It's been a while since I've done one of these...

• And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Festival Thyme EP. These songs are bigger, slower, richer and definitely less in-your-face than those on 2002's "Source Tags & Codes" (the only other record of theirs that I have). Pianos and strings are up front and guitars are just more texture. It's quite a change. 3/5.
• Hank Williams -20 of Hank Williams Greatest. Thought it was about time I owned some Hank. The recordings sound so primitive - simple, rough, unprocessed - and that's not necessarily a bad thing, just sounds strange to my ears. The songs are great, regardless. It's the only Hank I've ever owned, but I know most of the songs already... cultural osmosis, I guess. 4/5.
• Copeland - You Are My Sunshine. Harmonies!!! Mellow and shimmering, dripping with harmonies. They're in the same league as, say, Death Cab For Cutie - that intimate and melodic alt-pop that gets dangerously close to overdoing the earnest introspection. But, I still like it. 4/5.
• Parts & Labor - Stay Afraid. On the other hand... This one wallows in discord. A jackhammer drummer keeps time for the vocals, while the guitars lay down thick sheets of hiss and growl, and angry electronics spit bleeps and whistles into every nook and cranny. It's a lot like Boris, but in English, and possibly even more abrasive. But, while I could've enjoyed it 15 years ago, I'm just not up for this anymore. 1/5.
• Nostalgia 77 Octet - Weapons Of Jazz Destruction. A nice sampling of contemporary jazz styles - from Latin, to intimate piano-led things (reminding me of Esbjörn Svensson), to things that sound like they could have been co-written by Stereolab. It never goes too far out, but is definitely not cocktail-lounge jazz. 3/5.
• Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell. Upbeat and bouncy, fun and fairly accessible. Smart, but not pretentious. Sometimes pretty, but never twee. All of the songs are quick and to the point - only one breaks 3 min. There's a little Decemberists flavor here and there, especially on "The Harrowing Adventures Of..." (which even sounds like a Decemberists song title), but mostly it's a lot more energetic and punky. 4/5