Scoring/Grading

As I posted my last post, I realized that some of my scoring may be confusing to you. Well, let me explain. It's not like how they would trasitionally do it in school, 9.7-10.0 is an A+, 9.4-9.6 is an A...etc. No, my grading system is different. Since there are many albums that are lower on the scale, such as 6's and 5's, the system goes like this:
A+ :::::::::::9.5-10.0
A::::::::::::::9.0-9.5
A-::::::::::::8.5-9.0
B+::::::::::::8.0-8.5
B::::::::::::::7.5-8.0
B-:::::::::::::7.0-7.5
C+::::::::::::6.5-7.0
C::::::::::::::6.0-6.5
C-:::::::::::::5.5-6.0
D+::::::::::::5.0-5.5
D::::::::::::::4.5-5.0
D-:::::::::::::4.0-4.5
F::::::::::::::Below 4.0

That's pretty much how my system compares to others.

Even if it Kills Me - Motion City Soundtrack

Alright, so, this album is a little older (summer '07), but i felt the need to put it out there. When I first reviewed this album (not on this blog), I was not very nice. I gave it a B- which, on my new numbering system would translate to somewhere between a 6.5 and an 7.3. After listening to it again (right now, basically) I have decided that it deserves more than that. It is not a great album, but it is much better than about a 7.0. So, I would like to change my score of the album to a solid 8.0

The Bedlam in Goliath - The Mars Volta

Now, usually I don't rant and rave about albums. Which is why I'm not going to. The Bedlam in Goliath is the best album of 2008. I know critics are divided on this album, some say it is genius, others say it is just pointless dribble. However, I am right, as my opinions are always correct. This album is amazing. Whether you like the Mars Volta or not, you should go out and buy it. Now, I like the Volta, but I can usually only take them in small doses. I was able to listen to this album three times in one car trip, the only stopping being getting out to pump gas for 5 minutes. Some great songs include "Goliath", "Soothsayer", "Metatron", and "Wax Simulacra" (the official single). I find that the new drummer that the Volta acquired, Thomas Pridgen (who recieved a full, four year scholarship to Berklee at the age of 15) is possibly the greatest drummer to play rock music since Neal Peart, and he is on par with Peart at this point. Cedric's vocals reach new heights on this album, as does Omar's guitar work. Truly a masterpiece.

9.5 out of 10

The Matches - A Band In Hope

Ah, The Matches. Where to begin with these pop-punkers turned progressive-punk musicians. Well, their first album was released and was a significant pop-punk success. A bunch of good songs, and a pretty cool cover. Next album: Decomposer. A much more avant-garde shift, 90098583423 millions producers, and it is amazing. The new album, A Band In Hope, is arguably as good as, if not better than, Decomposer. They again have many producers on this album, and is pretty reminiscent of Decomposer. However, while Decomposer felt too busy, as if they tried to put everything into all of their songs, ABIH takes a new direction. There are still the traditional pop-punk songs, such as "We Are One" and "Point Me Toward the Morning". The album also contains what is the happiest song ever written, "Wake the Sun" I found myself wanting to dance around down a sunny street. I had not been that happy since I first listened to "The Soft Bulletin". Shawn's vocal work on this album is simply amazing, namely on songs such as "Darkness Rising" and "Yankee in a Chip Shop". While listening to this album, I found myself concentrating on trying to pick out every flaw in it. The only on that I could come up with is that some of the songs sound like "The Black Parade", except that they don't suck. Its as if you take every good thing that My Chemical Romance has done (both of them) and make it a little punkier and a little stranger. Definitely an amazing album, and if not for the new Mars Volta, definitely a candidate for album of the year.

8.5 out of 10