Coldplay
X&Y
Capitol (2005)
Coldplay is one of those bands that you get beat up after school for liking. In every day terms, they're a pussy band. Personally, I have been a fan of Coldplay ever since Parachutes was released in 2000 - the album was very personal sounding and it contained one of the most beautiful songs ever made, "Yellow". When A Rush … Read more
Coliseum
Goddamage
Auxiliary (2005)
Coliseum's Goddamage EP must be listened to in order to be believed. Hell, looking at the cover art, one has to know what to expect. That is not to say that the record is so obvious. The cover simply represents the mood and salvo of sound on the record completely, even down to the faux sticker on the back: "As … Read more
Coliseum / Doomriders
Not of This World
Level Plane (2005)
At a recent Coliseum show, vocalist/guitarist Ryan Patterson made mention that Glenn Danzig was a big influence and source of inspiration for him for years. On Not of This World both Coliseum and Doomriders pay tribute to that man. Although short by most standards, this split EP packs enough of a wallop that it shames a majority of the full-lengths … Read more
Comadre
The Youth
Bloodtown (2005)
Whoever said there's only so many different ways to say you like something lied. Actually, I don't remember anybody ever saying that. But here we are, and I get to attempt to convey to you why I think this album is worth your time to listen to because I like it. Not only do I like it, but it has … Read more
Comeback Kid
Wake the Dead
Victory (2005)
This has been one of the hardest reviews I have ever written simply because I do not like this album whatsoever, yet I still feel compelled to review it. Instead of writing a wordy explanation let me draw out a Comeback Kid timeline for you. 2003: Turn It Around is released on Christian label Facedown Records. Record is embraced by … Read more
Crimes of Passion
Demo
Independent (2005)
If you made a list of all the bands currently playing the style of music labeled as metalcore, you could fill up 30 or 40 pages in Microsoft Word. There are that many of them. Luckily, for every five bands ripping off At the Gates and Hatebreed simultaneously, there's a band doing metalcore right. Luckily for us, Crimes of Passion … Read more
Criteria
When We Break
Saddle Creek (2005)
Let's get a few obvious bits of information out of the way. Criteria is the latest vehicle by one half of the early Cursive writing team, Steven Pederson. No, this is not a blatant rip of Cursive's material. Criteria is a less pretentious and anthemic rock album. It is a supremely infectious pop record in fact. I was completely surprised … Read more
Ctrlaltdelete
Mondegreens
Motivesounds (2005)
I used to hate 'ctrl,' 'alt,' and 'delete.' Used in succession, it only meant one thing - reboot. That's right! Your computer is fucked and there is nothing you can do. Accept defeat and hit those keys. Anything you were working on is lost forever. But now, I'm kind of fond of them. UK post-rock trio Ctrlaltdelete has redefined those … Read more
Cursed
II
Goodfellow (2005)
Cursed - the movie or the band? Well considering one is likely a story lifted from a Goosebumps book and transferred to the filmscreen, I don't really think there's much up for debate. I can guarantee you that Cursed, the band, will not just entertain you but will knock you to the floor with their intense hybrid of hardcore, punk … Read more
Cursive
The Difference Between Houses and Homes
Saddle Creek (2005)
The release of Cursive's The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Lose Ends reminded me what it was like to be excited for an album to come out. I was giddy like a kid waiting for Christmas; eagerly counting down how many more sleeps it would be until I was able to get my small, greasy, hands on … Read more
Daft Punk
Human After All
Virgin (2005)
Considering the phalanx of albums due for release, and with previous offering Discovery bringing all the musical vision and ingenuity of a series of polyphonic ring-tones, Human After All found itself rated rather low on my list of desires and expectations for the first half of 2005. Being honest, I expected absolutely nothing of real musical value from this album, … Read more
Daggermouth
Stallone
Feeding Frenzy (2005)
Recently I was talking with (read: bitching to) my friend Brian about how there hasn't been any new bands lately that have really caught me and pulled me in. Granted, there have been many bands I've really gotten into over the last year or so, but none of them really caught my ear and made me love them. It's not … Read more
Danger Doom
The Mouse and the Mask
Epitaph (2005)
Once upon a time, while on a late evening binge of marijuana and cartoons, a young adult named Zed felt it would be appropriate to create. Well, the "young adult" is actually 21 years old...and he's, like, a total hunk. Anyway, the man covered in glistening oils combined his favorite wrapper and his favorite produce in a cereal bowl. With … Read more
Darkest Hour
Undoing Ruin
Victory (2005)
Metal is getting to be popular again. Its popularity has fluctuated at times, dipping in and out of the pop culture eye, but usually staying under the radar. With the resurgence of thrash/melodic death metal/"hardcore" hybrids popping up everywhere, there is a sense of excitement (or dread) about new metal releases. So many bands seem to be trying to "one-up" … Read more
David Gray
Life in Slow Motion
ATO (2005)
I'd like to begin this review by thanking the kind people at Dictionary.com and Google.com for their unwitting assistance in the writing of this here review. God bless you. boring adj. Uninteresting and tiresome; dull. boring adv. boringness n. Synonyms: boring, monotonous, tedious, irksome, tiresome, humdrum These adjectives refer to what is so uninteresting as to cause mental weariness. Boring … Read more
Day of Contempt
The Will to Live
Epitaph (2005)
Goddamn! You're more than likely speculating that this record is going to be one of two things because of the profane first impression. It's either going to be an over-the-top, album of the year deal, or just another record you stop halfway through setting aside to collect dust. However, Day of Contempt's The Will to Live is neither of the … Read more
Dead Blonde Girlfriend
Dead Blonde Girlfriend
Art Monkey (2005)
Joie Blaney is, or at least, was a musical anomaly. Under the guise of Joie Dead Blonde Girlfriend, he plays an acoustic guitar faster and louder than any punk band. He sings his songs with the soul of a poet and with the voice of a cement mixer. He writes from the heart. He writes honestly and never once complains. … Read more
Dead Hearts
No Love, No Hope
Reflections (2005)
"Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State but it's dying slowly, it's a cold gray place: rusting where the Niagara River meets Lake Erie. I've seen a lot of people watch their dreams get crushed by this city. It seems like Buffalo just gets into your blood and poisons it with cynicism and bitterness. We have a … Read more
