#3529 The Car is on Fire - The Car is on Fire

2.5/5 Brittle dancepunk, the yelp of the Dismemberment Plan prickled into Hot Hot Heat bristle. The nasal vocals are pretty rough, and the angular hopscotching gets exhausting

#3528 The Car is on Fire - Ombarrops!

3/5 TCioF continues to evolve on their last album, bouncing from idea to idea. Songs morph constantly, electronics and production tricks in every exposed seam.

It's all very clever, but the lack of personality and urgency hold the band back. If these songs are about anything (sleeping seems to be a theme??) it's more of a puzzle than I can solve, and tricks are no substitute for hooks

#3527 Kelley Stoltz - To Dreamers

4.5/5 Stoltz truly hits his stride here, confidently making propulsive, pretty songs, effortlessly packed with hooks, finding every possible permutation of tempo, pop, rock, jangle, and fuzz. And then there's that special thing we get so seldom these days: a gorgeous, showstopping closer, the kind of beauty that waits in the wings of every future listen, putting every song on a path to somewhere; Bottle Up's an indie rock gem worthy of the Shins and the Kingsbury Manx.

The kind of album I'd have been obsessed with in my younger days.

After 8 albums and 15 years, a breakthrough seems unlikely. Stoltz is probably destined to be cult hero at best. But with songwriting talent like his, never count him out - this is his masterpiece, so far.

#3526 Kelley Stoltz - Circular Sounds

3.5/5 maybe it's a trick of the title and the cover, but there's something _round about these songs, all soft sounds, elliptical loops, lulling and pleasant, with just enough Kinksy bristle to keep you stirring. Great background music, in the best way possible

#3525 Kelley Stoltz - Below the Branches

3.5/5 a transitional album for Stoltz, missing the warm, open feel of his debut, but lacking the consistent pop punch of this later stuff. Too many songs lack a plan, toddling along at midtempo before just ending. But there's a couple of great flashes, the goofy joy of Birdies Singing, lost Kinks masterpieces like Memory Collector and Prank Calls

#3524 Kelley Stoltz - Antique Glow

4/5 Spotify's image for this album is different than the actual album cover - I don't know where it came from, but its perfect. It's all there: Stoltz, his piano, and the apartment the album was recorded in, all high ceiling and extra space. It's that space that's the star here, lending an enchanting breadth and warmth to the sound, letting all those extra touches bloom. A minor Americana masterpiece

#3523 Kelley Stoltz - Natural Causes

3/5 pretty moments and Stoltz can't help but pepper hooks here and there, but his recent slower, duller turn continues to underwhelm