I gave this ep a 9, though I only watched the raw (so basically I can't understand every word they are saying, and I'm using the preview on baka-tsuki as a guide). The episode is a great emotional one, and shows another side of Haruhi before the last two action-packed episodes.
Ah yes, the animation on the instrument playing was superb and very realistic (might even match up to Beck), plus the closeup solo of Yuki is probably the coolest one of all the episodes. Aya Hirano's voice was so cool I didn't know she could do Emo Rock. I merely thought she was a pop-star, but her voice is so good that it convinced me that she might be a rockstar instead. XD
Tsuruya in a cosume = wow <3.