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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)

Bright Eyes

The People's Key
Saddle Creek (2011)

When word broke out that Bright Eyes would be writing one final album before retiring the moniker—expectations were set pretty high. Since then, the band has retracted that statement. However, if The People’s Key ends up being the last we hear of Bright Eyes, then they conclude the story with a highly refined final chapter.The album opens with the first discourse from Denny Brewer in “Firewall.” He sets a sci-fi tone for the record by speaking of alien figures, time, and space. It’s not long before Oberst begins voicing his poetry of layered themes and metaphors over the pulsing rhythm of the music. He makes many religious references relevant to the Rastafari movement, and religion is something that will become a recurring theme throughout the album. Next is the single, “Shell Games. “ It’s a song that feels like a return to form for Bright Eyes—encompassing a great melody and clever lyrics. Oberst opens the track referring to his past work before a catchy chorus about the difficulties of moving “heavy love” and mentions of Sisyphus. The following track, “Jejune Stars,“ bombards the listener as it turns into dance-y, pop-rock, number. It’s newer territory for Bright Eyes, but they do … Read more

Seven Sisters Of Sleep

Self Titled
A389 (2011)

Have you ever heard the expression, “where were you when…” relating to certain events in history, or have you heard … Read more

True Widow

As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth
Kemado (2011)

True Widow are one of the many bands that gets lumped into the burgeoning new school of shoegaze. While shoegaze … Read more

The Great Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Trail
Independent (2011)

When I first caught The Great Whiskey Rebellion live, I was immediately drawn to the amazing energy they bring to … Read more

Ruined Families

Four Wall Freedom
Independent (2010)

Ruined Families are another band entering the hardcore sweepstakes. The band hailing from Greece carries the torch that Cursed carried. … Read more

Korperschwache

Evil Walks
Crucial Blast (2011)

Korperschwache may seem like a new band. In many ways this is true. This being their first widely available album … Read more

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One from the archives

M.I.A.

Arular
XL Recordings (2005)

Superfluous. If I could describe the music press' fawning over female Sri-Lankan/British emcee M.I.A. in a single word, that would be it. This excessive praise for a new artist is not unique to her, of course. In 2004, it was Franz Ferdinand. In 2003, it was the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. To be honest, M.I.A.'s Arular does not live up to the hype, but what album possibly could? I'm going to be overly-simplistic and superficial and use Dizzee Rascal as a reference point for what M.I.A. sounds like (because I'm lazy and because M.I.A. doesn't really have a reference point). They're both uniquely British, employ cheap, abrasive beats, and often have as much in common with the electronica scene as they do the hip-hop scene (indeed, the Tower Records in Nashville … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

Bad Mask

Strange Phrases
Independent (2011)

Bad Mask are a fairly new band hailing from New Jersey. The band deals in semi technical Metal. While not being as technical as some bands they tend to carry the torch of early Dillinger Escape Plan. Meaning that they go through more than a few time changes within their songs. There is a heavy focus on dissonant riffing and … Read more

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Go Down Under
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)

Well they’re back with a vengeance, the punk supergroup coverband known as Me First and the Gimme Gimmes with the release of their eighth album the Australian tinged EP entitled – Go Down Under. For a band that started out as a side project for fun these guys have worked up a great formula. Take the cheesy pop songs and … Read more

The Pauses

A Cautionary Tale
New Grenada (2011)

Remember when you were a little kid getting tucked into bed? Then someone would reach for a thin book with a shiny gold spine, and they would read you a bedtime story? Well, I don’t, but I certainly remember the books. It was my affinity for those books that drew me towards The Pause’s debut album, A Cautionary Tale, which … Read more

Barren Earth

The Curse Of The Red River
Peaceville (2010)

Barren Earth is like an ex-members of who's who. Sporting members from Swallow The Sun, Amorphis, and Moonsorrow among others. The band is veritable Swedish metal powerhouse. The band makes the most of the sum of their parts. Cultivating parts of melancholic metal of Swallow The Sun and the metal with Swedish folk touches of Amorphis. They songs have a … Read more

Trent Fox & The Tenants

Mess Around
Kind Turkey (2011)

There’s a garage-pop movement afoot in Wisconsin and Trent Fox & the Tenants are just one of the torchbearers. Their five song debut EP, Mess Around, is a quick burst: part ass-shaking party music, part beer-pounding sleaze. The band plays a familiar style with enough attitude to pull it off without making the usual namedropping comparisons.The single is under 15 … Read more

Hellmouth

Gravestone Skylines
Paper + Plastick (2010)

Much can be said on the history of Hellmouth. The band led by former Suicide Machines vocalist Jay Navarro and containing members of various other Michigan hardcore bands. The band have little in common with their past ventures. This is not to say the band are playing whiny emo or upbeat pop punk, if anything this would be the antithesis … Read more

Old Man Markley

Guts N' Teeth
Fat Wreck Chords (2011)

Fat hasn’t been releasing many new bands lately. Thus, when they do expand the roster for a debut, it draws some attention. Guts n’Teeth comes from the eight-piece California band Old Man Markley, named after washboard player Ryan Markley who, in truth, is quite young. Other members have been/are in bands such as Youth Brigade and Angel City Outcasts. But … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Captain, We're Sinking

...With Joe Riley
Evil Weevil (2011)

Captain, We're Sinking don't reinvent the wheel with their new 7" release. They aren't pushing any boundaries. Hell, they essentially rip-off The Lawrence Arms with no shame. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy every second of it.With Joe Riley provides three tracks of incredibly catchy and well-done melodic punk. "The Ballad of Ichabond Crane" starts things … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Hank & Cupcakes

Self Titled EP
Independent (2011)

It’s time to loosen up because Hank & Cupcakes are looking to get you out of your chair and out on the dance floor. This electro-pop duo have released their debut self-titled EP chock-full of catchy beats and tasty rhythms. The first track, “There Ain’t No Love,” gets you moving your body to Hank’s dulcet bass-riffs as Cupcakes keeps the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Less Than Jake

Hello Rockview (Reissue)
Sleep It Off (2011)

It has been nearly 13 years since Hello Rockview was first released, and the album still holds up. Like with the first couple of re-releases, Sleep It Off have redesigned the original cover and coupled the original album with a live recording of it in its entirety.There isn’t much left to be said about the studio recording of the album … Read more

PJ Harvey

Let England Shake
Vagrant/Island (2011)

I got into a discussion with someone recently over the validity of this latest release from Polly Jean Harvey. They seemed almost offended that PJ would use the overall theme of war in writing her new release as if it were some sort of parlor trick to try and make “important music”. I argued that Roger Waters has built an … Read more

Sims

Bad Time Zoo
Doomtree (2011)

Six years is a long time between a freshman and sophomore release. Granted, that length isn’t entirely accurate—Sims has been involved in a number of Doomtree records, from the False Hopes mixtape series to appearances on various crew records. Still, he has been patient as Doomtree has released solo records for nearly everyone else in the collective since 2005’s Lights … Read more

Deadlock

Bizarro World
Lifeforce (2011)

Deadlock has been around the block awhile as a band. Gone through member shifts as well as shifts in sound and "artistic vision". The band caught alot of flack with their last album, putting more focus of melodic parts and techno breakdowns than the metalcore they were previously known for. Thus comes from gaining a female singer with a decent … Read more

Jesu

Heartache & Dethroned
Hydra Head (2010)

Do you ever remember when you first purchased a record by a band or individual (does not have to be their first record by any means) that turned out to be a huge door opening into their music (whether that even be bad or good is probably up for debate)? Well, this is the case for me with several different … 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)