Each Friday (as much as possible), we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Eva Cassidy Simply Eva — Late singer gets posthumous release full of unreleased acoustic tracks.

Pete Anderson Even Things Up — Grammy-winning guitarist/producer offers up album of bluesy rock.

Yanni Truth of Touch — This is what is playing while dentists perform root canals.

Say Hi Um, Uh Oh — Lone do-it-all musician creates ho-hum pop music.

Over the Rhine The Long Surrender — Husband and wife team releases latest its vocal-driven album.

Hot Club of Cowtown What Makes Bob Holler — Texas-based trio pays homage to Western Swing, Bob Wills.

The Young International The Young International EP — Nashville band makes solid-but-forgettable pop music for radio.

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors Chasing Someday — Nashville-based band creates mediocre radio-friendly pop rock music.

Iration Fresh Grounds — Hawaiian reggae-influenced band releases a enjoyable five-song EP.

D.S. Yancey Salt the Earth Fill Your Hands — 12 songs in 50 minutes make up a double LP?

Each Friday (or as often as we can), we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Joe Lovano Bird Songs — Grammy-winning saxophonist tackles, explores the music of Charlie Parker.

Chas Sanford Wag More Bark Less — Artist combines pop, rock for country-hinted radio friendly songs.

Prolif Kochise Intellectual Property — Raleigh artist brings hip-hop over some classic soul tracks.

Kate Jacobs Home Game — Folk songwriter sounds a bit childlike in her singing style.

John Lefebvre Initial Album — Zevon-esque singer started late in life, has old-school style.

Puritan Rodeo Puritan Rodeo — Band’s twangy style fuses bluegrass, vaudeville into something more Americana.

Ponderosa Moonlight Revival — Atlanta band takes page from rock notebook of Black Crowes.

Bridges and Powerlines Eve — New York City indie pop quartet sounds a bit whiny.

James Vincent McMorrow Early in the Morning — Irish singer releases debut album of falsetto soaked folk tunes.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real— Band’s brand of rock offers high-pitched vocals, twang hints.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently-released CDs in 10 words each to give you a quick glimpse at what's hitting store shelves:

Bell’Aria Little Italy — Quintet offers its own spin on various Italian-American classics.

Haarp The Filth — New Orleands metal act offers its own droning, sludgy brand.

Animal The Fight EPs — Chapel Hill pop-rock band re-releases its first two EPs.

Slaine A World With No Skies — Member of La Coka Nostra releases his debut solo album.

Jared Grabb Where Do You Hide Love Songs? — Folk songs infuse element of indie rock for something different.

Liz Janes Say Goodbye — Singer-songwriter’s style leans on the jazz side of folk.

North Elementary Southern Rescue Trails — Chapel Hill rockers’ latest release fuses north, south quite well.

Boom Chick Show Pony — Band infuses some rockabilly style into the White Stripes’ style.

Ross Nickerson Let’s Kick It — Well-known songs mixed in with banjo-infused bluegrass originals.

Matterhorn Vol 1. The World Began Without Man — Great Redneck Hope reforms as heavy-handed instrumental metal trio.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each — 

Hinder The All American Nightmare — Band’s third album is just 10 songs in 36 minutes.

The Benedictine Nuns of Notre Dame De L’Annonciation Voices — Group won a contest searching for best female Gregorian chanters.

Arthur Watch the Years Crawl By — MxPx side project releases its long-awaited full length album.

Kevin Fowler Best of… So far — He’s only charted three country singles, and releasing “best of”?

Eric Johnson Up Close — Sixth studio effort brings some guests to his fusion style.

Claps No Party — EP features three songs, three remixes by Minneapolis pop trio.

Is/Is This Happening — Different Minneapolis trio offers four tracks of fuzzed-out pop.

Eric Benet Lost in Time — R&B soul singer releases latest collection of smooth tunes.

Glee Season Two: Volume 4 — For the love of God, will someone make it stop?

Jackie Evancho Holy Night — 10-year-old from America’s Got Talent’s huge vocal abilities.

Each Friday we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Jim Byrnes Everywhere West — Some classic style blues with hint of front porch style.

Wild Orchid Children Are Alexander Supertramp — Sounds like a bit of just about every band… clusterfuck.

Bryan Adams Bare Bones — It plays like an Unplugged greatest hits album performed live.

Annie Lennox A Christmas Cornucopia — Singers first Christmas album has her favorite carols, one original.

Scott Miller Christmas Gift — Singer writes a few holiday tunes, pays tribute to idols.

Various Artists World Christmas Party — Just like it says — Christmas tunes from around the world.

Glee The Christmas Album — Will somebody please make these people stop ruining classic songs…

Brokencyde Will Never Die — Band creates relatively pop music and screams their heads off.

South Cry Blue Moon — Brazilian rock band’s album includes unique version of Beatles “Help.”

Downers of the World Unite Digital Teens/Nothing Looks Good— Like Every Time I Die — lots of screaming with melody.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Kevens We Are One — Singer’s debut album tries to move away from traditional reggae.

War From a Harlots Mouth MMX — German metal band offers a whole lot of screaming vocals.

Amusement Parks on Fire Road Eyes — England pop band prefers label of stargaze instead of shoegaze.

Middle Class Rut No Name No Color — Album collects 12 alt songs from span of several years.

Marshall Chapman Big Lonesome — Singer dedicates her 12th album to her inspiration, late friend.

Cassandra Wilson Silver Pony — Album of live tracks highlights jazz vocalist in new fashion.

Meligrove Band Shimmering Lights — Toronto-based band offers its own brand of indie pop. (Playing with Jukebox the Ghost on Dec. 7 at Snug Harbor.)

Madonna Nash Madonna Nash — Pop country from Carolina Music Awards Best Female Country Artist.

Eric Maring The Line — “Musical companion to the novel ‘The Monkey Bible’”… uh, what?

Reba All the Women I Am — Music legend releases 34th career studio album… it’s more country.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

The Irreconcilables Merry Ex-Mas — Band tries to offer humorous holiday tunes for the divorced.

The Puppini Sisters Christmas With — Trio takes ‘40s style and infuses it into Christmas classics.

Lookin’ At Lucky Trout Fishing in America — Folk band releases first album for adults in 11 years.

Tumbledown Empty Bottle — MxPx frontman tries his hand on some punk-infused country.

J.C. Satan Sick of Love — 17 songs in 43 minutes… it’s quick-hitting alt-rock.

Bryan Ferry Olympia — Guest musicians include Flea, David Gilmour, Scissor Sisters and more.

Ill Nino Dead New World — Band combines hints of melody with cookie monster vocal metal.

Pomegranates One of Us — Another band falls into art-pop, atmospheric alt-rock category.

Wax Melted — Band together for two years — 1971 album finally gets released.

Tye Tribbett Fresh — Contemporary gospel singer releases his debut, 16-song solo album.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Duane Stephenson Black Gold — To-Isis singer’s sophomore album full of good, traditional reggae rhythms.

Easy Star Allstars Dubber Side of the Moon — Spaced-out remixes of original Dub Side of the Moon.

Senses Fail The Fire — Band offers that emo, heavy-handed rock. Concert DVD included.

Various Artists The Imus Ranch II — Benefit CD includes Jamey Johnson, Levon Helm and 11 others.

Elizabeth and the Catapult The Other Side of Zero — A mix between Sara Bareilles and Florence and the Machine.

The Gay Blades Savages — Duo sure can make big rock noise for two people.

Jesse McReynolds & Friends Songs of the Grateful Dead — Grateful Dead songs covered in a straight-forward bluegrass manner.

Brendan James Brendan James — Pop-rock style sits on list of radio-ready singers.

Joe Louis Walker Blues Conspiracy — Live blues set was recorded on Rhythm & Blues Cruise.

Greg Humphreys Realign Your Mind — Hobex, Dillon Fence singer releases his second, diverse solo album.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Random Touch Reverberating Apparatus — Trio creates a lot of spacy, off-tempo atmospheric sounds.

Bangtower Casting Shadows — Instrumental power prog trio features Brand X bassist Percy Jones.

ABK Medicine Bag — Another bad rapper in clown makeup from the ICP gang.

Glee Rocky Horror Show — More shitty cover songs from that horribly annoying television show.

Big Time Rush BTR — Nickelodeon show stars release debut album of cheesy pop rock.

Majeure Timespan — Zombi drummer’s debut uses layers of synthesizers along with drums.

Cloud Cult Light Chasers — Band works on building upon the typical indie rock sound.

The Honored Guests Please Try Again — Chapel Hill band creates some solid Flaming Lips-like soundscapes.

Brooke Fraser Flags — New Zealand singer’s third album is enjoyable, solid pop-folk.

Old 97s The Grand Theatre — Band’s eighth album has upbeat country rock rhythms… not bad.

Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:

Indigo Girls Holly Happy Days — Folk duo releases its first-ever holiday album — three originals.

Fantazzmo Enter the Fantazz — Band fuses numerous influences —it’s all style, not much substance.

Jim Brickman Home — Country songs done on piano have no appeal to me.

The Secret Sisters The Secret Sisters — 20-something sisters try to revive 40s/50s style country.

Raunchy A Dischord Electric — Danish sextet aims to be metal — too much pop influence.

Yann Tiersen Dust Lane — Atmospheric music… and how often do you hear a bouzouki?

Thrift Store Cowboys Light Fighter — Band’s fourth album fuses rock with some nice western hints. (At The Evening Muse on Oct. 28)

Various Artists Dance Mix USA — Shitty pop music remixes make me want to throw CD.

Grace Griffith Sailing — D.C. singer offers folk music to showcase vocals. Average songs.

Grinderman Grinderman 2 — Nick Cave and company continue their search for something unique.