The Armed Forces
Modern Gospel for Modern Men and Women
Goldtooth (2008)
wannabe [won-uh-bee, waw-nuh ] noun. Informal. One who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another's success or attain eminence in some area. The Armed Forces are a Nashville, Tennessee quartet that purports to be cool. They have shaggy dark hair ala The Strokes (or the Ramones if you're keeping it old-school) and consider themselves 'power pop." Believe me when I say, … Read more
The Arrivals
Volatile Molotov
Recess (2010)
When it comes to overlooked bands, Chicago’s Arrivals should be right near the top. The band has never been overly prolific, releasing only four records since the mid ‘90s. Yet here we are, in 2010, and the band has released another solid record in Volatile Molotov.The Genre Monster would call the Arrivals pop-punk. They play accessible, melodic songs with a … Read more
The Arson Choir
Invisible Monsters
War Against Records (2020)
The Arson Choir are another fine representative of the new wave of American mathcore. They’re a pretty young band, but they have a lot of power in them and they sure know how to lay it down. Their balls to the wall delivery paired with chunky and groovy riffs, as well as the classic dissonant screeches is very appropriate and … Read more
The Assailant
Colera
Rome Plow (2006)
A couple of weeks ago, I received a promo package in the mail from the beloved head of staff at Scene Point Blank. The description for this recently released album on Rome Plow Records mentioned Seattle, Washington's late Botch. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to a free, Botch-influenced album, and review it. The Assailant is … Read more
The Atlas Moth
The Old Believer
Profound Lore (2014)
I still remember when I first listened to the Atlas Moth debut album, A Glorified Piece of Blue Sky. Instantly I thought that this heavy psychedelic doom/sludge band was on to something really great. The sonic experimentation and the insane weight of the band combined with sick riffs and screaming vocals was an unbelievable record to process. And when their … Read more
The Automatic
Not Accepted Anywhere
B-Unique (2006)
Ok, first things first, let's get this straight: I hate The Killers. I wish The Bravery would go back to being a ska band because, hey, at least no one thought they were cool then. And as for the last A.F.I. album, well, the less said about that the better. The point that I'm trying to get at here is … Read more
The Avett Brothers
The Carpenter
Columbia (2012)
The Avett Brothers have become bonafide pros at releasing an album. With The Carpenter being their seventh full-length album and second major label release, the Concord, North Carolinians have a method to their folk rock madness, without it being boring. Rick Rubin helps with producing for the second time too. Rubin is the link that ties the band’s songs together … Read more
The Bakerton Group
The Bakerton Group
Emetic (2007)
What do you get when you take Clutch and tell Neil Fallon to take a hike? You get The Bakerton Group. While you might think you've lost a lot, and you have, you've also found something new, different, and unique. The Bakerton Group is the band' debut full-length and first for Emetic Records. I honestly hadn't heard this project's previous … Read more
The Banner
Frailty
Ferret (2008)
The Banner is the last great hope for Ferret Music since Dead Hearts broke up recently. I mean would you look at Ferret's current roster. They have two of the worst bands ever created in The Hotness and Foxy Shazam. Madball and Poison the Well haven't put on decent albums in nearly a decade. That leaves us with Misery Signals … Read more
The Banner
Greying
Good Fight (2014)
The Banner has always been a band that embraced the darker side of their style. Being a hardcore band that tends to them lean closer to metal than punk, the band have always made their own version of this general style. Whether it was the more youthful style of their early album Your Murder Mixtape or later with the murky … Read more
The Bar Stool Preachers
Above the Static
Pure Noise (2023)
I first discovered The Bar Stool Preachers back in 2018 when they released their amazing record, Grazie Governo. The comfort and familiarity in the songs and singer TJ McFaull's voice truly released some endorphines in my soul. After some research, I figured it out. That's the son of the singer of Cock Sparrer! There are definitely some elements of Cock … Read more
The Bare Minimum
Hit After Hit
Independent (2014)
Oh, to be a fly on the wall during one of Toronto-based The Bare Miniumum's practices. It's generally an added bonus to discover that a band has a sense of humor about themselves, but with these guys it's seemingly the only thing they're concerned with. In interviews, the band presents themselves as lots of things. At times, they're an unconcerned … Read more
The Beatles
Let It Be...Naked
Capitol (2003)
What if Ringo finally realized that he wasn't selling out shows like his buddy Paul? What if Paul's queen may have drained her spending account and put a considerable hole in his? What if both were afraid of their ties to an alleged murderer? The Beatles have seen their share of these sticky situations, and how do they get themselves … Read more
The Bedroom Witch
My Mother Grows Plants With Her Eyes
Independent (2016)
Nobody knows the void like a trans lady does. There is no dark night of the soul that can compare to what most trans women just call “Tuesday.” The toxic combination of societal violence and body dysphoria can really cast a pall over existence—and inspire some incredible art about isolation, body horror, and impending death. From Anna Varney Cantodea to … Read more
The Beginnings
I Am Dirt
Sixtynine Records (2018)
The last couple of years the Macedonian punk scene was a revelation to me. Fonija, Bernays Propaganda and Noviot Pochetok became personal favourites while other bands like Xaxaxa have had their regular time on my turntable as well. What these bands have in common is a sense of melody that is rather melancholic, the courage to develop their sound in … Read more
The Bellicose Minds
The Spine
Black Water (2013)
Whole genres are made off the backs of originators. Sometimes these genres become forgotten for awhile or just bogged down with repetition and simplicity. Every once in awhile a band sheds mere aping to become something interesting, yet familiar. Something clearly within genre stereotypes but with their own sense of interpretation. The Bellicose Minds are one of those on the … Read more
The Bilinda Butchers
Heaven
Independent (2014)
Following a handful of shorter releases, San Francisco three-piece The Bilinda Butchers (named after the guitarist/vocalist from My Bloody Valentine and made up of Michal Palmer and Adam Honingford who alternate on vocals, bass, guitar and synth, as well as drummer Ryan Wansley) released their full length debut in mid 2014 and in doing so, followed through on the potential … Read more
The Bils
Past Masters: Volume 1
Independent (2018)
The Bils are Bil and Michelle Bilson, a husband-wife duo that play laid back rock schooled by classic duets. Depending which paragraph of their press sheet you’re reading, they are either named “The Bils” or “The Bil’s.” For the sake of continuity, I’ll match the album art and call them The Bils.Bil is a veteran of The Sunnyboys and he … Read more
