Dave Short

Bad Religion — The Dissent of Man

These guys are pros at making the same album sound good, even after 30 years.

3/5

Ben Folds — Lonely Avenue

Nick Hornby's words allowed Mr. Folds to concentrate on the music, and it shows. Delightful.

4/5

Chumbawamba — A Singsong and a Scrap

There's so much more to this band than "Tubthumping." This may well be a perfect folk record

5/5

Glee Cast — Volume 2

Stunningly... gleeful. Would get a 4, but they cut the deaf kid's verse on 'Imagine,' undermining its point.

3/5

Glee Cast — Volume 1

Strong songs bookend this album. The middle third of the selections may work on TV, but not as an album.

2/5

Armchair Martian — Monsters Always Scream

A brief span leaves no room for chaff on this fine collection of twangy, poetic punk.

3/5

V/A — The Nightmare Revisited

The instrumentals are the best parts, which is sad, because the original's vocal songs were strong.

1/5

Kate Miller-Heidke — Curiouser

Most 2-headed beasts can't thrive. These two heads, however, are folksy and poppy (and delightful)

3/5

Strung Out — Agents of the Underground

It's propulsive, no question, and even hooky in places, but the songcraft is weak.

2/5

Pearl Jam — Backspacer

Short and sweet, rocking in all the right ways. Hard or mellow, it's often tuneful, always engaging.

3/5

Bad Religion — The New America

Attempts at freshening their sound can't hide the weak songwriting and uninspired recycling.

1/5

Bad Religion — The Gray Race

Fast and insightful as ever, but wordy and lyrically overbearing.

3/5

Nirvana — Bleach

Often uncomfortable lyrics conspire with sometimes tuneless riffage to mask occasionally brilliant tunesmanship.

2/5

Save Ferris — Modified

It's got some spunk and heart, but you can tell they tried to modify their songs to get more radio play.

2/5

Chumbawamba — The Boy Bands Have Won

Fragmented and disjointed, but that's kind of the point. Beautiful, thoughtful folk songs.

4/5

Even in Blackouts — Zeitgeist's Echo

They've lost some pop-punk effervescence, but experimentation balances the darker themes.

3/5

Regina Spektor — Far

She's traded some tinkling beauty for more pop accoutrements, but the heart is still there and beating.

3/5

Even in Blackouts — Fall of the House of Even

Great singing and songs, but why the electric guitars? Also needs some fat trimmed.

3/5

Rancid — Let the Dominoes Fall

Styles spanning their entire career. I particularly like the vocalists' trading off on many songs.

4/5

Spinal Tap — Back From the Dead

Most of the re-recordings are superfluous. The new songs are a mixed bag, but the DVD sells it.

3/5