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)

Van Dammes

The VD EP
Keep Fishin’ Music (2014)

Though the band is not doing anything that the typical punk rock fan wouldn’t have heard dozens of times before, there’s definite energy and excitement in the four rowdy songs featured on Finnish group Van Dammes’ debut EP. Opening track “(Let’s) Go” kicks the album into high gear immediately, with the sort of singalong punk one would expect from The Ramones, while follow-up track “Daniel” blends Misfits-like chord progression with the type of sparkling and grandiose chorus Danzig would never have pulled out of the hat. “Lisbon, I Promise You” is an ode to the European capital, boasting nifty harmonic backing vocals during a chorus ripped straight out of late '70s punk, and the final track “Sexy Apartment” has a sleazy sound more rooted in the excess of the ‘80s. Though it changes up the mood considerably, I’m not sure this louder but more deliberate last track is a fitting conclusion to an EP that positively rip-roars through its first three tunes. Regardless, it’d be difficult not to dig into this catchy material. Clocking in at barely eight minutes, I might have liked The VD EP to be longer but it’s worth checking out. Read more

Tobacco

Ultima II Massage
Ghostly International (2014)

Known primarily as the frontman for Black Moth Super Rainbow, Tobacco (the stage name of electronic musician Thomas Fec) has … Read more

PS I Love You

For Those Who Stay
Paper Bag (2014)

Coming to prominence in 2011 on the strength of the almost unanimously praised debut LP Meet Me at Muster Station, … Read more

Video/DVD Review

Black Lips

Kids Like You & Me
Universal (2014)

At one point during Kids Like You & Me, the documentary chronicling Atlanta "flower-punks" the Black Lips' 2012 tour through … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Low Forms

Low Forms EP
Big Action Records/Tectonic Plates (2014)

Low Forms self-titled 7” is a six minute blast of power-pop defined by clean guitars, rhythmic chops, and traditional format … Read more

Barghest

The Virtuous Purge
Gilead Media (2014)

This black metal act from Louisiana continues to spread destruction and devastation. Barghest released their debut album back in 2011, … Read more

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One from the archives

Distants

Distants
Salinas Records (2024)

Something about this guitar tone always picks me up. Add in the raspy vocals and it really only takes me a few seconds into this record to know that Distants are my kind of band. Honestly, I’ve seen them before too, so I already knew that, but that was just a half set at The Fest, not a deep dive or anything. The band play midtempo, honest, working-class punk. The kind where the words are front and center and mostly clear and, often, you can almost singalong on the first listen. It’s accessible and somewhat predictable, with both of those terms meant in a good way. But while I say you can singalong right away, that’s also not because it’s so simple that it just repeats itself over and over. … Read more

More album reviews

White Reaper

White Reaper EP
Polyvinyl (2014)

White Reaper is a cool-named trio who are rubber-burning their way out of the Louisville, KY DIY scene. There’s a dude named Tony Esposito who sings and plays the guitar, and twin brothers Nick and Sam Wilkerson who play drums and bass respectively. Their self-titled debut EP will appeal to fans of Wavves, Japandroids, and Jay Reatard. Hate to drop … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tessela

Rough 2 EP
Different Grooves (2014)

This drug influenced, euro-electronic laser beam, drum and bass can be very, VERY repetitive, Anxiety inducing, tough to listen to, and at times I felt like it was going to trigger a panic attack or an audible seizure.An ‘80s pop-locking, track suit wearing dance crew wouldn't touch this album that brings no emotion or anything of value to the table. … Read more

Versus You

Moving On
Bomber Music (2014)

Despite a confrontational name, Versus You are every bit positive punx with songs praising friendship, relationships, and the like. It’s not that they play bubbly music countered with cynical lyrics, but they place peppy rock that’s further emphasized by sunny reflections over a gritty pop punk sound. The band is also pretty guilty of abusing the RIYL tag on a … Read more

Versus You

Moving On
Bomber Music (2014)

Versus You's album Moving On is short and sweet, but not with out its flaws. It's heartbreak music at its semi finest and the simple yet meaningful lyrics and fun brand of melodic, emotional pop punk establishes itself well with the opening track “When It All Goes Down.” Don't be fooled by the opening track, there's a lot this album … Read more

Hotel Books

I'm Almost Happy Here, But I Never Feel At Home
In Vogue (2014)

Hotel Books' I'm Almost Happy Here But I Never Feel At Home is well-versed prose that at times can be a bit repetitive. Each verse has elements that are thought provoking and heartfelt which helps carry the album to make up for the repetition. The tone sets in almost immediately with the opening song, “Lose One Friend,” and quickly gets … Read more

Pujol

Kludge
Saddle Creek (2014)

Daniel Pujol is prolific and ever changing. The leader of Pujol continues to release records at a rapid pace, successfully switching up his backing sounds in the process. While early material was a lot more garage in style, the overall tone on Kludge is quirky and rock-based, but it ranges from sauntering slower material (“Spooky Scary”) to minimalist electropop (“Small … Read more

Various Artists

Moloch / Meth Drinker - Split LP
Feast of Tentacles (2013)

Moloch returns a second time for 2013 while Meth Drinker join them this time. Moloch remain relatively the same in that what they do is play a deep dark style of doom that embraces the blacker elements of the genre. New Zealand's Meth Drinker return the favor by playing something that can at one point resemble trudging doom and at … Read more

Various Artists

Moloch / Ensorcelor - Split LP
Psychic Assault (2013)

This is a record resembling Clash Of The Titans. Both Canada's Ensorcelor and England's Moloch have been lurching in the darkest reaches of the metal underground for a few years. While some bands err to the side or fluid hooks in their riffs and others slink towards creating the most noise possible, somewhere in between lie these two.On one side … Read more

Container

Adhesive
Liberation Technologies (2014)

Combining throbbing electronic music with scratchy and crackly noise elements, Providence, Rhode Island’s Container has been getting more and more notice in recent years. Perhaps one reason for this is the fact that musician/producer Ren Schofield (who essentially is Container) has continued to improve, pumping out almost industrial-oriented tracks using conventional techno beats even as many electronic artists have been … Read more

Ensemble Economique

Melt Into Nothing
Denovali (2014)

I became familiar with Ensemble Economique back in 2010 when they released their album Psychical, with Bryan Pyle (formerly of Starving Weirdos) combining world music with a very intriguing soundtrack type of feeling. Even though the original incarnation of the band with their fascinating influences was monumental, Ensemble Economique has crossed into darker territories. Pyle has reduced this act to … Read more

Jon McKiel

Jon McKiel
Independent (2014)

An old, black-and-white photo depicts five dilapidated homes slowly crumbling away on an island in the middle of a vast, dismal ocean; the sea's endlessness and archaicness adds a sense of sentimentality to the picture. With such a glum album cover, it’s a dazzling surprise once the effervescent, action-packed “New Tracy (I Will Learn To See)” - opening song on … Read more

Book Review

Mike "McBeardo" McPadden

Heavy Metal Movies
Independent (2014)

According to Mike "McBeardo" McPadden's Heavy Metal Movies, Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey"profoundly influenced" a yet-to-be-named Black Sabbath. Fifty pages later on in the book, and the reader learns about the night in 1969 in Birmingham, England when Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward were getting ready to take the stage as blues rock … Read more

Benjamin Shaw

Goodbye, Cagoule World
Audio Antihero (2014)

The UK is a miserable place at times, more often than not in fact, and artists such as Benjamin Shaw fully embrace that misery and spin it out in stories of hopelessness, rejection and the knowledge that pretty much everything is complete shit. Luckily, Goodbye, Cagoule World isn't complete shit and instead takes all the rubbish that life throws out … Read more

Pixies

Indie Cindy
Pixies Music (2014)

Indie Cindy is the first new Pixies full-length since 1991 (Trompe le Monde). After the band reunited a few years back for the tour circuit the rumors of new material started to flow, the band continued to tour, and nothing came out. Eventually, shortly after the departure of original bassist Kim Deal (The Breeders), the band put out three EPs … Read more

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