Some songs are sloppily stretched out and others simply half-finished, but the ample charms of Doherty and Barat are just enough to rescue any of these lows.

A true supergroup -- a set of songs that might be superior to either group's work separately.

Awfully Deep, on the whole, is a bold, ambitious swing for the fences. But, like it or not, the game's done changed, and Manuva '05 sounds way too much like Manuva '01.

Swathed from head to toe in ecstatic fuzz.

Monday at the Hug & Pint is Arab Strap's best record, and should land on every critic's 2003 top 10 list.

Standout tracks include the Breeders' "Wicked Little Town (Hedwig Version)," the Polyphonic Spree's "Wig in a Box," Spoon's Stones-y take on "Tear Me Down" and the whisper-to-a-scream romp that Yoko Ono and Yo La Tengo let loose on "Hedwig's Lament / Exquisite Corpse."

At times, Rice definitely over-emotes, leaving behind any sense of subtlety in his delivery. But at his best, on songs like "Volcano" and "The Blower's Daughter", he hits upon a perfect blend of warmth and expansiveness.

On a purely musical level, Twoism is more essential to me than 1998's well-known Music Has The Right to Children.

While the group treads similar musical and thematic ground to [Nick] Cave, the results are nowhere near as ominous.

On first listen [it's] profoundly unimpressive.... What each successive listen reveals, however, is a deftly understated and maturing pop craftsmanship.

May very well be Dirty Three's greatest accomplishment to date.

The concept does start to wear thin towards the end of the CD, and the recontextualized product is inherently one sided: it's the Beatles' soundtrack that is made to dance around Jay-Z's unedited verses.

It's an outstanding piece of work -- literate, catchy, and emotional.

Twice is a summery, psychedelic treat.

TV on the Radio relies more on the influence of eighties prog-pop than the typical Brooklyn grit, which is definitely refreshing.

While the record isn't necessarily an instant classic, the unabashed embrace of simple pop sensibilities, both old and new, make it a record that is hard to stop listening to.

If gripes were to be made, one could argue with Crow's length, which at 74 minutes may be a little more whimsy than one can handle.

The New Year here occasionally let loose with a decidedly unreserved frenzy that is a joy to hear.

Boards of Canada seems to be able to release albums pre-aged, so that all the things that might have bugged you a couple years ago now sounds like another part of why it's a classic.

The band shows an incredible level of bravado on their album of fun summer hymns, but has a hard time breaking through the barrier the lackluster vocals create.

The results are predictably wonderful.

If you're an Old 97's fan you've been waiting for this. If you're not, you just might be when it's all said and done.

The only thing that holds this collection down at all is the fact that you're listening to it at home, and, no matter how good your audio setup, it will never come close to the band's famously loud and beautiful live sets. And, at that, this comes close.

For those who prefer less academic wave crushing and more pop elements in their electronic music, Player, Player pleasantly delivers the goods.

Gelb creates masterful songs for the ages.

Your Blues is some kind of masterpiece, the work of a truly original and iconoclastic talent.

In a time when consistency is rare, and integrity even rarer, the Sea and Cake have made an album that highlights where they've been.

A beguiling blend of astute social commentary and first-rate music that rocks, weeps and testifies.