Jinn
Jinn
SuperFi (2007)
Although this band shares their name with at least three other groups, this release is pretty solid. The United Kingdom's Jinn brings a little bit of punk and thrash to their metal sound, sounding somewhere between Mind Eraser and At the Gates. It's not too dissimilar from the rise of bands like Isis, in some of its slow, epic parts … Read more
Johnny Parry
Songs Without a Purpose
Lost Toy (2007)
Applying the finishing touches to a viola-and-recorder composition evocatively recreating the world of Sloppy Joe Riggs-Lattimer (a red-headed scientologist Jew known only to the residents of 1980's Pennsylvania) Sufjan Stevens decides to take a midnight stroll through the brisk fall air. Stopping to gaze lovingly at the moon, he is brutally murdered by a passing hobo who mistakes him for … Read more
Jonquil
Lions
Try Harder (2007)
As a staff member here at Scene Point Blank, I get to choose the promotional discs that I review. Bands from across the globe send in their EP's and LP's so we can give them our input. I chose Jonquil's Lions, because the press sheet said they have played with A Silver Mt. Zion, formed by members of Godspeed You! … Read more
Josh Ritter
The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Sony (2007)
Awarding Josh Ritter the title of "the next Bob Dylan" seems audacious, but repeated listens to The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter proves it a worthy statement to make. The opening track, "To the Dogs or Whoever," exhibits Dylan-esque vocals and rhythm, reminding me of '65 when Dylan tried to innovate folk music by plugging in. Ritter, too, attempts to … Read more
Jovian Oblivion
Frontier of Darkness
Independent (2007)
Due to this self-produced album's near industry standard professionalism, you'd never know by only listening to it and paying no mind to the liner notes that Jovian Oblivion is mainly just one guy with a few helpers pitching in here and there. Brent Matney is the mad scientist behind this project; he wrote, arranged, performed and mastered these fifteen songs … Read more
Joy Division
Unknown Pleasures / Closer (Reissues)
Warner Bros. (2007)
With the imminent release of Control the bio-pic of frontman Ian Curtis, the death of Tony Wilson, and former members Hooky and Barney making the news by squabbling over the name New Order, there again seems to be a large rise of interest in one of the most pioneering bands this world has ever seen - Joy Division. Being ones … Read more
Just Surrender
We're in Like Sin
Broken English (2007)
Rob Gordon once said "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off … Read more
Just Went Black
Embracing Emptiness
Assault (2007)
Hamburg, Germany is a city that is known more for its architecture than it is for its musical output. In fact, if you were to ask anyone about the music of Hamburg, they'd probably start talking about some classical composer from the 1800's and not a hardcore band of today. And while I'm sure they are popular in their native … Read more
Justice
Escapades
Reflections/Youngblood (2007)
A band of Belgian hardcore enthusiasts who, in the summer of 2003, had only one goal: to stir, shake and move the hardcore/punk scene. Justice, is their name and their latest album Escapades can only be described as powerful. If they were out to change the genre, they definitely succeeded with Escapades. Labeled as a hardcore band, I personally consider … Read more
Kaada & Patton
Live
Ipecac (2007)
Has it really been three, almost four, years now since Mike Patton and John Kaada released Romances? Apparently so! Live chronicles the first and only live performance of Patton and Kaada's music of Romances at the Roskilde Festival in 2005 on DVD format. The two constructed a band that contains members of Kaada's band Cloroform to perform the album, and … Read more
Kamikaze Noise
Fuck it Up Fuck it Up Fuck it Up
Independent (2007)
Remember punk rock? Remember when bands wrote songs before coming up with t-shirt designs? Remember when every shitty local band in your town didn't have a slick full-length CD after three months of playing together? Remember when DIY encompassed every aspect of being in a band rather than just which label to sign a contract with? Like Robert Zimmerman once … Read more
Kanye West
Graduation
Roc-A-Fella (2007)
Kanye has lost it. Well, sort of. I don't know. Shit, I'm sorry. Believe me, I am. I didn't want this to happen. Unlike most of the intelligent people in the world, I had convinced myself that his absurd behavior was justified, that he really was as good as all that. Apparently, I was wrong - Graduation doesn't hold a … Read more
Khann
Tofutopia
Black Market Activities (2007)
Seriously, Tofutopia? An album called Tofutopia? This is the album title of this record? Surely, this band has to be joking, does it not? As this record sits in my review pile, I find it increasingly difficult to take it seriously, even though that may be the point. Chris Owens - guitarist/vocalist of Lords and engineer of records by Achilles, … Read more
Kill Conrad
32 Short Films About Nothing in Particular
Independent (2007)
Boston's Kill Conrad sound like just about any other punk band on No Idea that doesn't want to be or is Hot Water Music. I am reminded of the sing-along bouncy pop-punk intensity that Against Me! once had. Actually, Kill Conrad remind of Atom's (you know from Atom and His Package) punk band Fracture with their off-key vocals and the … Read more
Kill Your Idols
Salmon Swim Upstream
Vicious Circle (2007)
I'm a little disappointed that this is the last release in the storied career of NY's Kill Your Idols. Maybe I'm sad to see them go and wanted one more full-length and not four songs and one Sheer Terror cover that were probably being demoed for the album anyhow. If you never heard Kill Your Idols, they played fast hardcore … Read more
Kill Your Idols
Something Started Here
Get Outta Town / Lifeline (2007)
Kill Your Idols were always one of those bands to me. I never considered myself a fan of their music, maybe having a track or two on various compilations, but I would never outwardly say "they suck" or some similar criticism. My indifference to the band wasn't total either. I can recount seeing them four or five times, almost always … Read more
King Diamond
Give Me Your Soul...Please
Metal Blade (2007)
When writing reviews, the job of the reviewer is to judge the album on its own merits. Only then and even this is in dispute amongst those who review music is it acceptable to compare it to other works by the same artist or to different artists altogether to assist in making your point and to give the reader an … Read more
Kings of Leon
Because of the Times
RCA (2007)
Kings of Leon: the South's answer to rock and roll. Their dirty, sometimes bluesy, sometimes alternative rock can get even the drunkest college kid pumped and ready to roll. That drunken college kid "" I call him Joe Jack "" won't be disappointed with their newest album Because of the Times. On Because of the Times, the rock-o-meter is definitely … Read more
