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Gojira

Magma
Roadrunner (2016)

Gojira are an anomaly. Not because they're form France, though French metal is somewhat of a rarity - but Gojira are one of the few bands that have long held the respect of fans, peers and critics alike. This will not change with Magma, the band's sixth album. If anything, their ascension in this regard is most likely assured with … Read more

Pixies

Head Carrier
Pixies Music (2016)

When the Pixies released 2014's Indie Cindy, it was their first release in the band's history to not include Bassist/Vocalist Kim Deal. It was evident, very evident that without her, it was going to be an uphill climb. Deal's immediate replacement came in the form of Kim Shattuck, formerly of The Muffs. While a very capable musician and vocalist, it … Read more

Hakan

Hakan II
Drunken Sailor (2016)

Hakan is an Italian garage-punk band in the vein of The Marked Men. Like, really in the vein of The Marked Men—MM’s Jeff Burke (also of Radioactivity) even recorded the record and it fits the aforementioned band’s style perfectly.At thirteen songs in twenty-two minutes, Hakan’s II fits the expectation of short, fast and to-the-point. Meanwhile the guitars are hyper fast … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tricky

Skilled Mechanics
K7 (2016)

When I think think of one word to describe Tricky, it isn't trip-hop, because that's two words, silly. No, the one that always comes to mind, is 'experimental'. Now, that isn't meant in a music critic lazy-label kind of way. It's meant as a true compliment. Tricky is a mad scientist. And like any true scientist working away in the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra

Broken Lines
Party Smasher Inc. (2016)

Another week another supergroup, right? Wrong. Nothing is expected on Broken Lines, the debut album from Giraffe Tongue Orchestra (GTO) - the new band featuring Brent Hinds from Mastodon, William DuVall from Alice In Chains, Ben Weinman from Dillinger Escape Plan and Thomas Pridgen, formerly of The Mars Volta.With such an assortment of characters, the over/under on a crazy weird … Read more

Real Numbers

Wordless Wonder
Slumberland Records (2016)

There are a lot of traps in music journalism. Some, like genre, are the same traps that artists fall into. Because of the constrained vocabulary of describing sounds it can be a challenge to speak of a difference between influence, mimicry, and hybrids. So often when a modern band is described as in tune with an early sound, it’s nostalgic … Read more

Darkthrone

Arctic Thunder
Peaceville (2016)

Darkthrone may have been around for nigh on thirty years, but it hasn’t stopped the Norwegian duo from consistently releasing music and constantly changing up their sound to keep them from living too much in the past. Beginning on a more death metal style, before moving on to black metal (and helping to create the whole second wave of black … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tom Odell

Spending All My Christmas With You EP
Columbia (2016)

Tom Odell's an interesting prospect: The 26-year-old is an Ivor Novello and BRIT award winner with two albums to his name, who mixes piano-laden ballads with affecting pop melodies. His sound is the kind of music that Jools Holland would merrily tap his foot along to after he's three wines deep and yammering on about pianos, so a Tom Odell … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Taylor Hawkins

KOTA e.p.
Independent (2016)

CEO of SPB Inc: "No."Me: "why?"CEO of SPB Inc: "Because we don't include EP's on the top 25 year end list. You were aware of this when you signed the contract"Me: "But sir, while the contract does state as such, if the EP in question is one of the best releases of the year, should it not be included?"CEO of … Read more

A Tribe Called Quest

We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
Epic (2016)

It's been a year of protests. Whether it's regarding the new president-elect, Black Lives Matter, or sitting down during the national anthem, folks are letting their displeasure with the current state of affairs.With that said, it's been a while that anyone has released anything that could be categorized as a protest album. Hell, that might not even be a real … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Getaway
Warner Bros. (2016)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have seen their fair share of detractors over the years. No need to rehash the descriptives here, but the naysayers should give their mouths and keyboards a rest for a while, as The Getaway is the band's strongest album since Blood, Sugar, Sex Magic. Yes, you heard that right. This is the band's strongest album … Read more

Sex Stains

Sex Stains
Don Giovanni (2016)

Sex Stains put it all out front on the opening “Countdown to…” which is as much a confrontational statement of purpose as it is a song. The speak-sing nature and rambling tone set the stage instead of opening with a thundering riff or singalong hit. The band is equal parts accessible punk, destructive no wave, and art rock. And, yes, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Radiohead

A Moon Shaped Pool
XL Recordings (2016)

A Radiohead album release has become akin to finding folding money under a seat cushion. It doesn't happen often and when it does, it's usually a surprise.Such was the release of A Moon Shaped Pool. No one expected it, but then...it was just there. More specifically, the announcement of it came only a week before the release and was accompanied … Read more

Drakulas

Raw Wave
Dirtnap (2016)

At this point Riverboat Gamblers have enough side projects that there’s almost an expectation of sound before listening, that unifying factor between all the different bands that have spidered from the source band. Introduce Drakulas, who released an EP on Red Scare Industries last year and now come with a full-length Raw Wave debut on Dirtnap Records. Not only does … Read more

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