CMJ is over. While the Sparks cans are being recycled and the country's college radio station managers are heading back home, let's take a look at the coverage on the four-day music frenzy.

So whose stock rose and who failed to impress?

The NY Times' Jon Pareles highlighted Apollo Sunshine, Tom Vek, Xbxrx and others. He praised New Buffalo for her use of samples in her solo set at the Hiro Ballroom (though he didn't mention that the samples were on pre-recorded music that she played on an instrument that found its way into more than one CMJ set: an iPod).

Stereogum declared that We Are Scientists "kick ass," Halopaw's set "failed to impress," loved the Giraffe's show at the Pussycat Lounge, claimed The Morning After Girls "showed promise," proclaimed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah lived up to the hype and admitted Devendra Banhart's band "actually rocked."

Tom Breihan said Lady Sovereign "owned the stage at Webster Hall."

In Spin's day two recap, they championed the bland Hockey Night and named The Vacation's gig at Ace of Clubs as the "show of the night" and found a workable euphemism for Foreign Born's boring show.

Daily Refill said Two Gallants was the best show she saw this year.

Brooklyn Vegan didn't use very many adjectives to describe the shows he saw, but did use the word awesome three times to describe The Gossip's set at the Knitting Factory.

Coolfer didn't see many shows this year but I did catch a few that are worth noting. Test Icicles (pictured above) had a good crowd in Scenic's air conditioned little dungeon. Before the show an employee of Domino Records (the band's label) told me he'd give me $1,000 if I didn't as much crack a smile during the show. Safe bet. The Icicle's spazz rock had me chuckling throughout and the Slayer-meets-meets-Bloc Party songs showed the band is happily off in a world of its own.

Another standout was the Silversun Pickups' brief set at the Filter space on Saturday. I expected, after hearing a few MP3s, a lighter shade of indie rock. Instead I heard a loud and often blistering rock band with a well honed pop craft and the ability to improvise. Central Village was there and enjoyed the gig, and my friend Erik said that was the best of the many shows he had seen the perform.

Finally, I must mention Aloe Blacc's performance at Nublu in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Blacc (pictured above), a member of Emanon, will soon be part of the Stones Throw family (I ran into Peanut Butter Wolf earlier in the evening outside of the Canal Room) and I'm willing to bet his debut album will be a stunner.