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)

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 Ultravox, OMD, Joy Division and even Devo. One thing for certain this group has a knack for producing music that really brings back that 80’s new wave feel. Their newest album Where Hearts Go Broke begins with the song “Hydra” an synth-pop flashback complete with an OMD inspired keyboard riff. What catches the listeners ear besides the driving drum and bass lines is the subtle guitar layered over the keys making this one of the top dance songs on the album. Next up is the dreamy “Near The Desert, Near The City” another keyboard / synth heavy tune that is subtle compared to the rest of the album not that it doesn’t fit but it is just another facet to the bands overall sound. The album then transitions into “Lelani” a dreamy dance tune that really showcases the bands dance … 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 … Read more

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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

La Crisi

II - Tutti a Pezzi
Hurry Up! (2008)

Is there any better imagery than broken teeth? La Crisi don't seem to think so. Given the ferocity on II - Tutti a Pezzi I have to wonder if the cover image is what singer Mayo's mouth looks like after a particularly violent show. When it comes to namedropping influences, there are plenty of good ones for this band: Bad Brains, Los Crudos, Negative Approach, and a little Suicidal Tendencies. They wear these proudly, and the result is some honest hardcore with a familiar sound. The band members have been in a number of groups - mostly based out of Italy - and was founded by former Sottopressione members. II - Tutti a Pezzi is their second release and this one features a newly placed rhythm section. Their mission statement … Read more

More album reviews

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

End of a Year

You Are Beneath Me
Deathwish Inc. (2010)

“To best enjoy this album… try new things” So starts one of the catchiest records this year this side of the Descendents and Rites Of Spring and maybe you do not fit the description given in this opening soliloquy set to music but that does not mean to stop listening by any means, but rather it puts you in the … Read more

Envy

Recitation
Temporary Residence (2010)

Knowing full well this album was dropping this year (it was on my albums to look forward to in 2010 list last year), I was surprised by its release and caught unaware that it had finally dropped to the public; and this definitely affected the way that Recitation hit me for some strange reason. I sit here and say, “You … Read more

The Arrivals

Volatile Molotov
Recess (2010)

When it comes to overlooked bands, Chicago’s Arrivals should be right near the top. The band has never been overly prolific, releasing only four records since the mid ‘90s. Yet here we are, in 2010, and the band has released another solid record in Volatile Molotov.The Genre Monster would call the Arrivals pop-punk. They play accessible, melodic songs with a … Read more

Killing Joke

Absolute Dissent
Universal (2010)

As a band, Killing Joke has had numerous peaks and valleys in their career over the past 30 plus years most recently with the death of longtime bassist Paul Raven. The band has been one of the few to successfully tap into different genres over the year’s punk, Goth, metal, rock and experimental dub to name a few. The band’s … Read more

Flying Lotus

Cosmogramma
Warp (2010)

In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into orbit. In 1969 Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins became the first human beings to walk on the surface of the Moon. About half a century later, it has become evident that these remarkable feats of human innovation and imagination still affect our culture today. Steven Ellison’s (a.k.a. Flying … Read more

Off With Their Heads

In Desolation
Epitaph (2010)

Off With Their Heads have built a reasonable fanbase within the fest related punk scene. This is due to certain consistency in their style, without being all the same all the time. Gruff vocals, bass heavy songs, and depressing lyrics all have their place in this. So one had to expect a backlash of sorts when, after a series of … Read more

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

The Brutalist Bricks
Matador (2010)

Their first record for Matador; their first record featuring new bassist Marty Key: The Brutalist Bricks is a record of firsts. It's the band's second shortest record, however (2004's Shake the Sheets is a couple of minutes briefer, at 39:52), and a departure from the drawn-out, exploratory songs of 2007's Living With the Living.Opener 'The Mighty Sparrow' is classic Leo, … Read more

Various Artists

House Of Low Culture / Mamiffer - split
Utech (2010)

Did you ever just want to pop on a record to zone out to while you are either doing work or trying to rest from some stressful situation, or, did you ever want a mellow record to start the day with or serve as a soundtrack to your latest trip? More and more I am finding these types of records … Read more

M.I.A.

/\/\ /\ Y /\ (MAYA)
XL Recordings (2010)

The hipsterati and the New York Times may have set their sights on MIA but, frankly, I don’t have the time to care what she eats during an interview. Besides, her music is largely a studio product anyway, which gives it an insulating layer from its creator’s personality. <i>Maya</i> is the Indo-British singer’s third record and her first since becoming … Read more

The Bombpops

Like I Care
Red Scare (2010)

Hailing from San Diego, California, The Bombpops are a female fronted quartet and a force to be reckoned with. Their 6 track debut EP, Like I Care delivers some of the quickest and most melodic punk tracks of the year! The Bombpops open up Like I Care with “Outta Hand.” Taking cues from 90’s skate-punk, “Outta Hand” delivers swift and … Read more

Alcest

Ecailles De Lune
Prophecy Productions (2010)

Neige, the sole contributor of Alcest, has stayed remarkably busy throughout 2010. Between his other projects (Lantlos, Ameseours) and the first actual set of stateside touring for Alcest. The man has been a consistent fixture in France's black metal scene throughout this decade. Much like the projects named above Alcest shares little with his More Blackened projects of past (Forgotten … Read more

STNNNG

The Smoke of My Will
Modern Radio (2010)

It’s been four long years since the last STNNNG album. In that time, though, the band hasn’t wavered from their dynamic and aggressive style of confrontational rock. While original drummer Jeremy Ward may no longer play with them, Twin Cities veteran Ben Ivascu jumped in and, once the band felt comfortable as a unit, they finished up their third full-length: … Read more

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