Hi Red Center hail from Brooklyn, New York and Architectural Failures is their debut record, initially recorded in 2004 but finding a home the following year at Pangaea Recordings, home of Capillary Action. The band mixes a wide variety of influences to creature the fairly unique offering which is presently spinning around in my stereo. Opener "Red/Green" is an Apple O-esque Deerhoof style rocker, complete with vocal harmonies and synths. It's a fairly infectious little number. "Captain Waltz" continues on from this with a more cute pop style to it, but still retaining that off kilter vibe that can really only be described by making another Deerhoof comparison. While I'm sure the band is probably sick of it by now, San Francisco's finest aren't exactly a bad band to be continually compared too. Hell, they've even supported them in the past. "Evildoer" has an excellent claustrophobic horn approach to it; part James Chance, part Zu. I'm a sucker for the brass though. The record does fall down a bit on some songs: "Hollow Buttons" with it's constant hum feels as though the band are treading water, while "Alarm will Sound" doesn't really go anywhere in particular and is marred by … Read more
Like some ever-present albatross around the neck of the rock scene, the Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to linger, 23 … Read more
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Three years since their infectious first effort, Gorilla Manor, LA's Local Natives return in folk-frenzied fashion. The quartet spawned attention and praise for the self-funded debut, going on to build the studio in which the band's latest, Hummingbird, was recorded. Subsequently, their sound is fuller and refined, ripening these eleven tracks.Youth was a prominent quality of Gorilla Manor - seething and wrought with instinctive tribal energy, it succeeded in artful, unique craftsmanship. Hummingbird, however, is more immediate, lacking the impulsive nature and edginess of its former. It's the sounds of a band maturing and further developing their identity. "Breakers", the first single revealed in October, was an ostentatious offering; flashy high bar chords, hand claps and the wooing harmonies these guys do so damn well harbored high hopes. But it's … Read more
Okay, Path of Resistance was a more hardcore project of Earth Crisis and their friends that convened the first time while certain members of Earth Crisis allowed injuries brought on by a tour accident to heal. Their last album, Who Daresââ¬Â¦Wins came out almost ten years ago. It was panned by many hardcore purists, but for some was more loved … Read more
Everybody's so political these days. Protesting this, boycotting that. Hell, there are more hippie protest songs out now then there ever was in the 60's. Who cares if it's warranted - shaddap, Commie! Cross Examination harkens back to the good ol' days of drinking, moshing and puking, and not even knowing who the president is, let alone organizing marches over … Read more
While most publications seem to avoid reviewing independent releases, I actually enjoy covering bands that aren't joined to a label. It refreshing to hear from passionate artists - it says a lot about a band to not only take the time to release an album on their own, but also to send it off to be reviewed by the "elitist … Read more
It's been noted that the names of New Jersey's Saves the Day's records have been somewhat contradictory to the bands' career: Can't Slow Down, Through Being Cool, and Stay What You Are. The release of 2003's In Reverie was marked by a critical panning and a fan reaction that was far from, well, reverie. In some ways, it wasn't surprising … Read more
Gary Zon's blurb about the ethic behind Standard Issue reads something like, "a sarcastic take on the simplicity and emptiness of the current musical climate." What this means is, either it sounds exactly like what it says, or it means that Dismantled have disappeared into the chasm of banality that seems the staple of the current popular set of industrial … Read more
My parents dug Dick Cavett, or at least I think they did. My dad certainly dressed enough like him - the rayon slacks, horrible monster-size lapel shirts, and maybe they spoke in a similar way too. I know, too, that like Cavett, my dad snuck a joint or two, socially of course. Still, who can really remember much about the … Read more
It's about damn time. Avail is a much beloved punk band out of Richmond, Virginia known for their blue collar style and attitude. They are the punk rock everymen. I can vividly remember my first Avail experience, as most people that I know can. It was 1998 (yes, I was a little late on the band). They were touring with … Read more
It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm at present stuck at work flipping through a copy of the latest Alternative Press magazine. Good literature it isn't, an easy read between calls it is. This particular issue sitting in my lap contains a feature on the hundred bands that are going to be "taking over" in '06; i.e. rammed down my unwilling … Read more
The Eagles of Death Metal are back in action and are kicking all notions of a sophomore slump to the curb. Death by Sexy is thirteen tracks of sassed up garage rock that makes for the ideal Summer soundtrack. So pick up a copy of this album and plan a get-together, because if there is fun to be had, this … Read more
Have you ever heard a record for the first time and immediately received a feeling of comfort that you would normally get from an album you've been listening to for years? Every so often, you find an album that just "clicks" with you so well that you cannot deny it, and you know you will still be listening to it … Read more
Surrealistic imagery, lyrical lunacy, and musical fanaticism will always be the staples of Tool. Floating vocals amongst flares of guitars and some of the best drumming this side of Keith Moon's infamous demise. Tool albums all have the inescapable fact that they are Tool albums; they don't sound the same, but that they all sound like Tool. That Tool's brand … Read more
The truth needs to be said. The self-titled Jesu record was an almost masterpiece that topped many critics' and fans' top records lists last year (and was the #1 album of the year here at Scene Point Blank). So, Justin Broadrick (known for being the mastermind behind Godflesh and also for his part in early Napalm Death) and company have … Read more
When I started to write this review I wasn't really sure what direction this introduction was going to take. So I decided to let the album play on repeat and just sit back and in my chair and look outside at the rain. I closed my eyes and proceeded to relax, allowing the soft sound of the rain falling to … Read more
The Crown was a good band; Angel Blake, not so much. Guitarist Marko Tervonen's decision to record a solo album seemed like an interesting move at the time. Writing all the music and performing all the instruments offered him the chance to really show what he was made of. Unfortunately, what he's apparently made of is the same milquetoast mediocrity … Read more
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