30 Second Reviews from 6/23

Christina Aguilera
Bionic
(RCA)
SOUNDS LIKE: The dirty diva returns triumphantly with a long jump into the future embracing futuristic electro pop with hiccupy dance tracks and killer beats
FREE ASSOCIATION: "Woohoo" with Nicki Minaj is about to blow; GaGa can eat it
FOR FANS OF: Santigold, Beyonce, MIA, slutty choreographed dancing

The Chemical Brothers
Further
(Virgin/Astralwerks)
SOUNDS LIKE: A psychedelic and propulsive synth journey that lasts a little too long and transports you to a dancefloor crowded with pacifiers and glow sticks
FREE ASSOCIATION: Remember "Block Rockin' Beats"? Man, that was a good song
FOR FANS OF: Digitalism, Dust Brothers, drawn-out repetition

Foals
Total Life Forever
(Sub Pop)
SOUNDS LIKE: Oxford, UK rockers kick it out on their second LP with rich, rhythmic songs full of soaring vocals, catchy choruses and beautiful arrangements
FREE ASSOCIATION: Magically post-everything and deliciously retro (INXS) at the same time
FOR FANS OF: Fleet Foxes x Interpol, happy Joy Division

Hot Hot Heat
Future Breeds
(Dangerbird)
SOUNDS LIKE: Victoria, BC whine-rockers' first on a new label and their first self-produced effort is supposed to be their best since 2002, which doesn't say a lot
FREE ASSOCIATION: Elevator ('05) was pretty good, but Bays' voice is just too annoying here
FOR FANS OF: Pop punk Spoon, The Faint, crappy Walkmen

Lamb of God
Hourglass Vol. III The Vault
(Epic)
SOUNDS LIKE: The Richmond, VA metal kings put together a retrospective from their past collecting their most virulent, screaming death sludge on one disc
FREE ASSOCIATION: The $999 Super Deluxe set includes a coffin guitar case and a sticker!
FOR FANS OF: Mastadon, As I Lay Dying, Slayer, Pantera

Clay Aiken
Tried and True
(Decca)
SOUNDS LIKE: The American Idol runner-up takes on classics like "Unchained Melody" and "Mack the Knife" and performs them all over daytime network TV
FREE ASSOCIATION: Watching your face and eyes contort is like staring at the sun
FOR FANS OF: Susan Lucci, the Buffalo Bills, Nader

Drake
Thank Me Later
(Cash Money)
SOUNDS LIKE: The DeGrassi alum's much-anticipated is a super-produced monster (Swizz Beats, Kanye, Timbaland) of hip hop; computery and voice-effected
FREE ASSOCIATION: Big name guests does not equal a good hip hop record
FOR FANS OF: Jeazy, Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z, Kanye, Alicia Keys

Ozzy Osbourne
Scream
(Epic)
SOUNDS LIKE: The Oz-man cometh indeed, at 61, he kills it here - there's no doubt he hobbles into the studio, but this is as solid as Blizzard of Ozz thirty years ago
FREE ASSOCIATION: With so much garbage metal out there, Ozzy shows us how it can be rad
FOR FANS OF: Sabbath, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains



OTR PW LNK.