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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)

Majority Rule

Emergency Numbers
Magic Bullet (2003)

Intensity and passion are two integral parts of music that can be very hard to convey in a recording. Live it can be a lot easier, for instance, you can just jump up and down a lot and rock your crotch towards the sun and/or moon, and then the people will go "wooooo." To obtain this reaction from the people from a CD alone is pretty hard, but thankfully Emergency Numbers is able to do this quite efficiently. I blame the bountiful dynamics and fierce straight forward hardcore parts. But even when Majority Rule is being straight forward, there is a lot going on. The juxtaposition of such abrasive/fast/hard parts spliced with such long played out instrumental breakdowns is really like none other. Although it can be compared to Oceanic by Isis, Majority Rule brings it without having a metal sound. It's hard to understand how they can have such a full sound whilst containing only three people, but I'm sure the effect pedals aid in this department. Frankly, most people will not be able to make it past the intense vocals to find the gem beneath. Where as one of the "singers" sounds like big bird shot in the … Read more

The Darkness

Permission To Land
Atlantic (2003)

The Darkness couldn't have arrived at a more bizarre time in mainstream rock music. With scores of pedantic nü-metallers, insipid … Read more

All Night Radio

Spirit Stereo Frequency
Sub Pop (2004)

Imagine driving down an endless highway in a thunderstorm while listening to your favorite AOR station. Suddenly lightning strikes the … Read more

Iron Maiden

Dance of Death
EMI (2003)

Iron Maiden has built one of the most reputable legacies of modern music. There is no doubting that. From such … Read more

Capture the Flag

Start From Scratch
Go Kart (2003)

Growing up in the Toledo, OH area, I have seen Capture the Flag mature throughout the years. Starting off as … Read more

Elliott

Song In the Air
Revelation (2003)

It's always sad to see a pioneer go. Especially when it feels like they have reached the peek of their … Read more

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One from the archives

Flea

Acid For The Children - The autobiography of Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers legend
Hachette Publishing (2019)

Book Review

One would be hard pressed to find anyone remotely into alternative music that has not had an interlude with the ever-expanding oeuvre of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With the band having had a turbulent history, each of the constituents contributed to what eventually became whole that is much bigger than its individual parts.One of the consistent motors and characters of the band is the man going under the moniker “Flea”, i.e. Michael Peter Balzary. While his idiosyncratic channelling of funk, hard rock, psychedelic, punk and everything in between has earned him the undisputed status of being one of the most valuable bass players in rock, there is much more to his person than his rock star persona.Being known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, it should not come … Read more

More album reviews

The Long Winters

When I Pretend to Fall
Barsuk (2003)

The Long Winters started up a few years ago after vocalist John Roderick's other project "The Western State Hurricanes" split up. He began writing songs for a solo project and proceeded to go on tour with ex-Harvey Danger member Sean Nelson. Shortly after his tour, he recorded his work, and around the same time, he formed The Long Winters. Before … Read more

The Decemberists

Her Majesty, The Decemberists
Kill Rock Stars (2003)

My dear Isabella, It has been an unduly extended period since my previous communication, and I apologize for my unproportioned replies to your correspondence. I cannot but carry doubt that your yearnings to set your eyes upon the ink of my quill have been uncountable. Oh my dear, I have recently alighted with a peculiar piece of American art! A … Read more

Motion City Soundtrack

I Am the Movie
Epitaph (2003)

OK, picture the following: Reggie & the Full Effect are traveling east in a train going from California at 120 MPH. Third Eye Blind are traveling west in a train that is headed west from New York at 80 MPH. When will they hit? I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to that. However, I can tell you that … Read more

Pelican

Australasia
Hydra Head (2003)

Pelican flirted with my heart earlier this year when they released their self-titled debut. And now with the release of their first full length, Australasia, they have completely taken me. It's been quite some time since a band has been able to garner my attention away from all other happenings in the musical world. They have pieced together a heavy … Read more

Jason Molina

Pyramid Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2004)

My initial fascination in Jason Molina and the Songs: Ohia crew began with a small, albeit inaccurate description of his music. It explained his songwriting past, including but not limited to blues, country, and metal. Although I still don't understand the last genre comparison to this day, the point it was trying to make was plenty clear to me. Jason … Read more

The Offspring

Splinter
Sony (2004)

This was always going to be a difficult record to make. Offspring have a strange legion of fans ranging from Orange County punk rockers remembering their sun-kissed punk beginnings, to the 'hey-look-its-those-pretty-fly-guys' fans who would be amazed to learn that this record is their seventh. Their last few records have been hit and miss, and Splinter is no exception. Originally … Read more

Stars

Heart
Arts & Crafts (2003)

There are few things worse in this world than a record composed by a group of people that are intensely passionate about the contents, but that doesn't live up to the enthusiasm with which it is crafted. Such is the case with the latest release from Stars, the Montreal pop group most widely known for their ties with Broken Social … Read more

Yaphet Kotto/This Machine Kills/Envy

Split
Sonzai (2004)

Whenever I listen to the type of record that Yaphet Kotto or Envy would make, I always play the TV at full volume to supplement the chaos. Sometimes I'll change it to something like an MTV awards show or a shitty sitcom to add my own sort of psuedo-ironic soundtrack. It works even better in this case, because the record … Read more

Atmosphere

Seven's Travels
Epitaph (2003)

"Atmosphere finally made a good record, yeah right, that shit almost sounds convincing...." Almost. Actually, not at all. Sometimes underground hip hop boggles my mind. I'll admit, there are lots of great artists that remain 'underground' or at least avoid regular MTV video rotation and major success. Not to say that either being hugely successful or "staying true to the … Read more

Mates of State

Team Boo
Polyvinyl (2003)

Everyone needs something cute every once in a while... once in a while. Too much can make you vomit, but a little dose can make you feel a lot better about things. Mates of State's latest album, Team Boo might just be the appropriate prescription. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel are a married couple from San Francisco playing in a … Read more

The Shins

Chutes Too Narrow
Sub Pop (2003)

Since I've only heard a couple of songs from last year's solid debut, Oh, Inverted World, this review will be free of any mentions of "sophomore slumps." Chutes Too Narrow deserves better than that. The album completely shatters this notion to the point that it doesn't deserve recognition. That said, the entire album feels like a soundtrack to some wonderful … Read more

Madball

N.Y.H.C.
Thorp (2004)

So, you want to listen to some FUCKING HARDCORE?! Yes, Madball, that loveable NYHC band is coming out with a new album aptly titled N.Y.H.C. How adorable! Despite my music knowledge, I've never really been into the hardcore scene, but now, after listening to this album, I understand what the hell all those hardcore kids talk about when they keep … Read more

Hatebreed

Rise of Brutality
Universal (2003)

I'm confused how a band can take themselves seriously whatsoever, and have an album called Rise Of Brutality. Although Hatebreed doesn't talk about their large amount of bitches they are keeping in check or forties they are consuming in the club, the whole feel of this music reminds me of gangsta rap, trying so damn hard to act tough and … Read more

Constantines

Shine A Light
Sub Pop (2003)

I'm from California. I live near the ocean. I like driving. I like watching baseball. I'm the outside world's perception of a fairly typical American guy (except for my slightly unhealthy obsession with noise-rock, but this is neither the time nor the place to get into that). And like most Americans, Canada isn't really something with which I find myself … Read more

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