Twitter Review Session #5

(99) Hold Time - M. Ward (Merge)
Never been a HUGE fan, and the album has its low points, but good Lord, there are some absolute JAMS here. (6.5/10)

(100) Losing Feeling EP - No Age (Sub Pop)
Less punk rock and faster tempos and more ambience and meandering. This makes me excited for what they do next. (8/10)

(101) Invisible Cities - Nomo (Ubiquity)
One of the most impressive live groups I've ever seen, but their afrobeat instrumentals lose something on record. (6/10)

(102) Apple's Acre - Nurses (Dead Oceans)
Freakish folk pop that's kind of interesting but really not that much. Not offensive by any means, but also not great. (6/10)

(103) Outer South - Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band (Merge)
Ugh. I am so tired of this guy and his cohorts. (3.5/10)

(104) I Blame You - Obits (Sub Pop)
Ex-Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From the Crypt. Not far off from what you'd expect, except that it's mediocre. (4.5/10)

(105) Mecca - Office (Quack!)
Really great pop record with impeccable production. Helps that it's catchy as all get out. (7.5/10)

(106) The Seaside EP - Owen (Polyvinyl)
Typically gorgeous, but this brings nothing new to the table and even rehashes some older songs. Lame. (6/10)

(107) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Slumberland)
Great, cute, noisy indie pop not far off from early My Bloody Valentine and The Smiths. (7.5/10)

(108) You Can Have What You Want - Papercuts (Gnomonsong)
Really pretty, sad, slow to mid-tempo pop tunes. A more organ-driven version of late-60s psychadelic pop, I guess. (7.5/10)

(109) Manners - Passion Pit (Columbia/Frenchkiss)
Defs obnoxious as hell, but underneath are some really great, huge, dancey electro-pop gems. (6.5/10)

(110) Living Thing - Peter Bjorn and John (Witchita/Almost Gold)
Not nearly as bad as I first thought, but still no good by any means. Three sweet jams, though. (5.5/10)

(111) The Phenominal Handclap Band - The Phenominal Handclap Band (Friendly Fire)
An interesting mix of 70s psychedelic prog and funk. First didn't give two shits. Now I dig. (6.5/10)

(112) Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix (Glassnote)
Best straight up pop record I've heard in a while. This record has it all: melodies, awes productch, SONGS. FANTAST. (8.5/10)

(113) Everybody Come Outside! - Pomegranates (Lujo)
These boys have matured and released a nice, spacey indie pop album that's surprisingly original. (7/10)

(114) Blessed Be, Yours Truly in Spirit & Soul EP - Prussia (Common Cloud)
The local Detroit scene's recent darlings whom I just can't get entirely into. Dark, lo-fi, reverby pop, one awes song. (6/10)

(115) Between Noise and the Indians - Push-Pull (Joyful Noise)
Equal parts zany, geeky and badass punk rock with insane time signature and rhythm trickery. Not amazing, but FUN. (6/10)

(116) Album - Girls (True Panther)
Not as good as I was hoping after all the Pitchfork hype, but still a solid and fairly interesting pop album. (6.5/10)

(117) The Life of the World to Come - The Mountain Goats (4AD)
I've never given a shit about John Darnielle, always assumed I hated him, but this is a really nice album. (7/10)