Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

The Sands

Hotel & Casino
Houseplant (2014)

Say what you will about the old “don’t judge a book by its cover” metaphor, but it’s got some credence in the music world too. The Sands’ Hotel & Casino is a case in point. The black vinyl sleeve may have suggested something darker, but the simplicity and attention to precision that marks the cover is befitting of the record inside. The DIY stamp (again, metaphorical) is also quite clear. Like it or not, that first impression matters when you get an unsolicited record in the mail.The Sands call Bloomington, IN home and play a loud version of classic power pop. The songs are traditional structure with a lot of backing vocals that accessorize without turning to gang sing-alongs or whoa-ohs, instead just picking up a note here and there to spice up the song where the energy can use a little extra something—and that isn’t very frequent. The band’s identity comes in their ability to fill those energetic lulls in the familiar song structures with a snazzy or rollicking guitar lick, a big distorted bass, or some punchy drum fills. While the genre is power pop, they turn it up to 11 frequently. There are times I find myself … Read more

Electric Funeral

Total Funeral
Southern Lord (2014)

Total Funeral is the entire anthology-to-date of Electric Funeral, the one-man Swedish raw punk hobbyhorse manned by Jocke D-Takt. And … Read more

Gog

Gog
King Of Monsters (2014)

I had the fortitude to come across GOG’s previous album, Ironworks, and was astonished with what I discovered. On his … Read more

Maur

Elegy
Independent (2014)

Running nearly twenty minutes in length and featuring two tracks, 2014’s Elegy is the second demo from Indonesian five-piece Maur. … Read more

200 Words 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, … 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

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

756 reviews

Book Review

45 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

5057 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

The Shits

You’re A Mess
Rocket Recordings (2023)

With their origin dating to the late ‘10s, I was quite amazed to find in Discogs that this is only the fifth instance of a band named The Shits. However, I am not taking into account the many out there who feel the need to adorn the famous noun with an adjective. The Sniveling Shits, The Tough Shits, the list goes on and on. But, enough with this eschatological detour, because there is so much more that the act from Leeds brings to the table other than their self-deprecating name. What is that, you might ask? It is quite simple really, and The Shits strip all down to the bare bones. With their sound informed by the noise rock and hardcore punk scenes, they boil it all down to a … Read more

More album reviews

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, PS I Love You (made up of guitarist/vocalist Paul Saulnier and drummer Benjamin Nelson) popped up at precisely the right time to take advantage of a music community all too willing to embrace an unconventional indie rock duo. Though the … 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 the Middle East, drummer Joe Bradley remarks that it would be easy for the band to go out and book a tour in North America or even Europe really since the band already has a developed audience there. However, for … 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 rock ’n’ roll. While it’s not reinventing anything, it’s a solid homage to a timeless style with a nice build-up from opening verse to close, milking the verse-chorus-verse structure to increase urgency as the song progresses without succumbing to dumbed … 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, unleashing an echoing shout of misanthropy and obliteration. After their self-titled album, the band put out a split EP with fellow black metal act, False, which also marked their first work for Gilead Media. So now the band carries on … Read more

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

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