Sinking Ships
Disconnecting
Revelation (2006)
The Northwest hardcore scene recently lost an undeniable force with the breakup of fan favorite Champion. Fortunately there is a wake of other amazing bands ready to claim their crown as the kings of hardcore from that region. One of the more promising of those bands is Sinking Ships, a five-piece outfit from the Seattle area. And with Disconnecting, their … Read more
Smashing Pumpkins
Zeitgeist
Reprise (2007)
Zeit·geist n. German. The spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation. The Smashing Pumpkins' comeback album threatens to set itself up as a Serious Rock Statement about present-day societal ills, in the same vein as Jack White's totally hoary commentary about illegal immigration on the recent White Stripes single "Icky Thump." As a … Read more
Smashing Pumpkins
Zeitgeist
Reprise (2007)
In all likelihood you're fully aware of the Smashing Pumpkins history and 90's legacy; if you somehow don't, I recommend Wikipedia. But in short, this is the first album in seven years from Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin under the Smashing Pumpkins moniker. Both were in Zwan, and both performed on the other's respective solo disc. But since 2000, neither … Read more
Smashing Pumpkins
Zeitgeist
Reprise (2007)
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness changed the way I listened to music. Siamese Dream continues to do so. Machina is one of the best records I've ever heard. The news of the Smashing Pumpkins' abrupt return, more than half a decade later, was a big deal - a huge one in fact - and of course it brought with … Read more
Songs: Ohia
Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)
From the first notes of the opener "Farewell Transmission" on the Magnolia Electric Co. experienced Songs: Ohia listeners will immediately pick up on Molina's new direction. On this album, Jason Molina has put aside minimalism in the music of his previous albums and has picked up a steel pedal guitar and has developed a backing band. Molina's melancholy, love-lost crooning … Read more
Songs: Ohia
Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)
This is my first Songs: Ohia experience. Outcome? Excellent. Slide guitar, slow to mid-tempo songs, and a sound that can almost be reminiscent to Counting Crows at times (go ahead and flame me), I have found myself going back to this CD more than I expected. The vocals are incredibly laid back and have a vibe that is just incredibly … Read more
Songs: Ohia
Magnolia Electric Co.
Secretly Canadian (2003)
After falling in love with songwriter Jason Molina's ensemble last year through the somber and deeply confessional Didn't it Rain, my expectations were set extremely high for both of his 2003 releases, Magnolia Electric Co. and Pyramid Electric Co., which will be released later this year. The first thing that struck me about Magnolia Electric Co. was that it had … Read more
Sonic Youth
Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)
I love Sonic Youth. I've been a fan from the beginning. So it is with a heavy heart I say that their newest album Rather Ripped is neither Sonic, nor Youthful. "Sure", you cynical bastards say, "I've been feeling that way since Goo". But with each subsequent album, the band has found a way to tweak their sound just enough … Read more
Sonic Youth
Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)
Rather Ripped showcases a slight stylistic shift for Sonic Youth. Their trademarked noisy dirge rock has been subdued a bit to allow a bit of melody to accentuate the more subtle nature of their music. Quite possibly, this may be the most accessible the band has been since Goo and Dirty, which is not a bad thing. At more than … Read more
Strike Anywhere
Dead FM
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)
The return of Strike Anywhere seems to be met with mixed emotions by a lot of people, and that's tough for me to understand. While I enjoyed their last proper effort, 2003's Exit English, I know it wasn't their strongest release, but I never expected to hear people claiming this band was past their prime. Past their prime? Already? Yes, … Read more
Strike Anywhere
Dead FM
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)
By now, you probably know exactly what to expect with a Strike Anywhere record, and I mean that in the best possible sense. Unlike Pennywise, still churning out the same tired anthems against "society" and "the government", Strike Anywhere have managed to maintain a furious consistency throughout their surprisingly short career (only seven years), and Dead FM is a good … 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
Swans
The Seer
Young God (2012)
This is the third review of this that I am writing and the first two were these rather objective and staid ruminations on the music that The Seer contains, but both of those were completely false and void of any possible feeling, making the words empty and worthless to anyone who would read either one in anyway; I threw them … Read more
Swans
The Seer
Young God (2012)
Approaching Swans, and in particular attempting to “review” a Swans record is much like approaching a rock face you know is almost unscaleable. There is a way up and over, but it seems so very far away that at the beginning you spend at least an hour staring at a blank page willing something to happen – and other people … Read more
Swans
To Be Kind
Young God (2014)
Considering that many of the group’s earliest albums were sometimes described as being unlistenable, it’s odd that Swans have garnered increasing critical acclaim and notoriety some thirty years on in their history. Led by Michael Gira, the only player remaining from the group’s earlier incarnation that was declared as “dead” following 1996’s outstanding Soundtracks for the Blind (an album I … Read more
