Leftover Crack / Citizen Fish
Deadline
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)
Have you ever bought a split record that made absolutely no sense because the two bands sharing a disc sound nothing alike? As illogical a notion as it is, this phenomenon happens more often than you would think. Anyone remember those two splits The Lawrence Arms did with the Chinkees and Shady View Terrace? Yeahââ¬Â¦ But that is not the … Read more
Legend
The Pale Horse
Rise (2011)
What is there to say about Legend? The band released an album titled Valediction last year. That album was another entry into the deathcore fan grab. The album while proficient in playing down tuned "riffs" and breakdowns added little to a simple formula already having been in practice by what may now be a million other bands. Generally bands tour … Read more
Legend of the Seagullmen
Legend of the Seagullmen
Dine Alone (2018)
It's easy to be complacent with side projects. At worst, they're self indulgent jam sessions repackaged and sold to indifferent masses. At best, they tend to be self indulgent jam sessions repackaged and sold to the accumulative fanbase of assembled band members.Where it seems to differ with the side projects of Mastodon band members, is they really seem to be … Read more
Legendary Wings
Making Paper Roses
Dirtnap (2012)
Dirtnap Records picked up Kalamazoo, MI’s Legendary Wings based on an unsolicited demo. Seeing that the label gave them a blind shot, why not try it myself? Well, that and the onesheet calls them “Scared of Chaka if they were from Minneapolis.” It’s hard for that not to grab my attention.Their debut, Making Paper Roses starts out strong with “Nachos,” … Read more
Legs Up / My War
Split
State of Mind (2004)
Split releases are a breed that can be difficult to review. Do I review each band's portion separately, or do I give the entire release one score? It's a tough call, but I think you have to treat each split album differently. This time around, mostly for Legs Up sake, I am going to review these two bands apart from … Read more
Lemuria
Get Better
Asian Man (2008)
Regardless of how terrible life can get, there is truth in the statement that things will Get Better. While most people are looking for success, happiness, and love to make them complete, it's the small things, the particulars, which make life so wonderful. Get Better is an album of the moments where the little things are absent, but it's hard … Read more
Lemuria
Lemuria
Art of the Underground (2005)
I have a bottomless love for Discount that no one I've ever met has matched. Together with Lifetime, they were the band that defined my high school years - I took up songs like "Disappointed" and "On the Counter" and made them my own; they were the soundtrack for my adolescent late nights. If I had been in a wistful … Read more
Lento
Live Recording 8-10-11
Denovali (2012)
When a band releases a live album, there's usually some great importance behind it, whether it be documenting an important performance, showing off some otherwise unreleased material. or just the band sharing a once-in-a-career quality set. Live recordings released for the sake of releasing a live recording otherwise tend to be bland, boring, and unnecessary, and if they're not handled … Read more
Leprous
Coal
Inside Out (2013)
Leprous have an odd claim to fame—they serve as the live backing for fellow Norwegian metalhead Ihsahn (who, in turn, is known for his time as the vocalist for Emperor). But as their own band with a modest discography under their belts, Leprous play a much more subdued, near-rock version of progressive metal, and the stylistic difference is readily recognizable … Read more
Les Discrets
Ariettes Oubliées...
Prophecy Productions (2012)
France's Les Discrets have been active for nigh on nine years, yet are only on the cusp of their second full length release. Driving force Fursy Teyssier has had a hand in one of the greatest exports of the majestic French scene, Amesoeurs (unfortunately a band no longer in existence), and once upon a time toured with Alcest as their … Read more
Les Georges Leningrad
Deux Hot Dogs Moutarde Chou
Alien 8 (2004)
Apparently the title of Les Georges Leningrad's latest translates to "Two Hot Dogs Mustard Cabbage." Whatever. I don't actually own this record. I downloaded it, and for some reason, the titles are different than what how the group's website lists them. I don't feel shame for downloading, but I'd like to state that I do regret not having this on … Read more
Les Lullies
Mauvaise Foi
Slovenly (2023)
I’m not going to pretend I know any French, but I can tell you that the rhythm of the language is perfect for Les Lullies. Mauvaise Foi (“Bad Faith,” according to google), begins with the title track, a barn burning guitar rocker with big licks and a repetitive chorus in 4/4 time. It’s immediately familiar in that garage rock way, … Read more
Les Savy Fav
3/5 (Reissue)
French Kiss (2006)
The shakedown: In 1997, a five-piece post-punk rock outfit based out of Brooklyn released ten songs on an album titled 3/5. The album title is more relevant to the band today then it was when they first released it. Back then the band had five out of five of the original line-up. Today, only three out of the five members … Read more
Les Savy Fav
Inches
French Kiss (2004)
Dear Tim Harrington, I don't know if you remember, but when you played at the Great American Music Hall the night before Thanksgiving last year, there was a tall guy with glasses and a moustache. Well, specifically that tall guy with glasses was me. Do you remember giving me a high five after you touched your ass? I certainly do, … Read more
Les Yeux De La Tête
Mosca Violenta
Head Records (2013)
Jazz metal three-piece Les Yeux De La Tête’s (translation: The Eyes Of The Head) second full-length release, Mosca Violenta, is a vicious 11-song steamroller of sludgy riffs, raucous drum patterns, and avant-garde saxophone lines. For a guitarless, sparse album, MV is surprisingly theatrical and fascinating.The trio’s doom jazz masterpiece opens with the demonic ska song “Fubar.” “Soutane Of Swing” is … Read more
Lesbian
Forestelevsion
Translation Loss (2013)
Talk about false advertising. As far as I can tell, the self-described "PsychoProgDoom" band Lesbian is based out of Seattle, not the Aegean island. Putting geographic misrepresentation aside, their latest album Forestelevision is truly a monster to behold.If you couldn't gather from their self description, Lesbian are a notoriously difficult band to pigeonhole. They have the psychedelic guitars straight out … Read more
Less Than Jake
In With the Out Crowd
Sire (2006)
I'm a huge Less Than Jake fan. Hello Rockview is one of my favorite albums ever recorded, so when I heard that the band would be working with Howard Benson (who produced that stellar record) to record In With the Out Crowd, I was pretty excited. The band commented on the record saying that the material would be leaning more … Read more
Let it Die
Stick to Your Guns
Spook City (2004)
The city of Detroit has a bad reputation on the streets of, well, the entire United States. It's known as a dirty, crime-ridden city full of despair and wretched individuals. While I am sure there is some truth to this, it is likely nothing more than a generalization blown way out of proportion. Nevertheless, the city has spawned some fairly … Read more
