Matt Charlton

Extra VirginNude Combinations (Dependent)By Divine Right frontman Jose Contreras takes an advisable step into offbeat music. Though Nude Variations finds common ground between a subdued Sigur Ros and the low moments of Aphex Twin, the disc’s cerebral soundscapes are far from derivative. Instead, Nude Variations travels with a slow and dizzy momentum, showing off a […]

The DiablerosYou Can’t Break the Strings in Our Olympic Hearts(Baudelaire)Apparently the Diableros didn’t give much thought to dynamics on their winning debut release You Can’t Break the Strings in Our Olympic Hearts. Led by the retro tones of a Farfisa organ, the group rarely takes things down below flat-out. The resulting massive sound makes Broken […]

John LegendGet Lifted(Columbia)Most modern R&B comes off like an artistically dead genre. The purveyors of the style emphasise vocal runs and dance routines, leaving songwriting and musicianship to those poor people who call themselves “artists.” But every once in a while, someone like John Legend comes along. The disc is an impressive collection of neo-soul […]

Royce Da 5’9”Death is Certain(Koch)Royce Da 5’9” has a delivered a solid album of subdued but impassioned hip-hop, taking the high (and likely less profitable) road of not using his feud with Eminem. Focusing on philosophy and the state of the hip-hop scene, Royce avoids the self-important waste many people would have created in his […]

Dark AngelArchives & Artifacts(Ryko/Restless)Although they once sat atop the San Francisco speed metal scene, one doesn’t hear the name Death Angel much anymore. Seeing this injustice, the people at Ryko released the band’s first two albums along with rarities and a DVD. Sweatpants-wearing Everquest addicts rejoice! The collection shows off the band’s ability to cram […]

The ClipseHell Hath No Fury(Zomba)Hell Hath No Fury is about all the Clipse could have done to get out from under Pharrell’s shadow. The Neptunes co-founder took the group under his wing early on, and while in hip-hop this kind of union has led to some disastrous results, in this case, the Clipse has proven […]

The Go! TeamThunder, Lightning, StrikeColumbiaSounding something along the lines of a pep rally set to the theme song from The A Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike is like a Jock Rock compellation for the indie-rock set. The album’s insistent beats, raw production and expertly placed samples create a sound that is totally unique. “Bottle Rocket” highlights […]

Death From Above 1979You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine (Last Gang)With their stripped-down bass and drum sound, Death From Above 1979’s debut sounds like the bed tracks of a Hot Hot Heat album, only good. On the disc the group has a pounding minimalism, accentuated with moody flares of melody. The result creates a big […]

Adam PuddingtonFor the Mean Time(Hay Sale)On this disc, Adam Puddington proves himself to be a songwriter of uncompromising ability. His sound brings to mind an upbeat link between Gene Clark’s post-Byrds work and a more country-soul version of Jackson Browne. While Puddington’s knack for lazy hooks and well-arranged country-rock provide his initial draws, it’s his […]

The NeinNein EP(Sonic Unyon)Bridging some forgotten gap between Bauhaus and Fugazi, The Nein make pop music for goth dance parties in the Czech Republic. Smothering hollowed-out disco beats, tinny guitars and spacey atmospherics with a sour mood, the band has created something unique within an over-populated genre. The overall effect is like Franz Ferdinand’s angry, […]