Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine

White People And The Damage Done

Alternative Tentacles

The winds of change haven't changed Biafra a bit. He's still the dissonant dissident - the sardonic, fearless court jester that doesn't give a shit about pissing off the king. Jello's greatest strength has always been his masterful understanding of parody. It's this innate ability thats kept him from turning into a parody himself after all these years. Others (I'm looking at you, Mr. Lydon) have not been as lucky. It would appear that after so many years of flirting with side projects and collaborations, Jello Biafra has finally found himself a home. Despite this newfound stability, it's a good thing we're talking about a man that won't ever let himself be complacent. – Kevin

Castevet

Obsian

Profound Lore

The huge sound that the band is able to produce, their even colder atmosphere and the way that they are leaning more towards their post metal side combined bring a truly magnificent moment. The way that they manage to bring together the dissonant parts, eerie leads and unwelcoming atmosphere show the influence of bands such as Godflesh on their sound. Obsian is an album completely beyond reason or madness. Despite its short length, about thirty-six minutes, the range and variety of sounds that you will find within is simply astonishing. At least now we have two full-lengths from Castevet to listen to until their next release. That should make the wait easier right? Probably not. – Spyros

Low Culture

Screens

Dirtnap

Low Culture packs a punch. Not an angry punch, but one that, upon hearing it, your foot taps and your head bobs. The songs all fall within that two-minute range, except for the closer (“Magical Thinking”), and they utilize a similar structure, yet they mix up the parts enough that no two songs sound alike. Mason has a nice rasp in his voice and there’s still a fuzzy tone across the board, but the mix is a lot more subtle, which plays to the melodic focus. Screens is only the second 2013 record I’ve reviewed thus far, but it will very likely place highly come year end. – Loren

The National

Trouble Will Find Me

4AD

Claiming that Trouble Will Find Me is as essential as air could be viewed as overly enthusiastic, perhaps even overdramatic, but to hear an album that wallows so openly in the often forgotten and underappreciated intrinsic beauty of sadness is a rarity. Everything makes sense, every gloomy bass line and hushed vocal has an essential purpose. Trouble Will Find Me is a masterclass in conveying the most palpable of emotions in a sea of music notes, with each song taking on a different meaning after each listen. It’s a musician’s album. It’s a music fan’s album. It’s an album that only The National could make, and it is unquestionably their best yet. – Aideen

Janelle Monáe

The Electric Lady

Wondaland Arts Society

As with all Monáe's efforts, The Electric Lady is a long and meandering journey, making its points with intent and deliberate care, rather than throwing out a bunch of sure-fire pop hits and hoping people will stick around for the less radio-friendly deep cuts. Monáe's storytelling and creative efforts here are huge and even if, like Sgt. Pepper's, the concept album schtick doesn't always inform every aspect of the record, it's a strong factor in the success of the album. If you have the patience, it's worth the watch. If you don't, stick with the singles and you'll still be richly rewarded. Go deep and this will stay with you for a while. – Matt

The Silks

Last American Band

Independent

The result of these live recording sessions are twelve songs that bust out of the gate and make you get your ass moving. The entire album is amazing and the closer "Learning How To Let Go" conjures up images of The Band with a sound that doesn't mimic them but somehow sounds familiar but different, this is an uncompromising record, showcasing the talents of each of the players and the sound and energy that is The Silks, I highly recommend picking it up as soon as you can. – Scott W.

Red Fang

Whales And Leeches

Relapse

I have no idea what the future holds for Red Fang, but goddamn, they prick up these tired ears, and I hope they do so for many years to come. Whales and Leeches is the band's third full-length, and if there's any justice on this spinning orb, this album will make Red Fang bigger than the sound that's coming out of these Motörheadphönes. This is music to conquer a country by. This is a fearless shock-and-awe campaign of an album that's deserving of your attention, and if you don't give it your due attention, it'll grab you by the throat and demand it anyway. – Kevin

Nö Pöwer

No Peace

Sorry State

No Peace is the debut LP by Charlottesville, NC’s Nö Pöwer. There are subtle elements of garage and psych at play here but it’s primarily raging hardcore punk, with a noticeable emphasis on the noise. It's a primitive and blown-out style of D-beat that’s been injected with a distinctive dose of artiness and then drenched in feedback. Nö Pöwer is still pushing the limitations of the big D beyond monotonous reiteration. Attention all other bands: start doing this now! No Peace is the perfect amalgamation of punk sub-genres and a furious goddamn record. How much art can you take? Exactly this much. – Nathan

Future Virgins

Late Republic

Recess

Future Virgins have mastered hyper-garage/garage-punk and it’s nothing but pleasant to put Late Republic on for a spin. It’s a steady stream of bouncy tunes that doesn’t let up. Live, it’s a little more on the blown-out side of things and the melodies don’t come through quite as powerfully, letting the guitar crunch do the talking but on the record, it’s pop-fuelled gritty rock ‘n’ roll. – Loren

Atoms For Peace

Amok

XL Recordings

Every so often an unusual group of veteran musicians gather to form what was coined in the late ‘60s as a supergroup. There have been exceptional creative ventures, from the early Crosby, Stills & Nash, to the more recent Them Crooked Vultures and various Jack White endeavors, while others were better left to inebriated jam sessions at rock star house parties. After four years of hearsay and ambiguity (performing a two week tour in 2010 known only as ??????), Atoms For Peace have released their debut Amok. What we have here is an alluring album from a group whose components are likely greater than their combined effort. – Brennan

The Dismemberment Plan

Uncanney Valley

Partisan

Their first record in twelve years since their recent reformation, Uncanney Valley sees the D-Plan back at full strength, and even–whisper it–maturity. Yeah, there are call-and-response parts and funny lyrics, but there are moments of tender poignancy and acerbic asides from expert Travis Morrison. Danceable, vaguely echoing punk rock still, and clearly the sound of a band having fun, this is one for the grown-up fans which might just work for newbies, too. – Matt

Gogol Bordello

Pura Vida Conspiracy

ATO

The touring band currently stands at eight members but, make no mistake, this is Eugene Hütz's show all the way. On tracks like "John the Conqueror" and "Lost Innocent World," he plays to one of his many strengths and becomes the storyteller, showing us a world of heroes and outcasts longing to be understood. Gogol Bordello aren't just a flash in the pan, nor are they to be dismissed as a novelty act. There's a method to this madness that's as valid and viable as any act that doesn't wear Beetlejuice pants. Remember, to appreciate the truly cool things in this world, you don't need to be crazy. Just crazy enough. – Kevin

Gensu Dean & Planet Asia

Abrasions

Mello Music Group

As evidenced by 2012's pairing of Apollo Brown with both OC and Guilty Simpson, Mello Music Group has a knack for teaming the right producers and emcees up with favorable results. The same can be said of this 2013 duo. Gensu Dean, who's gone largely unknown up to this point, crafts simplistic yet alluring loops rooted in boom-bap nostalgia. Fresno, CA's veteran underground rhymeslinger Planet Asia masterfully rocks the mic with his commanding presence and sharp rhymes. – Nathan

Bill Ryder-Jones

A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart

Domino

The former guitarist for the Coral releases this, a collection of singer-songwriter efforts and muted pop. It's simple and clean and home-recorded, giving an old-fashioned vibe alongside lyrics of sorrow and sadness. The craftsmanship and directness of the songs override the possible lack of innovation or fashionableness of the record.

Radioactivity

Radioactivity

Dirtnap

when the record hits the third song, “World of Pleasure,” the ball drops. The volcanoes erupt. The world may have ended; I’m not sure. I’m just bouncing my foot and rolling in joyous harmony along with Burke and co. The vibe of the record is an ever-present forward-driving motion. It’s like running in circles continuously, gaining speed each round, only when it peaks it doesn’t go off course and crash into a wall, it just shifts a gear and resets. This is to be the first of two new records for the new band, and it’s setting the bar high. – Loren