Vulture WhaleVulture Whale****Vulture Whale doesn’t seem to try too hard to differentiate their songs. It’s one of the few unfortunate things about the band that, on their self-titled first release, has a more energetic indie-rockabilly sound than most other bands like them. It’s a sound that is often muted among modern musicians who, like Wilco, have either toned down their country roots for the serenity of folk or have muffled it with overproduced instrumentals. Don’t get me wrong: Vulture Whale is not Kenny Chesney. They’re a band that embraces their southern roots (Birmingham, Ala.) and uses a perfect mix of country and rock to make an album that is not only accessible, but a fun and memorable listen.-David Holley
The FoxxLila**Like Grease? The Foxx does, and probably a bit too much. Don’t be fooled by the tacky art deco-esque album artwork–Lila is disappointingly not the indie-synth-pop dream it might appear to be upon first glance. Instead, the listener is greeted with a mostly post-retro smattering of songs that sound like updates of tunes straight out of the 1952 town sock-hop (sort of). In the band’s defense, some of the later tracks on the album stray from the pre-Beatles style, resulting in a few tracks that sound a little more modern and add some much-needed variety. Unfortunately, these tracks are still fairly derivative. Eh.-Steve Haske
Foreign BornOn the Wing Now****How does a band make themselves stand apart from the indie-rock genre? Add more instruments? Have ex-members that were in a better band? Have a stupid gimmick? All these ideas might work, but in the end, they’re vacant. The best way to stand out is simple: be good. And luckily for Foreign Born, they are. Their debut full-length release, On the Wing Now, definitely covers familiar territory, but that’s OK. That territory is the rock music canon, and the band hits many of its high points. Some songs have a David Bowie influence, others U2, but they all retain a modern and complete edge. Jangly guitars and lush instrumentation abound. Lead singer Matt Popieluch has a voice like any great rock singer, from Thom Yorke to Bowie; it’s familiar, but it’s still somehow his own. On the Wing Now really is a pleasant surprise, and a dream of an album.-Ed Johnson
Soulja BoySouljaboytellem.com *Wow, the name of Soulja Boy’s new album, Souljaboytellem.com, should tell you what he’s about right off the bat: product placement and commercialism. Like most mainstream rap albums, it’s clear how much time was spent on the single, usually the same amount of time that was spent on the rest of the album. “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” is kind of catchy at first, but as you move on with the album, all you hear is the same “YOU!” sampled in eight of fourteen tracks. All of which are telling “YOU!” to crank that Soulja Boy, “YOU!” to get a sidekick, and “YOU!” to snap and roll. Hey Soulja Boy: “YOU!” go fuck yourself!-Norman Dunn