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)

Matt and Kim

Grand
Fader (2009)

Today's pop music is severely lacking in fun. We have over-hyped pseudo celebrities running around with no pants, actors with the impression that talent in one field somehow gives them rights to move into another, and Justin is too busy with Jessica to come back and make everything alright. Matt and Kim gained a reputation as the fun band at the numerous Brooklyn house parties during their humble beginnings: evading the cops while pounding through their up tempo, indie-punkish, tracks as everyone's new favorite keyboard/drum duo. The sophomore release Grand gives us a much tighter musical release while retaining the energy, passion, and charm of their self-titled debut. Pop needs more of this. Read more

Oedipus

Covetous
The Den Recorders (2008)

Oedipus, a three piece making more noise than a three piece rightly should, manage the type of grandiose guitar rock … Read more

Matisyahu

Shattered
Epic (2008)

This four-track EP spins the typical Matisyahu sound a little bit from its pop/old school hip-hop/reggae roots, with opener "Smash … Read more

Khanate

Clean Hands Go Foul
Hydra Head/Daymare (2009)

Talk about the last gasp of air from a dead corpse, Clean Hands Go Foul is the final studio recordings … Read more

Therapy?

Crooked Timber
DR2 (2009)

Therapy? have followed a strange path. From underground industrial punks through to rock and roll-tinged pop punk pioneers to a … Read more

The Ergs!

That's It...Bye
Don Giovanni (2009)

Bands break up all the time. Sometimes they blow up on stage, storm off from a tour, grow apart, and … Read more

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One from the archives

Hot Snakes

Peel Sessions
Swami (2005)

Last fall rock lost one of its true visionaries. John Peel was responsible for introducing the UK to acts like Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, The Smiths, The Undertones, Nirvana, The White Stripes, Napalm Death, Carcass, Extreme Noise Terror & Joy Division. How's that for diversity? It was an honor for any band to get to play Peel's BBC radio show. John Peel was a champion of the unknown and a true fan of music. American Radio DJs could certainly take a cue from him. Peel asked Hot Snakes to record with him on their first trip to the UK. On October 11th, 2004 they recorded 4 tracks for the legendary DJ. Hot Snakes were Peel's final guests. Two weeks later he died in Peru. Swami Records has now released … Read more

More album reviews

Tigers Jaw

Tigers Jaw
Prision Jazz (2008)

Everyone in the indie music world seems to be aiming for their own distinct sound and the Pennsylvanian quintet Tigers Jaw are just another mere tadpole in a big lake. With that being said, their self-titled album is very enjoyable and will probably be a big hit for those who are fans of 90's indie rock/emo(whatever it's considered). While their … Read more

Kylesa

Static Tensions
Prosthetic (2009)

Is it really time for another Kylesa album? It may only seem like yesterday but it has been quite a while since their last album, Time Will Fuse its Worth, and the band looks intent on besting that effort in every way. Still set with its dual drummer line-up, Kylesa offer Static Tensions with its ten tracks of their crust … Read more

Razor of Occam

Homage to Martyrs
Metal Blade (2009)

Blackened thrash metal has been getting a lot more popular recently with bands like Skeletonwitch and Toxic Holocaust getting more recognition as of late. Like most sub-genres, there are bands who are worthy contributors to the scene and then there are those who are simply followers and the United Kingdom's Razor of Occam, are without a doubt, more than worthy … Read more

Fireworks

All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion
Triple Crown (2009)

Ah, the full-length record that so many of us have been waiting for. After the disappointing lack of new material found on last year's Adventure, Nostalgia, and Robbery, fans were certainly ready for this record to come to light. Now on the more widely distributed Triple Crown label, Detroit's Fireworks are only now appearing to garner the attention that I … Read more

Let Me Run

Meet Me at the Bottom
XOXO (2009)

Hailing from New Jersey, Let Me Run is the latest in a series of bands walking the line between the punk, rock and roll, and the blues. The cues that Let Me Run take are some that many other bands before them have also had - Springsteen, The Clash, and Hot Water Music - but this four-piece find a way … Read more

Supermachiner

Rust
Deathwish Inc. (2009)

Following the vinyl issue of Rise of the Great Machine (their first full-length album), Supermachiner finally offers more music with Rust. This two CD collection combines a remastered version of their first full-length as well as a second CD that collects more material from the group. As exciting on a personal level as this release is, there remain quite a … Read more

IAMX

The Alternative (Reissue)
Metropolis (2008)

Well, he still looks like a prick in the ruff but now he's wearing a big stripey kipper tie as well. So it goes. There's a not-so-subtle shift for IAMX on The Alternative, a tweaking of sound from debut release Kiss + Swallow. The first album was noticeable for coasting a bit too much on the metrosexual swagger of its … Read more

Torche

Healer/Across the Shields
Hydra Head (2009)

Following up their much acclaimed full-length, Meanderthal, Torche gives the Healer/Across the Shields twelve-inch EP and DVD to tide fans over until their next record. The record contains two tracks on that full-length as well as two additional songs (their last with recently departed guitarist Juan Montoya) which are new and a DVD with the videos for the two album … Read more

Maniqui Lazer

I Learn Everything on TV
Soundsister (2008)

I don't know much about music along the US-Mexico border, and the name Maniqui Lazer and the cartoonish sketches on the cover only intrigue me so much. Mostly, it gives the impression of a weird band with a lot of keyboards. Lo and behold, I got that part right. I just missed the crazy energy held within the cardboard package. … Read more

Two Tongues

Two Tongues
Vagrant (2009)

When the news of Max Bemis (Say Anything) and Chris Conley (Saves the Day) collaborating to create Two Tongues was announced, many were expecting stellar results from the duo. We all know how hard it is to live up to the hype, especially when your resume includes making some of the best pop-punk albums of the new millennium, which applies … Read more

Past Lives

Strange Symmetry
Suicide Squeeze (2008)

The hiatus and eventual breakup of The Blood Brothers in 2007 left many of their fans heartbroken. But honestly, with as many musical outlets as the members have had over the years - Head Wound City, Neon Blonde, Jaguar Love, etc - I didn't really expect them to last that much longer. After the demise of the group, members Jordan … Read more

Mastodon

Crack the Skye
Reprise (2009)

It's really hard to place Mastodon into one genre. Yes, they are mainly a metal band but what sub-genre? Sludge metal? Progressive metal? Groove metal? You'd be right and wrong with all three since the band has experimented with each of those different sounds on all of their albums, but they are so much more than that. Hell, there are … Read more

Mastodon

Crack the Skye
Reprise (2009)

Water. Earth. Russian monarchy? While Mastodon's previous albums Leviathan and Blood Mountain deal with two of the four elements, their newest, Crack the Skye, deals with another element albeit in a more abstract fashion - exploring the air or rather, the ether, through the eyes of a paraplegic boy who astral projects himself into the body of Grigori Rasputin, the … Read more

Red Stars Parade

Lutine Belle
Thirty Days Of Night (2008)

Bands that are difficult to pin down to a particular genre are great. They might have a distinctive sound and there might be comparisons that can be drawn, but you can lose yourself in the safe knowledge of something fresh and abstract. Then some idiot music critic comes along and ruins your day by inventing a name for it, so … Read more

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

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