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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)

Mountain Man

Grief
Think Fast! (2011)

Mountain Man’s debut full-length, Grief, is a concept album about the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. While certainly not the most original or ambitious concept for an album, Mountain Man (hailing from Worcester, MA) give us 17 tracks of dark, blistering hardcore. Musically and lyrically, this album channels all five stages of grief. But does it work?Given the concept of the record, these songs are as ugly and in-your-face as one could expect. The first four tracks deal with the first stage of grief: denial. This first stage is abrasive and chaotic right out of the gate. The songs are powerful but restrained at the same time, like somebody trying to accept and deny a tragedy all at once. Anger is (not surprisingly) the fastest and most caustic section of the record. You can feel the venom from the biting guitars and vocals. The lack of bass in this recording only amplifies the unpleasantness. Bargaining and depression take up the bulk of the album, and both stages are similar. The biggest departure in sound comes during “Depression III”, which is strangely beautiful and sorrowful. It’s a welcome break from the onslaught. The stage of … Read more

Rust Belt Lights

These Are the Good Old Days
Paper + Plastick (2011)

There is a ridiculous amount of variation in pop punk as of late. There was one band back in the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Various Artists

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely State)/Into it. Over it. – Split
Count Your Lucky Stars (2011)

There has been resurgence within the indie-emo genre lately, and these advocates of punctuation are taking cues from American Football … Read more

Various Artists

Planning For Burial / Lonesummer- Split
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

Could there possibly be any more strange a pairing than the two artists that participate in this split release? Sure, … Read more

Buffalo Moon

Black Magic/Low Tide Moon
Moon Glyph (2011)

At their heart, Buffalo Moon plays whimsical indie pop with a playfulness that is grounded by moments of straight-faced seriousness. … Read more

Dave Hause

Resolutions
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Dave Hause is no secret to anyone that listens to punk rock. He is known for being one of the … Read more

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One from the archives

Primus

Green Naugahyde
Prawn Song (2011)

I, for one, thought Primus were officially dead in regards to new material. Their last studio album was 1999's Antipop before they went on hiatus, and since their reformation, the only new material we've gotten is the so-so 2003 EP Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People. The fact that they could somehow get it together enough to actually record a full record of new material is impressive enough--that the result is downright fantastic is cause for celebration. As their newest album in over a decade, Green Naugahyde is absolutely wonderful.I will say, the absolute best thing about Primus is Les Claypool's bass. This album is no exception to that rule. The mix on this album (as with most Primus releases) pushes the bass to the front, which means … Read more

More album reviews

Devil's Brigade

Self Titled
Hellcat (2010)

Back in 2002 a song appeared on a Give ‘em the Boot comp. from a band named Devil’s Brigade. The band was a psychobilly project led by Rancid’s bassist Matt Freeman. The liner notes promised an upcoming record. Here we are in 2010 and, out of nowhere, the project has finally surfaced. While marketed as Freeman’s project, akin to the … Read more

Joyce Manor

Self Titled
6131 (2011)

Who ever said louder isn’t better? Joyce Manor have been breaking down the walls of every town they play up and down the west coast with their rowdy live performances for awhile now. Their self-titled debut album will have you hopping and singing at the top of your lungs with their boisterous pop-punk anthems in your own home.Joyce Manor jump … Read more

Angel Eyes

Midwestern
Mylene Sheath (2010)

Having more than a passing appreciation for spaghetti western films, particularly the Man With No Name trilogy A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and the truly epic The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly), I am compelled to check out any band or group that carries any of that iconography or is themed similarly, if only to … Read more

Liam Singer

Dislocatia
Hidden Shoal (2010)

Liam Singer plays the role of musical journeyman having been back and forth across the states playing with a multitude of different bands of many different types. He has a strong background in piano, theremin, and harpsichord among other instruments. These instruments let Singer provide a colorful and full backdrop for his calm story songs. After a few solo albums … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sticks N Stones

Is It You?
Trouble In Mind (2010)

Trouble in Mind is getting to the point with their cover art. The point is: let the music stand for itself. Or maybe it’s just a copout since they think everybody will download it instead. Anyway, with their fifteenth release, the label sticks to their favored style: Midwestern pop-flavored garage. Sticks N Stones may stick rather firmly to genre conventions, … Read more

At Our Heels

Misanthropy & Godlessness
Creator-Destructor (2010)

At Our Heels is a young band coming out with a strong EP last year but never getting as much recognition as that EP probably deserved. They are certainly not a hype band or even getting any real talk outside of a few vague mentions. Strangely, this does more good than bad for them. What has resulted in this case … Read more

Hotels

Where Hearts Go Broke
Hidden Shoal (2009)

Seattle has always been a city with a vibrant and active music scene and it appears they survived the grunge attack of the 90’s and are beginning to really deliver some great new bands not stuck in the genre. Hotels is just one of those bands with a new wave inspired sound that brings me back to the days of … Read more

Cave In

Anomalies Vol. 1
Hydra Head (2010)

The only phrase that could describe my emotion right now is absolutely gushing, because “Inflatable Dream” is finally playing on my record player after years of obscurity as the “lost” Cave In song that blows away many other Cave In songs, and dear lord does its blasting goodness just make my 1999 barely twenty year old self scream like a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Farewell Continental

EP #2
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Motion City Soundtrack fans rejoice this EP simply titled #2 from Farewell Continental, is a side project of lead singer Justin Pierre’s. This is actually their second EP and contains six tracks of tunes available in two media choices, vinyl or digital download. This is one of the bands still pushing the vinyl media choice, their first EP was a … Read more

Locrian

The Crystal World
Utech (2010)

Hauntingly beautiful, The Crystal World is precisely that; and I seriously cannot believe that this almost slipped beyond my notice because Locrian has just simply blown me away with this record of harrowing soundscapes and buried melodies that coax your subconscious into a dream like state. I sincerely mean it; this record is one of those have to hear records … Read more

The Bombay Sweets

Doin' the Jerk at Dawn
Heart Of A Champion (2010)

Bombay Sweets is a Minneapolis band consisting of Nathan Grumdahl (Selby Tigers, Dynamiters) and drummer Jeff Brown (His Mischief). Although the project has expanded beyond Grumdahl’s one-man-band vision, it remains his lovechild. Even with multiple instruments at play, the primary components remain Grumdahl’s guitar and voice. The project is heavily steeped in old 60s records, with R&B-derived rock at its … Read more

Airs

Rainclouds Over The Remains Of Hope
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

Have you ever listened to the record at the wrong time and have it just put you off on that record even though your reaction was not the record’s fault? Well, good for you if this never happens to you; but this scenario does occur to me from time to time, and, unfortunately, it can put my potential enjoyment of … Read more

Whiskey & Co.

Rust Colors
No Idea (2010)

Whiskey & Co.’s sound hasn’t changed, even if a couple members have. On their third record, the Gainesville band continues their old-school flavored country that spends as much time regretting past decisions as it does swilling beer at the corner bar. Like its predecessors, Rust Colors mines familiar themes- exploring the emotional gamut and adding a bit of boogie-down twang … Read more

Nahemah

A New Constellation
Lifeforce (2009)

Nahemah are a rather different band. Coming out of Spain a country not generally known for their metal and playing a style different than most. They play a style of metal that involves prog, post metal and death metal among others. While some might read that description and picture a band not being able to find a direction and coming … Read more

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