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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)

New York Dolls

One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This
Roadrunner (2006)

Okay, let's run down the list, shall we? Billy Murcia (1951 - November 6, 1972) Johnny Thunders (July 16, 1952 - April 23, 1991) Jerry Nolan (May 7, 1946 - January 14, 1992) Arthur "Killer" Kane (February 3, 1949 - July 13, 2004) For you young'uns out there bear in mind - those dates signify deaths, not roster changes. For those keeping score at home, two members have yet to shuffle off this mortal coil. That leaves David Johansen on vocals and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain to carry on the legacy of the New York Dolls. To survive drugs, alcohol, STD's, Malcolm McLaren and Buster Poindexter is a feat-and-a-half, let alone deciding to reform with musicians who, lets face it - no one gives a shit about and release a new album 32 years after the last one. It takes balls the size of my ass (trust me, that's big) to do something like this. And the big question that's on everyone's mind is this: did they pull it off? The short answer is, believe it or not, yes. The spirit of the Dolls is very much alive on this release and I think even the most jaded scum-punk scenester would … Read more

Learn

Life and...
Malfunction (2006)

If we at Scene Point Blank believed in short reviews I could easily wrap this up by saying, "More sweet … Read more

Death is Not Glamorous

Death is Not Glamorous / Undercurrents
State of Mind / Dead & Gone (2006)

I know very little about the country of Norway. Sure, I could hit up Google or Wikipedia and shoot off … Read more

Guns Up!

Outlive
1917 (2006)

Sure Madball is still kicking, but let's face it, they have already been around the block and back several times … Read more

Cameran

A Caesarean
Innocent Words (2006)

Apparently best described as "encapsulating the sonic blend of Jack Kerouac's contagious zest for life and Yves Klein's wild and … Read more

The Vows

The Vows
Indecision (2006)

The Vows is the latest hardcore "super-group" to include Rob Moran of Unbroken. After his departure from the impressive Some … Read more

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One from the archives

Arctic Monkeys

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Domino (2006)

In years to come, when the inevitable "I <3 2004" rockumenterary hits television with its small army of washed up never-were celebrities in tow, I can say "I lived through that". I was there putting copies of Franz Ferdinand on the shelves on release day. I danced unabashedly to that catchy Killers single. I shook my fist at many a U2 ipod commercial. More than anything though, I remember the dark cloud that descended over my little record shop in August; The Libertines. What little taste remained in the national consciousness literally packed up and fucked off the day their second album came out, and here I am again, little under sixteen months later and the same thing has happened again with pretty much the exact same album from a … Read more

More album reviews

Daughters

Hell Songs
Hydra Head (2006)

Man, The Jesus Lizard really left their mark. And as funny as it seems for such a quaint little band from Chicago, to this very day they're still firmly imprinted and can be spotted ever so clearly within modern music all across the board. Maybe its just that David Yow & Co.'s expansive sound was such a mishmash of punk, … Read more

Heideroosjes

Royal to the Bone
I Scream (2006)

If the name didn't clue you in, Heideroosjes ("the Meadow Flowers") are one of those oft-mentioned European punk bands; they're the kind who sell thousands of records but you've never heard of them. The sticker on the front of the CD case says, "Over 200,000 units sold in Europe," as an apparent selling point, followed by "For fans of Anti-Flag, … Read more

Black Hell

Deformers of the Universe
Hater of God (2006)

I'm from Arizona, so I'm not jumping at the chance to describe Black Hell as "crawling out of the sandblasted wastes" or any such thing; it's not as exotic for me. But they do in fact come from my beautiful and notoriously dry home state, hitting hard with their debut Deformers of the Universe on the always-reliable label Hater of … Read more

The Pipettes

We are The Pipettes
Memphis Industries (2006)

Sometimes the best way to create something new and fresh is to look to the past and try to bring it back from the dead. It seems that almost all music is in some way looking 20 years earlier for it's style and sound. The Pipettes however are looking even further back for their inspiration; back to when Phil Spector … Read more

Regret

Misery Brigade
Organized Crime (2006)

Organized Crime Records is branching out these days with the release from a band that isn't from the Chicago metropolitan area. Jokes! Jokes! I'm aware the label has released bands from outside of Chicago. This isn't a knock at the label; they just love their hometown bands. But you can't really blame them. I'm sure working face-to-face with bands and … Read more

The Format

Dog Problems
The Vanity Label (2006)

In all honesty, I chose to review The Format's Dog Problems simply to avoid reviewing a hardcore album, which is often difficult to complete cliché-free, and I would have just said each song makes me want to head-butt the steering wheel of my car. I had little to no interest in this band, or any expectations for this album to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cursive

Happy Hollow
Saddle Creek (2006)

Cursive is one of my favorite bands. I was highly anticipating the release of their sixth LP, Happy Hollow. It had been over a year since their fifth release, The Difference Between Houses and Homes, a collection of b-sides, and over three years since the highly acclaimed The Ugly Organ. With all this time, I was sure Cursive would release … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cursive

Happy Hollow
Saddle Creek (2006)

After completing their tour in support of the 2003 release The Ugly Organ, Cursive went on what many fans feared to be an indefinite hiatus. During the break lead vocalist Tim Kasher and guitarist Ted Stevens took time to focus on their other projects, releasing The Good Life's Album of the Year and Mayday's Bushido Karaoke, well the rest of … Read more

Outkast

Idlewild
LaFace (2006)

Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton have reached an interesting point in their careers. After a handful of exceptional albums, Outkast have finally hit their slump. Since their music is essentially created by two people, it is easy to look at their history as a relationship. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was their awkward but promising first date. ATLiens marked the moment they realized that … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Turn It Around

These Days
This Blessing, This Curse (2006)

It's been a while since Sacramento churned out a new band worth hearing, but Turn it Around is that band. Their four-song 7" is chuck-full of fast-paced hardcore with a dash of melody. "Live it Up" kicks things off in a sound that is reminiscent of Comeback Kid, which is ironic given the band's name in correlation to Comeback Kid's … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Triple Twins/A Roman Holiday

Split
Rorschach (2006)

The A-Side of this split features indie rock outfit A Roman Holiday. Their first contribution to this split is "Octopus." The song is a fun and energetic indie rock tune that reminded me quite a bit of Cursive. "Apocolypse Part II," on the other hand takes to a more laid back approach. The first 30 seconds kind of turned me … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Steel Trap

Cold.Dead.Broke.
This Blessing, This Curse (2006)

Steel Trap is the latest export from the highly talented Bay Area scene. This five-piece group serves up volatile hardcore that no doubt gets the dance floor moving. The 7" kicks off with your typical intro track of building guitars and a sing-along, this one is "T-S-M!" - not to sure on the meaning of that though, must be an … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Shipwreck

Shipwreck
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

This 7" has launched Shipwreck to the forefront of the hardcore scene, and with their recent signing to Deathwish, further fuel has been added to the flames. Side A opens with a little acoustic number akin to the theme from Desperado before things really kick off. "Au Pach" draws heavily on the mid-90's scene that first combined elements of metal … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Our Times

Our Times
Headcount (2006)

Buffalo has a rich history as far as hardcore goes. In recent years things have been a bit stagnant, but bands like Dead Hearts and Our Times are looking to change that. Our Times are a straightedge band that play ultra-fast hardcore punk. Musically, I could see them fitting in with the Youngblood Records catalog. They've got that youth-crew revival … Read more

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