Record Review Omnibus

As much as we'd like to, NLtS simply cannot post a full-fledged review of every significant album that comes out. But, seeing as the year is nearly half gone with so much quality music unspoken for, we're posting this as a way of offering more complete coverage. Since we're doing this quick and dirty, half points out of five will be given rather than our normal album scoring.


These New Puritans - Beat Pyramid
This debut immediately brings to mind something like Klaxons, but tastefully restrained. The half year's only dance album that didn't make me feel silly.
4.5/5.0








The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
Take one of the best young British lyricists around and drop him into a swanky spy film, with a scrappy harmonizing sidekick. Deliciously over-produced and totally unique.
4.0/5.0








Colin Meloy - Sings Live!
Not quite Live at Jittery Joe's, Meloy steps away from his formidable band and delivers a treat to the faithful. The uninitiated may find it a miss.
3.0/4.0








Flight of the Conchords - S/T
An upgrade from the jumble of EPs and mp3 rips previously available, but nothing new and many of the songs suffer from the full studio treatment. Still, this may be the only comedy album this year worth wading through.
3.5/5.0







R.E.M. - Accelerate
While Smashing Pumpkins proved last year that a band already in Cooperstown could release some real garbage, Stipe & Co. put forth a competent album adrift in the no-man-but-Kings-of-Leon's land between commerciality and genuine creativity.
3.0/5.0







The Kooks - Konk
Their debut was ill-conceived but well-executed. Here, there's not a single salvageable musical idea.
1.0/5.0











The Dodos - Visiter
Something out of San Francisco that's not horrific electro or punk? One of the year's few surprises.
5.0/5.0









Hercules and Love Affair - S/T
Just that side of esoteric as to be unenjoyable. Give me Lightning Bolt or Megadeth before this one. James Murphy devotees will find something to like here and there.
2.5/5.0

-RJR