enough that it will stick in my head all year (and possibly not even until the ground thaws), but it is a highly enjoyable pop album from a young group who are riding some hype and getting slapped with backlash at the same time.

It seems like in the process of tightening up their sound, the group also left out some of the more over-the-top qualities that inhabited their past releases. Keep Your Eyes Ahead sounds a lot more warm, but at the same time is more safe as well.

After multiple listens, there are certainly a batch of songs that rise like cream to the top, and while the release doesn't have seriously low points, it's not as solid throughout as the best work from the group (especially towards the end).

One of the most fun live albums I've heard in a long while, this is worth checking out even if Daft Punk's most recent offerings haven't done it for you.

Like the title suggests, this album is grand in many ways, but the sheen also wears off somewhat quickly at the same time.