CLUES TO THIS MONTH´S CLUES :

Act 1 : LEILA never leaves her rusty bike for sleeve photos
Act 2 : RANDY NEWMAN wrote ´You Can Leave Your Hat On´
Act 3 : CONOR OBERST is the famous Pescetarian

THE WINNER :

Correct guesses came from : John - Pete - Stephan - Penguin

The winner has been sorted out by the lucky draw and is Penguin. Your CD is ready to be sent. Please mail me your postal adress (stefplu@hotmail.com).

THE MEGA-CRITIC-CHART :

The current position is followed by last month´s position in brackets, then the adjusted score, followed by the average rating and the number of reviews in brackets.

The scores after the title are the individual positions/adjusted scores for Europe, the UK and the US, followed by the current Metacritic score.

indicates a New Entry
indicates Peak Position
indicates a Re-Entry

01. (01 ) 76,56 - 88,06 (24 ) Fleet Foxes ´Fleet Foxes´
EU : 01. 79,83 - UK : 02. 76,53 - US : 03. 71,96 - MC : 88

02. (02 ) 74,07 - 83,69 (26 ) Portishead ´Third´
EU : 02. 74,48 - UK : 05. 74,49 - US : 02. 73,13 - MC : 85

03. (03 ) 73,15 - 82,40 (26) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ´Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!´
EU : 09. 70,29 - UK : 02. 76,53 - US : 01. 74,11 - MC : 87

04. (05 ) 72,18 - 81,79 (24 ) The Hold Steady ´Stay Positive´
EU : 07. 70,90 - UK : 04. 75,51 - US : 05. 70,80 - MC : 85

05. (04 ) 71,87 - 81,76 (23 ) Bon Iver ´For Emma, Forever Ago´
EU : 11. 70,19 - UK : 01. 77,55 - US : 19. 68,63 - MC : 89

06. (06 ) 70,74 - 79,73 (24 ) Hercules And Love Affair ´Hercules And Love Affair´
EU : 21. 67,88 - UK : 05. 74,49 - US : 04. 71,18 - MC : 86

07. (07 ) 70,63 - 78,89 (26 ) Vampire Weekend ´Vampire Weekend´
EU : 06. 70,97 - UK : 12. 71,43 - US : 11. 69,46 - MC : 82

08. (09 ) 69,53 - 81,47 (17 ) Lil Wayne ´Tha Carter III´
EU : 05. 71,06 - UK : 39. 67,65 - US : 13. 69,22 - MC : 82

09. (00 ) 69,40 - 81,27 (17 ) Randy Newman ´Harps And Angels´
EU : 03. 71,53 - UK : 39. 67,65 - US : 36. 67,08 - MC : 84

10. (08 ) 69,26 - 80,39 (18 ) Erykah Badu ´New Amerykah : Part One (4th World War)´
EU : 14. 68,60 - UK : 29. 69,23 - US : 07. 70,11 - MC : 82

11. (10 ) 68,86 - 79,18 (19 ) Silver Jews ´Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea´
EU : 19. 68,03 - UK : 15. 70,51 - US : 20. 68,53 - MC : 78

12. (11 ) 67,94 - 78,91 (17 ) Elbow ´The Seldom Seen Kid´
EU : 46. 64,42 - UK : 05. 74,49 - US : 84. 64,15 - MC : 82

13. (12 ) 67,87 - 75,96 (23 ) The Last Shadow Puppets ´The Age Of Understatement´
EU : 04. 71,53 - UK : 64. 66,33 - US : 93. 63,80 - MC : 77

14. (13 ) 67,66 - 78,47 (17 ) No Age ´Nouns´
EU : 15. 68,56 - UK : 00000000 - US : 18. 68,73 - MC : 79

15. (14 ) 67,61 - 75,93 (22 ) Sigur Ros ´Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust´
EU : 12. 69,89 - UK : 23. 69,39 - US : 00000000 - MC : 78

16. (34 ) 67,44 - 79,53 (15 ) The Bug ´London Zoo´
EU : 49. 64,14 - UK : 11. 71,59 - US : 35. 67,10 - MC : 90

17. (15 ) 67,38 - 76,90 (19 ) The Dodos ´Visiter´
EU : 40. 64,91 - UK : 19. 70,46 - US : 29. 67,50 - MC : 83

18. (16 ) 67,12 - 75,60 (21 ) Black Mountain ´In The Future´
EU : 18. 68,19 - UK : 54. 67,05 - US : 50. 65,88 - MC : 79

19. (17 ) 66,90 - 74,54 (23 ) MGMT ´Oracular Spectacular´
EU : 10. 70,24 - UK : 21. 70,41 - US : 00000000 - MC : 76

20. (18 ) 66,86 - 73,88 (25 ) Hot Chip ´Made In The Dark´
EU : 33. 65,87 - UK : 91. 65,31 - US : 10. 69,51 - MC : 78

21. (19 ) 66,51 - 74,69 (21 ) The Gutter Twins ´Saturnalia´
EU : 13. 68,85 - UK : 36. 67,95 - US : 00000000 - MC : 80

22. (20 ) 66,43 - 73,26 (25 ) R.E.M. ´Accelerate´
EU : 51. 63,93 - UK : 23. 69,39 - US : 32. 67,35 - MC : 79

23. (21 ) 66,41 - 75,89 (18 ) Drive-By Truckers ´Brighter Than Creation´s Dark´
EU : 08. 70,70 - UK : 00000000 - US : 71. 64,71 - MC : 83

24. (22 ) 66,20 - 75,56 (18 ) Los Campesinos! ´Hold On Now, Youngster´
EU : 54. 63,68 - UK : 33. 68,37 - US : 34. 67,22 - MC : 81

25. (24 ) 66,10 - 73,71 (22 ) Santogold ´Santogold´
EU : 24. 67,58 - UK : 00000000 - US : 15. 69,13 - MC : 77

26. (23 ) 65,83 - 73,32 (22 ) Wolf Parade ´At Mount Zoomer´
EU : 22. 67,84 - UK : 00000000 - US : 23. 68,21 - MC : 78

27. (25 ) 65,70 - 77,36 (14 ) Bonnie ´Prince´ Billy ´Lie Down In The Light´
EU : 37. 65,18 - UK : 39. 67,65 - US : 72. 64,52 - MC : 80

28. (26 ) 65,67 - 73,43 (21 ) The Black Keys ´Attack And Release´
EU : 28. 66,69 - UK : 64. 66,33 - US : 99. 63,59 - MC : 77

29. (27 ) 65,47 - 77,85 (13 ) Robert Forster ´The Evangelist´
EU : 20. 67,89 - UK : 80. 65,52 - US : 00000000 - MC : 81

30. (28 ) 65,33 - 71,98 (24 ) The Breeders ´Mountain Battles´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 33. 68,37 - US : 16. 68,93 - MC : 74

31. (29 ) 65,33 - 74,71 (17 ) Why? ´Alopecia´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 00000000 - US : 08. 70,10 - MC : 76

32. (30 ) 65,31 - 71,68 (25 ) Magnetic Fields ´Distortion´
EU : 23. 67,78 - UK : 00000000 - US : 29. 67,50 - MC : 79

33. (32 ) 65,24 - 71,58 (25 ) Cat Power ´Jukebox´
EU : 27. 66,72 - UK : 00000000 - US : 65. 64,90 - MC : 71

34. (33 ) 65,24 - 73,58 (19 ) Spiritualized ´Songs In A & E´
EU : 79. 62,19 - UK : 54. 67,05 - US : 33. 67,28 - MC : 76

35. (35 ) 65,20 - 71,52 (25 ) Beck ´Modern Guilt´
EU : 44. 64,65 - UK : 91. 65,31 - US : 51. 65,80 - MC : 77

36. (36 ) 65,04 - 75,47 (15 ) Al Green ´Lay It Down´
EU : 29. 66,57 - UK : 00000000 - US : 31. 67,44 - MC : 81

37. (37 ) 65,00 - 74,75 (16 ) Neon Neon ´Stainless Style´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 21. 70,41 - US : 79. 64,39 - MC : 79

37. (00 ) 65,00 - 72,43 (21 ) Lykke Li ´Youth Novels´
EU : 42. 64,76 - UK : 64. 66,33 - US : 89. 63,91 - MC : 76

37. (31 ) 65,00 - 72,43 (21 ) Joan As Police Woman ´To Survive´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 12. 71,43 - US : 00000000 - MC : 76

40. (00 ) 64,90 - 80,40 (10 ) Late Of The Pier ´Fantasy Black Channel´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 08. 73,47 - US : 00000000 - MC : 00

41. (38 ) 64,78 - 77,58 (12 ) Ry Cooder ´I, Flathead´
EU : 16. 68,51 - UK : 00000000 - US : 00000000 - MC : 00

42. (40 ) 64,72 - 74,93 (15 ) Wire ´Object 47´
EU : 64. 63,19 - UK : 00000000 - US : 21. 68,48 - MC : 76

43. (39 ) 64,72 - 73,22 (18 ) Cass Mccombs ´Dropping The Writ´
EU : 43. 64,68 - UK : 27. 69,32 - US : 00000000 - MC : 00

44. (41 ) 64,67 - 78,55 (11 ) Earth ´The Bees Made Honey In The Lion´s Skull´
EU : 58. 63,51 - UK : 51. 67,24 - US : 86. 64,03 - MC : 00

45. (42 ) 64,59 - 72,58 (19 ) The Mountain Goats ´Heretic Pride´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 54. 67,05 - US : 13. 69,22 - MC : 74

46. (00 ) 64,59 - 70,42 (26 ) Conor Oberst ´Conor Oberst´
EU : 31. 66,10 - UK : 91. 65,31 - US : 00000000 - MC : 75

47. (43 ) 64,53 - 78,27 (11 ) Frightened Rabbit ´The Midnight Organ Fight´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 69. 66,18 - US : 69. 64,76 - MC : 80

48. (44 ) 64,49 - 78,18 (11 ) Matmos ´Supreme Balloon´
EU : 69. 62,84 - UK : 00000000 - US : 26. 67,68 - MC : 78

49. (46 ) 64,48 - 70,75 (24 ) She & Him ´Volume One´
EU : 47. 64,31 - UK : 98. 64,77 - US : 78. 64,46 - MC : 76

50. (45 ) 64,46 - 79,50 (10 ) Opeth ´Watershed´
EU : 17. 68,27 - UK : 00000000 - US : 00000000 - MC : 82

THE BUBBLERS :

53. (80 ) 64,29 - 76,67 (12 ) Flying Lotus ´Los Angeles´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 00000000 - US : 38. 66,71 - MC : 00

54. (59 ) 64,10 - 74,57 (14 ) Jim Noir ´Jim Noir´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 74. 65,91 - US : 54. 65,73 - MC : 80

56. (00 ) 63,93 - 76,00 (12 ) Lindstrom ´Where You Go I Go Too´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 00000000 - US : 24. 68,04 - MC : 82

58. (00 ) 63,89 - 74,21 (14 ) Leila ´Blood, Looms & Blooms´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 74. 65,91 - US : 45. 66,25 - MC : 72

70. (86 ) 63,14 - 76,80 (10 ) Cassandra Wilson ´Loverly´
EU : 67. 62,86 - UK : 00000000 - US : 00000000 - MC : 79

78. (00 ) 62,99 - 85,50 (06 ) Eliza Carthy ´Dreams Of Breathing Underwater´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 14. 70,59 - US : 00000000 - MC : 00

79. (93 ) 62,97 - 75,23 (11 ) Micah P. Hinson ´And The Red Empire Orchestra´
EU : 72. 62,80 - UK : 47. 67,35 - US : 00000000 - MC : 00

89. (00 ) 62,50 - 78,75 (08 ) Health ´Health/Disco´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 69. 66,18 - US : 39. 66,67 - MC : 82

96. (00 ) 62,29 - 73,91 (11 ) The Cool Kids ´The Bake Sale´
EU : 59. 63,45 - UK : 91. 65,31 - US : 00000000 - MC : 78

97. (00 ) 62,25 - 80,43 (07 ) Teddy Thompson ´A Piece Of What You Need´
EU : 00000000 - UK : 29. 69,23 - US : 00000000 - MC : 84

FURTHER EU-POSITIONS :

25. (23 ) 67,50 Madrugada ´Madrugada´
26. (24 ) 67,02 The Notwist ´The Devil, You And Me´
30. (29 ) 66,17 Elvis Costello & Imposters ´Momofuku´
32. (30 ) 65,89 Death Cab For Cutie ´Narrow Stairs´
34. (32 ) 65,77 Willard Grant Conspiracy ´Pilgrim Road´
35. (33 ) 65,70 Tindersticks ´The Hungry Saw´
36. (34 ) 65,49 Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan ´Sunday At Devil Dirt´
38. (36 ) 65,00 Sascha Funke ´Mango´
38. (36 ) 65,00 Emmylou Harris ´All I Intended To Be´
41. (38 ) 64,90 Be Your Own Pet ´Get Awkward´
45. (41 ) 64,48 My Morning Jacket ´Evil Urges´
48. (43 ) 64,17 Bowerbirds ´Hymns For A Dark Horse´
50. (45 ) 64,04 The Young Knives ´Superabundance´

FURTHER UK-POSITIONS :

09. (08 ) 72,45 British Sea Power ´Do You Like Rock Music´
10. (00 ) 72,41 Plush ´Fed´
15. (13 ) 70,51 Johnny Flynn ´A Larum´
15. (13 ) 70,51 Paul Weller ´22 Dreams´
15. (00 ) 70,51 Roots Manuva ´Slime & Reason´
19. (16 ) 70,46 White Denim ´Workout Holiday´
23. (20 ) 69,39 These New Puritans ´Beat Pyramid´
23. (20 ) 69,39 Mystery Jets ´Twenty One´
27. (24 ) 69,32 Wild Beasts ´Limbo Panto´
29. (26 ) 69,23 DeVotchka ´A Mad And Faithful Telling´
32. (28 ) 69,12 Thea Gilmore ´Liejacker´
33. (29 ) 68,37 The Raconteurs ´Consolers Of The Lonely´
36. (32 ) 67,95 Cadence Weapon ´Afterparty Babies´
36. (32 ) 67,95 Sparks ´Exotic Creatures Of The Deep´
39. (35 ) 67,65 Toumani Diabaté ´The Mandé Variations´
39. (35 ) 67,65 Benga ´Diary Of An Afro Warrior´
39. (35 ) 67,65 Fuck Buttons ´Street Horrrsing´
39. (35 ) 67,65 Flight Of The Conchords ´Flight Of The Conchords´
39. (00 ) 67,65 Kasai Allstars ´Congotronics 3 : In The 7th Moon ...´
47. (40 ) 67,35 Goldfrapp ´Seventh Tree´
47. (40 ) 67,35 Kathryn Williams & Neill Maccoll ´Two´
47. (40 ) 67,35 Foals ´Antidotes´

FURTHER US-POSITIONS :

06. (00 ) 70,48 GAS ´Nah Und Fern´
09. (09 ) 69,76 Sebadoh ´Bubble & Scrape´
12. (12 ) 69,24 Robyn ´Robyn´ (2005)
17. (17 ) 68,78 Times New Viking ´Rip It Off´
22. (21 ) 68,33 Torche ´Meanderthal´
25. (23 ) 67,72 Ellen Allien ´Sool´
27. (25 ) 67,65 Destroyer ´Trouble In Dreams´
28. (41 ) 67,56 Kelley Polar ´I Need You To Hold On ...´
37. (32 ) 66,81 Food For Animals ´Belly´
39. (33 ) 66,67 Beach House ´Devotion´
41. (00 ) 66,53 The Music Tapes ´Music Tapes For Clouds And Tornadoes´
42. (00 ) 66,39 Eat Skull ´Sick To Death´
43. (34 ) 66,37 Islands ´Arm´s Way´
44. (35 ) 66,30 Alejandro Escovedo ´Real Animal´
46. (36 ) 66,13 Jonny Greenwood ´Let There Be Blood´
46. (36 ) 66,13 Karen Dalton ´Green Rocky Road´
48. (38 ) 65,98 Cut Copy ´In Ghost Colours´
49. (39 ) 65,98 Autechre ´Quaristice´

HAVE FUN !!!

Clues For next month´s competitio on the 22nd, deadline will be the 25th
Next update on September 30th

I had a feeling the Verve wouldn't be reviewed that well. It's rare that a band comes back after a decade and matches the quality of their best work, and if they don't, all the critics give them crap for not matching the quality of their best work. Really Portishead is the exception, I can't think of any other bands to come back after long hiatuses so successfully.

My vote for next month: TV On The Radio

Okkervil River is another strong candidate, but their fantastic records in 2005 and 2007 were dogged by low number of reviews.

I'm going with Okkervil River. They're a band that I really like; I hope for them to do well with this release.

That Fleet Foxes album is rellay wonderful
Looks like a lost gem from 1967-68

Stefan, Sebadoh's BUBBLE & SCRAPE (#9 in your U.S. listings) is a reissue of their 1993 album and doesn't belong here.

There are some fantastic releases for September but I think TV on the Radio will be the best.

Thank you, Harold, you are absolutely right ... even if the album is expanded ... it doesn´t belong here ... it will be elliminated in the next update.

i think next month will be tv on the radio - dear science

definately tv on the radio dear science for next month

I fully expect to like Okkervil River more, and it might have a higher MC score, but the difference will be TV On The Radio will get way more reviews.

And the new tv on the radio is amazing!

I haven't heard it, but I've heard a couple Metallica fans say that the new album is a return to vintage form.... not sure if I'm buying that, but if it is it'll get good ratings.

I just got the new TV on the Radio and I have the new Okkerville i will say Tv on the Radio is a nice return and it made me respin cookie mtn which was by far the best gem of 06 my fear is the reviewers will hold them to cookie and this more pop for them ... we will see ... Drowned in sound loved it

For me a 'Return to form' for Metallica would mean a lot of six to eight minute songs composed of mostly loud guitar solos.

And since Metallica has been quoted as saying they're glad they don't have to play all the hard stuff at concerts anymore, I'm a bit skeptical.

I totally agree. But, I'm still intrigued.

ripped through the new TV on the Radio

acclaimed will have it as album of the year
Its light years ahead of Fleet Foxes

agreed htims!!

right jem it somehow superceeds cookie

Well that's not saying much. Of all the #1 acclaimed albums of the 00s (including Fleet Foxes so far this year)this is they lowest of all in my list. I'm sure whatever the #1 acclaimed album of 09 is will probably be better than TV on the Radio.

question about the chart: why are there big gaps between rankings in "the bubblers" ?

brennen, a ´Bubbler´ is a New-Entry or a Pole-Position beneath the Top 50. The gaps between are positions with descending CDs.

why is a best of the #1 on Metacritic. I thought Metacritic doesn't review compilations.

The clincher for TVOTR is that it will be reviewed equally in the US, UK, and Europe, and that's the only way to do really well with this formula.

Tim i disagree acclaimed has Neon Bible #1 of 07 and Dear Science is a better quality album ... I had In Rainbows at #1 but I guess journalists needed to redeem themselves for not reviewing Funeral when it first hit.

sorry htims ... tim means the actual (2008) # 1 in the Meta-Critic-Chart which is Steinski´s Retrospective.
which I also don´t get.

Yup their in need of some updates too. They wont post peoples comments anymore. The new Verve record has close to 50 posts yet not one can you read.

I'm gonna go with Death Magnetic because I don't like TV on the Radio that much. I wouldn't mind owning Death Magnetic though.

I agree with you both about META-Critic. But their number 1 album is never legit, and I also don't believe they normally review compilations ... oh well ... also quick question is BON IVER considered 2008 release or will it be filed under its 2007 self release, just wondering.

I listened to the new TV on Radio and Fleet Foxes are staying @ #1 for sure!

bet you my bottom dollar it wont...

Neither will TV on the Radio. If Arcade Fire are going to have two #1 albums back to back TV on the Radio have a less likely chance of doing the same.

Also keep in mind this chart is based on reviews, and acclaimed music's ratings are based on lists. Fleet Foxes got great reviews, but I don't think it's going to be on quite as many end of the year lists as stuff like TVOTR, Portishead, Bon Iver, etc.

The new Metallica is really good. It's weird, it's like they actually listened to all the fans who've been yelling at them since Load came out.

Poor Vampire Weekend have already been passed off as old news. I hope they get some recognition during the year end lists.

That Fleet Foxes album is rellay wonderful
Looks like a lost gem from 1967-68

I agree, Nicolas!

Curious about that new entry from the senior Randy Newman.

And I wouldn't mind winning a CD of ... TV on the Radio.

In other words, Dear Science is my tip for September!

reviews are pouring in lets see if the album stand the test of time

congrats to TV on the Radio for solid consistency

Excuse me for asking, but what is "Mega-Critic" exactly? At first, I thought it was some reviews-collecting site I hadn't heard of, so I searched for it on google and nothing came up.

Ah, forgive me. I spoke too quickly. Found the explanation thread for Mega-Critic. Nevermind.