Recent reviews

More album reviews

John Frusciante

Enclosure
Record Collection (2014)

Though he’s primarily known for being the former, on-again, off-again guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante has long pursued a solo career that’s been full of peaks and valleys. After releasing a pair of somewhat fascinating, but difficult-to-listen-to albums in the 1990s, Frusciante hit his stride as a solo artist in the early 2000s, at one point releasing … Read more

Skrillex

Recess
Atlantic (2014)

Electronic musician Skrillex’s 2014 debut full length album Recess (released on the Atlantic label) starts with a track called “All’s Fair in Love and Brostep.” That says almost everything one needs to know about the album, prompting a WTF reaction from all except those people already firmly in the pro-Skrillex camp. The song title also hints at the juvenile mentality … Read more

The War On Drugs

Lost In The Dream
Secretly Canadian (2014)

The Philadelphia rock scene is famous for producing indie bands heavily dosed on vintage, classic rock. Folker Kurt Vile recalls Bob Dylan and neo-psychedelia band Dr.Dog draws upon Big Star. You probably know Vile from when he packed all the “Best Of” lists last year with his critically-acclaimed masterpiece Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, and you've probably heard Dr.Dog’s rootsy … Read more

Tiny Empires

Weird Headspace
Independent (2014)

Tiny Empires seek to build something new; something powerful, significant, and memorable, just as the name suggests. With their debut record Weird Headspace they’re doing just that. It’s big, grasping, and expansive work.It’s also out of the ordinary for the scene in which it originates.Lead by Eric Solomon (O Pioneers!!!) and Bryon Lippincott (New Bruises), it plays off the two … Read more

Nadja

Queller
Essence Music (2014)

As a full on Nadja addict, Queller was immediately on my radar when I heard of its upcoming release; but as a “music critic” (that is what we do here right), Queller may just be one of the finest not quite hour of their impressive discography / existence to this point, which is an impressive feat considering how large and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Seagulls

The Royal We EP
Autmun & Colour (2014)

I don't get too excited about new bands anymore. However, Seagulls recently swooped into my radar and have me pumped for sing-a-longs. If you're a fan of the guttural vocals of Fucked Up and the melodic pop-punk riffs of Latterman, then this is right up your alley. The band's new EP, The Royal We, will have you fist pumping through … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Iron Hand

Injected Fear
Safety Meeting (2014)

Here’s some D-beaten hardcore out of New Haven, Connecticut. Seven songs that average two and a half minutes, which is the goddamn perfect length for this type of thing. Much like fellow CT statesmen Oiltanker, Iron Hand dives deep into the Scandinavian and Portland “epic crust” end of the pool; at least in their instrumentation. The vocals lend it a … Read more

The Faint

Doom Abuse
SQE Music (2014)

It came as a surprise to everyone. The Faint sprung up from the ground out of nowhere after being gone for a few years. They came out of the dark to celebrate Danse Macabre's 10-year anniversary. What people didn't expect was for them to accompany the tour with new music. At their merch booth, fans had the chance to purchase … Read more

Brown Brogues

Zoloto
Stolen Body Records (2014)

In an alternate universe, Brown Brogues' "Shit In Your Eye" sits atop the charts; following in the lineage of other certified gold cuts such as Ty Segall's "Girlfriend" and the Black Lips' "Bad Kids." As the shit-kicker guitar rings out of the speakers, you can practically see someone beating their fist atop a jukebox or pool table in approval. It's … Read more

Helms Alee

Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)

Sleepwalking Sailors is just too good, promptly inserting itself at the top of my list for album of the year (for now, and yes, I keep a running list all year long because I am a weirdo); and Helms Alee continues to impress me with every new release not just in the fact that with a few exceptions, there music … Read more

Helms Alee

Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)

Helms Alee’s Sleepwalking Sailors is a ferocious asteroid of post-hardcore, doom metal, and noise rock. The Seattle-based trio’s third album, released on Sargent House Records, hurls you through a deathly metal ocean, into the Earth’s burning core, and back out again; it’s Michael Bay making rock music.“Pleasure Center” puts the 11-song fireball into motion. Starting with synchronized guitars and drums, … Read more

Blackrat

Whiskey and Blasphemy
Xnihilo Records (2013)

Whiskey and Blasphemy (Xnihilo Records), the 11-song debut album from Canadian trio Blackrat, is a grittily produced 28 minutes of totes gnarly extreme metal. Like holy metalheads Aura Noir and Sodom, Blackrat combines the Satanic themes and rawness of black metal with the speedy guitars of thrash metal, resulting in some good ol’ black/thrash crossover.The blast-beats, violent vocal screams, and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Various Artists

Capitalist Kids/Tight Bros. - split 7"
Toxic Pop (2013)

If sweet and easy pop punk is your thing, this is the split for you. Capitalist Kids take Side A, fresh after releasing Lessons on Love, Sharing, and Hygiene. They play Mr. T Experience influenced pop punk/song-about-a-girl. Here, only two of the three are on that subject: opener “Special Looks,” which features the beautifully self-aware lyric, “I’ll keep writing dumb … Read more

Twilight

III: Beneath Trident's Tomb
Century Media (2014)

Twilight is a difficult band to define. Throughout the years, since their inception back in 2004, the band has seen some very interesting line-up changes which obviously resulted in the evolution of their sound. The core members of Twilight always were N. Imperial of Krieg, Wrest of Leviathan and Blake Judd of Nachtmystium (even though he was not a part … Read more

• First
• Previous
• …
• 88
• 89 (current)
  Page 89 of 305
• 90
• …
• Next
• Last