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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

Rufio

Rufio
Nitro (2003)

Okay; I came to this EP as a first time listener to Rufio, so I wasn't biased in my opinion of them. After spending the last 30 minutes or so with these three songs on repeat as I worked, I can safely say, Rufio are not a good band. Well, perhaps that statement is a little inaccurate. This is the type of pop-punk you can picture the 13 year old New Found Glory fan rockin' out to, just thinking how hardcore they are. As my fellow reviewers have stated, the singer's voice is annoying (is that like some pre-requisite with a pop punk band?) to the point where you look forward to the breaks in between his singing. As I worked with this EP playing, I can safely say that not one of tracks stood out from the rest as being particularly good. The singer's voice is indistinguishable from most other bands' of this genre, and the lyrics are pretty generic too, the whole 'my-girlfriend-dumped-me' schtick. Wait, I lied, one thing stood out, the girl in question is called 'Shakeem'. Just for that, I'm giving this album 4 out of 10. The music itself, if a little contrived, isn't bad, … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rufio

Rufio
Nitro (2003)

After AFI left Nitro Records, Nitro went on a splurge by signing a ton of bands that otherwise they would … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rock Kills Kid

Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)

Pop with replay value. It doesn't come often, but when it does, it sure is a keeper. This occurs because … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rock Kills Kid

Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)

I decided to give this band a chance because I heard they weren't a complete Get Up Kids rip off. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rock Kills Kid

Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)

Rock Kills Kid of Southern California deliver a refreshing take on pop-punk with their debut EP. The band has been … Read more

Multiple Authors

Garrison

The Model
Iodine (2003)

When I first jump started this baby I was expecting another generic "emo" band. But as the first song winded … Read more

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One from the archives

Able Baker Fox

Voices
Second Nature (2008)

A little over five years ago The Casket Lottery and Small Brown Bike released a collaborative 12" EP that proved to be more than a split recording as the two bands collaborated on most of the songs giving listeners quite a good record. Now, in hindsight, this effort served as a portent of things to come with the release of Able Baker Fox's album, Voices. This new band is comprised by Nathan Ellis (of The Casket Lottery, Coalesce, and Jackie Carol), Mike and Ben Reed from Small Brown Bike, and Jeff Gensterblum, also of Small Brown Bike; and the group sounds almost exactly as one would expect given their collective past history and the previously spoken of past EP. The announcement of Voices was simultaneously unexpected but exciting nonetheless at … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

Garrison

The Model
Iodine (2003)

This release isn't great. It's not bad either. It's just kind of there. They have this sound that is a tad bit similar to Hot Rod Circuit's latest stuff. A little more complicated. The singer hits notes at times that sound like the singer of The Casket Lottery. Too bad his band isn't as good. I think the final song … Read more

Multiple Authors

Garrison

The Model
Iodine (2003)

I'm slightly familiar with Garrison's older material, so this release surprised me to a degree. I don't recall Garrison's music being as poppy as it is now, so older fans might be a little bit disappointed. On this record, Garrison seemed to have drifted more towards the Vagrant Records definition of 'emo', which is not a happy thought at first, … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rainer Maria

Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)

Rainer Maria? More like Rainer Boring. The lack of rock and only prettiness make this boring. It would be ok if the prettiness was really good, but it's just kind of bland. The female vocals aren't really working for me either. I'm sure she has a good voice, but it adds to the already stale feeling. At the same time … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rainer Maria

Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)

Wow. This band changed. A lot. Last I had heard of this band was A Better Version Of Me which I believe was their last full length record. Well something happened in between as this new record is quite a bit darker than that record. Caithlin's vocals are allot stronger than they have ever been and really steps into the … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rainer Maria

Long Knives Drawn
Polyvinyl (2003)

Long Knives Drawn is quite a good rock record. Each song is well-written and sculpted quite perfectly by Rainer's members. Highlights on the record, to me, are the opening track "Mystery and Misery", "Ears Ring", and the final song "Situation Relation". I've never been a fan of Rainer Maria, or even heard too much by them, but I have been … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Goodwill

That Was A Moment
Negative Progression (2003)

Now, I don't like New Found Glory, but I bet these guys do. Read more

Multiple Authors

The Goodwill

That Was A Moment
Negative Progression (2003)

Holy shit this sucks. It's not the worst music I've ever heard, they know how to use their instruments, but they lack the pizzazz of such pop artists as Michael Jackson and rock artists as Queen. In one song they even try to do the screaming back up thing, and contrived crap smells really bad. It's not even worth reading … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Goodwill

That Was A Moment
Negative Progression (2003)

Run of the mill hardcore-influenced pop-punk. The music is tolerable, nothing spectacular at all. I would rather listen to this than jump out of an airplane, I can say that, but I'll probably never listen to this album again. The CD was as predictable as a Friday the 13th sequel. Standard pop-punk songs all the way through, with the second … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Blood Brothers

Burn Piano Island, Burn
Artist Direct (2003)

I don't even know where to begin. The Blood Brothers are one of the hardest bands to describe out there right now. The terms 'avant-hardcore' and 'artsy hardcore' are thrown around a great deal, but they don't even begin to describe what the Blood Brothers are doing. Dual vocals that stand out more than any other vocalist(s) I have ever … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Blood Brothers

Burn Piano Island, Burn
Artist Direct (2003)

I've never been insane, but if I were, I think this is what my thoughts would sound like. Although, that would require me to be one of those genius crazy people...but that great thing is that I'm pretty sure all five members of the blood brothers aren't crazy, but just genius. The music can be described as two babies fighting … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Blood Brothers

Burn Piano Island, Burn
Artist Direct (2003)

A year and a half ago, I picked up this band's first full-length CD, This Adultery Is Ripe. and brought it with me through Italy that summer. The urban centers seemed like a perfect backdrop for the music. The uncomfortable humidity, overflowing materialism and excessive amount of skin all embody the Blood Brothers' sound. Burn Piano Island, Burn is the … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower are a daring young band from California. The band comes together in a whirlwind of jazz, hardcore, and indie. Noisy guitars, jazzy saxophones, and vocals on the edge of screaming make up the Plot's signature sound. I had been anticipating this album a great deal, and I was anything but disappointing. They … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

I had heard one song before getting the whole album so I kind of knew what to expect from the band. A good punk/rock type sound mixed with avant-garde jazz complete with saxophone and trumpet. From the intro track with the female voice, I was captivated. This record will have you dancing your ass off one second and break into … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Plot To Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Dissertation, Honey
Happy Couples Never (2003)

This band was supposed to play at a show I went to a while back, but something came up. I hadn't really heard anything about them so I shrugged it off. It's a shame I did. I really wish I had gotten that opportunity because it wouldn't have taken me so long to find out about this awesome, new band. … Read more

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