The best albums of 2009
As we find ourselves entering a new decade, it might serve us well to first take one last look back at the highlights of 2009, as there are a number…
50 Cent converts into commercialized flop
There’s no denying that in the past decade, rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson III) has evolved from the street-hardened thug who famously declared, “I been hit with a few shells,…
Weezer fails to reconnect with unoriginal sound
If you’ve paid any attention to rock and roll at all over the past decade or so, you should know for a fact that nobody can make being a nerd…
Julian Casablancas succeeds with first solo album ‘Phrazes for the Young’
It seems like a lifetime ago that the mega-hyped Strokes were reveling in their newly-proclaimed greatness, having rapidly skyrocketed up the buzz-lists of 2001 into stratospheric popularity and acclaim to…
Raveonettes return impresses fan with icy pop record
“Bang, you’re so vicious baby!” are the first words that greet listeners on the latest LP from the Raveonettes, aptly titled “In and Out of Control.” What follows is the…
Long-awaited Raekwon sequel delivers
Dormant, anonymous and seemingly forgotten for the better part of the decade, New York rapper Raekwon has returned with his fourth solo album, “Only Built 4 NeCuban Linx… Pt. II”,…
Flamboyant artist matures with new album
When London-based singer Mika released his debut album, “Life in Cartoon Motion,” in 2007, it was immediately recognized as a creation never to be equaled, let alone exceeded – a…
Alternative British rock band recapture their sound with 21st century symphony
British Alt-Rock trio Muse have produced a thing of incredible beauty with their latest release, The Resistance. After capturing the public eye way back in 2003 with their third album,…
Reviewer shares opinion on worst albums of 2009
Last week, I provided a list of albums that I considered to be the cream of the crop so far in 2009. For my final review of the semester, I…
Reviewer highlights top albums of the year
April may seem like an unusual time to compile an annual “Best Of” list, but because the end of the semester is only a few weeks away, I thought it…