Alvin & The Chipmunks - Undeniable

Charles: I can hardly believe this still floats. Hilarious song selection, but it's too tech-savvy for Chipmunks.
Nipsy: It's like every American Idol contestant. Meanwhile, I owe my bank $2700.
Fanny: Not as poppy as some of their earlier work, this album has a maturity that's obvious as Alvin & Co. move into their middle ages. Sexy, strident and confident.
Kitty: Way too awesome to put into words - the next baby making of the year.

Bojibian - All Night, All Day

Charles: Non-descript rock & roll… adequate playing, decent songs. Shades of The Outfield. Nice 80's production.
Nipsy: Red Rocker, or is it Red Rider? Bo-jib-ee-an translates literally to Hoobastank.
Fanny: Pretty standard rock'n'roll with some nice twists. Like the Bodeans w/o all the country fair hankerin'.
Kitty: <yawn> The early 90's came and went.

The British Columbians - The British Columbians

Charles: Amazing grooves, possibly stolen from Big Sugar. Fun, but serious. Excellent moody alternative blues.
Nipsy: Like Rev. Peyton if you could understand him. Gritty, fuzzy electric hillbilly. Very nice.
Fanny: Probably okay, sounds a bit like Black Keys but just starting to get really torqued about my ex. Want to hear something that sounds like unrepentant homicide.
Kitty: Hillstomp-ish blues/country, lo-fi and beautiful. Excellent guitar playing, indie at heart.
Charo: Hey, guess what? The British Columbians are actually from British Columbians.

Lubriphonic - Soul Solution

Charles: Jammy, funky, bluesy soul music… At times there is cohesion, at times it's just fluff.
Nipsy: Finally. Blues rock is integrated. It ain't just for whites anymore.
Fanny: Terrible. J needs to be here. J also needs to move out of his ex-girlfriend's house.
Kitty: The red-headed stepchildren of soul. Nice horns and some nice guitar.

Old Ghost - Hearts And Coffins EP

Charles: Bluesy, downbeat folk music with nice instrumentation and mundane vocals… not bad, just un-fabulous.
Nipsy: … Of Dave Sharp. It's funny when Brits sing Southernly. Needs more fire or doom.
Fanny: This is the kind of easy-going mellow that you just talk all over when they're playing. Consistently dull.
Kitty: Vaguely Dylan-esque alt. country/soul music. Cool organs and low beat.

Ryebender - Hollow And Drifting

Charles: Lucero-style alt. country with nice downbeat rhythms, excellent production, beautiful songs. Real, real nice.
Nipsy: God, I could really relax to this. But I'm stuck in the middle of a conversation about crazy broads in New York. I'll take this home and get back to you.
Fanny: Here's Dave's alt. country. Well done before.
Kitty: Comfy, quilt-snuggling music that makes you miss your ex.

Zak Smith - An Endless Doubt

Charles: A poor man's Wilco, with horns and just enough country to be alt. High, lonesome grit.
Nipsy: Bitter alt. country obsessed with women and religion. Gray and gripless.
Fanny: Elvis Costello meets Westerberg.
Kitty: If you drink too much beer & think you're sensitive, this is your album.

Sylvie - Trees And Shade Are Our Only Fences

Charles: Indie rock with tremendous amounts of soul and melody. Beach Boys harmonies, awesome guitars. Tremendous!
Nipsy: There can only be on half-Beatles and he is Chad & Jeremy. Also XTC.
Fanny: Reminds me of Drunken Boat with melodies.
Kitty: The second coming of Jellyfish, at least the best 60's-style pop since. Bright & sunny.

Seth Walker - Leap Of Faith

Charles: Brilliant modern R'n'B, juxtaposes Fats Domino with Ray LaMontagne. Nice playing and sweet horns.
Nipsy: A little bit of Rufus Thomas, a little bit of Hank Ballard, a little bit of soap.
Fanny: Great voice, old-timey music. Blues-ish.
Kitty: Swanky swank.

We Are Hex - Gloom Bloom

Charles: Noisy, off-key edgier indie rock. Hints at gothic roots…
Nipsy: They're just doing it for attention. Ignore them and they'll quit. Want to be X.
Fanny: Awful… Like a mumbling march.
Kitty: Whiney indie pop with droney wah-wah.

The Whore Moans - Hello From The Radio Wasteland

Charles: Loud, brash rock music with blues-hyped guitars and solid punky drumming, throttling basslines. Sweet.
Nipsy: Punk amped up on neurosis. Ugly, brash, and satisfying. Some Nick Cave seeping through.
Fanny: This is what I think about when I think about good punk and the joys of arson.
Kitty: Rock that makes you want to throw toast or drag your rat rod.

Winfred E. Eye - Til I Prune

Charles: Slow, low Calexico-sounding rock… Red House Painters meets M. Ward meets Joey Burns.
Nipsy: As depressing as ever, but with new soul tricks. I got dibs.
Fanny: Delights skinny. Skinny reminds me of Tom Waits and that guy from the Red Meat cartoon.
Kitty: Slow, happy, drown your life in brown liquors music.