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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)

Mouthbreather / Enviornmental Youth Crunch

Split
Rorschach (2009)

There's a lot to say about this split. First, it features one great name (Mouthbreather) and one lesser one (Environmental Youth Crunch). What strikes me second is the contrast in band styles, though I'll elaborate on this later. And, third, that it's such a solid release with five songs - it's an EP, not a single. First on the record is Mouthbreather. They play melodic hardcore that walks the line between street punk and thrash. John Martin has a big lung, posturing feel to his screams and the songs flow well, building energy and then dropping the tempo back down every so often for the pit stompers to catch their breath. The thrash influence lies underneath the more structural elements to their songs. Good stuff, meant to be played loud. As for Environmental Youth Crunch, they play poppier music that is a strange pairing with the heavier Mouthbreather. EYC play something similar to your run of the mill Plan-It-X bands. It's pop punk with jagged guitars, sloppy vocals, and incredible brevity. They pack three songs on their side with plenty of room to spare. I'm intrigued, but I'd like to see them work the melodies into something a little longer, … Read more

Kings of Convenience

Declaration of Dependence
Astralwerks (2009)

After almost five years since their last outing, the Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience have returned with their third full-length, … Read more

Great Falls

Demo
Independent (2009)

The demise of Playing Enemy was a tough pill for me to swallow as they were a band that I … Read more

The Lotus Eaters

Mind Control for Infants (Reissue)
Taiga (2009)

Finally a vinyl release for this album is here, and there has been quite a wait since The Lotus Eaters … Read more

Drunkdriver

Fire Sale
Fashionable Idiots (2009)

I like to consider myself pretty versed in rock - I listen to a lot of stuff and a good … Read more

Bane

Boston 6:58 PM / Los Angeles 3:58 PM / At Both Ends
Triple B/6131/At Both Ends (2009)

It has indeed been a number of years since we last heard from Bane; their last full-length - The Note … Read more

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One from the archives

Stateside

Phonograph
Action Driver (2004)

Imagine if Limbeck and My Morning Jacket got together for a jam session and you'll be close to how Stateside sounds. Hailing from Tennessee, frontman John Paul Keith has played with heart-throb Ryan Adams, played in The Nevers, and co-founded The V-Roys. Sure the latter you probably know nothing about(shit, neither do I) but you get the point. Phonograph is 11 tracks of classic rock tinged, indie-country. The record kicks off with "Fool on a Wire" that harnesses the description from the beginning paragraph. The tempo is upbeat in a very Limbeck-ish way, the horns are swinging in a My Morning Jacket-esque tone, and everyone is having a good time. In songs such as "Time Time Time," elements of The Rolling Stones are very apparent, particularly in the vocals. This … Read more

More album reviews

Teenage Bottlerocket

They Came From the Shadows
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

I really wanted to like They Came From the Shadows. I did. And to an extent, I do. There are some very catchy pop-punk songs on this album. But this will definitely not be seen as one of the stronger Teenage Bottlerocket albums in the future. Opening the album is "Skate or Die," which brought me high hopes for this … Read more

The Bomb

Speed is Everything
No Idea (2009)

Considering how much I've heard about the Naked Raygun reunion, you'd think there would be more buzz regarding The Bomb. Speed is Everything is the Jeff Pezzati led group's first release for No Idea Records. When compared with Pezzati's more renowned group, I was expecting a more contemporary twist. Instead, The Bomb has a strong 80's feel to it, with … Read more

Total Fucking Destruction

Peace, Love and Total Fucking Destruction
Enucleation (2009)

Grindcore is one of those genres where these days you are just as likely to come across an abject piece of music as you are something good. This could be said of all genres but you got to be skilled to provide something original with music where speed is the primary ingredient. The classics brought something new and did it … Read more

A Storm of Light

Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Neurot (2009)

Following an impressive debut album (And We Wept the Black Ocean Within) and a nice split and collaborative release (see their record with Nadja called Primitive North), A Storm of Light give their latest album Forgive Us Our Tresspasses to show just how far the band has progressed in the interim. The ten new compositions that Josh Graham (Neurosis, Red … Read more

Nadja

Under a Jaguar Sun
Beta-Lactam Ring (2009)

When was the last time that you experienced an extremely impressive musical project that made your jaw drop to the ground in awe of the scope, execution, and general quality of the complete package (sound, music, record art, record packaging, etc)? Speaking for myself, I know of the last record (or group of records) that I considered exceptionally impressive in … Read more

Michael Yonkers with The Blind Shake

Cold Town/Soft Zodiac
Learning Curve (2009)

The Blind Shake are a power-garage trio from Minneapolis. They play highly synchronized, precision rock with guitar, tenor guitar, and drums. Michael Yonkers is a noise-guitar pioneer, having finally gained recognition when Destijl and, consequently, Sub Pop released the 1968 recorded, but never released, Microminiature Love in 2003. The record starts with haunting, dark, and heavy guitars and Yonkers' warbly … Read more

Everlovely Lightningheart

Sein Weal Tallion Rue
Hydra Head (2009)

Everlovely Lightningheart was a band (even though championed by Hydra Head for some time) that exists in virtual obscurity. And considering what this collective offers people, aside from a bunch of limited releases (one of which includes an LP that is still only limited to 5 or so copies), the challenging soundscapes on their albums beg to be heard. Sein … Read more

Ruiner

Hell is Empty
Bridge Nine (2009)

With Hell is Empty Ruiner return with one scathing, vicious, and beautiful album. It was worth the two year wait that fans endured between this Prepare to be Let Down. What Ruiner had developed on Prepare to be Let Down has been greatly expanded upon on Hell is Empty. The songwriting is much more dynamic, and J. Robbins' organic production … Read more

200 Words Or Less

A Death Cinematic

A Parable on the Aporia of Vengeance and the Beauty of Impenetrable Sadness
Simple Box Construction (2009)

Every once in a long while there comes a release which takes several listens to sink in to one's thick skull (particularly my hard head can take time), but once that record sinks in, the record not only makes complete sense, but it seems to become a favorite release. Upon first listening to the latest release from A Death Cinematic, … Read more

Lucero

1372 Overton Park
Universal (2009)

Lucero is a band that people feel passionately about. You either love them or hate them. Their fans are very adamant about which record is their favorite, and subsequently, the best in their eyes. With 1372 Overton Park Lucero has gone on to make what is one of the most fully realized albums of their career. Unfortunately, Lucero's vision for … Read more

Shrinebuilder

Shrinebuilder
Neurot (2009)

Holy supergroup! Even as that term is overused, for underground metal and heavy music, Shrinebuilder is just that when you read the members that comprise this group: Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand), Scott Kelly (Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot), Al Cisneros (Sleep, Om), and Dale Crover (The Melvins, Nirvana). These four notable characters got … Read more

Nothington

Roads, Bridges & Ruins
BYO (2009)

In what might be an early contender for "Most Improved Band of the Year," Nothington brings us their second studio album, Roads, Bridges & Ruins. Now, when we last left the band they released their debut record, All In. While it was a fun listen, it didn't carry much lasting value and I wore it out after a few spins, … Read more

Florence and the Machine

Lungs
Island (2009)

In a U.K. pop scene increasingly dominated by uncertain female electro-pop princesses or paltry imitations of Rihanna or Beyonce, it's refreshing and exciting to see the dominance of a genuinely interesting and invigorating talent. Twenty-three year old Florence Welch and her four accomplices - The Machine - present us a gift wrapped collection of thirteen buoyant, ethereal and enormous songs. … Read more

Gaza

He is Never Coming Back
Black Market Activities (2009)

Following an impressive debut album is never an easy undertaking, and Gaza did deliver an impressive debut with I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die. So with that in mind we find their sophomore effort from the four-piece hailing from Utah in the United States. He is Never Coming Back is a definite product of the environment from … Read more

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