Rouse’s ambiguity and storytelling, so strong on Under the Cold, coupled with the quirky pop pastiche that found it’s backbone on 1972, is what his latest effort is all about.

Thirteen tracks of exceptional music and a clear-cut success for Boucher.

In the end, there's solace in enjoying the refreshed music Future Islands continue to provide.

Happy New Year's only flaw is that the second half drifts a bit.

The Invisible Way champions everything that is great about Low and realizes it through a neat and clear lens. It’s a formidable outing and at number ten, a remarkable feat met with solid results.

Slow Focus is a tremendously gifted album; one that remarks on what electronic music is still capable of, while knowingly realizing that the sky’s the limit.

It’s absolutely astonishing that after so many years of excellent and superb music The Roots are still one of the best bands around. With Rising Down they have not only proved it but they have silenced all of the doubters and haters out there; this is really a special band.

While there isn’t anything as blisteringly heavy as 'Woof & Warp of the Quiet Giant’s Hem,' as gritty and grimy as 'Miss Spiritual Tramp,' or even as trippy and psychedelic as 'Hot Tip/Tough Cub,' there is still plenty to love on Furr.

Works For Tomorrow just gets better and better with every successive--and necessarily louder--airing, to the point where it does indeed feel like another genuinely great Eleventh Dream Day long-player.

Over the course of the album's 52 minutes, the eight tracks reveal a brilliance in construction.

Antics is a very strong record that is home to a number of truly incredible songs.

Hood’s particular brand of indie rock is easily recognizable and refreshingly unique, and despite a few faults along the way, Outside Closer is an excellent album, if not totally fulfilling of its promise.

Vapours isn’t just a welcome addition to the band’s collection but it’s a welcoming album filled with tremendously rich highs, blunt and honest lyrics, melodic music and captivating hooks.

The 15 tracks presented are a perfect addition to any iPod and would certainly serve well as background music to any hipster wannabe party you throw.

The styles that parade their way onto Swanlights would probably be the most noticeably diverse change from what happened on previous albums.

Wavering Radiant is a testament to ISIS’ ability to stare into the face of adversity, unflinching, and deliver one of the finest albums of its career.

Some of his melodies are so easily memorable they make The Thrills sound like Rammstein.

As usual, Mascis' guitar--a stirring strength, charming and expressive, a poignant power, is the star of this show--and as a whole unit, they haven’t sounded this good in about sixteen years.

Bird is in full control and evokes his The Swimming Hour and everyone’s favorite, Mysterious Production of Eggs, days; those days where he did everything on his own. All of the aforementioned allows him to present one of his best albums to date.

One of his finest efforts to date.

The most eclectic and endearing Dirty Three album in quite some time.

Built On Squares is a refreshing slice of musical Valhalla.

The diversity of the mixes on The Grey Album also is a testament to how carefully Danger Mouse has cut and pasted together his unauthorized sonic pastiche.

In all seriousness, this is an utterly brilliant experiment that is carried out with excellent style.

Yet with such a superb back catalog and a stellar new record to boot, the question now becomes how – or if – Okkervil River will be able to top itself the next time around.

Polvo have returned stronger and more single-minded. Regardless of whether you were around the first time, you should get in on this right now.

They have evolved their sound in this release with a host of much stronger tracks than ever before. While the immaturity remains in these tracks, the instrumentals are much more polished and infectious.

Biophilia is an excellent addition to her glorious discography.