The XX - Self Titled 2009
4.5 outta 5
Haven’t listened to this since I saw them at SXSW. While I dig the ethereal quality of the production, I’m still not in love with the songs. A solid album, but not last year’s best. May be a one trick pony. We’ll see. I said the same thing after Pablo Honey.

Miami Horror - Illumination 2010
3.5 outta 5
Inconsistent over all, but there are a few quality disco influenced tracks on this release, including I Look At You and Echoplex. Alternating boy/girl vocal bits throughout. The girl’s great, the boy’s nothing special. Love the random Supertramp keys.

The Walkmen - Lisbon 2010
3 outta 5
Saw these cats at SXSW and kept wondering why the Strokes were playing such dull songs. Not much has changed with this release, though I have to admit this would be a fine background album if you were having some friends over to enjoy some PBR and a smoke.

Saycet - Through the Window 2010
2.5 outta 5
This is a fine little glitchy electronic album, though I prefer the tracks with less intelligible vocals. The girl’s voice is fine, but it all gets a little too schmaltzy when she’s trying to share her day’s story.

Philip Selway - Familial 2010
— outta 5
Has the least interesting musician in Radiohead released Radiohead’s least interesting solo project? Probably. I’m too bored to get past track three.