The Chinese Stars
Listen to Your Left Brain
Three One G (2007)
Let's get the ex-members of comparisons out of the way: I loved Arab on Radar. Their assembly line anti-anthems stimulated the same part of my adolescent brain that was dedicated to naked girls and prescription drugs. I listened to tunes like "Attack on Tijuana" over and over, thoughtfully contemplating Mr. Pottymouth's hysterical confessions about yellow snow and oral sex. The … Read more
The Copyrights
Make Sound
Red Scare (2007)
Like the Bible's steadfast conviction in the second coming of Christ, I knew this day would someday come. And goddamnit, it's here! Pop punk - real pop punk - has returned. While far too many bands are priding themselves convoluted songwriting, a whole new batch of bands - some old, some new - are popping up and proving that all … Read more
The Dauntless Elite
Graft
Plan-it-X / Bombed Out (2007)
The Dauntless Elite hail from Leeds and hold the honor of being the first international Plan-it-X band. With Graft, their first full-length, they deliver pop punk akin to many contemporary bands from the Midwestern United States. They've also released an EP and a couple 7"s. Upon putting in the CD, it runs through a few clicks and whistles before kicking … Read more
The Death of a Party
The Rise and Fall of Scarlet City
Double Negative (2007)
Bands need to stop trying to sound like Gang of Four. It's a fact that they will never be Gang of Four, and no one ever will be. Of course there will be cover bands, but those songs are Gang of Four songs. Leave the repetition for Clear Channel Radio, such memorable music isn't meant to be over played. The … Read more
The Degenerics
Generic Record Collection
Soulrebel (2007)
Our recent Scene Point Blank reader's poll told us at least two things about you, the reader: (1) you want to see less reviews of "generic hardcore", and (2) hardcore is your favorite genre. (If this doesn't apply to you, sorry; you should've chipped in!) So you love hardcore, but also hold high standards for it; maybe you're sick of … Read more
The Dirty Projectors
Rise Above
Dead Oceans (2007)
Last February, I went to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI to catch a set by Grizzly Bear, Brooklyn neo-folk indie band. The opener, The Dirty Projectors, I had never heard of and they opened up with a swirling guitar driven jam. Two minutes into the song, the singer/guitarist started belting out the beginning lyrics to Black Flag's "Six … Read more
The Distortions
Machines at Night
Blank (2007)
You know what I liked when I was in high school? Actually, you can probably guess this one. I liked The Smashing Pumpkins. You probably did too. I know for damn sure the Distortions did. Their Myspace page lists them as indie/shoegaze/post-punk, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's possible I don't know what those terms mean, but if … Read more
The Draft
Stop Wastin' My Time/Up All Night
No Idea (2007)
As much as I have been disappointed with most of The Draft's output I really like this two song platter. "Stop Wastin' My Time" recalls mid-period Hot Water Music mixed with any number of rocking Springsteen hits. The B side "Up All Night" has a bouncy rhythm and almost as catchy as the A Side. This 7" is what all … Read more
The Draft
The Draft
Epitaph (2007)
This self-titled EP from The Draft, a digital-only affair (No Idea also released two 7"s with the songs on them), is four songs that are leftovers from last year's In a Million Pieces, so if you didn't like the full-length, you won't like this, and if you did like it, you'll like this. Pretty simple. The first song, "Stop Wastin' … Read more
The Dustheads
Tall Tales I & II
Don Giovanni (2007)
Peanut butter and chocolate; Hall and Oates; French fries and nacho cheese. Some things were meant to be together, but punk and stoner metal? That's kind of like touching two jumper cables together. Explosive! Tall Tales I serves as a nice introduction to what this New York City band is all about. Side A boasts the track "Save Our Souls," … Read more
The End
Elementary
Relapse (2007)
For anyone unfamiliar, The End is a Canadian band that have established themselves as a math metal powerhouse, similar to a more controlled and brooding The Dillinger Escape Plan. Within Dividia and the Transfer Trachea EP were intense, frantic and at times almost impenetrable. Someone should have gotten to them earlier, because with three and a half years between albums, … Read more
The Endless Blockade
The Endless Blockade
Dada Drumming (2007)
The Endless Blockade are d-beat political hardcore from Toronto, Canada. They have one gruff singer and one yelper. It's heavy but generic as all hell. Their fast parts make no sense at all and it comes off as a complete violent blur, which I'm sure is the point. This really isn't my thing but if you haven't showered in a … Read more
The Ergs!
Upstairs/Downstairs
Dirtnap (2007)
The Ergs are self-proclaimed dorks. The great thing is that they are dorks that can write some great hooks. Upstairs/Downstairs is simply The Ergs latest example to demonstrate their ability to write infectious songs about girls and other pop-punk staple subjects. Upstairs/Downstairs delivers where their debut full length, dorkrockcockrod, set the stage for and where last year's EP, Jersey's Best … Read more
The Ergs! / Grabass Charlestons
Split
No Idea (2007)
The Ergs have suddenly become everyone’s favorite pop-punk and with good reason. They contribute two songs of fun catchy songs about girls that will no doubtingly be stuck in your head for weeks on end. Grabass Charlestons come to me as a bit of a surprise. I was expecting either some cowpunk or Hot Water Music inspired rock, but instead … Read more
The Ergs! / Lemuria
Split
Art of the Underground (2007)
More of The Ergs for you. More pop-punk. More songs about girls and this time a rather decent cover of the 90's rock staple "Hey Jealousy." Lemuria are on the poppy side but a tad inclined to the indie rock thing with male and female vocals. Both bands give that "Aw shucks" feeling when you listen to them and that's … Read more
The Fire The Flood
Truth Seekers
No Sleep (2007)
The Fire The Flood hails from North Carolina, a state home to metalcore greats Prayer for Cleansing. Unfortunately, the music that makes up Truth Seekers is nothing worth mentioning in the same sentence as one of the purveyors of modern metalcore. Truth Seekers is comprised of thirteen tracks, of which only two clock in over the two-minute mark. Musically, the … Read more
The Flash Attacks
Revenge of the Fruit Flies
Circle F (2007)
I know I've said this before, but sometimes a randomly received album can be a pleasant surprise. The Flash Attacks latest 7" release, Revenge of the Fruit Flies arrived at my door unsolicited, but you won't hear me complaining. Over the course of these four songs, the New Jersey three-piece unleashes a high-octane onslaught of hardcore punk with some thrashy … Read more
The Flatliners
The Great Awake
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)
The Flatliners hail from Toronto, Canada and The Great Awake is their second full-length. By the Fat Wreck Chords connection, you can certainly expect this, in the most general of descriptions, to be punk music. And sure enough, The Flatliners offer up twelve punk anthems to cause a ruckus to on this album. However, The Flatliners aren't your run-of-the-mill punk … Read more
