Music I purchased in the fourth quarter of 2011:

• Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto – A lot of great tunes with a few blahs – like most of their albums.
• Grouplove – Never Trust a Happy Song – Starts promisingly, but I find it hard to get through the whole album. Particularly when they get all … well, just listen the verses on “Naked Kids” and you’ll see what I mean.
• Nothingface – An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity – A little like Helmet, but with the hardcore edge.
• MuteMath – Odd Soul – Fantastic indie rock album. (Tip ’o the hat to Zach for turning me on to them.)
• Opeth – Heritage – They abandon the hardcore screams on this one. The album is still really great … but I miss the occasional growl.
• Relient K – Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right … But Three Do – Trying to expand into their early stuff, but it didn’t really work. Will still pick up their finale, but no more going backwards.
• Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire – Fantastic. He’s back in the zone.
• Saves the Day – Daybreak – Might be their best album, which is saying a lot. So fresh without having to re-invent their sound.
• Set Your Goals – Burning at Both Ends – Solid punk-pop.
• We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach – I wanted a lot from this (given the reviews) … and it left me wanting. (At least for now.)
• Wilco – The Whole Love – Starts off with some A Ghost Is Born-ish awesomeness, but some songs in the middle feel a bit lazy.
• Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage – Pushing my hardcore level. TBD.

< 2011 Q3 – 2012 Q1 >

This article was edited after publication by the author on 22 Apr 2012. View changes.