Recent reviews

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

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

Pink Floyd

The Dark Side Of The Moon (Experience Edition)
Capitol (2011)

'Oh great,' you're probably thinking, 'another critic on the Internet with her head up her own ass talking about this fucking Pink Floyd album again. How droll.' Let me assuage your concerns: I'm not here to review or otherwise convince you either way on The Dark Side of the Moon itself. You've already heard it by now, and you're already either lauding it to the high heavens or sick of hearing every track except "On the Run" played over and over on classic rock radio. Yet another review of this album isn't going to change your opinion. What I am here to review for you, however, is one of the album's recent remasters, the 2011 'experience' edition. This particular version of the album was released as part of Pink Floyd's recent awareness campaign, Why Pink Floyd...? It's notable because it contains a second disc of bonus material, a first for the band, which no doubt will only augment the experience in a well-metered, mature manner that can only be expected from a band of Pink Floyd's calibre....wait, hold up. The second disc is just a live performance of The Dark Side of the Moon? The same album we just spent … Read more

We're Doomed

Like A Machine
Independent (2011)

Despite what they may want you to think, We're Doomed don't sound like the end of the world. They sound … Read more

We're Doomed

Like A Machine
Independent (2011)

Despite what they may want you to think, We're Doomed don't sound like the end of the world. They sound … Read more

Kovlo

Hey Mom, Where's Timbuktu?
On The Camper (2011)

Swiss post-rockers Kovlo have quietly released two albums over their career, beginning with their debut A new position for the … Read more

Traveler

Going Home
Independent (2011)

All right, Traveler don't waste time, so neither will I. The Cleveland punk/melodic hardcore group write short, enjoyable pieces that … Read more

City of Ships

Minor World
Translation Loss (2011)

Every once in a while, an album comes along that makes you rethink an entire genre. It's an album that … Read more

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One from the archives

Watain

The Wild Hunt
Century Media (2013)

Watain have been around for a long, long time but it’s only really recently that the band have broken out of the confines of the underground and became a black metal band that graces magazine front covers and headlines tours across the world. The Swedes have been a heady presence on the scene back home and with 2010s Lawless Darkness, their brand of true and occult black metal finally made headway into other territories. They’re a fascinating band in that they make no apologies for their beliefs, which at times can be construed as far too extreme, but for a band where black metal is very much everything – it’s a way of life, not a lifestyle – then they have all the reasons in the world to put those … Read more

More album reviews

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

Beileid
Ipecac (2011)

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore is a band that has always sat outside of any distinct genre. Clearly influenced by both jazz and doom metal the band have always played in away that evokes both without fully giving into either side of their coin. Although they have reached closer towards jazz over the past few years when they replaced … Read more

Helms Alee

Weatherhead
Hydra Head (2011)

Apologies are in order, and before we even get into this, let me be perfectly frank; Helms Alee is a great and terribly underrated band that ensnared me the minute that I heard their 4 song EP, and when Weatherhead was announced, I could barely contain my excitement at hearing a second album from this three piece from the land … Read more

Pink Floyd

Wish You Were Here (Experience Edition)
Capitol (2011)

I'm really quite thankful that the Why Pink Floyd...? remaster campaign has made it to Wish You Were Here so soon. It has aged incredibly well, and is every bit as perfect of an album today as it was when it was first released. It even holds up favourably in comparison to the first album to be reissued, which was … Read more

TenHornedBeast

Ten Horned Moses Descended The Mountain
Handmade Birds (2011)

Wow, just wow is about the best that I can come up with to describe Ten Horned Moses Descended The Mountain from Tenhornedbeast (yes all one word and possibly erroneously capitalized), the solo project of one, Christopher Walton; and, to be completely truthful, that wow might not actually describe this massive album in an accurate enough manner because every time … Read more

Bringers Of Disease

Gospel Of Pestilence
Translation Loss (2011)

The ex members game is a precarious one to play. For every band that bares similarity to it's members past exploit there are just as many that don't bare that mark. So to tell you that Bringers Of Disease share members with Acheron and Mouth Of The Architect should only say a minimal amount as to what this band is … Read more

Nightgaun

Absurdity Of Meaning
Primitive Future (2011)

There are a number of adjectives that would accurately describe Tempe, AZ’s Nightgaun—noisy, filthy, retching, etc.—but perhaps none more fitting than “raw.” Continuing the chiropteran-themed imagery first displayed on their impressive self-titled 7” debut, the cover art for Absurdity of Meaning— a crude depiction of a bat being stabbed through the sternum with a switchblade—provides a strong indication of the … Read more

The Slow Death

Born Ugly, Got Worse
Kiss of Death (2011)

When The Soviettes’ Annie Sparrows voice starts Born Ugly, Got Worse devoid of instrumentation, it’s a crisp and honest delivery that complements leader Jesse Thorson’s heart-wrenching style. But once the full band kicks in for the second verse, it’s clear that The Slow Death have driving punk rock at their heart and soul, with as many singalongs and middle-fingers as … Read more

Michael Yonkers with The Blind Shake

Period
S.S. (2011)

Michael Yonkers has a fascinating story: getting dropped by the majors, personal injury, and being rediscovered a generation later. That story has already been told in almost every review I’ve read, though. Instead, let’s talk about the rock. Period marks his third record with Minneapolis trio The Blind Shake, and the two forces offer a full collaboration when they get … Read more

Charts And Maps

Dead Horse
Lost Children (2011)

There is no easy way to define Charts and Maps' sound. My gut reaction is to throw the whole thing under 'math rock,' but that term alone ignores all of the other aspects of their sound. Their proper debut album, Dead Horse, features a diverse array of influences from jazz, progressive music, and even jam bands. Needless to say, it's … Read more

Efrim Menuck

Plays "High Gospel"
Constellation (2011)

Thank goodness I have musical OCD. I likely would not have even known this album existed if not for my compulsion to check and re-check the post-rock section of my local record store with worrisome frequency. Needless to say, after finding out that Godspeed You! Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion guitarist Efrim Manuel Menuck had put out a … Read more

Iroha

End Of An Era
Denovali (2011)

Now this is exactly what I am talking about right here, bands sneaking releases out from under people’s noses in this day an age is a feat worthy of the sneakiest thieves and skilled hackers is a true feat; and while that is just what Iroha did with End Of An Era, the real important accomplishment for the three piece … Read more

Gateway District

Perfect's Gonna Fail
It's Alive (2011)

The Gateway District’s debut, Some Days You Get the Thunder hooked me immediately yet, to this day, I can’t single out a standout track or identify just what about it grabs me. I just like the record. The whole thing, not an iTunes cut here and there, as is wont these days. It’s with similar feelings I find myself listening … Read more

Condominium

Warm Home
Independent (2011)

The title of Twin Cities trio Condominium’s latest is quite misleading. Warm Home is not the record you put on for an evening in front of the fire place with hot chocolate and a novella. This is anything but comforting. Instead, imagine the following scenario: The clock strikes 2AM just as the pot cookie you ate between your first and … Read more

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Self Titled
Sour Mash (2011)

In the past two years there has been some speculation about the Gallagher brothers. Even during their career as Oasis the speculation was there. Many questioned with all of their issues who was the real talent driving the band. Well this is the year that the question gets answered. With the release of This record as well as the Beady … Read more

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