Just A Word Before I Go Chris Senn Well, this is it. I’m graduating on Saturday. After two semesters of writing music reviews for The Daily Evergreen, it’s time for me to say goodbye. However, it is nearing the end of the year. So before I go, here are my top 10 albums of 2005…

Joaquin Phoenix sings the music of Johnny Cash on the soundtrack to the movie “Walk the Line.” The soundtrack to the Johnny Cash biopic, “Walk the Line,” serves as a fitting tribute to the Man in Black. One might expect the album to be comprised of some of Cash’s most popular songs…

The Exit need to be as energized on the album as they are live. The Exit are a refreshingly original band. It make take a few listens to warm up to the band’s latest release, “Home for an Island.” It’s a good album overall, but their songs pack more punch live than they do on the album…

Many of the artists on this cover seem like they just went through the motions. In the ’60s, the Beatles grew up. Rubber Soul, released in 1965, gave the world a glimpse at the song writing and experimentation that would dominate their later albums. “This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to The Beatles’ Rubber Soul” was released under the label Razor and Tie on Oct…

This album challenges the status quo – just like good rock and roll should. The Living Things have had it tough. Their first record label collapsed and effectively left them without a record deal. They shopped around for another label but no one would sign them…

“Prairie Wind” will remind listeners of the classic album “Harvest,” though this release is more melancholy. Neil Young is a musical legend. He has been a member of Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, is a founder of Farm Aid and has had a very successful 35-year solo career…

Simple, upbeat and happy, this band’s debut album will put you in a good mood. The United Kingdom seems to be exporting some fine music these days. Many of these bands are drawing their musical inspiration straight from the 1960s. The Magic Numbers are no exception…

In the last couple of years the popular music landscape has been bombarded with a movement known as the New Wave Revival. For awhile it seemed like a new band was making it big each day. Many bands who achieve their 15 minutes of fame simply disappear from the charts and are never heard from again…

While it works as a cover album, it has too many guest artists. Buddy Guy is a rock and roll legend, of that there’s no doubt. Earlier this year he was admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with U2 and The Pretenders. He still possesses unbelievable talent and is still very much capable of making top shelf original work…

For these albums, producers raided the vaults for original recordings of Dylan’s music. More than 40 years ago, a young singer-songwriter named Robert Zimmerman changed his name. He picked Bob Dylan as his new moniker and the rest, as they say, was history…

With a new record label and its own sound, this new release should appease the band’s new and old followers. Chris Senn CD reviewer Bands that have signed to an independent record label instantly have credibility in the eyes of many music fans. Likewise…

Instead of going in their own direction, BRMC’s new CD “Howl” mimics many of their influences. Chris Senn CD reviews With their third album, "Howl," Black Rebel Motorcycle Club tries to put the soul back in rock 'n' roll. BRMC have created an album of retro blues rock which is solid most of the way through…

“Bleed Like Me,” the first album from Garbage in four years, is hardly a throwaway. Garbage returns to what they do best – flat-out rock. Comprised of singer Shirley Manson and the three producers Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig, Garbage has endured their share of hardships over the years…

Beck, the master of reinvention, is back with “Guero,” which was released yesterday. “Guero” is slang for “white boy,” a term Beck uses to describe himself. Throughout his career Beck has never stayed with one sound for too long. He always tries something new…

Rarely will you find someone moshing to lullabies. Lullabies are meant to be soothing, but don’t tell this to Queens of the Stone Age, who kick out the jams on their new album, “Lullabies to Paralyze.” These lullabies are made for turning the volume up one higher…