got more then a few to go over this week...

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

The LCD Soundsystem is back with more dance-punk antics, just less punk. It's not always easy mixing the two and Sound of Silver proves this. The songs tend to roll on for just a little too long for my tastes, as most dance music does. There is only so much of the same repeating loop I can listen to, before going insane with boredom. It makes a few songs on the record restricted to background music only.

On the bright side, the material that's here is good, if not great for a dance record. Tracks like North American Scum and Watch The Tapes prove that singer James Murphy still has plenty of sarcastic wit to make this much more then just something to nod your head too. When was the last time you enjoyed a dance track for the lyrics? Which is ultimately what makes The LCD Soundsystem so appealing, it's dance music for people that hate dance music.

7.6/10.0

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - Living With The Living

Ted Leo is back again with another solid album of Costello-esque pop-punk. This time Leo has a little bit of a political slant too add to the mix. Fans of Leo should eat this up, but after four solid records a part of me is hoping for a change. Living is not nearly as strong as previous efforts, and actually feels like a step down in some respects. The album left me with a "been-there, heard-this" impression. It makes the album feel less essential then Shake the Sheets or Hearts of Oak. So it may not be the best record for beginners, vets will still have a good time.

7.0/10.0

Stay tuned for part two, where I argue with Duke over the much anticipated (?) Modest Mouse record, as well as the new record from one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Andrew Bird.