The confident genre-jumping of these contrasting songs makes for a bizarre journey, but tere's so much here, you're bound to find something you like. [Fall 2008, p.87]

The score works best when the syrupy Hollywood strings are designed to interact meaningfully with M83's chunky John Carpenter-style synth work.

The remastering job has done wonders for the songs, which sounded limp in their original format. Here they pop and sparkle. [Fall 2008, p.90]

"Cold Canada" is inscrutable, as much of this fine record is, but give it time and the tunes will ingratiate themselves into your psyche. [Feb 2011, p.65]

That eye for harrowing detail is Cohn's greatest strength as a writer and occasionally his biggest weakness, as one minute he's effortlessly bringing to life sons who shoot heroin with their fathers and the next stumbling into awkward rhymes about UFC fighters. [Jul 2011, p.91]

While the shift to a kinder and gentler sound doesn't live up to the spectacular music of past efforts, you can't fault the band for trying something new to broaden their appeal. And even with a few shortcomings, Violence still has enough alluring music to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

Lack of pop structures be damned, the Norwegian duo have created a freewheeling, pleasant affair--even if we get the feeling we've heard it all before.

The closing title track is a pleasant enough number but reverts to the more safe James sound, a slight disappointment after the forward-sounding songs of the late middle of the album

A few throwaway tunes, but probably the best Pretenders album since "Get Close." [Winter 2008]

His mid-year gamble may not have paid off fully, but his textured worlds remain fruitful. [Winter 2010, p.68]

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have found a way to freshen up the formula, and the end result is their best album in years.

To wit, Last Night is tailor made to be a guilty pleasure album. And, in this case, that is not a bad thing. [Feb 2011, p.66]

Long on spirit and short on hooks, it's an album whose main appeal is that it offers the listener a window into what one assumes musicians do for fun when no one else is around. [Jul 2011, p.91]

Balmorhea's spare and beautiful album finds inspiration in the negative space and elegant pacing of the cosmos. [Winter 2010, p.72]

It's the act's best and nost fully realized LP to date. [Feb 2011, p.66]

The beguiling and unique pop element he [Tyondai Braxton] brought to the table left with him, and Battles haven't quite figured out how to replace it. La Di Da Di is an energetic step in the right direction. [Aug-Sep 2015, p.61]

This anthology of both new and classic mixes reminds us, if nothing else, that Depeche Mode remain an inspiring and influential force in modern music. [Jul 2011, p.91]

Mostly a lot of the same stuff that made you enjoy Grrr...

Black Bananas mostly keep things tight throughout the record. [#39, p.66]

This is just the album to inspire you to turn your bedroom into a disco. [Spring 2009, p.79]

While Alexander, is not exactly the most varied albums, it is pleasantly--and impressively--cohesive, balancing just the right amount of sun-drenched melodies and unhinged heartache. [May 2011, p.83]

All the usual thematic motifs make an appearance, for good or ill. [Jun/Jul 2014, p.84]

Baby 81 still contains a decent collection of songs, it’s just that not only do most of them not stand out from the band’s previous work, they also pale in comparison. [#17, p.82]

The original record was decent but not especially memorable, and the remixes rarely rise above the level of a discarded Caribou B-side.

Influential they sure were, for better or worse, but right now, as heroically, monumentally crazed and unconventional they may be, Royal Trux are more a curio than compelling.

Entanglements is wildly ambitious and refreshingly out-of-step with its indie peers. Unfortunately, such a sustained state of effusive mania makes the album's 32-minute running time feel infinitely longer. [Fall 2008, p.82]

It's brave pop omnivorism, with Daniel and friends grabbing whatever they need in the name of reinvention. [Winter 2010, p.66]

All You Need Is now represents a step in the right direction, and you can sense the band getting back into shape. [Feb 2011, p.70]