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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)

Into the Moat

Means By Which the Ends Are Justified
Lovelost (2003)

After hearing The Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity, I had no idea that this style of weird timing technical metal influenced chaos could become a trend, mostly due to the fact that creating this music requires a lot of talent. It took a few years, but to my surprise, this sound has begun to rise from a few bands, such as The End, The Sawtooth Grin, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Ion Dissonance, The Human Timebomb, and tons more I've never heard of. I'm not saying these bands are copying DEP, but there is definitely an influence that can be heard in the music. What's interesting is how all of these bands are using these elements but adding in other influences so that their final products don't end up sounding very alike. Into The Moat is no exception to this new wave of musical mayhem. Not once is there a part that is repeated on this twenty minute six song EP. It's hard to comprehend how they can remember so many parts with such weird timings, and play them together so tightly, while still being under the legal drinking age. The guitars move so fast sometimes it reminds me … Read more

Stylex

Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)

I'm not really sure why Stylex are as unknown as they are. I mean, they do this neo-new-wave (or whatever … Read more

Stylex

Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)

Stylex is going through an identity crisis. After their EP False Start, I was ready for more of the same, … Read more

As I Lay Dying

Frail Words Collapse
Metal Blade (2003)

Combining the hardness of nu metal and the catchiness of pop punk, metalcore has been created. Similar to the way … Read more

Elvis Costello

North
Deutsche Grammophon (2003)

By now, if you haven't heard or at least heard of Elvis Costello, something is terribly, terribly wrong with you. … Read more

Please Inform the Captain, This Is A Hijack

Please Inform the Captain This Is A Hijack
Empire (2003)

Hardcore is a genre that is known to be stifled in it's own mediocrity. Creativity is frowned upon, in fact, … Read more

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One from the archives

Blitzen Trapper

Wild Mountain Nation
LidKerCow Ltd. (2007)

When I'm on a road trip, I get this undeniable urge to listen to All-American music. We're talking CCR and we're talking Skynyrd and Tom Petty, and we're talking Violent Femmes and Pavement and Modest Mouse. Something about that western scenery. Just like you can hear the British in an Ozzy or Kinks' record, you can hear the American in everything these bands put out. They exhibit varying levels of weirdness (basically they got weirder as time progressed), but they share a certain kind of melody writing, a certain kind of fuck-off fun. The All-American Club isn't very exclusive - that's part of its charm - but we can tell who's faking it, and the fakers are most definitely out. I want to extend a conditional invitation to Blitzen Trapper. … Read more

More album reviews

Grandaddy

Sumday
V2 (2003)

Once again, Grandaddy travel down the familiar road of attaching a human face on technology for the sole purpose of denouncing it. In a shockingly ironic way, Sumday's pleasant, mid-tempo/mid-range vocal melodies and soothing rhythms make it ideal music for programming. With lines like "I'm wondering if I'll ever know/if I'll be better than I was before/when I surface through … Read more

Q and Not U

X-Polynation/Book of Flags
Dischord (2003)

Sometimes I find myself shaking my ass, clapping my hands, and just plain out getting down. I can say that, for 80% of these moments, Q and Not U is the soundtrack to such ass shaking. Sure Different Damage didn't provide nearly as many ass shaking moments but when it provided one, it far surpassed any of them on No … Read more

The Appleseed Cast

Two Conversations
Tiger Style (2003)

Not looking to rest on their laurels of having three of my favorite CD's ever(LLO 1 & 2, Mare Vitalis), The Appleseed Cast defected to Tiger Style records for their newest effort, Two Conversations. The concept of Two Conversations is one of broken hearts and rekindled love. The first five songs of the record are about a relationship that is … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Suicide Medicine
Second Nature (2003)

Zed recently turned me onto this guy, and I've become fairly obsessed with his work ever since. The formula is simple, and been used a million times before - a man, his voice and an acoustic guitar. I'm not going to claim to be an afficienado of the whole singer/songwriter thing, but I know what I like, and I like … Read more

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

First of all, I'm going to apologize for only reviewing records that I like a lot. With that being Said, American Nightmare/GUTG has done it again. I've been a fan of American Nightmare since their first 7" came out, and I've loved all of their subsequent releases. This is is no exception to the trend. We're Down Til We're Underground … Read more

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

You might be asking yourself, "who the Hell is Give Up the Ghost?" If you are, you missed out on the hardcore scene's answer to the OJ trial, in which some shitty band from Nantucket sued hardcore favorites American Nightmare over the copyright of that band name. AN had no choice but to change their name to Give Up the … Read more

The Jealous Sound

Kill Them With Kindness
Better Looking (2003)

The Jealous Sound has written one of the most infectiously catchy records I've heard in years. Poppy hooks and lyrical substance are quite a rare combination these days. The Jealous Sound plays a style of music that, while staying true to the early/mid 90's emo-rock sound, also offers a fresh take on a style of music perfected by bands like … Read more

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead
Lookout! (2003)

Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are sweeping the nation's rock and roll scene. People first began to take real notice of Mr. Leo with the release of his second LP, The Tyranny of Distance, however a few may remember Leo from his days with Citizens Arrest and Chisel. With a growing fanbase and critical acclaim to fuel their creative DeLorean, … Read more

Denali

The Instinct
Jade Tree (2003)

So many bands have release their first albums to nothing but fanfare only to dissapoint with their sophmore release. I was certain Denali would not fit that mold and release another gem. Unfortunately, they proved me wrong. First things first, this is not a bad record by any means. It's just incredibly average. The record starts off very solid. Opener, … Read more

Outkast

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
La Face (2003)

Everybody likes Outkast. How can you not? Aside from some kind of genetic predisposition to bad taste, there really isn't an excuse. Carefully blending innovation with standard hip hop elements and topping it off with an amazing pop-sense, the dynamic duo of hip hop have been able to please all kinds of people, regardless of their typical musical taste. From … Read more

Hawnay Troof

Get Up! Resolution: Love
Retard Disco (2003)

Who is the Hawnay Troof, you may ask? The Hawnay Troof is a hip-hop project in the vein of early Beastie Boys headed up by 18-year-old Vice Cooler (aka Chris Touchton of XBXRX, K.I.T). The project has many, many contributors, including 900 Dixxx (Bratmobile), Baby Donut (Bratmobile), Lil Jenny (Erase Errata), and Soft Pink Truth, as well as countless others … Read more

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Nothing is more excellent than when a fairly unknown semi decent band out of nowhere transitions into a butterfly etched in silk and razor wire. What does this all mean? Let's jump back a few years, more in particular, when Circle Takes The Square released their original album, which strangely happened to be a demo. The concept of releasing a … Read more

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Picture, if you will, a buffet comprised of the most delectable cuisines imaginable, prepared by a skilled staff of gourmet chefs. Now envision an angry mob running toward the buffet, toppling over all the trays, and gobbling every morsel of food with unreasonable haste. Not stopping to chew or swallow, the members of said mob are simply trying to jam … Read more

The Spotlight Syndicate

Forget the Static Past
Substandard (2003)

So I get this girl up in my room and we start licking each other's tongues, and before you know it, our clothes start to come off. But then all of a sudden, bam! I realize I need to put on some good love making music, or I ain't gonna get no gerjiner tonight. I start flipping through possible albums … Read more

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