Written by The Nice Asshole
Rose’s growls seem to grow to an exasperated screech throughout the album. Rose has always been a talented vocalist, and a good piece of the puzzle. In Chinese Democracy he becomes the crux, which is not his strong-suit. His vocals are VERY apparent on this album, often sounding like his head is ready to pop from the lengthy high-notes he sustains. It’s commendable, and at the same time fucking annoying.

Written by The Nice Asshole
I almost didn’t want this album to be released. For one, it’s a great punch line. (I once told an ex-girlfriend that we couldn’t get married until Chinese Democracy was released. It was a good cover.) But also, there is SUCH a pop-culture vortex surrounding it. In a Rolling Stone piece written in April of 2000, they were unsure way back then of the album’s existence.

Written by Fense
You don’t typically hear songs named for guys. Yet the new I’m From Barcelona (MySpace) album, Who Killed Harry Houdini? does just that — and they use my name. As an opening track, “Andy” isn’t quite as hard-hitting as “Oversleeping” was to Let Me Introduce You To My Friends, but it does set the stage well for the rest of the album, which doesn’t necessarily have the power tracks of their debut.

Written by Fense
Oh yeah. This is the stuff that gets me excited. The Glasses (MySpace) are the style of indie pop that’s packed with male/female vocals and totally catchy vocal and instrumental hooks. I’m pretty sure I’ve got one of their older EPs, but the one currently in my hands is their latest LP, Story Problems. “When Moonlight Falls” kicks the album off on a massive high point.

Written by Fense
Like Sweden, Norway churns out some pretty great pop bands and one of those is Haakon Ellingsen. Ellingsen’s music is a mixture of pop and folk that is occasionally reminiscent of The Beatles, but not in an distracting or negatively impacting, overtly-influenced manner; maybe a hint of The Polyphonic Spree’s epic nature, as well.

Written by Fense
Flannel (MySpace) is one of those spacey pop bands, dabbling lightly in dreamy shoe-gaze-like moments. The music paints a colorful sunset much like that found on the cover of Dear Something, Dear Someone. It’s the perfect album to listen to through headphones while staring up at the sky as the sun is setting; it’s very peaceful.