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Think I Care

World Asylum
Bridge Nine (2006)

During the Cold War, the specter of Mutually Assured Destruction formed the backdrop against which many musical and literary statements were articulated, but in today's post-9/11 world there are a myriad of new concerns to take the place of the long-standing threat of nuclear annihilation (which still exists but is now usually placed comfortably out of view). Of all possible … Read more

Divider

At Twilight
Shock Value (2006)

A few days ago I found out that I had Bell's Palsy - the muscles that control the right side of my face are so weak I cannot smile with the right side of my mouth or close my right eye with ease. I will essentially be without the control of the right side of my face for weeks. The … Read more

From the Ground Up

Words Can't Explain
Round Two (2006)

Words Can't Explain may be the title of this compilation of From The Ground Up's 2004 demo and a handful of new songs recorded in 2005, but I'd be likely to say that words can explain, however. The band's one-sheet describes the sound of From the Ground Up as "mixing the vocals of Turning Point with the musical influences of … Read more

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Plagiarism
Independent (2006)

Some bands churn out albums like they have nothing better to do and some bands release an album every couple of years. The Dillinger Escape Plan is neither of these sorts of bands. They have an impressive tally of three albums in nine years. Yet in that same span of time the band have managed to release five EPs, including … Read more

Maximum Penalty

Demo '89 & East Side Story EP
I Scream (2006)

By the end of the 1980's New York City youth-crew was in its final days and tougher, fatter, metal-laced hardcore bands were ruling the Sunday Matinee shows at CBGB's in the Bowery. Somewhere in the thick of long hairs, skinheads, and horrible tattoos were East Side's Maximum Penalty. Maximum Penalty releases a demo and one EP and for some reason … Read more

Dashboard Confessional

Dusk and Summer
Vagrant (2006)

Being in high school when The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most came out, I played the role of the lovesick teenager who, although my heart was always in right place, constantly seemed to be alone. I, however, was just one of thousands of other kids playing the role which - most likely - would have been (so) … Read more

Ambulette

The Lottery
Astralwerks (2006)

When a band breaks up, it can be a good thing. The members who your ears felt a pull for will start new bands in new directions. Such is the case when Denali broke up, a band that started off jaw-dropping-good with Denali and then stagnated into something slightly better than generic with The Instinct that loomed into a large … Read more

Mind Eraser

Glacial Reign
Painkiller (2006)

I will put this simply. There are too many powerviolence bands. You can find more Myspace pages with Infest and No Comment under their influences than were ever records pressed from either band. I've realized this is a pretty egregious style of music (kind of like moshcore…which these kids call stupid and neandrathalic). So who out there is stopping the … Read more

Betrayed

Substance
Equal Vision (2006)

I just finished watching the trailer for the book-to-film documentary American Hardcore and it got me thinking. Anyone that claims to be a fan of hardcore/punk is bound by an unwritten law to have read that book, as well as Get in the Van. Many - mostly the older blokes - feel that those times documented in those books were … Read more

Empty

Open Aeon
Aphotic Audio (2006)

The alternative electronic world is a strange one. In a realm of, literally, limitless possibilities, beats and effects and bound only by human imagination, there is a clique of acts that all sound the same. These acts make electronic music in the same way that punk bands make punk music. There are, of course, a few exceptions to that rule … Read more

Multiple Authors

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

I love Sonic Youth. I've been a fan from the beginning. So it is with a heavy heart I say that their newest album Rather Ripped is neither Sonic, nor Youthful. "Sure", you cynical bastards say, "I've been feeling that way since Goo". But with each subsequent album, the band has found a way to tweak their sound just enough … Read more

Multiple Authors

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

Rather Ripped showcases a slight stylistic shift for Sonic Youth. Their trademarked noisy dirge rock has been subdued a bit to allow a bit of melody to accentuate the more subtle nature of their music. Quite possibly, this may be the most accessible the band has been since Goo and Dirty, which is not a bad thing. At more than … Read more

No Trigger

Canyoneer
Nitro (2006)

Melodic hardcore seems to be falling back into favor these days, which is a good thing in my opinion. And Massachusetts' No Trigger provides an excellent debut full-length that doesn't stray from the tried-and-true. Everything you'd expect from a melodic hardcore band is here: breakneck speeds, good ol' guitar solos, gang vocals, etc., and though it's not as fresh a … Read more

Terror

Always the Hard Way
Trustkill (2006)

Terror is one of the hardest bands ever. Not that being hard makes a band good, but it definitely adds a sense of credibility and relativity when listening to Scott Vogel's lyrics. In a scene, no, a world full of "pussy ass fronters" (Vogelism - 6/14/2005 - West Dundee, IL), it's nice to know there is a band that describes … Read more

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