Avion - Red Ink

Brian - Nothing says "status quo" like an indie band on a major label.
Cardinal Biggles - Has some potential, but a little bland and predictable.
Tim? - I can't listen to this. (Ed. Note: Tim? experienced technical difficulties with this album)
Sir Robin - Try a compatible media before you try and market this.

Bill - Bat Man

Brian - Disturbing in a special way; the stream of conscious, violent narratives are disquieting.
Cardinal Biggles - If I say anything bad about this album, I'm going to hell.
Tim? - Fascinating, in a Wesley Willis-esque sense. More inspired than anything you'll hear on Top 40.
Sir Robin - O.K. - I liked this stuff. Nothing "alternatively challenged" about this guy.

Character - We Also Create False Promises

Brian - Jangly and complex instrumental album with an eastern sound.
Cardinal Biggles - Dynamic instrumental mood music, nice variations, good vibes.
Tim? - Did you need to hear an album of synthesizer-heavy instrumentals? Me neither.
Sir Robin - Much more palatable if you close your eyes while listening - to avoid the disturbing cover art.

Day of Infamy - Red Autumn

Brian - I got 2 copies of this, and only one of the songs would play in my CD player.
Cardinal Biggles - Maybe its because they are really young, but they remind me of Silverchair.
Tim? - Not a bad demo, pretty straightforward rock.
Sir Robin - Potential is there if they stick to their "young metal" form.

Distance - 8 Miles to Empty

Brian - Sounds like Bush gone bland. And that should be telling you something.
Cardinal Biggles - Sounds like early Stone Temple Pilots, but lacks that extra oompf.
Tim? - Rock to be bored by.
Sir Robin - Truly decent metal.

DMBQ - The Essential Sounds From the Far East

Brian - Totally Zeppellin. Channeling Robert Plant with some serious bass and thrashing drums. Far out, man.
Cardinal Biggles - Not bad, but too sporadic. I like the guitar effects, but the guy's voice drove me crazy.
Tim? - Japanese psychedlia, heavily influenced by 70s metal. Feels more like one long jam than actual songs.
Sir Robin - Don't be afraid. Riffs influenced by Zep and Hendrix work for me.

The Firebird Band - The City at Night

Brian - Seriously somnorific. Has its moments, but drags way too much.
Cardinal Biggles - I like some of it, but it varies too much between edgy and wussy, well just wussy.
Tim? - Lots of electronics, interesting songs - too bad every song drags on til you're sick of it.
Sir Robin - A lot of music, some worth it. Note to the Firebirds: save some for later.

Glory of This - Adoration

Brian - Half Cookie Monster, half Kermit the wuss. Instrumentals are standard hard-rock fare.
Cardinal Biggles - Good Stuff, but starts to blend together in the end.
Tim? - This rocks pretty hard and the guy can really yell when he wants to.
Sir Robin - Excellent blend of hard driving rock and decent vocals.

Is to Feel - Bending Halos, Dimming Lights

Brian - Jesus Christ, how many guttural-screaming-emo-metal albums can I be subjected to in one sitting?
Cardinal Biggles - Abrasive, well-orchestrated, but forgettable in the long run.
Tim? - Expecting emo, got metal. I like this guy when he's screaming; when he doesn't, I don't.
Sir Robin - Repetitious rubbish yet disjointed all in one. Don't ask. Don't tell. Don't pursue.

Low Skies - I Have Been to Beautiful Places

Brian - Interesting complement of title and cover art of porno mag drifting in muddy water.
Cardinal Biggles - Can something be interesting and boring at the same time? I think I may have found it then.
Tim? - Similar to, but even more annoying than, The Cure.
Sir Robin - Listening to this was like being at a funeral on a slowly rocking, sea-sick inducing boat - blech!

Mico de Noche - Balls Deep

Brian - Like a peyote-mescal trip gone bad. Weird and a little vile. Take me, Mexican caravan…
Cardinal Biggles - You've been dirty, and oh so bad. Naughty boy.
Tim? - Thrash/Grunge/Sludge mix with a little classical guitar thrown in. Me gusta.
Sir Robin - Oooh-Weee. Move over COC. And with flying butt monkey art to boot. Sweet!

Mystechs - ??? (seems to translate from Korean to "It kills")
Brian - Kind of a cheap thrill joke; unfortunately, the excessive profanity dilutes the satire.
Cardinal Biggles - Yeah, I don't know whether to laugh or throw it in the trash, I'm thinking trash.
Tim? - Bad synthesizers, funny lyrics. Random and bizarre. Good for an occasional listen.
Sir Robin - Stupid crap and that's being kind.

The Reason - Ravenna

Brian - Judged within its own game, it's pretty decent pop-punk; but seriously, this genre's so dead.
Cardinal Biggles - More of the same, what do they have some machine that mass produces this genre or what?
Tim? - Funky emo with some screaming thrown in for good measure. It's alright.
Sir Robin - Heard this somewhere before but I like it just the same. Well produced.

Ticonderoga - Ticonderoga

Brian - Stripped down and understated with a small lounge intimacy barely whispered in your ear.
Cardinal Biggles - One word… crap.
Tim? - Starts slow and then decelerates. Just never goes anywhere. They're probably very sensitive guys, though…
Sir Robin - Youch! Straight to Goodwill with this one.

The Valley - The Valley

Brian - Guitar-crazy garage rock marred only by bad mix-mastering; I'll bet they kick ass, live.
Cardinal Biggles - Cool shit, but a little low on the production end.
Tim? - This album rocks. It's very clear that they're from Seattle - in a good way.
Sir Robin - Keeping it simple makes this work.