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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

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

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