Great Divide
Artist: Semisonic
Community Score: 4.88

Out of the ashes of a group called Trip Shakespeare comes Semisonic, three guys who share a heavy melodic sense. Combining traditional rock instruments with ambient noise and electronic wizardry, they concoct an appealing sound anchored deep in rock and roll. "If I Run" is a gorgeous tune while "FNT" (which stands for "Fascinating New Thing")... Read More

Songs the Lord Taught Us - BONUS TRACKS
Artist: The Cramps
Community Score: 10.00

Continuing the spooked-out and raging snarls of Gravest Hits, the Cramps once again worked with Alex Chilton on the group's full-album debut, Songs the Lord Taught Us. The jacket reads "file under: sacred music," but only if one's definition includes the holy love of rockabilly sex-stomp, something which the Cramps fulfill in spades. Having... Read More

The Sound Is in You
Artist: The Grip Weeds

The Grip Weeds showed on their debut album that they were a powerhouse pop-psyche band extraordinaire who write insanely gripping melodic nuggets, and they multiply that gift on their followup. Making musical analogies is an overused descriptive technique, but it also happens to be the only way to initially approach The Sound Is In You. You can... Read More

I Love My Friends
Artist: Stephen Duffy
Community Score: 10.00

Stephen Duffy (or Duffy, as he prefers to be known on this release) put together an almost perfect album with this one. Following a year of difficulty securing a record deal (the alternate title of this CD is Looking for a Deal), Duffy took his management into his own hands and recorded this CD with a few friends: XTC's Andy Partridge, Aimee... Read More

Navy Blues
Artist: Sloan
Community Score: 7.83

Having weathered the demise of its most recent American label, Sloan forges on, battered but unbroken and still delivering perfect pop records; Navy Blues might just be the band's best yet, with the sheer consistency of its infectious melodies, clever lyrics, and exuberant performances pushing the group toward new creative peaks. Moving away... Read More

Feeling Strangely Fine
Artist: Semisonic
Community Score: 6.09

While the first single from Feeling Strangely Fine doesn't necessarily show it very well, there is a lot of Ben Folds Five in Semisonic. Both employ a variety of different instruments, thus creating a sound that is sometimes very, very comparable. This is never more evident than on the fourth track, "Never You Mind." It doesn't help that... Read More

Bubblegun
Artist: The Merrymakers

By this point in their career, it seems as if the duo of Anders Hellgren and David Myhr should have four or five acclaimed releases under their belts and be household names in the world of pop music. Bubblegun, however, is only the Merrymakers' second full-length album (and their first in the U.S.), though they have been making unabashedly... Read More

The Shazam
Artist: The Shazam
Community Score: 8.00

Right away in "Let's Away" listeners know the Shazam hear the Move's grass grow. The second track, "Oh No," starts up with Cheap Trick, but then this Tennessee trio hits a peculiar stride. Sure, "Hooray for Me" gives a Sweet wink and the rockin' "Rollercoaster" comes down helter-skelter, but the boys also run off into the Greenberry Woods to... Read More

Show World - BONUS TRACK
Artist: Redd Kross

Kicking off with an exuberant version of the L.A. power-pop-classic-that-almost-wasn't "Pretty Please Me" -- and unsurprisingly Jeff, Roy and Steve McDonald and company this time around rock the bastard to the ground with a smile -- Show World is yet more fun from a band that dedicates itself to a smart good time. In ways, Redd Kross had by this... Read More

Navy Blues - JAPAN
Artist: Sloan

Having weathered the demise of its most recent American label, Sloan forges on, battered but unbroken and still delivering perfect pop records; Navy Blues might just be the band's best yet, with the sheer consistency of its infectious melodies, clever lyrics, and exuberant performances pushing the group toward new creative peaks. Moving away... Read More