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 Bands 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 Bands 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:
BellAria 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-songwriters 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 Lets 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 Bands third album is just 10 songs in 36 minutes.
The Benedictine Nuns of Notre Dame De LAnnonciation 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 Hes 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 Americas Got Talents 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 bands 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 Singers 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 its 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 its 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 singers 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 drummers 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 singers third album is enjoyable, solid pop-folk.
Old 97s The Grand Theatre Bands 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 its 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 Bands 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.