My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges, Maple

Evil Urges? Not exactly, however the urge to reach for the stop button is pretty strong when this disc starts spinning. Thelatestrelease from this Louisville, Kentucky based is an unusually obtuse listen, at times bringing in elements of Radiohead’s <em>Kid A period (“Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt.1”), (more…) Read More

Coldplay, Viva La Vida, Parlophone

Viva La Vida is one of only two discs that have managed to wedge themselves into my stereo for weeks at a time (the otherbeingTha Carter III). This is not to say it was love at first listen, Violet Hill didn’t elicit a response until it found itself amongst the (more…) Read More

Young Jeezy, The Inspiration: Thug Motivation, Universal

Young Jeezy has dropped one of the most anticipated albums of 2006 with The Inspiration: Thug Motivation, another album depicting the urban hustler and the joys of slinging that rock.Notonce does the hip-hop prospect Young Jeezy apologize for his monikerof“Snowman” orhis street thug status. Thick imposing beats highlight Jeezy’s robust (more…) Read More

G-Unit, TOS (Terminate on Sight), G-Unit, Interscope

T.O.S. is the sophomore effort from 50 Cent’s entourage G-Unit, and while they’ve undeniably influenced the next wave of lil’ gangsters, theirfocus has been more on their beefs and other endeavors vs. releasing an album than continuing that influence. On their debut album Beg For Mercy the beats were massive (more…) Read More

Lloyd, Lessons in Love, Universal, The Inc

It says something about an album when you pick it up only to hear the guest spot on the lead single. Sadly that was the motivatingfactorfor pressing play on Lloyd’s latest disc Lessons in Love. With tracks emblazoned with titles such as “Sex Education” and “Love Making 101” (more…) Read More

Trapt, Only Through the Pain, Eleven Seven

When Trapt’s eponymous debut dropped a mere 5 years ago, the California 4-piece showed a great deal of promise with their brand of crunchy radio-friendly rock. Since then, the band has gone on to release their sophomore disc Someone in Control in 2005 and their latest effort Only Through the (more…) Read More

Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King, RCA

Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is an album that finds the Dave Matthews Band at a crossroad, with the passing of long-timememberLeroi Moore (the titular GrooGrux King) and the inclusion of Matthews' longtime collaborator, Tim Reynolds. The emotionsrunningthroughthis album are vividly palpable, as this is clearly both an homage to (more…) Read More