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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)

Smashing Pumpkins

Zeitgeist
Reprise (2007)

In all likelihood you're fully aware of the Smashing Pumpkins history and 90's legacy; if you somehow don't, I recommend Wikipedia. But in short, this is the first album in seven years from Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin under the Smashing Pumpkins moniker. Both were in Zwan, and both performed on the other's respective solo disc. But since 2000, neither has recorded under the Smashing Pumpkins name, and evidently, had no intentions of this being a true reunion. Because Corgan and Chamberlin are self-described "brothers in music," this isn't really a reunion; it's an attempt to regain some mainstream glory following Zwan's quick implosion and Corgan's ghastly solo disc in the only way they know how: as the Smashing Pumpkins. While the move to reignite the Pumpkins without James Iha or D'arcy Wretzky (or even Melissa Auf der Maur) might seem tactless to some, the fact is Corgan and Chamberlain probably have enough money to get by comfortably without having to accomplish anything commercially substantial for the rest of their lives. So why feel the need to reunite after a seven-year absence, forty-years-old, and album sales in the multi-millions? Could it be that Corgan and Chamberlain genuinely felt that the … Read more

Multiple Authors

Smashing Pumpkins

Zeitgeist
Reprise (2007)

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness changed the way I listened to music. Siamese Dream continues to do so. Machina … Read more

Nonhorse

Haraam, Circle of Flame
Release the Bats (2006)

Someone beats on sheet metal. A phone rings? White noise and feedback. Sounds from a long lost sci-fi B movie … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Odious Mortem

Cryptic Implosion
Willowtip (2007)

Odious Mortem's website describes their sound as employing "technical, dark, and experimental aspects of the death metal genre." When I … Read more

Internal Affairs

Deadly Visions
Malfunction (2007)

Internal Affairs is a band that embodies what hardcore should truly be about. The music is fast, energetic, and pissed … Read more

The Aggrolites

Reggae Hit L.A.
Hellcat (2007)

Since about the year 2000, Tim Armstrong, Lars Frederickson and pretty much that has anything to do with Rancid has … Read more

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One from the archives

Lifetime

2 Songs
Decaydance (2006)

Everyone into hardcore over the age of twenty-five reeled in shock and horror when they found that the newly reunited Lifetime had signed with Decaydance Records, the label that Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy owns. No, Lifetime, say it isn't so. Fall Out Boy? The marbled-mouth teen pop-punk mega-stars bassist signs the most revered melodic hardcore band of all time? How could this have happened? Well it happened this way: Lifetime wanted to be on a label where they could put out records and tour on their own terms. Pete whipped out the cash because he is a Lifetime superfan. Both parties were happy with the agreement they came up with and talk of a new album was born. The new album will be out in early 2007, but … Read more

More album reviews

Wrecking Crew

Balance of Terror (Reissue)
I Scream (2006)

Over the past decade or so "toughguy" hardcore has gotten more obnoxious by the second, but one of the bands that spawned this shitstorm, Madball, always had at least one thing going for them. This special ingredient was the combination of the pure catchiness of their riffs and their surprisingly tight sense of rhythm. Even though I am enough of … Read more

Tomahawk

Anonymous
Ipecac (2007)

When Hank III goes on tour, he leaves no stone unturned, playing anywhere that would have him: cities, towns, hamlets, burgs and more than a few Native American reservations. This had quite an impact on Hank's then touring guitarist, ex of the Jesus Lizard and future Tomahawk co-founder Duane Denison. The music he would hear while on the reservations left … Read more

The Distortions

Machines at Night
Blank (2007)

You know what I liked when I was in high school? Actually, you can probably guess this one. I liked The Smashing Pumpkins. You probably did too. I know for damn sure the Distortions did. Their Myspace page lists them as indie/shoegaze/post-punk, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's possible I don't know what those terms mean, but if … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rocky Votolato

A Brief History (Reissue)
Second Nature (2007)

It is real nice that Rocky Votolato's A Brief History is available again. With the original label - Your Best Guess Records - going the way of the Dodo, this underappreciated gem went out of print. Second Nature, thankfully, has the foresight to make this available for people again, and just in time for the release of Votolato's forthcoming new … Read more

Multiple Authors

Rocky Votolato

A Brief History (Reissue)
Second Nature (2007)

A Brief History is Rocky Votolato's second full-length, originally released in 2000 after his hard-to-find self-titled debut in 1999. At twenty minutes long, it's really more of an extended EP, but then, the 'brief' in the title should be taken quite literally. Newcomers to Votolato's alt-country/Americana sound might be surprised to backtrack through his releases and come across this, helpfully … Read more

Fake Problems

How Far Our Bodies Go
Sabot (2007)

The comparisons are going to be made so let's just get them out of the way right now. As Against Me! becomes the new Hot Water Music, Fake Problems might just become the new Against Me!. Maybe. Yes, Fake Problems hails from Florida, a few hours north of the aforementioned bands and yes, they take a no frills approach to … Read more

Ryan Adams

Easy Tiger
Lost Highway (2007)

The artist of the album I reviewed made it difficult to include his name in the opening sentence without thinking people would disregard the entire article, because this is his ninth studio album following three releases just two years ago in 2005. Yup, Ryan Adams released yet another album entitled Easy Tiger. It hardly feels like it's been two years … Read more

Irepress

Samus Octology
Translation Loss (2007)

Instrumental music that doesn't bore one to death is hard to come by, especially in a world like today. There are handfuls of bands attempting the instrumental sound and failing miserably. There are others of course that do succeed in such risky endeavors. Luckily for Irepress they are one of them. Instrumental bands have a tendency to bore an audience … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Misericordiam

Unanimity and the Cessation of Hostility
Twelve Gauge (2007)

Unanimity and the Cessation of Hostility is six tracks of blistering death metal that lasts a mere fourteen minutes. And while this EP is extremely short, any longer and the band would have be charged for assault and battery. Las Vegas quintet Misericordiam unleashes a full-on attack of technically amazing riffs and drumming teamed with some of the deepest growls … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Crowd Deterrent / Creepout

Split
Hard Ass (2007)

Two of the world's most underrated hardcore bands team up for fourteen tracks of no-frills and no-fuss hardcore. First up is Crowd Deterrent from Youngstown, Ohio. The band has been going strong for ten years now and during their tenure the band has relentlessly delivered straight-up hardcore that draws from the heyday of the New York scene - early Madball, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Homefront

Sacrifice
Detonate (2007)

Massachusetts-based hardcore outfit The Homefront has quite a pedigree of previous bands: Have Heart, Guns Up!, and Verse. And if you've enjoyed the output of any those bands, you'll be greatly pleased with The Homefront's debut offering, Sacrifice. The Homefront play highly energetic and powerful hardcore with a melodic twist - not unlike With Honor or Modern Life is War. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Limbeck

Limbeck
Doghouse (2007)

The fact that Limbeck call Orange County, CA home is a bit of a head-scratcher. Based on their home, you'd be more likely to expect a hardcore or punk band as opposed to an alt-country outfit. On their fourth full-length effort (third for Doghouse) the band continues to deliver a fun and upbeat mix of pop, country, and Americana. And … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Grave Robbers

Hell to Pay
GNP (2007)

Horror-influence hardcore-punk from Texas. That is something that I can get behind. Grave Robbers blast through eight songs in just under thirty minutes. While the majority of today's horror-influenced bands come off as nothing more than a second rate knockoff of The Misfits, this is not the case here. Grave Robbers do claim the mighty Danzig and company as a … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Taken Under

Silence Your Enemies
High Fidelity (2007)

Tennessee hardcore. I know what you're thinking; you thought everyone from Tennessee that was into music plays country. Well you're wrong. Although, the five gentlemen that comprise Taken Under may also dabble at playing country as a side-gig for all I know. Silence Your Enemies is the band's debut effort and is six songs (one intro and five actual songs) … Read more

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