Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome To The Masquerade (2009)Grade: B
Always walking the thin line between edgy fist-in-the-air Christian rock and the bland power chords of Nickelback, Canada's Thousand Foot Krutch have finally made a statement with their sixth album. I'm entirely convinced it's their best output yet, featuring songs like the rock-out-with-your-balls-out "Smack Down" and the Daughtry-style ballad "Already Home." The best moment, however, is the title track, a shout-out to Disturbed. Every hook and chord is in place, and there is no weak track.
Saosin - In Search Of Solid Ground (2009)Grade: C
After "You're Not Alone" and "Voices" gave this scene-rock band their first taste of the bigtime, they make an odd choice on their sophomore release. "I Keep My Secrets Safe" recalls the post-hardcore of Thursday without originality, and the band relentlessly reaches further than they're able. 8:30 apex "Fireflies" asks the bug to "make light before my eyes," and though the instrumentation is Saosin's best to date, the lyrics still need improvement. It is in no way a huge departure from 2006's Saosin, and it will satisfy some fans while not gaining the band any new ones.
Howie Day - Sound The Alarm (2009)Grade: C-
I've adored this singer-songwriter ever since his 2002 Mayer-copycat release Australia, and gave the first single off of his 3rd release an A-. However, even though I still adore his vocals, Day's lyrics are at an all-time low here. Starting off semi-strong with "So Stung" and the pop/rock "Weightless," the album quickly devolves into faux-folk ("40 Hours") and plodding obesities ("No Longer What You Require"). As always, Day manages a few fun tunes (namely "Undressed"), but this is a step down for him.
Athlete - Black Swan (2009)Grade: B+
Somewhere between Snow Patrol and Coldplay, British indie rockers Athlete swim in circles and never get much respect from the media. However, I'd like to venture that their 4th full-length is on par with the last albums from both of those infamous bands. "Black Swan Song" will make it on my "best pop songs of the year" list, a piano-driven emotional piece. Occasionally recalling The Fray, the band provides catchy tunes like "Superhuman Touch" and "Don't Hold Your Breath." And as an album for those of us who still love piano pop/rock, this is a sublime effort.
Why? - Eskimo Snow (2009)Grade: B
Less hip-hop and more alternative-indie-rock than his previous efforts, writer "Yoni" Wolf and his bandmates are back with abstract imagery and shoegazing vocals that should make scene kids eat their hats. Wait. They don't wear any. Whatever. The tracks on Eskimo Snow don't approach former album Alopecia, but it is nonetheless an enjoyable album. Try Beatles-ish "Into The Shadow Of My Embrace" and Wilco-ish "This Blackest Purse," and then brag to your friends about how you listen to Why?
Collective Soul - Collective Soul (Rabbit) (2009)Grade: C
On their 8th album, 90's radio darling Collective Soul aren't out to bust any buttons. With fuzzy guitars (on the aptly-named "Fuzzy") and stomping riffs ("Dig"), the band is somewhere between David Bowie and The White Stripes, and it isn't a bad area. "Understanding" and "She Does" rock Collective Soul's 21st-century updated sound, but at the same time as Rabbit is fresh, it's also stale. Only 30s-ish pop fans will find something here; 3OH!3 fans won't even try it. Average.
Frank Turner - Poetry Of The Deed (2009)Grade: B
My favorite acoustic punk artist is back with his third solo album, and yet again, he's come through. "The Road" isn't Kerouac, but it could put you in the mood with a 21st-century Dylan ambience. The title track is almost Frampton, while "Isabel" rocks a melody directly out of a children's song. An immediate favorite is "Our Lady Of The Campfire," which features a string section, but this will take more than one "First Impression" for me to fully understand it. Pick it up.
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