Strung Out
Blackhawks Over Los Angeles
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)
If you're like me, you grew up buying compilations from punk rock labels. It was like opening up a treasure box and finding jewels of new music to marvel at. As Fat Wreck Chords was putting out comps such as Survival of the Fattest and Physical Fatness, Strung Out always stood out to me as doing something unique, having a … Read more
Strung Out
Prototypes and Painkillers
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
Currently recording their eighth studio album, California punk quintet, Strung Out decided to put together this little compilation album full of b-sides, rarities, alternate takes, and demos. Given that Strung Out has undergone a bit of a transformation in their seventeen years as a band, you're bound to get just a bit of everything with this collection. It's really interesting … Read more
Strung Out
Transmission.Alpha.Delta.
Fat Wreck Chords (2015)
There are some albums that you hear for the first time and fall in love instantly. There are others that require repeated listens in order to grasp the depth and complexity of the material. These albums get progressively more enjoyable as you listen to them. With every spin another pleasant nuance exposes itself. Strung Out’s latest album Transmission.Alpha.Delta falls into … Read more
Stuttr
Stuck in the Muck
Early Onset Records (2022)
It seems like a knock, doesn’t it, when you say that a rhythm section carries a band. It seems like you’re knocking the vocalist and guitar player. Like you’re dismissing them. Like you’re dismissing their contributions. So, I have to be careful here, when I say the rhythm section is carrying this band. This band is, of course, Stuttr and … Read more
Stylex
Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)
I'm not really sure why Stylex are as unknown as they are. I mean, they do this neo-new-wave (or whatever you call it) thing better than most of the bands that white belted scensters are drooling over (ahem... Hint Hint) these days. If you mention them to anyone from outside the Toledo/BG area, they just blankly stare, or pretend to … Read more
Stylex
Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)
Stylex is going through an identity crisis. After their EP False Start, I was ready for more of the same, great, new-wave dynamite explosion recorded on the compact disc medium. The first song, "Out of Focus," holds a lot in common with that EP. It's loud, chaotic, and moves along at a brisk pace. Unfortunately the rest of the CD … Read more
Stylex
False Start
Action Driver (2003)
Electroclash seems to be a genre that died as soon as it was conceived, but that doesn't mean that all music that lies under that categorization is bad. Case in point, Stylex. A mix of instrumental disco punk and digital dance elements aids to the final product that is a fun dance collection. Although I wouldn't call this completely original, … Read more
Stylex
False Start
Action Driver (2003)
One of Toledo, OH's most exciting young bands, Stylex, has graced us with a new EP by the name of False Start. I went to the record release yesterday just to pick this cd up. Well to see them too of course but that is how much I wanted to hear it. After their amazing show, I popped this in … Read more
Subrosa
More Constant Than the Gods
Profound Lore (2013)
Subrosa have managed to get lumped into the doom genre. While that genre tag isn't completely inaccurate it certainly fails to tell the full story of the band. The band certainly has doom elements at times heavy guitars and lengthy song structures may stick out the band refuses to stick to convention and allowing for a style that is more … Read more
Subscribe
Bookmarks
EMI (2011)
Despite having the most un-Googleable artist/album name combination in existence, the Hungarian band Subscribe have beautifully combined influences of hardcore, heavy metal, progressive rock and what-else-have-you in their latest release, Bookmarks.Oh, sure, it starts out innocently enough with the orchestral track "Griping Portentous", featuring the most nightmarish combination of brass and sound effects possible. Of course, that's still pretty standard … Read more
Succumb
Succumb
Flenser (2017)
Established in 2014 as Cloak, this California-based extreme metal act produced an interesting hybrid take on black/death metal. Changing the name of the band in 2017, after their debut demo as Cloak, and bringing on board drummer Harry Cantwell, known from his work with Slough Feg and Bosse-de-Nage, the quartet left behind its black metal affinity in order to focus … Read more
Sufjan Stevens
Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
Sounds Familyre (2003)
Although this can be said for every state in the Union, Michigan seems to produce two types of people. Extroverts who are either pushing their backwards views on you or calling you names: Michael Moore, Ted Nugent, Eminem, the average Detroit citizen. Introverts are completely different. They move up north, avoid Detroit at all costs, and live their lives, content … Read more
Sufjan Stevens
Illinois
Asthmatic Kitty (2005)
What is the sign of a "great" record? What defines a classic? Is it a cult following? Musical virtuosity? Ambition and drive? Three chords and the truth? All these questions will be answered within this review. Maybe. If you're still unaware of the young and illustrious Sufjan Stevens, you're either a My Chemical Romance fan who's still not discovered "the … Read more
Sugar Eater
American Idle
Eyephat (2005)
Remember when "pop-punk" wasn't a dirty word or condescending insult to a band's integrity? Remember when it meant simple, memorable songs combining infectious hooks with raw energy? Remember when it referred to bands like the Ramones, the Buzzcocks, the Descendents, and Husker Du? Remember when it had nothing to do with MTV, Hot Topic, or the mall? Well, even if … Read more
Sugar Eater
Nine Songs
Eyephat (2005)
There's obviously a fine line between the hyper-clich' badge of 'the next big thing' and the less fortunate one of 'what should be the next big thing.' In discussing this, it's easy to get very cynical very quickly. But at the end of the day, isn't it really the music that matters? Sure, I'd be na've to assume that every … Read more
Sugar Stems
The Sweet Sounds of the Sugar Stems
Dusty Medical (2010)
The Sugar Stems know what sound they’re after, and that’s pretty clear from their name alone. The Sweet Sounds of the Sugar Stems immediately hits on an upbeat and, ahem, sugary sound led by singer/guitarist Betsy Borst’s energetic vocals and Drew Frederichsen’s backing harmonies. The Sugar Stems take the familiar saccharine love song and speed it up, giving a bit … Read more
Suicide Note
Empty Rooms
Hawthorne Street (2008)
Some things just get better with age. Suicide Note is one of those things. As the band has progressed over the past ten years they are gradually refined their sound and improved their songwriting. With each new release came another step forward. And now with the release of their latest full-length, Empty Rooms, the band is nearly at the pinnacle … Read more
Sum of R
Lahbryce
Consouling Sounds (2022)
Reto Mäder has always moved into the occult and mysterious spaces with his project, Sum of R. Since their inception, Reto Mäder has not been content in settling on a particular sound or scene. Instead, Sum of R have been roaming freely on many different aspects of dark, experimental music. Their initial outings through Utech records displayed that much. Doom … Read more
