Occasionally as if led by some invisible benevolent force, I'll buy a CD completely on blind faith and love it. I came across the Raveonettes "Pretty In Black" having heard little by the band, and I was not dissapointed. In my car I have a Mp3 enabled cd player with access to thousands of songs but "Pretty In Black" occupies about 80 percent of my driving time. In my mind it is a sexy and fun spektor worshipping throw back masterpiece, both fresh and vintage. The reviews have been largely to the contrary, having read such descipive adjectives as "dissapointing", "derivative" and "square"(!). Stupid critics, I wonder if they're even listining to the same recording. Have any of you had similar experiences?

DJ Quik - Trauma

It hasn't gotten bad reviews I don't think, but hasn't got much recognition either.

I agree with Pretty in Black. It should make my Top 20.

CocoRosie. They're like a better Joanna Newsom, for Pete's sake! What's not to like?

Not "your" — "you're". You are. You're.

Pet peeve.

Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of It Again

I used to say Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic, but I relistened to that album a couple times not too long ago and I didn't enjoy it at all. There's been a few albums like that for me this year.

Ryan Adams - Jacksonville City Nights
Death Cab - Plans

And I sort of have a feeling that some of the more negative reviews are based more on the artists than the music in itself.
Of course, I might be wrong.

Still no reviews of Jaga or Metric on this site!!!!!

Black Mountain?!?!

Like the new LemonJelly, but hardly talked about here....

I definitely can second Black Mountain. Really like that album.

Also Blackalicious "The Craft" which hasn't received nearly as strong of reviews as I would have thought that it would.

And though this likely will make people scoff Harvey Danger's Little By Little also would fall under this category for me. The more I hear it the more I like it. Great replay value, and to think I almost didn't give it a shot due to old misconceptions of the band because of that one song they had years ago.

I haven't heard the new Harvey Danger, but the last one (at least I think it's the last one - no hits) was damn fine.

If your interested Harvey Danger's website is hooking you up with the torrent for free and encouraging you to download it.

If they aren't doing it anymore I think I still have the torrent and can hook you up just send me a message.

Definitely New Order's "Waiting For the Siren's Call". My third favourite record this year.

I could not agree more with Ilychis love of the new Raveonettes album. I don't make lists as music all kind of flows together for me. If people are going to acknowledge rock before The Beatles- this is the way to do it.

Karen Ann's "Nolita". Bought it because I liked the cover and because I thought a song called "Chelesea Burns" had to be good. Maybe the cat on the cd cover has something to do with the fact that her voice just purrs. It's soft but energetic, precise but sexy. This is the kind of voice that could make me hand over my paycheck with a mere 'please'. I'm not sure what to label the music, indie folk-pop?, and I don't care because I love it, all of it. Even the French pop songs which normally I don't like. The album's recieved okay to good reviews but still no-one I know seems to be familiar with her. And yes, I've since bought all her past releases, imports all, darn her.

quote:

Originally posted by Iron Clad Lou:
Definitely New Order's "Waiting For the Siren's Call". My third favourite record this year.

I couldn't disagree with you more. That record was downright awful. It was Adult-Alternative New Order.

I like the Raveonettes album, but there was something a bit lacking about it, especially on repeated listens.

I would have to say Architecture in Helsinki. I think it's one of the best albums of the year but critics seem to hate it because it got labelled 'Twee' somewhere along the line because of the childlike energy it has.

"Rehearsing My Choir" ~ The Fiery Furnaces.

Liking it more and more and more with every listen. I find it wonderful to drive to, do laundry to, clean to, etc.

Some of mine:

Garbage - Bleed Like Me: hardest hitting Garbage CD yet IMO, and well done. Reviews seemed to want them to be a different band.

Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle: This is the true extention of whitechocolatespaceegg. It's the pop thing done perfectly.

Anna Nalick - Wreck Of The Day: I love her - she's like a less pretentious Jewel (when Jewel was starting out.) Some good reviews, but an equal amount not so good.

I'll have to check out the Raveonettes' CD since I love The Chain Gang Of Love.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Out Hud - [i]Let Us Never Speak of It Again[/i
QUOTE]

i agree! this album is awesome.

Metric never really got any high critical acclaim for LIVE IT OUT other than the canadian
critics.

It is an awesome CD... harder, cleaner, and better than WAY Old World Underground. It became quite addicting after a few weeks. Brilliant album.