Soundcheck Podcast

Clear Heart Full Eyes is the first solo effort from the Hold Steady's singer and lyricist Craig Finn. Is it an exercise in egoism? Is it a true departure from the successful Hold Steady form? We discuss!

Voyageur, the latest from Kathleen Edwards, shows the influence of a new producer (think Bon Iver). But how does this record stack up against her earlier, more alt-country efforts? We discuss.

Drop everything. This is the most kickass album you've heard all year. "Is That You In The Blue?" is the second record for the brother-sister duo, and it's clear here why Dex was a -- or the -- major influence on Jack White. Just drop everything, listen to the podcast and get yourselves at least 10 percent cooler.

The eponymous second full-length release from Wisconsin-based Justin Vernon, performing as Bon Iver, is a departure for the critically acclaimed rocker. Do we dig it? Yes, Meh, and Meh-Plus.

New Brigade is the first album from Iceage, a bunch of Danish kids from, surprisingly, Denmark. Is it punk? Some of us think so. Some of us, not so much. But regardless of label, is it worth a listen? Tune in and find out.

Burst Apart is the second full-length record from Brooklyn-based The Antlers, and it's on our short list of albums of the year. 

Amanda Shires, a Texas singer-songwriter with a flair for fiddle and ukulele, has us generally all a-swoon over Carrying Lightning, her most recent release. 

Helplessness Blues, the second full-length record from Fleet Foxes, is a smart and challenging blend of folk and pop, old and new. Whether you love it or not, you won't regret giving it a go.

Nine Types Of Light, the latest from Brooklyn's TV On The Radio, is a mix of beats, hooks and surprising emotional depth and complexity -- or so we would have you believe.

Civilian, the third effort from Baltimore duo Wye Oak, has us divided, and animated. It's a unique sound, to be sure -- not quite folk or rock but ... well, listen in as we try to describe it and devolve into name-calling.

Canadian indie rocker Dan Bejar has us all a-dazzle with Kaputt, the latest from his Destroyer project. While he's a member of the New Pornographers, we find similarities in this effort with those of bands such as Roxy Music and Prefab Sprout. Take a listen; you won't be disappointed.

It's a collaboration borne of Austin, Texas-based musicians -- Roky Erickson, a pioneer of psychedelic rock, and Okkervil River, critical darlings of the indie-rock set who have performed with The Decemberists, the New Pornographers, The National and others. The result? Listen up.

The King Is Dead, the latest from The Decemberists, features familiar themes and voices (and guitars, in the case of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, who joins). Or is it a departure? And is it charming or repulsive? For such a great record, we really can't agree on much.

Your friends at Soundcheck have consulted and agree: 2010 has been one of the best years for music in at least a decade. From Frightened Rabbit and Beach House to The National and Rush, there's been something for just about everyone. Here, we give you our top 10 records of the year, and one added honorable mention that really put a ribbon on it. Thanks for listening!

Majesty Shredding, the long-awaited ninth album from old-schoolers Superchunk, rocks pretty hard. But is that a good thing? We shred through the cheese.

Swedish dance-pop phenom Robyn recently released Body Talk, actually a trilogy of EPs released during 2010. As far as electronic dance records go, we agree that Robyn is doing it better than anyone else these days -- including Lady Gaga. That's right. Oh, and she uses a lot of four-letter words, so, you know, fair warning.

Sure, F**k You is a terrific single -- but how does the rest of Cee Lo's latest record, The Lady Killer, measure up? How about among the best of 2010? You heard that right. 

Old-school punkers OFF! are releasing a collection of 16 songs in under 18 minutes that prove punk is alive and well. Or, is this just more evidence that punk died decades ago, despite this effort from former members of Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Burning Brides and others to reclaim their glory days? Fair warning about some colorful language here.

The Fool, the first full-length effort from the L.A. all-female quartet Warpaint, is a dreamy blend of texture and tone. We approve -- and not only because we, too, are a dreamy blend of texture and tone.

Grinderman is the band that succeeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in that it comprises Nick Cave and former members of the Bad Seeds. So is this just another Bad Seeds record, or something new? Check it out, dear listeners.