The Mountain Goats
Heretic Pride
4AD (2008)
After hearing The Sunset Tree, I was certain that John Darnielle was incapable of writing songs that even hint at happiness. Hope is abundant, but joy is absent. His songs are stories of lives endured. Each album is an anthology of damaged characters trying to survive unfortunate circumstances. Heretic Pride makes that leap from hope to joy, the overall mood … Read more
The Mountain Goats
We Shall All Be Healed
4AD (2004)
As any lover of lo-fi already knows, the complexity of The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and his work is vast. He records every album on a living room boombox, has a large backup band despite a very small amount of accompaniment on any given record, and has a penchant for weird lyrics of which he is the only person who … Read more
The Mumlers
Thickets and Stitches
Galaxia (2008)
Busy! From the packaging onward, The Mumlers emit an adorably quirky vibe far too big to fit into their little debut album. The seven piece from San Jose bring us Thickets and Stitches, a blues inspired-folk fused indie rock ditty of a record. As one might expect from the aforementioned description, the disc sees a wide variety of instruments accompanying … Read more
The Murder City Devils
The End
Music Video Distributors (2005)
Cost of ticket: $15.00 Cost of gas to drive to Seattle: $23.50 Doctor bill from cracked ribs received: $89.10 Seeing the Murder City Devils perform their last ever show: Priceless October 31, 2001. The Showbox, Seattle. I was there, kids and let me tell you, it was a sight to behold. For almost four years I've been telling everyone within … Read more
The Murder City Devils
The White Ghost Has Blood on Its Hands Again
Independent (2014)
Reunited bands have a tendency to disappoint. Maybe their hearts aren’t in it the second time around, maybe they’ve changed as artists and individuals, or maybe the expectations of a rabid fanbase are impossible to meet.Whatever the case, let’s put aside our memories of In Name and Blood, their last studio full-length which came out 14 years ago, and focus … Read more
The Muslims
Fuck These Fucking Fascists
Epitaph (2021)
Fuck These Fucking Fascists is the fourth full-length by the Muslims, and their first on Epitaph. As the name suggests, it’s complex music steeped in subtle political theory. Just kidding. This is straight-up angry, screamy punk with overt politics. Which is often needed, especially in the current environment. Besides the title track, other song titles include “Crotch Pop A Cop,” … Read more
The Narrator
All that to the Wall
Flameshovel (2007)
It's safe to say that indie music is the new "pop" and bands like Bloc Party and Arcade Fire have gained a considerable amount of success taking advantage of the genre's newfound appeal. The irony of course is that the very definition of "indie" clashes with what the style means today, and its popularity created over saturation. Thus, less than … Read more
The Narrows
Benjamin
Wantage (2007)
The Narrows have been a band for nearly nine years and yet this is my first exposure to them. And its not like they haven't been trying; the three-piece outfit from Bellingham, WA have released an EP or LP for nearly every year they've been a band. Benjamin is the band's fifth full-length and clocks in at just under fifty … Read more
The National
Trouble Will Find Me
4AD (2013)
DISCLAIMER: Readers, a bold claim is about to be made. The National’s Trouble Will Find Me could, quite possibly, be as essential as air. Tread carefully, the sheer force of the overwhelmingly mournful nature of this album may surprise you with its taciturn but fitting attempts of disbelieving optimism. Happiness is not The National’s forte, but tussling with overbearing emotions … Read more
The National Rifle
Wage Life
Independent (2008)
What if Elvis Costello was still churning out upbeat, poppy numbers like his early work? What if you took away some of the crackle and rough edges, and replaced them with pristine production and a lot of "whoa-oh-oh's"? What if, to spice things up, you threw in a dash of socialist rhetoric, a pinch of hand-held percussion, and a sprinkle … Read more
The Necks
Bleed
Northern Spy (2024)
Any record The Necks release is a pathway to a deeply meditative experience. From the vastness of Open to the cinematic introspection of Vertigo and the constant build-up of Unfold, this act rarely (if at all) disappoints. Their latest offering, Bleed, sees them return to their most delicate strand of minimalism, patiently weaving their compositions in an attempt to uncover … Read more
The Necks
Unfold
Ideologic Organ (2017)
There is always this feeling of being amid a quiet storm when one experiences an album by The Necks. The experimental jazz band from Australia has proven record after record how their long form compositions can invoke serenity and chaos at the same time. This free flowing quality by which the trio can unravel its music, highlights an eccentric craftsmanship, … Read more
The Necks
Vertigo
Northern Spy (2015)
The Necks is an experimental jazz band from Australia, which has been outputting record after record since their inception back in the '80s. Following the release of their previous full-length, Open, this trio of excellent musicians embarked on a journey towards their next release, Vertigo. Where Open features a more minimalistic mindset, Vertigo is a cinematic piece placed against a … Read more
The Neon Hookers
Calling All Creeps!
Cabal (2006)
Calling All Creeps! is the debut EP from The Neon Hookers. Okay, so the band's choice in name isn't the greatest, but 1) most band names suck and 2) haven't you ever heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover?" On their debut, this five-piece outfit from the hardcore factory of Massachusetts serves up seven tracks of rock-influenced … Read more
The Neptunas
Mermaid A-Go-Go
Altered State Of Reverb (2020)
Tell ‘em Charlie sent you!? Dolphin safe Tuna-free of long lining, bottom trawling, and blood shrimp. Sustainable fishing has cast the long sea of doubt with shadows of ghost nets dancing and entangling, engulfing innocent species with its dark hand of doom claw-like grasp.Alas ascending from Neptune’s bikini bottomless cavernous cretin encrusted trident thrust through the decrepit blackened charbroiled throbbing … Read more
The Nerve Agents
Days Of The White Owl
Revelation (2000)
Though not as revered as the final album from The Nerve Agents, Days Of The White Owl is certainly a turning point for the band and a definite precursor to the critical darling of an album that succeeds it, and this is perhaps a monster injustice to The Nerve Agents because with their last and best album for Revelation, they … Read more
The New Dress
Where Our Failures Are
Red Leader (2007)
The New Dress certainly knows how to make a first impression. Twenty seconds into Where Our Failures Are the tandem sings out, "I'm setting of alarms and planning bombs instead of songs / And if the cops ask I'm their man!" The New Dress holds nothing back, singing stripped down folk-punk about socialism and society, covering Billy Brag and Ed … Read more
The New Enemy
Outsourced
Independent (2009)
The first track sounds like Kid Dynamite so right away I thought I found a new melodic hardcore band to fall in love with. Then there's track two...okay...this sounds like Quicksand or Handsome. The only way I can tell it's the same band is the vocals, which are far too gruff for this type of post hardcore rock. It's still … Read more
