The Books: The Way Out 7/28/10 After 2005's satisfying if not exactly revelatory Lost and Safe, this long period of artistic gestation is further stoked by the opening sample of The Way Out, which declares (via what sounds like a self-help tape voiced by the narrator of “Magnolia”), “Welcome to a new beginning…that’s right, a new beginning.” It’s enough to send my Books-loving heart racing at the possibilities. Jordan Cronk
PackFM: I Fucking Hate Rappers 7/28/10 Originally conceived as a collaboration between Pack and producer Domingo, the disc also boasts production from Tonedeff, Kno, J-Zone, Deacon the Villain, and Marco Polo. All of their beats are cogent and lively, instilling urgency in Pack's rhymes—which in turn are all eloquently delivered, with a distinct cadence, the lyrics sharp and original. Chris Colao
The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang 7/28/10 The real problem is that American Slang just isn’t as strong as its predecessor. The 59 Sound is a stellar rock album and remains the Gaslight’s high watermark, while this third effort doesn’t consistently channel the band’s gritty, working-class energy with the effectiveness they’ve proven capable of. Chris Nowling
Macy Gray: The Sellout 7/21/10 The Sellout bounces cheerfully from synth-heavy pop balladry to fizzy nu-disco to soccer-mom rock to Velveeta quiet storm pastiche. Compounding the decidedly scattered sound is a veritable task force of nine producers and no fewer than 20 co-writers, while her guests this time are a rum bunch that the singer seemingly met in career rehab classes. Guy Lodge
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Wolf Parade: Expo ’86 7/21/10 After a brief but needed break, Wolf Parade are back with Expo ’86, an album title inspired by the band’s roots, specifically the meeting which would prove to be their genesis. Appropriately enough, the album is a return to form for the band; they've never sounded more cohesive and tight than they do here. Kyle Fowle
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Rolling Stones: Exile On Main St. [Reissue] (2010; 1972) 7/6/10 The beloved trifecta of Beggar’s Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Sticky Fingers were released by the Stones in the four years leading up to 1972’s Exile on Main St. Needless to say, expectations were high for the band, and as always, turmoil was to be found around every corner. Kyle Fowle
Why?: Alopecia (2008) 10/7/09
With its carefully balanced amalgam of hip-hop, folk and pop music, Alopecia is the definitive statement of Yoni Wolf’s career thus far. Lukas Suveg
The Method Actors: This Is Still It (2010, comp) 5/11/10 Vic Varney and David Gamble exhibited the angular forward momentum of Pylon the jangle-pop which no doubt influenced R.E.M. But more often than not, they bear the mark of a fractured, characteristically U.K. strain of post-punk. Jordan Cronk
Old Hat Music - Feature & Retrospective Reviews