The Ocean
Precambrian
Metal Blade (2008)
Robin Staps, The Ocean's high-striving frontman must be one hell of an easy person to work with. It's either that, or he is a dictator of epic proportions and has an ego the size of Mount Kilimanjaro. When our favorite music magazines are riddled with tales of inter band friction, even when talking about three douchebags who recently took the … Read more
The Offspring
Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Columbia (2008)
With an album title that sounds like the most recent Foo Fighters record, a song called "Fix You" (I thought Coldplay had already professed that particular desire), and a collection of tracks that sound like they want to be Green Day, My Chemical Romance or The Offspring circa 1994, The Offspring have become imitators and glory-day seekers, shapeshifting and morphing … Read more
The Old Haunts
Poisonous Times
Kill Rock Stars (2008)
What is it with bands changing drummers so often? I know it's not uncommon to change a member in a group but it seems like the drummers are slightly over-represented in these statistics. Research into this band from Olympia, Washington shows that for each one of their releases they have introduced a new drummer to the fold. For Poisonous Times … Read more
The Oswald Effect
Love & Sabotage
Independent (2008)
This looked promising when it first showed up in the mail. But as some wise person once said, looks can be deceiving. This Seattle four-piece certainly have their chops together, but the styles presented here are such a mish mash that it's hard to swallow. Musically they are rocking enough, but vocally I just couldn't get into them. The singer … Read more
The Out_Circuit
Pierce the Empire with a Sound
Lujo (2008)
Frodus is one of those bands that just didn't seem to get the recognition they truly deserved until after their breakup, and they're still extremely overlooked. Following their demise in 1999, bassist Nathan Burke started up his own project with friend Andy Gale. The Out_Circuit is what it became and the band eventually released its first album, Burn Your Scripts … Read more
The Photographic
Pictures of a Changing World
Galaxia (2008)
Clocking in at just under an hour, Pictures of a Changing World is truly a cohesive release encompassing a gamut of emotions; a valiant task considering The Photographic don't have the luxury of words. Like most instrumental bands the two-piece is heavily reliant on reoccurring themes while expanding on such ideas with the help of loops. The effort comes across … Read more
The Pink Spiders
Sweat it Out
Mean Buzz (2008)
This might be the first band I've reviewed that I've also loaded gear for. I worked a show a couple years back when The Pink Spiders were opening for Kill Hannah, and helped load their stuff in. So I have a strange complex with them. It's like I'm their servant, their underling. And I don't like it. What I have … Read more
The Poison Arrows
Casual Wave
File 13 (2008)
Being from Chicago, The Poison Arrows have a style that unmistakeably brings to mind the old, early to mid 90's alternative rock scene. Since that particular time spawned quite a few great bands then this can be considered a good prospect. The debut EP from this band doesn't necessarily resemble the noisy endeavors of Steve Albini or the madness of … Read more
The Quit
Minus Tide
Tindrum (2008)
Starting an indie album with a song called "Manchester" is a little bit like putting the word "Metaphor" in the title of a poem. It's obvious; a red flag. Given Manchester's place in the history of indie albums, it's about as subtle as the dude in the chicken suit outside the tire shop. HEARTBROKEN POP!! reads the sandwich board, heavy … Read more
The Reds
Fugitives from the Laughing House
Tarock (2008)
Fugitives from the Laughing House comes twenty years after The Reds released their first single. Despite such a history, the band is not a household name and, with Fugitives from the Laughing House being only the band's second full-length since 1984 (sixth total) it's not that they've been overly prolific. While I am unfamiliar with most of the band's releases, … Read more
The Riot Before
Fists Buried in Pockets
Say-10 (2008)
The Riot Before hail from Richmond but look and sound like a Gainesville band. Musically, I'd lump them in with American Steel and old Against Me!. There is a folk undertone, but the music is electric guitar-fueled punk rock with strong, emotive vocals. The band quickly establishes their sound with the titular track "Fists Buried in Pockets," a minimalist song … Read more
The Sea and Cake
Car Alarm
Thrill Jockey (2008)
That easy, jazz-infused post-rock has come a long way since adopting a mispronunciation of their intended band name (The "C" in Cake). The Sea and Cake have extended themselves as a group after almost fifteen years, and now eight full-lengths, of playing. After taking a three-year hiatus, The Sea and Cake returned to the studio with last year's Everybody. Although … Read more
The Seven Mile Journey
The Metamorphosis Project
Fonogram/Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand (2008)
Operating under the post-rock banner, The Seven Mile Journey's The Metamorphosis Project offers an hour of sparse and atmospheric soundscapes. It is the group's second release for Denmark's Fonogram Agency, and is released in the United States on Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand. The design is minimal yet eye-catching, with a white logo stamped in the corner of a glossy … Read more
The Shaky Hands
Lunglight
Kill Rock Stars (2008)
It's raining today. No sun. Shaking angly tree branches. Impenetrable sky rising up out of the ground. Hourless glide from late morning to dusk. I've been in bed all afternoon, admitting how sick I've gotten over the last week. Fucking autumn: always makes me think of Portland. Portland used to be my girl. Well... Portland used to be the girl … Read more
The Slackers
Self Medication
Indication (2008)
You might not like ska music, but The Slackers are the exception to that rule (at least for me and probably should be for anyone else) with their smoother sound and laid back vibes which incorporate a variety of sounds across many different genres from jazz to salsa to soul, which all create the amalgamation that is their distinct style. … Read more
The Stills
Oceans Will Rise
Arts & Crafts (2008)
The third record finds this Canadian five-piece returning to the smooth atmospheric rock of their debut. But with more songwriting maturity to show for it, this is actually a stronger release. "Snow in California" and "Being Here" are the stand out songs, but really this CD works well as a whole. I've never been to Eastern Europe, but I think … Read more
The Streets
Everything is Borrowed
679/Vice (2008)
2008 was the year where journalists pushed and shoved each other to be the first to frantically lavish praise upon a rapper with the voice of a frog, underwhelming beats, and the lyrical talent of a self-obsessed sixth grader. Tha Carter III has made everyone temporarily insane, and it's going to be fun in about five years watching everyone listen … Read more
The Sump Pumps
Revenge of The Sump Pumps
8Bit (2008)
With a name like The Sump Pumps, these guys are not exactly making it easier for you to check out more information on them online, unless you're interested in basement pump systems and the weird origins of this quirky quartet's name. Revenge of The Sump Pumps is nevertheless a good title for an album, especially when it's kick started with … Read more
