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Craig Finn | Clear Heart, Full Eyes

Vagrant
In the near-decade he's spent as frontman-lyricist of bar-rock saviors the Hold Steady, Craig Finn has hardly been labeled a happy camper.
By RYAN REED | February 14, 2012

Cotton Mather | Kontiki [Deluxe Edition]

Star Apple Kingdom
When it was released in 1997, Cotton Mather's sophomore album racked up glowing critical huzzahs across the pond (not to mention big-ups from Oasis), yet dudded here in the States.
By ZETH LUNDY | February 14, 2012

Field Music | Plumb

Memphis Industries (2012)
The buzz about Britain's Field Music has been growing for some time.
By JONATHAN DONALDSON | February 15, 2012

Cursive | I Am Gemini

Saddle Creek
Cursive blew their chance to get out of this town a long time ago when they let cellist Gretta Cohn go.
By DAN WEISS | February 15, 2012

Band of Skulls | Sweet Sour

Electric Blues/Vagrant
Band of Skulls aren't innovators, and they probably won't ever be.
By REYAN ALI | February 15, 2012

Anti-Flag | The General Strike

SideOneDummy
It wouldn't be easy for Anti-Flag to stay relevant nearly a quarter century into their careers, but it's as if they're not even trying anymore.
By BARRY THOMPSON | February 15, 2012

J the S | The Last Days

Same Plate/Greater Good
J the S has been promising The Last Days since he went by Jake the Snake.
By CHRIS FARAONE | February 07, 2012

The Punch Brothers | Who's Feeling Young Now?

Nonesuch (2012)
For a group full of virtuosos, the Punch Brothers refuse to dole out prodigious string-murdering sessions.
By ZETH LUNDY | February 07, 2012

Ital | Hive Mind

Planet Mu
If there was a broken-record knock against electronic music in the last decade, it's that it all sounded the same.
By MICHAEL C. WALSH | February 07, 2012

Die Antwoord | Ten$ion

Zef Recordz
Moreso than any "controversially-lipped" chanteuse (to borrow from one of Lana Del Rey's many observers), South African rap/rave/meme/satire/knuckleheads Die Antwoord beg the question:"Is that all there is?"
By DAN WEISS | February 07, 2012

Van Halen | A Different Kind of Truth

Interscope
Who would've thought Eddie Van Halen would still be innovative in his late 50s?
By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | February 08, 2012

Chairlift | Something

Columbia (2011)
"You lost your focus, but I got a plan for it," sings Caroline Polachek in a crystal-clear chirp on "Amanaemonesia," hovering over a dark, winding bassline and iceberg synths.
By RYAN REED | January 17, 2012

The Walkmen | Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone (Vinyl Re-issue)

The Walkmen (2011)
The Walkmen released their debut record Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone 10 years ago this month — they're celebrating with the release of a limited run of high-fidelity vinyl.
By P. NICK CURRAN | January 17, 2012

The Duke Spirit | Bruiser

Shangri-La Music (2011)
Don't be tricked by Bruiser's title. On album number three, the Duke Spirit are in no hurry to get into a scuffle.
By REYAN ALI | January 17, 2012

Kathleen Edwards | Voyageur

Zoe/Rounder (2011)
It's unfair, even sexist, to assume the expanded sonic palette of Kathleen Edwards's fourth album, Voyageur, is due to the presence of Justin Vernon.
By ANNIE ZALESKI | January 17, 2012

Seeker Lover Keeper | Seeker Lover Keeper

Spunk Records (2011)
Singer-songwriters forming supergroups is always risky.
By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | January 17, 2012

Future of the Left | Polymers Are Forever

Xtra Mile (2011)
Since we last heard from Future of the Left, Cardiff's greatest non-furry export lost founding member Kelson Mathias and gained two new ones.
By ZETH LUNDY | January 17, 2012

Fang Wizard | Pure Hex

Teen Beat (2011)
Who really cares about evaluating the long-term importance of how a record fits into an artist's oeuvre?
By JONATHAN DONALDSON | December 14, 2011

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones | The Magic of Youth

Big Rig (2011)
Earlier this year, VH1 compiled a list of their "40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s."
By ANNIE ZALESKI | December 14, 2011

Korn | The Path to Totality

Roadrunner (2011)
Korn claim to embrace "dubstep" on the surprisingly un-terrible The Path of Totality, but their electronic makeover is skin-deep.
By RYAN REED | December 14, 2011

The Roots | Undun

Def Jam (2011)
The year was 1999, and the Roots were entering a cool-kids club thanks to the release of Things Fall Apart .
By MICHAEL C. WALSH | December 14, 2011

Ridgemont | Colder Days

Mindless (2011)
For some, colder days in Boston mean more whiskey, more isolation, and a time to reflect and mostly be pissed off.
By ALI DONOHUE | December 14, 2011

The Dø | Both Ways Open Jaws

Six Degrees Records (2011)
For people put off by the epic grandeur of Björk's recent Biophilia multimedia spectacle and longing for the song structures of Post and Homogenic , Both Ways Open Jaws will more than suffice.
By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 14, 2011

Mutual Benefit | The Cowboy's Prayer

Kassette Klub (2011)
The foggy pop of The Cowboy's Prayer could serve as an unintended ode and thank you to global warming for making this year's fall feel like spring.
By DIANA BURMISTROVICH | December 06, 2011

Neil Diamond | The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio Recordings

Columbia/Legacy (2011)
Neil Diamond is a pretty upbeat guy — or at least as upbeat as can be expected from a man who made his claim to fame writing "Solitary Man."
By DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 06, 2011

Chris Cornell | Songbook

Universal (2011)
Chris Cornell's reaction to the critical lynching his Timbaland-produced debacle Scream took in 2009 was to grow his hair back out, reunite with Soundgarden (currently in the studio), and embark on a solo tour stripped down to just an acoustic guitar.
By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 06, 2011