Thompson is more comfortable than ever with his musical abilities and songwriting craft, and you hear the experience and the confidence on every track.

As foolish as it seems to say that any music is 100 percent new, I've never heard anything like this before.

Like any worthy match, the coming together gives each aspect assets that they'd be wont to find otherwise, the eletroclashy bursting with depth and the indie-croon thankfully adrenalized.

A masterwork filled with heavy violins, silky woodwinds, a driving soprano sax, a haunting bass guitar, and expert melding of jazz and rock, with Latin beats and bluesy overtones.

Her albums have matured exponentially with every release, and with Blacklisted, an album that will get your blood pumping and give you goosebumps at the same time, Neko Case emerges as a true original.

A tougher, funkier, and downright rocking album.... M!ssundaztood deserves to be the pop album of the year.

Lyricist [Eric] Johnson's faculties for observation are what turn sonic pleasantries into vehicles of magic and myth.

Surpassing the merits of Lost Souls, one of the best albums of 2000, is no mean feat, but to do it in such breath-taking fashion is something else, something special.

A nineteen track salvo of glorious musical mayhem.

Unreasonable Behaviour is far from an easy listen. While Garnier is usually highly accessible, here he deviates in favor of a record much more tempestuous, menacing and genre-pushing -- all of which, though foreboding, is wholly more gratifying.

The lyrics might not make much sense, and there's nothing groundbreaking here, but with songs as ridiculously catchy and fun as these, who cares?

A record that handily bests anything that they've put out in the last 15 years, and can stand head and shoulders against their best efforts of the '80s.

Mixing the grit that was The Stooges with the bounce that was Gang of Four, Liars and their debut release are everything that should be praised about Brooklyn's music scene.

Cellar Door challenges its listeners emotionally and intellectually, without ever feeling pretentious.

Quite how or where the new album fits into the contemporary music landscape isn't clear, but what's recognizable and of import is that somewhat out of time, Basement Jaxx have produced their best sustained effort so far.

This album should solidify them among Americana's best.

Apropa't pulses with sensual rhythms, lush harmonies, and ethereal forms that weave together to create a truly amazing aural experience.

There simply isn't another singer working in pop music now that holds a candle to Jones.

The album fully delivers on the crackling promise of "Mad World" with an accomplished set of hard-won folk-rock.

Has a playful, at times otherworldly style which brings to mind children's fairy tales.

Smart, unpretentious, and classy all the way through.

It's truly great stuff. The future is, apparently, now.

With Cobblestone Runway, he proves once again he's one of the best songwriters out there, and easily the best Canadian songwriter working today.

Taken as a whole, Old Ramon is a brilliant mopey stroll through San Francisco's slate gray streets.

The Optimist LP is a treasure chest of sparkly baubles and rare gems, and from top to bottom it is precious and priceless.

By the time she comes up with "Old Tin Tray", you are aware of two things. One is that this is a year-end top 10 album, and two, that she is getting better with age.

Simply, one of the year's best.

Simultaneously adventurous, beautiful, and full of depth.