Recent reviews

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)

Wolf Eyes

Burned Mind
Sub Pop (2004)

Listening to Wolf Eyes is not what I'd call a traditionally pleasurable experience. Unless you consider having your face ravaged by a two-by-four while masturbating to an execution an enjoyable experience or, to a lesser extent, tonguing a blister you got from drinking hot soup, I'd advise you to skip over this review and check out what Zed has to say about the new Hot Cross or whatever. Though this may be Wolf Eyes' first major release (for Sub Pop no less!), the group is no spring chicken; with over 50 tape, CD-R, vinyl, split, and compilation appearances to their credit, the group has been taking their brutal amalgam of pure sadism and noise to audiences around the country for nearly a decade now, even managing to finagle opening slots on this year's ill-fated Lollapalooza excursion, as well as Sonic Youth's recent summer tour (during which leader John Olsen split his skull open with a giant medieval mace). The move to Sub Pop definitely seems to have tempered Wolf Eyes' attack just a tad, as the defiantly aggressive recordings of previous releases "Dread and "Dead Hills" have all but been replaced with songs of a much more insidious and, dare … Read more

Old Man Gloom

Christmas
Tortuga Recordings (2004)

After an extensive delay, the rabid and hopeful fans sporting various Hydrahead affiliated t-shirts can finally rest. Old Man Gloom's … Read more

Earlimart

Treble & Tremble
Palm Pictures (2004)

What does coping with the death of Elliott Smith sound like? It sounds poignant and pretty; in essence, it sounds … Read more

Multiple Authors

Interpol

Antics
Matador (2004)

Turn on the Bright Lights is a great debut album. The guitars are compelling when paired with Paul Banks's jarring … Read more

Multiple Authors

Interpol

Antics
Matador (2004)

Well Scene Point Blank-ers, I've got some bad news: there will be nothing shocking in this review. The reason for … Read more

Architecture in Helsinki

Fingers Crossed
Bar/None (2004)

Architecture in Helsinki are not your everyday indie-pop group. Sure, they are compared to Belle and Sebastian a lot, but … Read more

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One from the archives

Mock Orange

Disguised As Ghosts
Wednesday (2011)

Mock Orange took me completely by surprise. They only just came to my attention despite having been a band for nearly 2 decades. Although, they didn’t begin to gain some exposure until their third album, Nines and Sixes, in 1998. It’s 2011 now, and they still seem to be Indie’s little secret after the Spring release of Disguised As Ghosts.The album opens with the mid-tempo number, “Grow Your Soul Away.” Although it lacks in being a very captivating opener—it’s a good set-up for the rest of Disguised as Ghosts. “Silent Motion” follows and keeps the same pace. The track almost feels like a “part 2” to its predecessor. Both songs bear the same formula and rhythm. Mock Orange change things up on the third song entitled, ”My Car.” A twangy … Read more

More album reviews

Isis

Oceanic Remixes Volume III
Robotic Empire (2004)

While this may seem repetitive to say, before you listen to Volume III, it would be in your best interest to purchase the band's last full-length, Oceanic, before you listen to these remixes. After absorbing the full-length, these reworkings of tracks will make much more sense. Side A starts off with Mike Patton's rendition of the track "Maritime." Patton always … Read more

The Thrills

Let's Bottle Bohemia
Virgin (2004)

Foreign territories naturally exude mystery and romance. Dubliners the Thrills found California so intriguing that they wrote their whole debut, So Much for the City, about it. Their blatant references in song titles, from "Big Sur," "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)," to "Hollywood Kids," and their Beach Boys-influenced pop made them the best California band that wasn't from California … Read more

These Days

Death Sentence
Run for Cover (2004)

Before we begin I'd like to officially admit that I have a problem. I have an obsession with the Nor Cal hardcore scene. So if this review seems a little biased, it really isn't my fault. Especially since the Bay Area and surrounding areas have the most promising scene in hardcore. The latest rising star to come out of the … Read more

Verse

Rebuild
Rivalry (2004)

As someone who always thought What Feeds the Fire was just "okay," I was hesitant to believe all the hype surrounding Verse. However, once I actually gave them a fair chance and listened to them myself, I found what all the commotion was about. Each time I listened to their four-song demo I heard something new that I liked about … Read more

The Delays

Faded Seaside Glamour
Sanctuary (2004)

Nothing really sets the Delays apart from other mediocre Brit pop rock bands. They are all trapped in limbo between the achievements of Radiohead and Oasis and the sewage of bands like__________and__________(I can't remember any Brit bands that I thought were absolutely horrendous). No matter how ordinary the band may be, they achieve the same lush and atmospheric sound; many … Read more

Multiple Authors

Converge

You Fail Me
Epitaph (2004)

Dear Converge, After giving You Fail Me a listen, the only thing I can even begin to contemplate is: "What the fuck happened here?" I'm truly sorry to say that aside from calculating the distance from where I'm sitting to the Cosi two blocks away (I have a coupon for a free sandwich), this is the only thought that's running … Read more

Multiple Authors

Converge

You Fail Me
Epitaph (2004)

"Is You Fail Me better than Jane Doe?" Don't lie, that's what you're wondering and hoping this review will answer. So I'll do you a favor and answer your question from the get go: 25% yes and 75% no. You Fail Me brings forth twelve great tracks that work on their own but doesn't have the same cohesiveness of Jane … Read more

The Libertines

The Libertines
Sanctuary (2004)

Pete Doherty is so rock n' roll. Every other day the kid is in rehab, and on the other days he's escaping from it. Just look at the cover of this CD; Doherty's fellow band mate looks like he is trying to help him from passing out from a drug overdose. On special occasions, Doherty steals from his band mates' … Read more

Mare

Mare
Hydra Head (2004)

Maybe I am blinded by my love for Hydrahead Records, but it seems to me that as of late the label has been churning out spectacular album after spectacular album at a rapid rate. Whether it's the latest release from regular mainstay Harkonen or the debut release from the young phenoms of Mare, Hydrahead definitely has a knack for finding … Read more

Multiple Authors

Green Day

American Idiot
Warner Bros. (2004)

If you know anything about Green Day, it's no big secret that they're Who fans (see: Sweet Children EP - Track 4 - "My Generation"). On top of that, you should also know that they've been extremely creative lately (see: Warning). Now, put those two together, and you have Green Day's seventh full length release, American Idiot. Not only does … Read more

Multiple Authors

Green Day

American Idiot
Warner Bros. (2004)

Like too many of their musical peers, Green Day, the longtime bay area punk/pop heroes, have thrown down their challenge to the American government with their bluntly titled seventh album. Upon learning the name of this record, I have to admit that I felt a little concerned that everyone's favourite pop-punkers had decided to become 'political' - didn't they learn … Read more

Further Seems Forever

Hide Nothing
Tooth & Nail (2004)

With the release of their third album, Further Seems Forever presents us with...you guessed it, another lead singer. The evolution goes as follows: Chris Carraba, Jason Gleason, and now John Bunch (formerly of Sense Field). Overall, this is a pretty impressive roster but unfortunately for fans, it's difficult to remain faithful to the band when each album has a completely … Read more

Björk

Medúlla
Elektra (2004)

Pop music usually isn't something that offers much variety in terms of groundbreaking artistic expression, innovation, and, when it all comes down to it, quality. In the MTV generation of plastic creativity, few dare to venture into the realm of experimentation for fear of losing that ever-so-valuable celebrity clothing line, and dropping off the Top 40 charts. For every Björk, … Read more

Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez

A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1
GSL (2004)

Fans of the bespectacled Omar of At The Drive-In/Mars Volta fame will already have an idea of how this record will sound thanks to Rodriguez-Lopez's creative and original guitar work in both bands. More notably in The Mars Volta (where Rodriguez wrote most of the songs) his passion for synths, drum machines, strange vocals and heavily effect-laden guitars was documented … Read more

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