CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy

Genre: Indie Electronic, Indie Rock, Art Rock
Release Date: 7/11/2006
Sounds Like: Butter08, The Sounds, Peaches
Overall Rating: 6.8/10

Summary: This is the debut album from CSS, which is short for Cansei De Ser Sexy, which is “Tired of Being Sexy” in Portuguese. CSS are from Sao Paulo, Brazil and they have delivered an impressive first album. CSS formed in 2003 and developed a large following on the internet before being signed to Sub Pop Records for their debut. CSS have a unique sound, delivering crunchy guitars over loose booty shaking electronic rhythms that transcend genres and actually make me want to shake my groove-less ass. I love the vibe of this album. It reminds of the one and only Butter08 album that I still play often almost 10 years later. Click here to visit their Myspace site and sample some tunes.

Ratings Summary:
Originality within Genre: 7.8
Originality by Band: 7.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 6.2

Track Ratings:

1) 6.1
2) 7.1
3) 6.9
4) 5.0
5) 7.5
6) 5.1
7) 6.9
8) 7.2
9) 6.6
10) 7.1
11) 5.5

The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

Genre: Indie Rock

Release Date: 10/03/2006
Sounds Like: Guided by Voices, Ted Leo
Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Summary: Boys and Girls in America is the third release from The Hold Steady. I have never heard a chord of their previous albums so I don’t have anything to compare them to. This is just a fun album all the way through. The songs are tales of drinking and living. The sound is early 80’s guitar rock with flavors of Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Cheaptrick, but yet a distinctive 2006 indie rock feel. This album is meant to be enjoyed with a cold beer and some good friends. Click here for a track.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 6.0
Originality by Band: 6.5
Production: 9.0
Did I like it?: 5.5

Track Ratings:

1) 6.1

2) 6.4
3) 6.5

4) 6.7

5) 7.8
6) 6.8
7) 6.7

8) 7.5
9) 4.0

10) 6.1

11) 6.1

Make Believe - Of Course

Genre: Indie Rock, Experimental

Release Date: 10/03/2006
Sounds Like: Cursive, The Promise Ring, June of 44
Overall Rating: 3.5/10

Summary: Of Course is the second full length LP for Make Believe. This album is angular, spacious and overall just plain strange. There are other adjectives to describe it such as irritating, obnoxious and just flat out messed up. I personally don’t like this album. Too me, it seems like an attempt to create something so strange and discordant that it is contrived. Maybe you will like it though. Here is a track to give you a taste.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 3.0
Originality by Band: 3.0
Production: 7.0
Did I like it?: 1.0

Track Ratings:

1) 5.1

2) 3.2
3) 4.0
4) Not Rated
5) 3.0
6) 3.0
7) 3.4

8) 3.1
9) 4.1

10) 4.1

Isis - In the Absence of Truth

Genre: Post-Metal, Post-Rock

Release Date: 10/31/2006
Sounds Like: Neurosis, Tool, Pelican
Overall Rating: 9.0

Summary: In the Absence of Truth is Isis’ fifth LP and it is by far their best album to date. This album is a true gem. It is hard to find the proper words to describe the sound of Isis. They are certainly Post-Metal, definitely Post-Rock, but more than anything they are freaking brutally heavy and beautiful. This album is dense, complex and atmospheric to the point of feeling spiritual. This is cerebral metal. A nice change is the lack of growling vocals and more focus on hushed phrasing and instrumentation. Don’t worry there is plenty of snarl left. This is an exceptional album. Click here to listen to a track.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 9.5
Originality by Band: 10.0
Production: 9.0
Did I like it?: 9.0

Track Ratings:

1) 8.0
2) 7.9
3) 9.9
4) 9.2
5) 8.5
6) Not Rated
7) 8.3
8) 7.9
9) 8.5

Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain

Genre: Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Dream Pop
Release Date: 9/25/2006
Sounds Like: The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, The Black Heart Procession
Overall Rating: 6.1

Summary: Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain is Sparklehorse’s fourth full length album. I don’t know what it is about Sparklehorse that causes me to always want their albums, yet never truly enjoy them. I think this album finally gave me the answer and it is really simple and personal. I don’t like the 6 or 7 songs they put on each album that bore me to death. Don’t misunderstand, these songs have a beautiful and fragile sadness to them. They are wonderful songs that show the depth of Mark Linkous’ creativity, but they just aren’t for me. Sparklehorse is at their best when they turn up the guitars and rock. This album delivers with some incredible fuzzed out tracks. I would probably rate this album 9/10 if not for the slow plodding songs that fill this album. As you will see below in my individual track ratings, I liked quite a few songs that will play regularly in my mp3 player. I am waiting for the return of an album you can spin from beginning to end without hitting the fast forward button. This album is not it, however it is a good album and worth it for the six songs that are fantastic. Click here to listen to a few track from the Sparklehorse Myspace site.

Ratings Summary:

Originality within Genre: 8.5
Originality by Band: 9.0
Production: 8.0
Did I like it?: 6.5

Track Ratings:

1) 6.5
2) 4.0
3) 6.0
4) 4.2
5) 2.0
6) 2.5
7) 8.1
8) 6.9
9) 2.5
10) 7.0
11) 7.3
12) 1.0