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.

It's the sort of release that metal fans will probably like because it offers plenty of chunk-tastic riffs (that aren't too far off from newer, more polished work from Helmet), but dub fans will probably steer clear from because of it's focus on said heavy-fisted bombast.

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.

If you already have the original download from last year, there isn't a ton here that's really alluring, although the three bonus tracks are all pretty good in an of themselves. If you haven't yet heard this one, its by all means time to pick it up.

As with most other first releases, though, it's a a bit inconsistent in places, but all in all, Smoke is a fun and sometimes great debut from a young artist.

Needless to say, Untrue shatters any ideas of a sophomore slump.

With ten songs running under forty minutes, the haphazard track order (with production quality going from super lo-fi to pristine) and dour feel ultimately make for a rather challenging listen.

If you're a hardcore fan of Underworld, you'll find some things to love here (as I did), but others will probably want to reach for something more consistent.

It's certainly pretty, and definitely has its moments, but it simply lacks the vitality of past work.

The Flying Club Cup doesn't feel quite as revelatory as the debut from the group. That said, it's still a solid follow-up, and the collaboration with Palette really pays dividends in grandiosity of sound.

With twelve songs running just about an hour in length, Random Spirit Lover really starts to wear out its welcome during the latter third to quarter. Fans of their past work will definitely find lots to love here, and they will likely gain a few converts, but I still wish they'd focus a bit more.

This is Jens Lekman, and what he does best is create overly-sweet pop songs, so it's hard to complain too much.

It's definitely ambitious, and probably a little pretentious in places, but it works darn near all the time and is a downright joy in many places.

The album is rather hit or miss. There are a handful of standout tracks, another handful of ones that are simply decent, and yet a couple more that don't really raise the pulse level at all.

Among his best work to date, Cosmos finds Corona expanding his boundaries even more and in the process creating something more timeless.

It doesn't seem quite as strong as Feels, but also seems like the group might be on the verge of something even better.

Despite all the different guest appearances, Level Live Wires never feels hodge-podge or unsteady.

Like her debut, Kala is somewhat inconsistent, for slightly different reasons. While there isn't the distraction of short tracks and skits to break the flow, some of the songs essentially do the same thing by shooting high and missing the mark.

It's pleasing, and sometimes outstanding, but it ultimately feels a bit too safe and soft.

It's a kick in the pants debut, and here's hoping they carve their own unique sound out even more in the future.

Goodbye has a tendency to blur together in many places during the course of ten tracks and just under an hour in running length. If you like his past work, you might want to check this one out, but others will probably want to take a pass.

In essence, it still sounds like Fridge, but they've decided to look backwards just as much (and possibly more) than they looked forwards.

For every section that locks into something juicy, it's offset with three others that are just plain bad (or close to it).

If you enjoy ultra mellow jazz meanderings with the occasional slinky vocals that sound like they could be playing in the background at a mainstream coffee chain, Ma Fleur will provide in spades.