It's startlingly good, better than an eight-year-layoff album has any right to be.

The problem with Madvillainy, if it can even be termed a problem, is that Doom and Madlib just have too many ideas.

As a singer, Morrissey has never sounded better than this.

Review #1: <A HREF="http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/smithelliott-fromabasement.shtml" TARGET="_blank">A decisive triumph, and probably a personal best for Smith</A> [score=90]; Review #2: <A HREF="http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/smithelliott-fromabasement2.shtml" TARGET="_blank">May be Smith's finest.</A> [score=90]

The band has never sounded stronger on record as they do here.

Unlike the overstuffed Silver or Seacaucus, The Meadowlands manages to reveal the expanse of the Wrens' vision without trading on their intimate charms.

<A HREF="http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/deathcabforcutie-transatlanticism.shtml" TARGET="_blank">This album is a beautiful trek through time that pays tribute to the human condition with simple melodies and honest storytelling, a nearly perfect pop record.</A> [Review 1, Score: 100] <A HREF="http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/deathcabforcutie-transatlanticism2.shtml" TARGET="_blank">For old-school Death Cab supporters, it's gut-check time: Did you like these guys for their "rock" or their "indie"? While the secret is out, the music is still too emotionally honest and infectiously witty to hold at a distance.</A> [Review 2, Score: 80]

That level of "realness", the way that the songs ring true whether he's bragging or self-criticizing, joking or praying, is what makes The College Dropout more than worthy of all of the attention that it's getting.