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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)

Noxagt

The Iron Point
Load (2004)

There's this pretty great interview in the most recent issue of Chunklet magazine which talks to Pen Rollings of Honor Roll, more recently of Loincloth fame. In the article, he talks about how all those European metal bands that burn churches down and totally front like they're hard are, in fact, pussies who try too hard. As a result, he and his band Loincloth released a lyric-less album with song titles like "Church Burnings." They did it as a joke but it was very effective. Where I'm going with this, in an admittedly round about way, is to say that the Norwegian group Noxagt is similar in this regard on their sophomore full-length, The Iron Point. While still maintaining the sheer heaviness of European metal, they don't fall victim to its own self parody. As a result of being released on Load Records, the band will inevitably draw comparisons to their lablemates Lightning Bolt. This comparison has only slight merit in that both bands are noisy, but that's about it. Noxagt veers off of Lightning Bolt's road of looser and spazzier rock into rather well defined and tight compositions. On the opening track, "Naked in France," Noxagt lets the listener … Read more

Martyr A.D.

On Earth as it is in Hell
Victory (2004)

Minneapolis' most crushing metalcore band are finally back with a new album and a new line up. After a few … Read more

Harkonen

Dancing
Initial (2004)

When I first undertook the task of writing the review for Dancing, I wanted to make sure I did the … Read more

CocoRosie

La Maison de Mon Reve
Touch & Go (2004)

I'm always in a mood. It's not always a bad mood, although it may be three-quarters of the time, but … Read more

Chromatics

Plaster Hounds
GSL (2004)

There I was. Stranded at an abandoned gas station just north of Mexico and just south of reality. The only … Read more

Statistics

Leave Your Name
Jade Tree (2004)

Denver Dalley is all over the place. After Desaparecidos went on hiatus, Dalley started to flesh out his own songs … Read more

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One from the archives

Lungs

Lungs
Esucha!/Self Inflicted (2009)

Being a firm believer that one's environment can affect one's mood and demeanor and then subsequently affect the music that one creates, it is always interesting to hear music from bands, groups, and people from areas that are not considered to be musical hotbeds. Isolation can cause some interesting music. Lungs hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and although consideration exists for that city to be a decent size, it is still fairly isolated from either of the two coasts. Lungs is the group's first record, and even though there are only three songs, this EP presents a band that has their own ambitions. The first few minutes of listening to this EP from Lungs has me scratching my head as the band shifts sounds and styles during what comes across as … Read more

More album reviews

Decahedron

Disconnection Imminent
Lovitt (2004)

On Decahedron's debut full-length, the Lovitt Records darlings set out to prove that the D.C. sound is alive and well in 2004. Characterized by edgy, angular sonics and accompanied by lyrical messages of a distinct political and social slant, Decahedron is very much akin to the D.C. sound that broke onto the national scene in the late 80's with bands … Read more

With Honor

Heart Means Everything
Stillborn (2004)

You know those stickers that they put on the front of CD's that say "For Fans Of.." or "Featuring the Hit Single..."? Well, I have decided to make my own sticker for With Honor's debut full-length. However, instead of a misleading recommendation my sticker will read: "The feel good record of the year." Concise, but informative, the reasoning behind this … Read more

Iron and Wine

Our Endless Numbered Days
Sub Pop (2004)

Recently, I've made a pact with myself to never again purchase an album with an oxy-moronic title. This is due solely to the fact that usually the majority of emphasis can be placed on the word moronic. But, like any rule there exists a few exceptions, and surprisingly this album is one of them. Rather than sending my life into … Read more

Fall Out Boy

Take This to Your Grave
Fueled By Ramen (2003)

Breathing new life into an otherwise stale genre is a difficult task to undertake, but on Fall Out Boy's first proper full length, Take This to Your Grave, they have done just that. For the past few years, pop-punk, while constantly growing in popularity, has been steadily declining in numbers of bands willing to think and play outside the seemingly … Read more

Les Savy Fav

Inches
French Kiss (2004)

Dear Tim Harrington, I don't know if you remember, but when you played at the Great American Music Hall the night before Thanksgiving last year, there was a tall guy with glasses and a moustache. Well, specifically that tall guy with glasses was me. Do you remember giving me a high five after you touched your ass? I certainly do, … Read more

Clutch

Blast Tyrant
DRT (2004)

Back on Jam Room Clutch asked the world, "Who wants to rock?" And on the bands sixth full-length, Blast Tyrant, they respond to that question with the ironic answer of themselves. After flirting with major labels with their past few releases, Clutch have regrouped, signed with an indie label, and recorded an album filled with rock-n-roll loud enough to deafen … Read more

Fennesz

Venice
Touch (2004)

My inner monologue: "Okay, this is your first review for the site. I should probably sound cool so I can get everybody's attention. Maybe I should start off by saying something really offensive. Yeah, let's do that. That always works. Hey, but remember that time you wrote that really offensive article on why you think the Asian diet consists purely … Read more

Snow Patrol

Final Straw
A&M (2004)

They are from Scotland. They have two other releases titled Songs for Polar Bears, and When it's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up. They have a deceiving song called "Chocolate" that is more about pining for a lost relationship than a Hershey bar (unless the songwriter has a fetish with all things made of cocoa). That was all … Read more

The Kiss of Death

The Kiss of Death
Tribunal (2004)

It wasn't that long ago that I was greeted with the news that hardcore act Turmoil had decided to call it quits. After a tumultuous grieving period, I was finally able to take The Process Of... out of my CD player and reluctantly move on. Then one day out of the blew I heard a rumor of band featuring members … Read more

Whiskey & Co.

Whiskey & Co.
No Idea (2003)

Do you enjoy the taste of cheap beer? Do you pronounce the words creek as "crick" and hollow as "holler"? Have you ever gone "cow-tipping"? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I've got a record for you! The self-titled debut of Gainesville, Florida's Whiskey & Co. is 9 punk-tinged country songs about booze and pills, lost … Read more

Of Montreal

Satanic Panic in the Attic
Polyvinyl (2004)

One of the most prominent acts to emerge from the Elephant 6 collective, Of Montreal originated from Athens, Georgia, and is fronted by vocalist and guitarist Kevin Barnes and features bassist Nina Barnes, guitarist/synthesizer Jason NeSmith, guitarist Bryan Poole, keyboardist Dottie Alexander and drummer James Huggins. Since their conception in 1997, the group has released several albums prior to the … Read more

South

With the Tides
Kinetic (2003)

If you are not familiar with the English trio known as South yet, it is my strong opinion that you do so, and quickly. My first exposure to these guys came in the form of the song "Here on in" off of their 2nd record From Here on In. Stylistically the song was simply a cool acoustic song with great … Read more

Scraps And Heart Attacks

Still Sick
Triple Crown (2004)

These guys were incredibly hyped a little over a year ago when they had their demo out. However, then they were known as The Heist and their 7" was about to come out on Dead By 23 Records. Then they had to change their name, their record was delayed, and everything seemed to sort of die down for them. When … Read more

One Dead Three Wounded

Paint The Town
Lovelost (2004)

Living in California definitely has its perks. There's the near perfect weather, bodacious waves to hang ten upon, killer earthquakes that hella shred, beautiful ladies with even more beautiful brains (JK ON THAT!), and tons of other stereotypes that are all 100% true. But don't get me wrong, chill ass brah, this isn't perfect-land. As evidence of the lack of … Read more

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