Modest Mouse

Sounds Like: A brilliant indie rock group on meth.

See Also: Built to Spill, Ugly Casanova.

Good News

What makes an album epic? Does it have to be a journey for your senses?

Well, Modest Mouse is on Epic Records. Good News is an epic album for even more reasons.

It's got great range. From ferocious stompers ("Bury Me With It") to danceable stompers ("The View") to melancholy, well, nonstompers ("The Good Times are Killing Me"). Plus, they're promoting it on Target commercials. Totally epic.

Front man Isaac Brock is known to be a bit depressed and a bit into the drugs. But he makes a conscious effort to showcase a realistic outlook on life. This is not a happy album, but for the first time, it's not completely pessimistic. As "Float On" states, "Sometimes life's OK." And sometimes it's epic.

÷ Nate Buchik

Eric Clapton

Sounds Like: Bluestastic.

See Also: Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Cream.

Me and Mr. Johnson

It's not enough being arguably the greatest guitarist alive today; Eric Clapton has to confront the most influential blues musician, the late Robert Johnson.

Call it capitalization or a pure act of respect in the memory of Johnson, but Clapton deserves mad props for pulling off such a remarkably flawless album. Clapton's impeccable vocals and playing skills have not swayed since his Cream days, and Johnson himself would say, "Good Lord!" if he heard this masterpiece.

From the slow groove of "Little Queen of Spades" to the fast paced gospel-like tunes "They're Red Hot" and "Last Fair Deal Gone Down," it's hard to believe this album was made this century and not in the late 1930s, when these songs were first recorded by Johnson.

÷ Kylee Dawson

Godsmack

Sounds Like: Sitting in Dante's 7th circle of hell.

See Also: Puddle of Mudd, or scraping a chalkboard.

The Other Side

Why does Godsmack still make music? Is there really a demand for it? Please tell me there's not. My faith is rapidly waning.

"Running Blind" and "Re-Align" sound like songs played really late at night on the radio. "Spiral" and "Keep Away" sound like the lead singer was taking a steamer. And the vocal harmonization on "TouchŽ" and "Voices" made me feel embarrassed. It's like watching a pubescent boy try to sing "Unforgettable" at an elementary school talent show. You can't stop listening because you have to see how bad it can get.

You and I both know Godsmack is out. Please stop listening to the band so it will stop making music and the world can be a better place.

÷ Celeste Meiffren

Kill Bill Vol. 2

Sounds Like: A Tarantino film heard and not seen.

See Also: "Pulp Fiction," Reservoir Dogs soundtracks.

Original Soundtrack

Because Quentin Tarantino likes to mix the old with the new in his films, he's managed to do the same for his soundtracks.

Contributions from late musicians Johnny Cash and Charlie Feathers (for a second time) add that nostalgic country feel, while Shivaree's Gwen Stefani-like vocals and Malcolm McLaren's Moby-like mixing add hints of vintage Tarantino.

Whether in English, Italian (Ennio Morricone instrumentals), Spanish ("Tu Mira" and "Malaguena Salerosa"), or even Japanese ("Urami Bushi"), Tarantino managed to provide a mix of songs that sound as though they were made especially for his film. Not surprisingly, with such an apparent Latin-sounding theme, this soundtrack could be likened to that of a Robert Rodriguez (a frequent Tarantino collaborator) film.

÷ Kylee Dawson

Prince

Sounds Like: Prince, goddamn it!

See Also: The Artist, Prince, FKAP.

Musicology

The fact that Prince wrote, produced, engineered and played almost all of the instruments on Musicology, which he released on his own label, is enough to respect the man, squirrelly though he may be.

But this album simply rules anyway. It's not Purple Rain, but it's not that different, either. Prince has come back from a long rut with one hell of a funky album.

The title track is one of the best; "On The Couch" offers some sexy soulful moments and "Cinnamon Girl" rocks the way Bon Jovi never could. I stole this album off the Internet before it came out, and I still bought it. It was totally worth the video of "Musicology" that comes with it. Damn, that Prince is one sexy motherfucker. Yeah, I said it.

÷ Gabe Joselow