(Music) April In Review

Now that May is upon us and the sun begins to torture us with its presence, it is time to review the month of April. April was, by all accounts, a great month in music. The month began with balls-out bang! The new Flaming Lips album was released on April 4th and is, in my opinion, an early frontrunner for album of the year when the 3rd annual Cale Awards come around. Since then, down seems like the only place to go. However, April never really let up too much. With the release of the long-awaited Built to Spill album "You In Reverse," the band proved that they haven't lost what it takes to wow the Calester! April also saw the release of The Streets' new album, "The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living" and the new Calexico, both of which deserve every star they got from me.

However, April was not without its disappointments. The month also saw the release of two 'sopomore slump' albums from The Dresden Dolls and Secret Machines. Though both albums had a few notable songs, they are ultimately forgettable.

So there you have it. The month of April. A month full of surprises, great music, and surprisingly great music.

April Rankings:
1. The Flaming Lips: "At War With the Mystics"
2. Calexico: "Garden Ruin"
3. Built to Spill: "You In Reverse"
4. The Streets: "The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living"
5. Secret Machines: "Ten Silver Drops"
6. The Dresden Dolls: "Yes, Virginia"

3.6 out of 5 Stars