A lot of CDs land on my desk. A lot. When I first took the job as music editor three years ago, I made a commitment to myself and all the bands who send stuff to me that I would give every single CD a listen — whether it be 10 songs or 10 seconds. The majority of those CDs are tossed aside and never see the light of day again. In January of 2009, I decided to share my impressions of all those quick-listen CDs, and just like the listens themselves, the reviews would be short and to the point. Thus debuted the “10-in-10 CD Reviews” feature on the Vibes blog. Each Friday, I review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each. I listened to Lady Gaga before her first hit song was released, and I wasn’t too keen on The Dexateens or Zac Brown Band until I saw them live — so going back and looking at the reviews now can be humorous. Most have been mediocre, some have been outstanding and yet others have been along the lines of musical excrement. You can see them all at qcvibes.com, but here are some of the highlights, and lowlights, from the last year or so. (And yes, new ones are posted each Friday.)
• The Gourds — Haymaker!: Decent rock-tinged country music with a splash of quirkiness.
• Trapt — Only Through the Pain: Generic hard rock that’s tailor-made for radio-friendly hits.
• Kate Campbell — Save the Day: Folkie’s short-story style is sometimes inspired by literary notables.
• Nancy Cassidy — Runaway Train: Deep vocals first thing noticed on album of country folk.
• Seth Walker — Leap of Faith: Roots rocker gets a fun, sometimes old-school, groove going.
• Miley Cyrus — Breakout: Overrated teen sensation doesn’t get any less annoying with age.
• The Game — LAX: Lots of guest appearances — rap albums are all sounding similar.
• Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials — Full Tilt: Chicago blues band has a Southern-fried, quick-hit style.
• Xavier Rudd — Dark Shades of Blue: Australian activist mixes indigenous instruments with rock for psychedelic groove.
• Zac Brown Band — The Foundation: Country-fried album finds inspiration in bluegrass, rock and reggae.
• Caesars — Strawberry Weed: Swedish rockers have ’60s influence with rough-around-edges style.
• Harry Connick Jr. — What a Night! A Christmas Album: Third holiday disc from pianist mixes traditional songs with originals.
• Dion — Heroes: Tearing through classics, you’d never guess he’s 70 years old.
• Semi-Precious Weapons — We Love You: Garage-style glam rock with androgynous singer is campy fun.
• Hoots and Hellmouth — Hoots and Hellmouth: Gospel-fused roots rock is sure to get feet moving.
• Hillary Duff — Best of Hillary Duff: It’s an oxymoron to say “Best of” and “Hillary Duff.”
• Laura Reed & Deep Pocket — Live at Tree Sound Studios: Soulful singer brings the funk with a hint of blues.
• Portugal. The Man — Censored Colors: A bit of mellowed-out Mars Volta-style psychedelic rock.
• Solange — Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams: Beyonce’s sister tries her best to separate herself … poorly accomplished.
• Il Divo — The Promise: No matter how hard I try to listen … it’s opera.
• Plain White T’s — Big Bad World: Generic pop rock from the quintet that brought you “Delilah.”
• Randy Rogers Band — Randy Rogers Band: Most-downloaded country band doesn’t stand out from the pack.
• Amy Ray — Didn’t It Feel Kinder: Half of Indigo Girls releases third, less-acoustic solo album.
• Celtic Woman — The Greatest Journey: Irish sensations may get you to dance like Michael Flatley.
• Beyonce — I am… Sasha Fierce: Two CDs, six songs each. “I am … not environmentally conscious.”
• Otis Gibbs — Grandpa Walked a Picketline: There’s a bit of grit in them thar folk vocals.
• Jolie Holland — The Living and the Dead: Weak vocals detract from songwriting. Sorry, but I’m not impressed.
• Lordi — Deadache: Cheesy metal is more entertaining when seeing them in costume.
• Kevin Rudolf — In the City: Cash Money backs rocker — even Lil Wayne can’t improve it.
• Robin Thicke — Something Else: Something about that falsetto just doesn’t sound natural to me.
• Norma Jean — vs The Anti Mother: What in the bloody hell are these guys screaming about?
• Sarah White — Sweetheart: Charlottesville singer’s folk EP left me wanting to hear more.
• I Am Ghost — Those We Leave Behind: Lump this one in there with other Warped Tour crap.
• Gina Sicilia — Hey Sugar: Only 23, but she creates some old-school-feeling blues.
• Snow Patrol — A Hundred Million Suns: Radio-friendly pop-rock just doesn’t do anything for me.
• Terrence Howard — Shine Through It: Another actor tries to become a singer … I’m not impressed.
• Godhead — At the Edge of the World: Metal with a tinge of electronica and hint of cheese.
• Lady Gaga — The Fame: Sounds like Britney Spears 2.0, terribly cheesy lyrics — “disco stick”?
• People in Planes — Beyond the Horizon: Bad band name, but a better rock CD than expected.
• Toby Keith — That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy: I try, but I’m not a fan of most country.
• Chris Knight — Heart of Stone: Some sounds like Cash, some of the grit of Springsteen.
• Restavrant — Returns to the Tomb of Guiliano Medidici: It wasn’t horrible, but then he started to sing. Eww.
• Dir En Grey — Uroboros: Beware bands with a “vocalist” listed instead of a “singer.”
• I Set My Friends On Fire — You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter: Now I want to set this terrible CD on fire.
• Keane — Perfect Symmetry: Seriously? This band has sold more than 8 million albums?
• Sing It Loud — Come Around: Pop rockers aren’t too original, but the kids’ll love ’em.
• Cantinero — Better for the Metaphor: Acoustic popster takes the Do-It-Yourself approach for mediocrity.
• Celine Dion — My Love: Essential Collection: I think this would be better used as a frisbee.
• Matt Duke — Kingdom Underground: Possible second-coming of James Blunt, if we needed another.
• The Knux — Remind Me In 3 Days …: Genre-bending hip-hop tries too hard to be Outkast.
• Bette Midler — Jackpot! The Best Bette: Yeah, you can use this one just like Celine Dion’s.
• Tribe After Tribe — M.O.A.B.: Rock with far too much filler, not nearly enough killer.
• Dark Dark Dark — The Snow Magic: Somber, circus-sounding quartet with lackluster harmonies offer debut disc.
• MaryMary — The Sound: Meant for random dance clubs, duo releases 12 forgettable tracks.
• The Tony Rich Project — Exist: Straight-up R&B with so much falsetto … it’s almost cheesy.
• Various Artists — Fabric 43: Metro Area: Twenty three horrible tracks of techno with worst intro ever.
• Michelle Williams — Unexpected: One-third of Destiny’s Child releases over-produced third disc.
• Input — Pictureface: Can’t get past what sounds like rapper with a lisp.
• The Rippingtons — Modern Art: Upbeat jazz makes me think of a doctor’s waiting room.
• Shrek the Musical — Original Cast Recording: Seriously?!? Why not try writing a better movie sequel instead.
• 16 Frames — Where it Ends: Sorry, but most of these lyrics, beats sound ripped off.
• Fall From Grace — Sifting Through the Wreckage: Band able to walk line between punk, screamo and hardcore.
• Heartless Bastards — The Mountain: Sleepy alt-country reminds me of a female-fronted Wilco.
• Gregory Douglass — Battler: Highlight of mellow album may be appearance of Grace Potter.
• B-Real — Smoke N Mirrors: Cypress Hill rapper out on his own, plenty of guests.
• Jeff Kashiwa — Back in the Day: For some reason it kinda reminds me of Kenny G.
• Various Artists — Confessions of a Shopaholic Soundtrack: Good way to get in touch with your feminine side.
• Jonas Brothers — Music from the 3D Concert Experience: Unfortunately, it looks like they’re gonna be around a while.
• Ballas Hough Band — BHB: More pop crap. Go back to Dancing with the Stars.
• Valencia — We All Need a Reason to Believe: Yet another of those bands that sounds Warped Tour ready.
• The Lonely Island — Incredibad: Andy Samberg, others release “Dick in a Box” on album.
• The Green Eyes — Relapse to Recovery: There are points for originality, but this band gets none.
• Thursday — Common Existence: They call it post-hardcore, I shall call it screamo.
• Jason Becker — Collection: Showcasing guitar work of ’80s musician sidelined by Gehrig’s Disease.
• Aaron Tippin — In Overdrive: I’ve heard country songs about trucking, but a whole album?
• Mono — Hymn to the Immortal Wind: Japanese, orchestral, romantic, instrumental music makes me … yawn … very … sleepy.
• Via Tania — Moon Sweet Moon: Sophomore effort from former Australian noise-popper is mellow, soothing.
• Andy Friedman & The Other Failures — Weary Things: Cartoonist sure knows how to write some depressing folk songs.
• Hey Monday — Hold On Tight: Pop rock from just-out-of-high-school Paramore wannabes.
• Nous Non Plus — Menagerie: Singer Celine Dijon’s pop French lyrics are kind of annoying.
• The Suicide Kings — The Suicide Kings: Usually mellow country, sometimes sped up like a freight train.
• Garaj Mahal — Woot: Nine funky jazz songs. Hour, 10 minutes. The jams fly.
• Savage — Savage Island: Deep-voice only thing separating him in unoriginal hip-hop.
• Flying Lizards — Flying Lizards: Reissue allows people to hear worst “Summertime Blues” cover ever.
• Jenny Owen Youngs — Transmitter Failure: Sophomore album from pop-folkster is full of catchy tunes.
• Stephaniesid — Warm People: Indie pop group out of Asheville keeps on getting better.
• Two Man Gentlemen Band — Drip Dryin’: Neo-vaudevillian duo known for giving out free kazoos at shows.
• The Dexateens — Singlewide: Alabama garage rock teeters between front-porch style and backwoods.
• The Prodigy — Invaders Must Die: “Smack My Bitch Up” band’s latest missing an addictive single.
• Patrick Watson — Wooden Arms: M Ward/Jeff Buckley-style folk with more orchestral arrangements.
• Larry Tee — Club Badd: Perez Hilton guests on “My Penis.” Need I say more?
• Electric Owls — Ain’t Too Bright. The Comas’ frontman has some pop sensibility without being simplistic.
• The Decemberists — The Hazards of Love: Band’s fifth album garnering plenty of attention — the good kind.
• Ramblin’ Jack Elliott — A Stranger Here: 77-year-old explores Depression-era weathered country-blues classics.
• Chimaira — The Infection: I wonder if Chimaira is Swahili for “cookie monster vocals” … ?
• Sharam — Get Wild: Electronic music, collaborations include piano-playing Tommy Lee, rapping Diddy.
• Bow Wow — New Jack City II: Same old guest stars — T-Pain, Jermaine Dupri, T.I. — nothing new.
• Metric — Fantasies: Band’s first album in four years explores new pop direction.
• Yanni — Voices: I guess I’m not old enough to appreciate this music …
• The Color of Violence — Youthanize: Screamo music with childish song titles … I don’t get it.
• Over the Hill — Looking for a Spark: Energetic, entertaining bluegrass-meets-punk band with voice-cracking vocals.
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros — Up From Below: Rotating cast of musicians creates hippy-happy vibes on debut.
• Roy Jay — Lucky Guy: Entrepreneur’s debut album sounds like a poor man’s Jimmy Buffett.
• Pterodactyl — Worldwild: Art rockers consist of an interesting conglomerate of sonic layers.
• Michael Johns — Hold Back My Heart: American Idol finalist releases soon-to-be-forgotten debut album.
• Tom Brosseau — Posthumous Success: I honestly thought it was a woman singing. Folk-y stuff.
• The Lemonheads — Varshons: Album of covers produced by Gibby Haynes shows different side.
• Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey — Here and Now: Duo’s newest is 17 years in the making, worth wait.
• Trailer Choir — Off the Hillbilly Hook: Someone please tell me that this trio is a joke.
• Iggy Pop — Preliminaires: Punk legend tries his hand at French, romance … enough said.
• Elvis Costello — Secret, Profane and Sugarcane: I’ve tried, but I’m no fan of his nasally voice.
• Blake Lewis — Heartbreak on Vinyl: I never thought I’d hear something worse than his debut.
• Lita Ford — Wicked Wonderland: ’80s rocker makes lyrically weak return to the music scene.
• Dethklok — Metalocalypse Dethalbum II: Skull crushing cartoon metal with plenty of cookie-monster vocals.
• Kris Kristofferson — Starlight and Stone: Great country songwriting though the voice is showing its age.
• Kyp Malone — Rain Machine: TV on the Radio guitarist releases an artful solo effort.
• Shadows Fall — Retribution: Ten tracks of thrash! Argh! Screaming! Argh! Heavy metal! Argh!
• Honor Society — Fashionably Late: G-rated pop band is adored by Jonas Brothers fans.
• Something to Burn — Transitions: Rock band’s singer’s voice sounds like pained whisper at times.
• The Proclaimers — Notes & Rhymes: I would probably walk 5,000 miles … away from this band.
• Miley Cyrus — The Time of Our Lives: I’m definitely ready for her 15 minutes to be up.
• Steve Martin — The Crow: A great comedian, and also one helluva amazing banjo player.
• Drive-By Truckers — The Fine Print: Why am I not more impressed with sleepy alt-country?
This article appears in Mar 2-8, 2010.
