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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)

The Draft

In a Million Pieces
Epitaph (2006)

What happens when you are part of an established, kind of well-known (definitely well-known in all manner of independent music circles) band and one of your fellow members decides to take a break? Well, in this case, you start a "new" band and immediately begin writing an album. This is exactly what The Draft is…Hot Water Music minus Chuck Ragan plus a replacement guitarist (Todd Rockhill, member of several Gainseville, Florida bands). So, when Hot Water Music officially announced its "permanent" demise The Draft was already out touring and recording their first album for Epitaph. The result is In a Million Pieces. There are indeed many similarities between the songs that The Draft has created and those that they did while in Hot Water Music, but there are also a number of differences. Most of the songs are a bit slower in tempo. There is different instrumentation such as keyboards, horns, and such that are used over the course of the album. The musical arrangements are subtly different in places with syncopated beats and even some reggae flavor. The background vocals are also a bit new (as one would expect with a new guitarist and back-up singer). Regardless of these … Read more

Russian Circles

Enter
Flameshovel (2006)

Hearing a new band for the very first time can be an awesome experience - it can also be horrible, … Read more

Capital

Signal Corps
Iron Pier (2006)

Finally, Tom Corrigan has come back to his roots and fronts Long Island hardcore unit, Capital. I'm sure the name … Read more

Thom Yorke

The Eraser
XL Recordings (2006)

I'm pretty sure Thom Yorke needs no introduction. As part of "that" band Radiohead he has helped make some the … Read more

Baby Teeth

For The Heathers
Lujo (2006)

Baby Teeth made For The Heathers on a dare, with each of the three members of the band working in … Read more

From a Second Story Window

Delenda
Metal Blade (2006)

Though never officially diagnosed, I am almost certain that I suffer from some form of Attention Deficit Disorder. Apparently, only … Read more

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One from the archives

Elway

Leavetaking
Red Scare Industries (2013)

Listening to Elway’s debut Delusions there was a lot of promise. It’s a solid record, nice songwriting, big hooks and memorable choruses. It’s modern Midwestern punk but with a greater ear toward emotion and even a bit of drama, more Lawrence Arms in tone than, say, Banner Pilot. Where Delusions hit a wall was in just how similar it could get to Larry Arms songs, particularly those led by Chris McCaughan.Well, as I accurately predicted (gratuitous horn tooting here), the band is taking that influence but growing in their own direction on their second full-length,Leavetaking. The songs are stretching out and the guitars are pulling some emo and post-hardcore influence to flesh them out and stretch the musical tone to match the lyricism. That last sentence stinks of a band … Read more

More album reviews

Bury Your Dead

Beauty and the Breakdown
Victory (2006)

Somehow I don't think it's a coincidence that this album is called Beauty and the Breakdown as the album is basically one long breakdown. Just when you thought moshcore couldn't get any more boring, Bury Your Dead thought it was necessary to deliver another all-too-predictable dose of rehashed Hatebreed-esque anthems. This album is basically a continuation of Cover Your Tracks, … Read more

Ignite

Our Darkest Days
Abacus (2006)

It's been six years since Ignite's last full-length, A Place Called Home, so one might expect their return to be a bit rocky, it having been so long. It turns out that it's anything but rocky. Our Darkest Days is quite possibly Ignite's best work to date, and depending on your tastes, you may or may not agree. Vocalist Zoli … Read more

Two Gallants

What the Toll Tells
Saddle Creek (2006)

One of my greatest passions in life is stories. I love stories. I love to be told stories, I love to tell stories, I love to interpret, dwell on, ponder, elaborate upon, discuss, and enjoy stories. I love books because they tell amazing stories. I love movies because they tell a great story, even beneath some of the cheese and … Read more

Les Savy Fav

3/5 (Reissue)
French Kiss (2006)

The shakedown: In 1997, a five-piece post-punk rock outfit based out of Brooklyn released ten songs on an album titled 3/5. The album title is more relevant to the band today then it was when they first released it. Back then the band had five out of five of the original line-up. Today, only three out of the five members … Read more

Man Man

Six Demon Bag
Ace Fu (2006)

Man Man is the most original band out right now. There, I said it, and I stand by it. No other band today plays the brand of music Man Man plays. I mulled the question around in my head a lot about the possible genre Man Man might fall under, and I was forced to level it down to gypsy … Read more

Razorlight

Razorlight
Vertigo (2006)

In a recent poll conducted by NME magazine and the book of British Hit Singles and Albums, Oasis's Definitely Maybe was voted the greatest album of all time, fending off such paltry efforts as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Revolver. According to Q magazine, the imaginatively titled Razorlight is the best guitar album since Definitely Maybe. Following this … Read more

Big City Rock

Big City Rock
Atlantic (2006)

As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy. Honestly, if Big City Rock continues to produce albums like their self-titled debut, they better stick to their day jobs. Lead vocalist Nate Bott must have been a Bon Jovi fan because he sounds like his reincarnate, adding a dramatic "uh" to the end of every line with a low, raspy … Read more

Lamella

Love Versus Dirt
Contract Killers (2006)

I'll openly admit to the fact that the vast majority of my music preferences fall to the heavy side of the medium. However, there are times in my life when I just want to get away from all of that and chill out to something that is non-threatening and created for relaxing. Love Versus Dirt, the first full-length from the … Read more

The Dresden Dolls

Yes, Virginia
Roadrunner (2006)

Disclaimer: Any use of the term "gay" in the following review is, in this context a derogatory term to denote a substandard listening experience and in no way reflects the author's views on homosexuality. The author will not go on record as stating that some of his best friends are gay, as he has, in fact no friends, gay or … Read more

Sidetracked

Just a Front
16Oh (2006)

When Tacoma, Washington mixed early Internal Affairs with a handful of power violence and took out the repetition, Sidetracked was birthed. The Northwest has been known recently for their exceptional melodic hardcore - Sinking Ships, Shook Ones, etc. - but Sidetracked is a quick reminder of what a dose of pissed off infested kids with instruments and amps can do. … Read more

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

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