90 Day Men
Panda Park
Southern (2004)
It's hard writing about a band who's been around for a while that you're just hearing for the first time. Describing how they used to sound is crucial in ultimately describing how they sound now. Maybe it's not crucial, but it certainly makes the job a lot easier to have a point of reference through past records. All I know … Read more
Asva
What You Don't Know is Frontier
Southern (2008)
Every once in a while, there are albums that are born from such gut wrenching emotional outpouring as a form of personal therapy or personal journey of recovery for the artist or artists responsible for the work. It is a rare opportunity to glimpse such pain and catharsis, and G. Stuart Dahlquist (Burning Witch, Goatsnake) and a cast of co-conspirators … Read more
Racebannon
Acid or Blood
Southern (2008)
My first thought when I look at Racebannon's Myspace profile is that their vocalist, Mike Anderson, has a bit of the curly-haired Ween look to him. That thought is quickly replaced as I scroll down at the four long-hairs, with dark symbols on their foreheads and doused with blood. The lasting impression is that Racebannon are some theatrical dudes who … Read more
Rudimentary Peni
No More Pain
Southern (2008)
Rudimentary Peni are, at least in some circles, a criminally underrated punk band that releases music semi steadily since their inception (besides the seven year layoff between their landmark album, Cacophony and its successor Pope Adrian 37th). Cacophony is a personal favorite and always keeps me coming back to their material and checking out the new material whenever it hits … Read more
Ten Grand
This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)
Who knew that such an exciting and promising musical force was sitting right across the border from me? After hearing so much about this band and being severely disappointed when they postponed their Omaha show (and still haven't made it up), I was glad to finally get my hands (figuratively) on their newest album. In all its underproduced glory, "This … Read more
Ten Grand
This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)
Upon listening to this in a moving automobile with my father, he was quick to inform me that the singer of this band sounded like vocalist of The Murder City Devils. I have no idea what he was talking about. Ten Grand manages to give off a raw sounding vibe without playing very simple music, which I'm sure is a … Read more
Ten Grand
This Is the Way to Rule
Southern (2003)
Ten Grand (formerly The Vidablue) are definately an acquired taste. Hearing their stuff before I thought it was just alright. Nothing to go nuts over. After seeing them live, my outlook on them changed drastically. I gave them a second chance and found out I had been kidding myself. This new record is no different. I suppose you could classify … Read more
The (Fallen) Black Deer
Requiem
Southern (2008)
This is seriously one of those releases that would normally fall completely into obscurity if not for a few people who champion such records. Please, if you will, allow me to be that person for this record. Southern Records has a running series - Latitudes - where it gives artists a very finite amount of studio time to record a … Read more
