Ric Ocasek did a good job producing, but he rounded off too many edges. The band’s left somewhere between Sugarcult and OK GO with Exploding Hearts’ wardrobe.
These guys have pretty much perfected the art of Americana rock. The hooks are HUGE and tasty, the execution top-notch, and the attitude down-to-earth.
Sleepwalking through riffs and Postal Service electronics, these ten do little more than favor Delonge’s yowl, as the rest of the band stay out of the way.
Sigur Rós seem to’ve found a happy medium between drifting and delivering. Plenty of winding, swirling, and euphoric moments, but also a sense of purpose.
Vigorous up-tempo stuff without dumb gimmicks, just strong chord progressions and climactic choruses and thoughtful lyrics over a hearty rhythm section.
Porcelain looked to finally shed Sparta’s existence in contradictions. But alas, the negatives continue to haunt the positives in everything the band touches.