La Coka Nostra
Masters of the Dark Arts
Fat Beats (2012)
Masters of the Dark Arts marks the return of La Coka Nostra, a rap supergroup who were last heard from in ’09 on their then long-awaited debut album A Brand You Can Trust. LCN had originally assembled sometime in ’05 as a much larger entity than they are today. With a large contingent of Caucasian members in tow, the original … Read more
Lana Del Rey
Born To Die
Polydor (2012)
Elizabeth Grant, now better known as Lana Del Rey, aka the ‘Gangster Nancy Sinatra’, or as one of the more prominent faces in the ‘New Boring’ movement that threatens to dominate the charts for a considerable period of time, now releases her debut album, if you ignore the one released under her real name, Born to Die just a few … Read more
Lasting Impression
301.9
Self Released (2012)
Hardcore really isn’t my thing. Still, every once and a while I like to break out of my comfort zone with something different. Lasting Impression, hailing from LaCrosse, WI, refer to themselves as “high energy hardcore.” There are a number of scenes or bands that could be name-dropped, but sticking with the basics as they do seems a solid approach. … 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
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
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
Lil Fame & Termanology
Fizzyology
Brick (2012)
Lil Fame of M.O.P., going by his producer moniker “Fizzy Womack,” has crafted soundscapes for a for the likes of Kool G Rap, Cam’Ron and the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as a number of songs in M.O.P.’s catalogue. So when Boston emcee Termanology set out to start work on another solo album he linked up with Fame to be his … Read more
Lions Lions
To Carve Our Names
Hollywood Waste (2012)
Lions Lions are a band you should be listening to, but probably aren’t. Regardless of the years spent developing in the local New England scene in a myriad of other very talented bands (including Vanna and Therefore I Am), Lions Lions continue to fly under the radar amongst the throngs of typical pop-punk bands now clogging up a new generation’s … Read more
Lockerbie
Ólgusjór
Kapitän Platte (2012)
I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album quite as much as I did. Though it's not perfect, Lockerbie's 2011 release Ólgusjór is something that pretty much everyone will find something to like about.They have the same kitschy Icelandic appeal and post-rock sound of Sigur Rós combined with the accessibility and songwriting of Coldplay. There are tons of bright … Read more
Locrian & Mamiffer
Bless Them That Curse You
Sige\Land Of Decay\Profound Lore\Daymare (2012)
Without a doubt in my mind, Bless Them That Curse You is one of those releases that without hearing a single note of music, people will immediately become excited by the prospects of just such a pairing (hell, I know I did when both groups of musicians began posting pictures of recording sessions and pictures of pieces of paper outlining … Read more
Locrian With Christoph Heemann
Self Titled
Handmade Birds (2012)
There is definitely an incredibly creeped out vibe coming out of my speakers right now, and I mean that in only the best possible way because the tension building dark ambience of this inspired collaboration is a work of what could be a singular artist as the music is so spot on in its execution and delivery that the idea … Read more
Lovesliescrushing
Glinter
TQA Records (2012)
Sitting down with Glinter forces me to ask why loveliescrushing is not more of a go to “band” for my listening habits given the theoretical confluence of sounds that people ascribe to this long running creative duo, but then it just hits me, loveliescrushing has just never hit me at the right time or been fortuitous before with the timing … Read more
Lunaire
With the Same Smiles as Those Days
Independent (2012)
Australia’s Lunaire first released a well-received demo in 2010 which was followed up by a lauded split with the American cross-coast project Airs. Now Lunaire offer their first EP, With the Same Smile as Those Days, which continues the quartet’s dreamy post-rock from earlier releases and steps forward as a band to watch out for. The four track EP combines … Read more
Luther
Let's Get You Somewhere Else
Chunksaah (2012)
Philadelphia’s Luther have been quick to grab attention. The band, formed just two years ago, has played on some high profile tours and just signed with Chunksaah Records to release their debut full-length after last year’s Siblings and Sevens EP. The new full-length, Let’s Get You Somewhere Else was recorded by the Bouncing Souls’ Pete Steinkopf.A four-piece, Luther play an … Read more
Lymbyc Systym
Symbolyst
Western Vinyl (2012)
Lymbyc Systym's third studio-album was released September 18th via Western Vinyl. This effort comes three years after the band's Shutter Release (Mush Records) and their split Field Studies with This Will Destroy You on Magic Bullet Records. So what were the Bell brothers up to during this three-year span? Traveling, living on separate continents, studying, and adding personnel to their … Read more
Mares Of Thrace
The Pilgrimage
Sonic Unyon (2012)
Mares Of Thrace are a band apart from the norm. Merely sound-wise they stick outside of the given genre parameters. Meanwhile, one look at their facebook page or the statement they make in a live setting will give any people wanting to pigeonhole them a whole new headache. Let's get this out of the way first, Mares are a two … Read more
Marillion
Sounds That Can't Be Made
earMUSIC (2012)
All bands have an expiry date; some bands are just more aware of that fact than others. And when an act has been around as long as Marillion has, it's not uncommon for their age to begin to show. Whether or not that is a bad thing is uncertain--some classic rock acts have put out some of their best material … Read more
Mårran
Mårran
S-Rock (2012)
Mårran are a traditional rock band out of Sweden, playing only the most barebones, no-frills hard rock possible. They take their name from the Groke, a Swedish character from the Moomins, who is a ghostly figure constantly in search of warmth and light, and yet able to achieve neither due to her innate coldness, freezing all that comes into contact … Read more
