David Aaron - From Brooklyn

Ronald: Nine Inch Nails meets Jane's Addiction. Very 90's.
Grimace: Picking up where Broken left off. All the goodness minus the anger and ridiculous pretentiousness.
Mayor McCheese: Nine inch what now?
Hamburglar: I'd give it six inch nails. Music is interesting, and he's got writing talent. But get angry!

Alkalined - Empty Spaces

Ronald: Refreshing, toe-tapping Kings Of Leon less the boogie. Meatloaf minus the Broadway.
Grimace: The punk rock Neil Diamond.
Mayor McCheese: Adequate emo-pop, cool guitars and lyrics, but singing's a little weird, piano is redundant.
Hamburglar: What happens when punk rockers get old.

Steven Alvarado - The Howl Sessions

Ronald: Artful indie-country-rock that almost leaves you wanting more.
Grimace: Brilliant acoustic music from a great songwriter. Earthy, beautiful and soulful. Gruff American Music Club.
Mayor Mcheese: Modern folk-roots-rock. Part Jerry Jeff Walker, part Neil Young. All good.
Hamburglar: His name rhymes with Colorado, does that mean he's related to John Denver?

Armored Frog - Weasel On A Weathervane

Ronald: Experimental but tuneful mood-enhancing music. Makes you anxious if you're edgy, relaxed if you're down.
Grimace: One of thos albums that critics love, and takes several listens to like.
Mayor McCheese: Ultra slo-mo lo-fi downbeat moody atmospheric indie rock. Like Midlake without a drummer.
Hamburglar: Beck took barbituates and found a dark corner to shake the DT's.

Aster - Suitcase Sessions

Ronald: Sugary, Flowery, melodic pop. Can't remember who it reminds me of.
Grimace: Lofi extemporaneous music that's all over the map.
Mayor McCheese: Indie-licious keyboard licks and poppy melodies over excellent drumming. Bright, super-good lo-fi.
Hamburglar: Carnaby street brit-pop, syncopated piano and depressing lyrics that belie the light tunes.

Captain Bringdown & The Buzzkillers - Feel Good Tunes

Ronald: Play it again! Funniest ska-punk since Kid Chaos. Sloppy and carefree, thanks Cap'n.
Grimace: Nice ska-pop-punk (skonk) - No new ground broken, but very fun, upbeat and good to listen to.
Mayor McCheese: Fun with ska-punk. Look hard enough and find anybody.
Hamburglar:Silly ska-punk yaaaaaaa! Let's skank.

Dave Dill - See You In The Sunshine

Ronald: Jules Shear, but more Elton John and less great songwriting. Great production, boring songs.
Grimace: 70's sitcom-inspired crap-rock that makes the world a much more boring place for existing.
Mayor McCheese: Go, they saved The Bay City Roller's brain. Partridge Family AM Gold.
Hamburglar: The original Dill-hole. Red-headed bastard son of 70's pop. Why????

Dope Smoothie - Go Strike

Ronald: Off-key heartfelt vocals over guitar racket- or a gasoline fuelled Nirvana.
Grimace: Once the Swedes hear this, they are going to flip. How to do it better…
Mayor McCheese: Solid mid-tempo down-home rock'n'roll with semi-punk aesthetic. Kooky songs and great guitars.
Hamburglar: Jagger & Bowie hiding in the closet listening to Grand Funk. Then surprise surf punk.

Esthero - Wikked Lil' Grrls

Ronald: Soulful modern girl pop. Brilliant production, amazing vocal depth.
Grimace: Melodic, jazzy pop like martini lounge music. Very nice voice.
Mayor McCheese: Truly spiffy voice: imagine a Spanish Bjork growing up in New York. Nice music too.
Hamburglar: Fantastic sexy R&B with no vocal acrobatics. Gorgeous. Slightly jazzy. Great for dancing or snogging.
Fry Guy: Does spelling girls like grrls make you a lesbian?

Fremont John - Timeline

Ronald: I like it loads. Bar blues & folk with a dark Chris Rea feel.
Grimace: There's a difference between "whiskey rough" and gargling glass. It helps to change notes occasionally.
Mayor McCheese: Watered-down jazz-blues. Very raspy vocals.
Hamburglar: Somewhat bluesy roots-rock- kind of Jim Croce for the 21st century. Gruff voiced dynamo.

Golden Chariots Of Mars - Golden Chariots Of Mars

Ronald: Hauntin, crunchy, girly grunge. Lead singer has a nice voice.
Grimace: If you've got a chariot, go somewhere, dammit! I am Spartacus.
Mayor McCheese: I like her voice when it's lower, and the band slower. 10,000 Cranberry Junkies.
Hamburglar: Eerily atmospheric & dense indie rock. Very moody & lo-fi. Moon Seven Times. Very coolguitar tones.

Kate Hathaway - Sprout Don't Pout

Ronald: That kinda nice bluesy, throaty, sexy girl vocals and guitar sound.
Grimace: Very nice package, she excels when she sings quietly. Writes her own music even.
Mayor McCheese: Sheryl Crow-infused girl rock. Some great drum sounds, but otherwise average. Kind of cute, though.
Hamburglar: Sexy voice, but needs to mix it up. Less cutesy and more of the rich, sultry blues.

Hong Kong Six - Hong Kong Six

Ronald: Talking Severed Heads. Ignore the first track and enjoy.
Grimace: Cool, inventive, artsy pop-rock. Very nice.
Mayor McCheese: One insipid song followed by post-punk brilliance. Television meets Buzzcocks and The New Radicals.
Hamburglar: Thick indie rock, Jerry Harrison inspired. Cool songs incorporating a range of styles and interesting themes.

Jakarta Skyscraper - Jakarta Skyscraper

Ronald: It's hard to build on a soft, lazy base.
Grimace: Trying real hard to be the non-satanic swans. Slow songs building to slow songs.
Mayor McCheese: Thanks to John Cale for teaching me how to play violin.
Hamburglar: It sounds like Denise Bonis. Hey, it is Denise Bonis! I love you, Denise Bonis!

David Levin- Stepping On My Hat

Ronald: Brilliant supersonic pop-music, built on excellent lyrics. Awesome guitars! The Edin Adahl revival begins!
Grimace: Straight-ahead rock with Floydian slips. A second Genesis. Well-played and produced.
Mayor Mcheese: Clear tones, good rhythm & lyrics. This resurrects the 80's Police out of Matthew Sweet.
Hamburglar: Sounds a lot like Matthew Sweet.

Maneja Beto - Para Que Las Paredes No Se Aburran

Ronald: Fucking brilliant alt-Norteno border jazz rock. Tons of heart & musical ability. Amazing depth, great songs.
Grimace: Spanish language bongo jazz lounge from Texas.
Mayor McCheese: Remember your first salsa with fruit in it? Fresh, sweet, spicy and surprising.
Hamburglar: Como es "atonal emo" En Espanol? The more traditional stuff is real nice.

Michael Mangia - The Invisible Wall

Ronald: Mundane Randy Newman stories. He has a decent voice, but it's all droll.
Grimace: Downbeat piano playing from storytelling master. Quirky and fascinating lyrics, lush musical accompaniment.
Mayor McCheese: Indie-contemporary rock, does that exist? It does now.
Hamburglar: "Now he's taking a smoke break. He decides not to participate. Oh yeah!"

Ray Mason - Old School

Ronald: Damn, I already used Randy Newman. Funny Bob Dorough Schoolhouse Rock Stuff.
Grimace: Sounds like he's trying not to offend anyone. Apologetic and patronizing kids music.
Mayor McCheese: Former blues frontman turns into John Hiatt. Clever lyrics, varied instrumentation, a bit of schizophrenia.
Hamburglar: There is obviously talent here, it just never really shows itself.

Menthol Hill - Disfigured Live

Ronald: Mildly psychedelic alt-country pop music. Excellent guitar riffs, almost garagey brilliance. Like early Dandy Warhols.
Grimace: Very diverse. Western picnic music. Mazzy Star sleepiness & garage soul. Jethro Tull meets Swervedriver.
Mayor McCheese: Inconsistency in song style with unintelligible lyrics make for a surprisingly decent album for sure.
Hamburglar: So round, so firm, so fully packed.

Mutant Radio - Cash 'N' Burn

Ronald: Rap rock that actually rocks! Inventive rhythms. More skill than production.
Grimace: Too much 311. And dude is way off key.
Mayor McCheese: Fun fusion of Faith No More and Eminem. Cool scratching, nice rhythmic rapping, cool guitars.
Hamburglar: Just when you thought rap-rock had died, it rears its ugly head.

Orange Park - Songs From The Unknown

Ronald: 80'smetal balladry for the new millennium. Some good songs, but the sound is flat.
Grimace: Bland, uninspired teen rock that belongs on MTV as fodder.
Mayor McCheese: Urge Overkill stunted by retardo lyrics and Loverboy vocals. Lamer rock.
Hamburglar: Weak 70's pop makes the baby Jesus weep.

The Rhythm Coffin - Sixpack Of Skulls

Ronald: Dr. Frankenstein created a Rammstein, Rob Zombie, Cramps monster with a purple beard.
Grimace: Just too cute to be scary. Slo-mo Lo-fi White Zombie deathabilly. Danzig's basement tape.
Mayor McCheese: Dark, sludgy metal mixed with surf, slowcore, rockabilly. All sung by a sultry Cookie Monster.
Hamburglar: If you choose not to make a statement, you still have made a statement.

Stephen Sebastian - Play

Ronald: Solid pop music from Joe Jackson-inspired indie kid. Solid riffs, some clever lyrics.
Grimace: Music from the guy on Sesame Street who paints numbers on the street.
Mayor McCheese: Another re-visit of the 60's. Can we move on yet?
Hamburglar: What Jellyfish was to the Beatles, this guy is to The Dave Clark Five.

Small Space - No Matter

Ronald: Sonic Indie rock, ranging from loud mush to soft electronica. Very cool songs, awesome musicianship.
Grimace: Heavily distorted alt-pop. Lots of synths. Mellow understated vocals.
Mayor McCheese: Experimental mess of hippie brit-pop. "Neil, turn off that Hawkwind!"
Hamburglar: Noisy, loud indierock goodness.

Michael Starks - Shadowcasting

Ronald: Clever lyrics, smart songwriting. A bit whiney, but intriguing. Beatles meets T-Rex.
Grimace: Best guitar tones and arrangements I've heard in a long time. Really nice.
Mayor McCheese: Brilliant pop music. Tremendous production, excellent musicianship, clever and literate lyrics.
Hamburglar: Decent rock, but vocals aren't on par with the band - too bad.

Taught Me - Ready To Go Under

Ronald: Beautiful, atmospheric indie rock- downbeat and gentle with occasional cacophony. Troubling, sensual, nice.
Grimace: Pretty, whispered synth noodling- when it's not annoying as hell. Nice gentle guitars.
Mayor McCheese: Very artful indie rock style. Not bad, and may be worth a second listen.
Hamburglar: Almost too indie for indie rock. Beautiful noises and textures, but a little disturbing.

Wes Tucker - Tradition

Ronald: Grape nuts for the ears. ( and just as tasty.)
Grimace: He's the white Ben Harper. Oh wait, Ben Harper is white.
Mayor McCheese: Between Jackopierce and Jack Johnson. Nice harmonies, smooth guitar, excellent songs. Just plain smooth.
Hamburglar:Just more low-key melodic granola rock.

Gene Watson - Then & Now

Ronald: Beautiful traditional 60's style country with tons of soul and smooth heartbroke style. Great steel player!
Grimace: He's trying for an old-timey country and he's close, but not quite there.
Mayor McCheese: Decent 60's style country, if you like that sort of thing.
Hamburglar: Vintage country Opry-style. Made by guys named "Pig" and "Hoot." Makes me thirsty.

X Is X - Concrete Reality

Ronald: Thickly orchestrated operatic rock. Not like Wagner, but like Queen on Broadway…only darker.
Grimace: Dreamy, syrupy blues-inspired rock duo with beautifully strong female vocals.
Mayor McCheese: Lush aria with great R&B harmonies. A grand scale drama. Incredible voice.
Hamburglar: Elton John and Tim Rice should be so proud of their influence.

Yovee - Too Far Gone

Ronald: Nice acoustic/electric pop rock. Kind if indie, bad singers, great songs. Nice piano and drums.
Grimace: Billy Corgan fronting The Cure. It's pretty.
Mayor McCheese: You should have to go through puberty before they let you put out an album.
Hamburglar: We think they might be Australian.