The Scare
Snakes Among Saints
Lawnchair (2006)
Not many people remember DC melodic hardcore band Affront, whom has the dubious distinction of being one of three bands (J Page and 3 Inches of Blood are the others) to ever shack out on my wooden apartment floors. I wasn't living here at the time but my old roommate took these boys out for a night on the town … Read more
The Scutches
Ten Songs, Ten Years
Bright & Barrow (2012)
The Ramones were, and still are, such an influence on music. These days, they’re garnered as a genre all on their own, known simply as, “Ramones-core.” Right now, bands like Teenage Bottlerocket are running things, but perhaps you haven’t given The Scutches a chance? The Scutches have been churning out Pop-Punk ditties for ten years now. Their latest album‘s title, … Read more
The Sea and Cake
Car Alarm
Thrill Jockey (2008)
That easy, jazz-infused post-rock has come a long way since adopting a mispronunciation of their intended band name (The "C" in Cake). The Sea and Cake have extended themselves as a group after almost fifteen years, and now eight full-lengths, of playing. After taking a three-year hiatus, The Sea and Cake returned to the studio with last year's Everybody. Although … Read more
The Sea and Cake
Everybody
Thrill Jockey (2007)
Imagine sitting out on your porch or patio on a warm summer evening. You feel like just kicking back and relaxing while enjoying a light breeze. As corny as that sounds, this is what comes to mind for me when I listen to The Sea and Cake. Everything seems to flow almost effortlessly, just telling you to relax. However, it … Read more
The Sea, Like Lead / Belegost
Split
Electric Human Project (2006)
It's a Saturday afternoon and I'm at present stuck at work flipping through a copy of the latest Alternative Press magazine. Good literature it isn't, an easy read between calls it is. This particular issue sitting in my lap contains a feature on the hundred bands that are going to be "taking over" in '06; i.e. rammed down my unwilling … Read more
The Secret
Agnus Dei
Southern Lord (2012)
Southern Lord have been on a roll this year – Martyrdöd, Wolfbrigade, Eagle Twin and Acephalix to name but a few - and the fourth full-length from Italian masters of all out noise, The Secret, is a worthy addition to a roster that is always expanding and never diluting. Agnus Dei is pure, unadulterated fury and the bile and venom … Read more
The Secret
Solve Et Coagula
Southern Lord (2010)
This four-piece crust/grind band hails from Trieste, Italy and formed in 2003. The Secret released their first record Luce on Goodfellow Records. After various line-up changes the band finally released their second record Disintoxication in 2008. Since then Goodfellow Records is no longer a functioning label. The Secret found a home in Southern Lord Recordings after an impressive demo was … Read more
The Sensibles
A Bunch Of Animals
Rijapov (2013)
The opening track to The Sensibles’s first full-length album is entitled “Happy,” which may be the most self-descriptive name I’ve seen in ages. I was hooked immediately—not just from the first song, but from the first few exuberant drum beats. The Italian pop punk/punk rock band is still relatively fresh on the scene, having only released one 4 track EP … Read more
The Setup
Torchbearer
GSR Records (2009)
Many hardcore bands go one way or the other. Either they play ridiculously heavy to an almost numbing degree. On the other hand there are the overly melodic bands that almost sound too clean or almost like screaming pop punk bands. Yes, these are broad generalizations and I do love hardcore of both types. Most bands do very little to … Read more
The Seven Mile Journey
The Metamorphosis Project
Fonogram/Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand (2008)
Operating under the post-rock banner, The Seven Mile Journey's The Metamorphosis Project offers an hour of sparse and atmospheric soundscapes. It is the group's second release for Denmark's Fonogram Agency, and is released in the United States on Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand. The design is minimal yet eye-catching, with a white logo stamped in the corner of a glossy … Read more
The Shaking Hands
The Shaking Hands
Kiss of Death (2009)
In my recent Kiss of Death reviews there's been a steady diet of pop-influenced beard punk. Expecting more of the same, Gainesville's The Shaking Hands threw me for a loop with their late '90s street punk anthems. The band would be at home on a Give 'em the Boot or Old Skars and Upstarts comp, with their tendencies toward tough … Read more
The Shaky Hands
Lunglight
Kill Rock Stars (2008)
It's raining today. No sun. Shaking angly tree branches. Impenetrable sky rising up out of the ground. Hourless glide from late morning to dusk. I've been in bed all afternoon, admitting how sick I've gotten over the last week. Fucking autumn: always makes me think of Portland. Portland used to be my girl. Well... Portland used to be the girl … Read more
The Shame
The World Is Ours
Profane Existence (2013)
Profane Existence kicks off their Limited Edition Single Series—a subscription service that delivers a new 7” each month—with The World Is Ours, a brand new EP by the The Shame. Considering The Shame are an Oi! band, it seems like an odd selection for a label that deals primarily in anarchist-fueled crust punk and metal. However, it’s not completely outside … Read more
The Shell Corporation
Time And Pressure
Solidarity (2012)
I glorious little EP fell into my lap, thanks to my editor. It’s the Time & Pressure EP from The Shell Corporation. It’s a beautiful little set of fast melodic punk songs in the same vein as Bigwig and The Explosion. They don’t mind throwing in surprises as well.The first track, “Shit Just Got Real, Son” is a fast paced … Read more
The Shins
Chutes Too Narrow
Sub Pop (2003)
Since I've only heard a couple of songs from last year's solid debut, Oh, Inverted World, this review will be free of any mentions of "sophomore slumps." Chutes Too Narrow deserves better than that. The album completely shatters this notion to the point that it doesn't deserve recognition. That said, the entire album feels like a soundtrack to some wonderful … Read more
The Shins
Port Of Morrow
Aural Apothecary (2012)
Spring has arrived. The sun pours through the sky. Pollen blankets the surroundings. The streets suddenly become more occupied. Much has happened in the world since last spring. Even more has occurred in the five years passed since we were last offered a new album from The Shins, a band whose spring-like sound sonically reflects the seasonal transference.In the world … Read more
The Shins
Wincing the Night Away
Sub Pop (2007)
Mainstream indie pop may not be as popular as it was when "New Slang" dominated the world a short while ago, but that hasn't stopped The Shins from continually engineering contagious, almost viral, songs that affix themselves to your temporal lobe and snub your best attempts to remove them. "Sleeping Lessons" opens the record with a soft, nearly alien, series … Read more
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 … Read more
