The Frames' latest album, The Cost, contains only a handful of tracks like "Sad Songs," where the guitar springs along and the tempo stays steady, building to the hummable refrain "Too many sad words / make for sad, sad songs." More typical is the title track, a noir-ish doom ballad in the Richard Thompson vein, designed to leave listeners stunned and morose.  Full text...

The Cost impresses for its single-take, unedited recordings, which only heighten the sense that The Frames could sell these songs to a stadium-sized crowd.  Full text...

The Cost offers the best of both worlds, augmented by some lush strings and brass to sweeten the deal. Well worth the price of admission.  Full text...

Frontman Glen Hansard claims that this "is our seventies folk record…Gordon Lightfoot, early Elton John" but it's far closer to the big music of the Waterboys or even Snow Patrol.  Full text...

Arty but safe bravado.  Full text...

The sixth album from this Irish quintet is a sad song cycle full of slow tempos, violin and guitar arrangements and narcotic tunes. A handful of cuts, including "Sad Songs," are lovely and then some.  Full text...

The Cost tries to recapture the stately slow burn of For the Birds, but ultimately suffers the same fate of the poppin’ fresh dough that was Leaders of the Free World, Elbow’s fall from grace.  Full text...

If you already dislike them, here's more fuel for the fire; if you're already a fan, pick up your copy, hold it at eye level and smack it off your head repeatedly.  Full text...