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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)

Qui

Love's Miracle
Ipecac (2007)

Paul Christensen. Matt Cronk. David Yow. The former two names you have not heard before. The latter name you probably have. The latter name is a legend, in fact. The former two, not so much. David Yow was a member of two legendary bands - Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard. Both great bands of the early nineties who, while not insanely popular outside people in the know, were thrust into the spotlight for the briefest of moments as a result of the Lizard's split single with a little group called Nirvana. The former gentlemen founded their band in 2000, and released their first album in 2003 entitled Baby Kisses, a fairly solid debut enhanced by the fact that they were a mere two piece that sounded like a full line-up. In 2006, David Yow joined the existing Qui as a full-time vocalist and helped flesh out a band deserving of recognition, because let's face it, unless you're a ghastly-pallored incestuous pair of exes, your two-piece doesn't stand a chance in hell. But to even mention most other bands of similar roster number as Qui is to do them a disservice, except perhaps Big Business who have been given the … Read more

High on Fire

Death is this Communion
Relapse (2007)

What else can you expect from High on Fire other than an album with a thick, punishing sound that just … Read more

Bitter End

Climate of Fear
Malfunction (2007)

There was a brief period in my life when I lived in Texas. During that time, I attended quite a … Read more

Meneguar

Strangers in Our House
Troubleman Unlimited (2007)

Let's be completely honest, Meneguar is an overrated band. But what's wrong with being overrated? Refused, Converge, Nirvana, even The … Read more

Animal Collective

Strawberry Jam
Domino (2007)

Strawberry Jam is so far the commercially successful album by Animal Collective to date. This album peaked at #72 on … Read more

Supreme Commander / Alive at Last

Split
Bishop 19 (2007)

The first six tracks on this split CD are from Supreme Commander whose 7" I reviewed and whole-heartily enjoyed a … Read more

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One from the archives

Distants

Distants
Salinas Records (2024)

Something about this guitar tone always picks me up. Add in the raspy vocals and it really only takes me a few seconds into this record to know that Distants are my kind of band. Honestly, I’ve seen them before too, so I already knew that, but that was just a half set at The Fest, not a deep dive or anything. The band play midtempo, honest, working-class punk. The kind where the words are front and center and mostly clear and, often, you can almost singalong on the first listen. It’s accessible and somewhat predictable, with both of those terms meant in a good way. But while I say you can singalong right away, that’s also not because it’s so simple that it just repeats itself over and over. … Read more

More album reviews

200 Words Or Less

Middle Distance Runner

Middle Distance Runner
Independent (2007)

Dabbling coolly with grit of the 'the' band sound while borrowing ruminants of Brit rock's pop sensibility, Middle Distance Runner offer up something with the potential for a real fan based success. Hinting at better things throughout the six-track effort, the five-piece uses the formulaic idea of songwriting based around guitar/synth hooks layered with a full and strong rhythm section. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Pink Razors

First Degree
Rorschach (2007)

Pink Razors is a pop-punk band from Richmond, Virginia that plays a fast and catchy form of music comparable to Latterman. The band has released a full-length and split with Environmental Youth Crunch, and now this three song seven inch. Each song features fast and snotty vocals and each song clocking in at less than three minutes, and are all … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Midwestern

The Midwestern
Rorschach (2007)

This is what happens when a band has yet to find its style. What we have here is some decent songwriting that comes off as underdeveloped. The track "Molsen Golden" starts as a respectable jam with enough intricacy and tempo changes to call back memories of The Cancer Conspiracy and the forefathers of the style, King Crimson. Halfway through the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Antelope

Reflector
Dischord (2007)

Sometimes simple repetition makes the biggest impact. Sometimes simple repetition makes the biggest impact. SOMETIMES SIMPLE REPETITION MAKES THE BIGGEST IMPACT. Obviously it isn't working for me, but D.C.'s Antelope make something seemingly annoying into a subtle art form. That is, if you're not easily annoyed. Most of the tracks on Reflector accentuate bare bones songwriting. Almost every track is … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Path to Misery

Demo
Independent (2007)

Path to Misery is a musical-collective from Pittsburgh, PA. The group of individuals involved focuses their attention of raising awareness of government actions, social issues, and other forward-thinking ideas through music. Musically, they set things to a soundtrack of abrasive hardcore with dashes of metal, d-beat, and grind thrown in for good measure. Their latest demo is comprised of three … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Wonder Years

Get Stoked on it!
No Sleep (2007)

I love Set Your Goals, but the popularity of the band's amalgamation of pop-punk and melodic hardcore has brought forth a million and a half wannabes. Sure, New Found Glory started it all (though they pretty much stuck to pop-punk), but I'll be damned if I haven't heard ten new clones this week alone. Philadelphia's The Wonder Years are the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Division Day

Beartrap Island
Eenie Meenie (2007)

Division Day are a fairly new band from Los Angeles and they are going to turn some heads with their debut full-length, Beartrap Island. The four-piece band plays a delicate mix of indie and post-rock music. The songs on Beartrap Island fall someplace between the soft indie rock numbers that I would liken to Sunny Day Real Estate, the post-rock … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Honorary Title

Scream and Light Up the Sky
Reprise (2007)

Scream and Light Up the Sky has been a long long time coming. Three years have gone by since their last release. This album also has been in my hands for several months (I think I was mailed a copy like six months prior to its actual release). I liked it but let it slide to the wayside as I … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Motion City Soundtrack

Even if it Kills Me
Epitaph (2007)

If you're like me, the state of Minnesota is automatically associated with one of two things: 1) Mall of America and 2) Fargo. One is awesome because it has rollercoasters in it while the other single-handedly made me scared to ever visit the states of North Dakota and Minnesota for fear of ending up in a wood-chipper. Motion City Soundtrack … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Bulldoze

The Final Beatdown
Trip Machine Laboratories (2007)

The Final Beatdown is a complete discography of New York's kings of beatdown hardcore, thus the title. The release is comprised of a CD, which includes all the band's recorded material and a live set, and a DVD with over an hour of live footage. It's been over ten years since Bulldoze called it quits (they have reformed a number … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Badmouth

Strikes Again
Ghosthunt (2007)

Badmouth is the latest in the seemingly never-ending line of pissed off hardcore bands from Southern California. Strikes Again is their debut effort, which is actually their demo but in refurbished form via Ghosthunt Records. Over the course of these nine songs, Badmouth deliver fast-paced hardcore-punk with serious guitar whaling and bitter as hell lyrics. Musically, they remind me quite … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Failing Myself

Every Day
Rally Point (2007)

A cassette tape release? This is the third one I've received in the mail recently. I don't even know where you get these pressed anymore. Regardless, Every Day is a cool trip down memory lane to a time when Myspace didn't exist and band's relied on word of mouth to promote themselves. Failing Myself is a one-man musical project from … Read more

Wolves in the Throne Room

Two Hunters
Southern Lord (2007)

The terms "stripped-down," "raw," and "black metal" are certainly no strangers to each other. Musically speaking, some of the best known bands and albums feature less-than-lackluster production and songwriting, a standard set by older bands such as Darkthrone and Burzum, even if unintentionally. Visually and characteristically though, most black metal bands are infamous for being over-the-top, what with all the … Read more

Bracewar

Juggernaut
1917 (2007)

Is a band just as good if they don't have the hype? In today's hardcore scene, I feel like a lot of bands get passed over for lack of glorification and message board fame. Now, it's hard to tell if Bracewar is really one of those bands; I would say they are on the lower end of the fame spectrum, … Read more

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