Robert Pollard
Normal Happiness
Merge (2006)
After the now-legendary, myth-making years in the basement with a guy named Tobin and the other Mitch Mitchell working shamelessly towards what would become Bee Thousand (while still teaching middle school Social Studies, no less) and Spin's review naming same "Record of the Year," some say it's all been downhill for Pollard and his raving gangs of rockers. And how … Read more
Robin Finck and the Wordclock
NOCT Original Soundtrack
Laced Records (2015)
A studio and touring musician with Nine Inch Nails since the mid '90s and part of the whole Chinese Democracy saga for Guns 'n' Roses, guitarist Robin Finck has clearly learned a few tricks from NiN mastermind Trent Reznor over the years. Capable of working in almost any field he became involved in, Reznor went beyond his NiN recordings to … Read more
Robots and Empires
Omnivore
Trip Machine Laboratories (2007)
For a while it seemed like people in hardcore bands would undergo this metamorphosis that changed them from raging balls of adolescent angst into sensitive young adults channeling that angst with more subtlety in their music. This initially spawned the post-hardcore movement where bands like Into Another and Quicksand came into existence. This cycle seems to continue on in one … Read more
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Goodnight Oslo
Yep Roc (2009)
On this outing Robyn Hitchcock is backed by Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) on bass and vocals, Peter Buck (some big band from Athens?) on guitar and Bill Rieflin (Ministry) on drums. A lush recording with a lot of texture makes this record a lot to take in. But once you enter, you may never want to leave. "Saturday Groovers" … Read more
Rock Kills Kid
Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)
Rock Kills Kid of Southern California deliver a refreshing take on pop-punk with their debut EP. The band has been described as "technical pop-punk" which is seemingly fitting, because they certainly have much more technical prowess than most bands they will surely be lumped together with. This EP combines the energy of a pop-punk band with the darker approach of … Read more
Rock Kills Kid
Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)
I decided to give this band a chance because I heard they weren't a complete Get Up Kids rip off. Well, every piece of press this band gets mentions that Rock Kills Kid brings more to the table than simple pop punk, but this might be a stretch. The verses sound a little interesting, but as soon as the choruses … Read more
Rock Kills Kid
Rock Kills Kid
Fearless (2003)
Pop with replay value. It doesn't come often, but when it does, it sure is a keeper. This occurs because the pop and rock are so finely blended on this that it just comes oozing with smiles. These said oozed smiles are soon molded into the figures of two lovers making passionate sex with "Everything To Me" as the backdrop. … Read more
Rocket from the Crypt
All Systems Go Volume 3
Vagrant/Swami (2008)
Leaving behind a recording legacy as large as Rocket from the Crypt is doing rates fairly high on the impressive scale considering how difficult it is to maintain consistency and relevance over a couple of albums let alone the roughly six full-lengths as well as a multitude of EP's and singles that this rock and roll outfit is responsible for … Read more
Rocket from the Crypt
R.I.P.
Swami/Vagrant (2008)
It was a sad, sad day when I learned that Rocket from the Crypt had called it a day. Seriously, here was a band that attempted to put the swagger and brashness back into rock and roll with a panache and flair still unrivalled to this point. They have been gone now for several years with only their massive back … Read more
Rockets Red Glare
Moonlight Desires
Blue Skies Turn Black (2004)
Minimalist tendencies. Math-rock. Post-rock. All good things in proper doses. But can they be mixed to produce something great? Ah, well, there's the real question. Rockets Red Glare seems to think so. Judging by this record, I'd have to agree with them. Hailing from Ontario, the band were a strange exercise in restraint for the most part, always intriguing by … Read more
Rocky Votolato
A Brief History (Reissue)
Second Nature (2007)
It is real nice that Rocky Votolato's A Brief History is available again. With the original label - Your Best Guess Records - going the way of the Dodo, this underappreciated gem went out of print. Second Nature, thankfully, has the foresight to make this available for people again, and just in time for the release of Votolato's forthcoming new … Read more
Rocky Votolato
A Brief History (Reissue)
Second Nature (2007)
A Brief History is Rocky Votolato's second full-length, originally released in 2000 after his hard-to-find self-titled debut in 1999. At twenty minutes long, it's really more of an extended EP, but then, the 'brief' in the title should be taken quite literally. Newcomers to Votolato's alt-country/Americana sound might be surprised to backtrack through his releases and come across this, helpfully … Read more
Rocky Votolato
Makers
Barsuk (2006)
Seattle artist Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. His debut record for Barsuk, Makers, has already seen an episode of cult teen series The O.C. use the opening track, "White Daisy Passing", on its soundtrack. Such lofty heights for the Texan-born singer were hard to imagine back in his Second Nature Records days. Makers is a record … Read more
Rocky Votolato
Suicide Medicine
Second Nature (2003)
Zed recently turned me onto this guy, and I've become fairly obsessed with his work ever since. The formula is simple, and been used a million times before - a man, his voice and an acoustic guitar. I'm not going to claim to be an afficienado of the whole singer/songwriter thing, but I know what I like, and I like … Read more
Rocky Votolato
The Brag and Cuss
Barsuk (2007)
Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. He released last year's Makers to wide acclaim and only just recently re-issued A Brief History with his long time collaborators at Second Nature recordings. This brings us to his latest musical foray. The Brag and Cuss is Votolato's sixth album since he began releasing his solo material in 1999, and … Read more
Rocky Votolato
True Devotion
Barsuk/Second Nature (2010)
Only recently the consensus had been reached in my household that the time for a new Rocky Votolato album was long past due and a lengthy re-visitation of his solo back catalog immediately commenced at that point. Luckily for our household, the new album from Mr. Votolato is here; True Devotion comes via Barsuk Records again (his label for the … Read more
Roddy Woomble
My Secret is My Silence
Pure (2006)
In 2005, following Warnings / Promises, Idlewild finally decided that they were a rock band all along and that the folk edges that had been working their way in since The Remote Part were just a side track to their rock band credentials. The result of this epiphany was that there was room for Idlewild to do both a rock … Read more
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Area 52
ATO (2012)
Everyone's favourite thrash metal duo turned acoustic, Rodrigo y Gabriela stand out amongst their peers not only for their heavily metal-influenced Latin pieces, but also for their impeccable proficiency and astounding musicianship. Their latest album, Area 52, pairs the fiery duo alongside the ensemble C.U.B.A., the first time they've recorded their work with such full instrumentation.Let me tell you, the … Read more
