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aDistant/Stickfigure (2008)

Dark, moody, atmospheric rock from this Athens, GA four piece. Sounds like outtakes from The Cure's Pornography but if Simon Gallup was on ludes instead of acid. "Patroness" tries hard to capture the spirit of Joy Division, but somehow ends up reminding me of a Gary Numan tune. There's enough musical ability to rise above the fray, but next time … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ill Ease

Turn it Lose!
Ionik (2008)

One woman band that makes me think of Sonic Youth if Kim Gordon kicked Thurston Moore out of the band. I guess that would be pretty much impossible, but, anyway! Best song title on this release is "Dear Krazy." I also dig the Casio keyboard goodness on "When Suddenly, The Evil Arrives." "Le Jeux Son Fait" takes the rock quota … Read more

Roll the Tanks

Suffer City
Intelligent Noise (2008)

Something about Roll the Tanks sounds familiar. I can't put my finger on who they remind me of, but they have a light, bouncy Brit-pop feel with enough enthusiasm to overcome their lack of originality. On Suffer City, the Massachusetts/Los Angeles quartet brings a half hour of concise, polished indie rock with positive energy and a lot of group vocals. … Read more

Lithops

Mound Magnet Pt. 2: Elevations Above Sea Level
Killer Pimp (2008)

To those who have been diligently searching the internet for more exposition on the new Lithops project: Finally! Here it is! I have some bad news for you! This review is being written by a dude who calls this stuff techno and wears flannel. Deepest apologies to serious fans: I am just going to look at this as music. As … Read more

United Nations

United Nations
Eyeball (2008)

The initial suggestions of United Nations falling under the grindcore, powerviolence, and traditional screamo umbrellas may have created unrealistic expectations for some music lovers. However, one can't really fault the band members of United Nations for attempting to distance themselves from the stereotypes of their main projects with these descriptions of what to expect from the band. To many screamo … Read more

Celeste

Nihiliste(s)
Denovali (2008)

Celeste is another player on the scene that offers music in similar fashion (although their take on it is much noisier and a bit more to the point with much shorter average song lengths and such) to bands that follow the path cut by Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna, etc. Nihiliste(s) is Celeste's first full-length, and this outfit from Lyon, … Read more

Lucinda Williams

Little Honey
Lost Highway (2008)

The last time Lucinda Williams released an album, it was a waste of time for everyone. West was slow, drab, and devoid of any catchy melodies, and it gave me serious doubt as to whether she should continue making music or not. But Lucinda has pulled a total about-face, and stepped up her game. Ignoring LL Cool J's advice, I … Read more

Jukebox the Ghost

Let Live and Let Ghosts
The Rebel Group (2008)

Sometimes I think I take music too personally. I find myself judging others all too quickly when I hear their music tastes; it can make or break my impression of them. I'll give people a little bit of slack if their choices aren't really my thing, but other times the groups they list are so god-awful that I'm actually offended … Read more

Guns N' Roses

Chinese Democracy
Geffen (2008)

It's been fifteen years since the last release from the "band" known as Guns N' Roses seventeen years, that's not a typo seventeen years since the last batch of new material dropped as Use Your Illusions 1 and 2. With all the hype surrounding what has been in the works for an entire generation, Chinese Democracy should be the release … Read more

Deadly Sins

Selling Our Weaknesses
Durty Mick (2008)

This Boston punk band is made up of members of Reach the Sky, Even in Blackouts, and Stephanie Dougherty - who apparently has lent her vocal abilities to some Dropkick Murphys songs. Deadly Sins play straight forward tuneful punk rock that is probably more popular in seedy bars than it is in basements and VFW halls as the album as … Read more

Last Lights

Last Lights
Mightier Than Sword (2008)

Last week I completed a short review of this 7" from Last Lights to be posted on the site. It was short and to the point but just didn't emit what makes this record so good. And then over the weekend the band's vocalist, Dominic Mallary, passed away at the age of twenty-four after performing at a local show. The … Read more

True Widow

True Widow
End Sounds (2008)

Talk about coming from proverbially nowhere; after several days of enjoying various streams of this record and eventually tracking this sucker down, I find myself completely hooked on the slow, relaxed rhythms and mellow vocal arrangements on True Widow's debut album. If ever there was a soundtrack to numb apathy, True Widow must be it. This Texas three-piece (comprised of … Read more

Jack's Mannequin

The Glass Passenger
Sire (2008)

A lot of artists resist fame. I've done interviews with bands for nearly five years now and have heard countless times from both nameless and recognizable acts that there were never any aspirations for a hit radio single or a gold album. For these people it seemed when something reached a point of popularity it lost authenticity. By acknowledging the … Read more

Makeout Party

Lengths and Limits
Make Music Collective (2008)

I'll admit it; I have a few musical guilty pleasures. I have a few albums that I'm embarrassed to own but I still love nonetheless. Makeout Party seems like they could be one of those bands. The name alone is a little off-putting, whether it reminds you of the awkward middle school gathering or the quick-lived internet group sensation. The … Read more

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