Recent reviews

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)

Dinosaur Jr.

Live at 9:30 Club: In the Hands of the Fans
MVD Visual (2012)

In 1988 Dinosaur Jr. released their third record Bug. Despite it being lead singer/guitarists and band leader J.Mascis’ least favorite outing, it was their most successful album up to that point. While touring in support of it, tension between Mascis and bassist Lou Barlow, who had known each other since high school and played together in hardcore band Deep Wound in the early ‘80s, grew too large to ignore. As a result, Barlow was kicked out of the band in ‘89. He then went on to focus his energies full-time in his former side gig, the equally tumultuous Sebadoh and collaborated with singer-songwriter John Davis in the Folk Implosion. Surviving numerous line-up changes, Mascis trudged along with Dinosaur Jr, releasing several critically acclaimed albums and cementing himself as a pivotal character in the ‘90s alternative rock movement. Fast forward twenty-two years: Bug has been included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Barlow has since reunited with Mascis and original drummer Murph, and the band has announced they will be heading out on the road, playing the album in its entirety. With that comes, Dinosaur Jr. Live at 9:30 Club.This is the second installment (following Iggy … Read more

Fiona Apple

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Epic (2012)

Fiona Apple's brutal honesty can be summed up in one lyric: "Every single night's a fight with my brain." She … Read more

Skyharbor

Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos
Basick (2012)

There aren't many ways that I can describe the emotions I get from Indian djentlemen Skyharbor's debut album, and part … Read more

From Ashes Rise

Rejoice The End / Rage Of Sanity
Southern Lord (2012)

Formed in Nashville, Tennessee during the mid-‘90s American crust punk swell, From Ashes Rise later relocated to their current base … Read more

Baroness

Yellow & Green
Relapse (2012)

When a band decides (yes, the band, not you and your fanboy mates) to make a little change in their … Read more

Primal Rock Rebellion

Awoken Broken
Spinefarm Records (2012)

As far as supergroups go, I could probably count the number of successful ones on one hand. And, quite frankly, … Read more

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One from the archives

Steve Von Till

A Grave is a Grim Horse
Neurot (2008)

For those who do not know who Steve Von Till is, Von Till is a guitarist and vocalist in the seminal outfit Neurosis. And while that band is one of the heaviest bands on the planet, Von Till's solo records are dark, folk-esque experiences which are stark portraits into a different side of the man that produces them. His solo albums are always an intriguing foray into some gloomy, mostly acoustic pieces that are heavy in a completely different sense of the word than what he produces with Neurosis. A Grave is a Grim Horse is Steve Von Till's third solo album (following As the Crow Flies and If I Should Fall to the Field) and first in almost six years. It continues the types of tones and sounds on … Read more

More album reviews

The Pirate Ship Quintet

Rope for No-Hopers
Denovali (2012)

Five years after their first EP was released, English band The Pirate Ship Quintet have finally released their debut album, 2012's Rope for No-Hopers. But how well does it hold up in comparison to the modern post-rock scene?Right from the get-go, it sounds like they're trying to re-create that symphonic-based minimalist sound of the Montréal post-rock scene, mixed with just … Read more

Bird Sounds

New
Big Action (2012)

This is the first physical release from Bird Sounds and the four years it took them to put together a 7” has given them time to develop their sound. The songs on their digital EP, Girl Sounds (2008) were rougher and dirtier, while the New 7” has a tighter and more crisp sound and production. Musically, it’s something of a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Lockerbie

Ólgusjór
Kapitän Platte (2012)

I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album quite as much as I did. Though it's not perfect, Lockerbie's 2011 release Ólgusjór is something that pretty much everyone will find something to like about.They have the same kitschy Icelandic appeal and post-rock sound of Sigur Rós combined with the accessibility and songwriting of Coldplay. There are tons of bright … Read more

Philm

Harmonic
Ipecac (2012)

Philm is not Slayer. Yes, it is a side project of Slayer drummer/legend Dave Lombardo, but it is not Slayer. Lombardo’s other side projects Fantômas and Grip Inc. were not Slayer, either, but for whatever reason whenever this poor bastard does anything outside of Slayer, pissers and moaners alike, shamble out of the woodwork and complain that it isn’t. Grow … Read more

Oede

One Man's Trash
Holy Terror (2012)

It may be safe to say that since the Holy Terror Record label has been revived they have managed to get on quite a roll. The records they have released have all managed to be a bit different while still carrying a certain aesthetic darkness. With label mates such as Sutekh Hexen and Cape of Bats gaining more and more … Read more

Broken Heroes

This Is Oi!
Skinflint (2012)

I am not the most qualified reviewer when it comes to modern-day Oi! music. Yes, I am familiar with the genre in general—I still spin The 4 Skins, The Business, The Oppressed, Blitz, or Sham 69 from time to time, and Cock Sparrer is the one band that has never been deleted from any of my iPods—but for the most … Read more

PS I Love You

Death Dreams
Paper Bag (2012)

PS I Love You, the heartthrob of the Kingston, Ontario’s indie rock scene, had more than just high expectations placed upon them after the unexpected success of 2010’s Meet Me At The Muster Station. With critical praise and a tour schedule that stretched the world wide, the guitar/drum duo of Paul Saulnier and Benjamin Nelson found themselves amongst the few … Read more

Gojira

L'Enfant Sauvage
Roadrunner (2012)

If there's any band that defies easy description, it has to be French progressive metal band Gojira. Featuring influences and techniques from a variety of complex metal genres, incredibly technically talented band members, and an environmental fixation only a few degrees short of an actual whale fetish, these guys are anything but your standard death metallers. Add on a quartet … Read more

Hot Graves

Knights In White Phosphorus
Northern Horde (2011)

It seems more and more as of late bands are taking the lead of the mighty Darkthrone. That is to mean that much like Darkthrone as of late bands are adding more obvious touches of crust punk to their black metal style. Hot Graves are not that new at this though. This 4 year old band have always made it … Read more

7 Horns 7 Eyes

Throes Of Absolution
Century Media (2012)

I love old school death metal as much as the next person, so I'm always on the lookout for some good, old fashioned, long haired death metal. So along comes 7 Horns 7 Eyes, purporting to be just that: good ol' death metal, but with a modern twist. You can trust that, a few hours after this discovery, I held … Read more

Kevin Hufnagel

Transparencies
Nightfloat (2011)

For those of you that don't recognize the name, Kevin Hufnagel is actually a fairly prolific musician, playing in technical and progressive metal bands like Dysrythmia and Gorguts. And, funnily enough, that's exactly what his 2011 solo album Transparencies is not. Instead, Hufnagel delves into ambient music, with great success.His ambient creations on this album have that powerful cathartic effect … Read more

Best Coast

The Only Place
Mexican Summer (2012)

Ever since Best Coast released their full length debut, Crazy For You, (Mexican Summer, 2010,) there are two things you know about Bethany Consentino and Bobb Bruno: 1) you never know who their drummer is at any given point and you probably never will and 2) their favorite music effect is reverberation (or “reverb”). Or should I say “was”? Because … Read more

Yukon Blonde

Tiger Talk
Dine Alone (2012)

Yukon Blonde, an indie/rock band from Kelowna, British Columbia, started off as Alphababy and made their comeback in 2009 with a new band name. Their newest album as Yukon Blonde is called Tiger Talk and can be recognized by their first single "Stairway," a song that is being played on most indie/rock radio stations.The album begins with "My Girl," an … Read more

Red Collar

Welcome Home
Tiny Engines (2012)

From the get-go, Welcome Home establishes Red Collar’s infectious brand of up-tempo rock and roll with tenacity and a working-class spirit. Known for their energetic live show that blurs the line between performer and audience, the Durham, North Carolina based band does well to translate that intensity onto a recorded format. Formed by the duo of Jason and Beth Kutchma, … Read more

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