So here’s another week, with another batch of reviews. I wanted to address my rating system. I feel bad, like I am always giving people 3 stars or thereabouts, which doesn’t give much to work with. It stems from this 4 star rating system, which is limiting, I suppose. I like it to be limiting, because it makes it easier for me to keep track of it. So I am going to try to explain my ratings:

4 stars – Excellent, almost perfect, definitely a candidate for my year-end list.
3 1/2 stars – Excellent, but not perfect. There is some aspect of it I am unsure of.
3 stars – Average, definitely something I like, but unsure if it will stick with me into the future.
2 1/2 stars – Good, but not great. Usually I dislike a few tracks, or elements of the songs
2 stars – I could do without ever hearing it, it might have only one or two good songs.
1 1/2 stars – Would probably give it away or just be non-chalant towards it.
1 star – Awful, something I never want to hear again.
1/2 star – Worthless pile of horribleness.

Tommy Keene – In The Late Bright – *** – Can’t go wrong with Tommy Keene, and this album is no exception, great atmosphere, great tunes, great singing, it all just works together great.

Eleni Mandell – Artificial Fire – ***1/2 – Eleni Mandell has really stepped it up in her last few albums, and has really created a sound of all her own. This album is great, tons of great songs, and a lot of variety throughout.

Clem Snide – Hungry Bird – *** – They are back, thankfully, with another great record. It picks up right where they left off, with great songs and that cool style that we come to associate with them.

Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You – **1/2 – Haven’t really listened to Lily Allen much, I kind of liked a couple songs off the first album, but was wary that the sound might get old a bit, so I never listened to the whole thing. So I thought I’d give the new one a shot. It is a cool sound, and she seems to be doing a variety of things on this record, but in the end, it did seem a bit repetitive and too self-aware for my tastes.

Chris Isaak – Mr. Lucky – **1/2 – A bit too milquetoast for my tastes, but I do like his sound. I got his last album from 2002 or so, and enjoyed it a lot…this one seems to be a bit more mainstream, and so, except for a few cool songs, it falls flat.

Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry! I promised this would be weekly! What am I doing!! Listen, folks, I’ve been awfully busy, and I apologize for not giving you your music tidbit fix. I will explain that last Tuesday I was busy, because I was at a She & Him concert! Which was awesome. They showed so much energy and love to the crowd that I might even consider that concert to be one of the best! If you haven’t heard the band yet, do it…it’s a collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, and brings all sorts of influences into a great album. But here you go with this weeks picks!

Stew – Passing Strange Original Cast Recording – **** – Excellent record, from what sounds like an electrifying musical experience. You can tell Stew has been working on this idea for a long time. From hearing songs that he has played live previously to seeing the depth that this journey is explained show a real caring hand was put to telling the best story possible from these experiences. I want to see this show so much, unfortunately I can’t afford it, but hearing this recording is almost as good as being there. Since it is a live recording, it has that energy that is so appealing.

Eef Barzelay – Lose Big – *** – Eef Barzelay, former lead singer of Clem Snide comes back with more of the same type of sharp, introspective songs with a laid back style and self-assuredness that make it engaging and interesting.

Matthew Sweet – Sunshine Lies – *** – I loved Matthew Sweet’s early records, they were fun and had great songs on it. In the past few years, his songs, while not lacking energy or his sound, just don’t hit as hard as those first albums did. They are great, but seem to lack a spark. This album gets closer than the last few though.

Wire – Object 47 – *** – I have only been slightly a fan of Wire. I did get their first three albums in a box set a year or so ago, and liked it. Before that, I just knew Outdoor Miner. This album is quite good, and shows that they can still have an impact musically.

Smoking Popes – Stay Down – ***1/2 – I became a Smoking Popes fan late in the game. I actually was more of a Duvall fan, which was the band Matt came out with after the break-up. But i do enjoy the Smoking Popes, and I think this album finds the happy medium between Duvall and the Popes. It’s really quite enjoyable.

Bonus: as a gift to those who were so patient with me, here is what I said about She & Him earlier this year: She & Him – Volume I – ***1/2 – I really like this album. It is an entirely entertaining experience. At first you kind of wonder about the voice and the sort of off nature of it, but as soon as you accept it and fall in, it is a great record.