My Morning Jacket’s Z isn’t really a perfect record by almost anyone’s standards. But it is very, very good. If you kind of mash The Flaming Lips, Coldplay, Mercury Rev, and Lynyrd Skynyrd into one band, you’d get something close to Z. Vocalist Jim James’ voice occasionally sounds like Chris Martin’s, sometimes […]

Descended Like Vultures is Rogue Wave’s second full-length, both of which have come on Sub Pop Records, generally a good sign. DLV is no exception to that, as it’s nothing less than enjoyable on every track, and more than that on others. The sound is similar to that of other pop-oriented indie rock bands, […]

Test Shot Starfish’s self-titled debut full-length is one that mixes ambient electronica with more beat-oriented music to fine effect. It’s by no means a brilliant album, but it’s an enjoyable ride, even if it does get a little too close to house music on occasion. The music can occasionally be a little schizophrenic […]

One minute, delicate, ethereal pop music. The next, a blitzkrieg of sound, albeit sound arranged in the form of more pop music. It’s not for nothing that Broken Social Scene are ridiculously hyped. Their music is straightforward and immensely complex all at once, as they layer instrument over instrument on what is, […]

Atmosphere are back with their fourth full-length and first since 2003’s Seven’s Travels. MC Slug and producer Ant collaborated earlier this year with Murs for the second Felt album, but the sound of this album is a step away from that aesthetic. Ant’s beats are still dope, and Slug is still a talented […]

Jacksonville City Nights is the second of three planned Ryan Adams released this calendar year, following the excellent Harvest-era Neil Young styled Cold Roses. Ever since Gold failed to make Ryan Adams a star, he’s buried himself in genre exercises, with mixed success. JCN is no exception, as a more straight-ahead country album […]