United Nations
The Next Four Years
Temporary Residence (2014)
United Nations have been locked away for a few years now. Members have come and gone and we aren't even exactly sure which ones. In those four years though, they created music, and that music is finally available to the masses in the form of The Next Four Years. While it's being released as a new full length, it's fair … Read more
Van Dammes
The VD EP
Keep Fishin Music (2014)
Though the band is not doing anything that the typical punk rock fan wouldn’t have heard dozens of times before, there’s definite energy and excitement in the four rowdy songs featured on Finnish group Van Dammes’ debut EP. Opening track “(Let’s) Go” kicks the album into high gear immediately, with the sort of singalong punk one would expect from The … Read more
Various Artists
Balsa/Sei Hexe - Split EP
String Break (2014)
Two bands hailing from the US Northwest bring a Metalcore filled split from String Break Records. Seattle's, Balsa, take control of the first half with three tracks, while Portland's all-female act, Sei Hexe, fills out the rest of the split with two tracks. Balsa opens the EP with, "Rasputin." The track doesn't hesitate to play with the core of the … Read more
Various Artists
Clockwork Orange County: The Rise of West Coast Punk Rock
MVD Visual (2014)
Detailing the history of southern California punk of the late 1970s and early ‘80s and in particular, the scene that revolved around the legendary Cuckoo’s Nest club which hosted live music shows, the 2012 documentary Clockwork Orange County: The Rise of West Coast Punk Rock! (which earlier had been released under the title of We Were Feared) covers a fascinating … Read more
Various Artists
Crybaby/Casual - Split EP
Secret Audio Club (2014)
I hate to simplify the role of the split 7”—they’re about way more than this, in truth—but one of the greatest purposes the split 7” plays is in introducing yourself to new bands. Most of the time, the pairings are based on similar sounds or friendships and it’s a good way to branch out and find new groups. This split … Read more
Various Artists
Dale Cooper Quartet & The Dictaphones/Witxes - Split
Denovali (2014)
When it comes to minimalistic ambient and dark jazz it does not get much better than these. Two great acts from France coexist within this split album. The Dale Cooper Quartet & The Dictaphones can be considered a legendary act, with a résumé of high quality albums such as their debut, Parole De Navare and their sophomore release Metamanoir. Witxes … Read more
Various Artists
GC Records 15 Year Anniversary Comp: A Snapshot of the 2014 Las Vegas Music Scene
GC Records (2014)
GC Records 15 Year Anniversary Comp: A Snapshot of the 2014 Las Vegas Music Scene is two things: it’s homage to 15 years of success at GC Records and it’s a time capsule of a local music scene. Does it succeed on both ends? From a non-Vegas resident, it seems so. There is a variety of music included, largely in … Read more
Various Artists
Joie De Vivre/Prawn - Split EP
Topshelf (2014)
The recent collaboration between emo acts Prawn (NY/NJ-based) and Joie De Vivre (Illinois-based) is a rad split album packed with guitar twinkles and gloomy vocals.Joie De Vivre starts off the split. Compared to past albums like We’re All Better Than This and The North End, JDV’s three songs on the collaboration are heavier and, production-wise, more lavish. Their stand out … Read more
Various Artists
Low Culture-Needles//Pins - split 7"
Dirtnap (2014)
I’ve probably said this before for those 3 people who read all of my reviews, but I feel that the 7” is one of the hardest items to review. Not because they’re short, but because it takes a truly special 7” to jump from an 8 to a 10. It’s a hard format to nail, but it’s fairly easy to … Read more
Various Artists
NEONAUTICS v.01
SkyQode (2014)
Running nearly 70 minutes in length, the Neonautics v.01 compilation from Russian label skyQode collects sixteen tracks (many of which in album-exclusive versions) from a variety of European synthpop artists who clearly know their stuff when it comes to making catchy, danceable electronic music. Full of bouncy rhythms, lots of flashy keyboard and synthesizer, and awkward but lovable “English as … Read more
Vegas
Sagevisule
Last Anthem (2014)
The ever elusive Vegas has returned. While the band have released a scant few songs in the years since their full-length those songs have shown them maitaining a sense of quality. After a lengty wait a new EP containing four songs arrives, reflecting what Vegas is and where they may be heading.The whole shebang begins with a dark riff sounding … Read more
Versus You
Moving On
Bomber Music (2014)
Versus You's album Moving On is short and sweet, but not with out its flaws. It's heartbreak music at its semi finest and the simple yet meaningful lyrics and fun brand of melodic, emotional pop punk establishes itself well with the opening track “When It All Goes Down.” Don't be fooled by the opening track, there's a lot this album … Read more
Versus You
Moving On
Bomber Music (2014)
Despite a confrontational name, Versus You are every bit positive punx with songs praising friendship, relationships, and the like. It’s not that they play bubbly music countered with cynical lyrics, but they place peppy rock that’s further emphasized by sunny reflections over a gritty pop punk sound. The band is also pretty guilty of abusing the RIYL tag on a … Read more
Vow
Make Me Yours EP
The Native Sound (2014)
Easily the aural equivalent of the light and fluffy clouds that pepper your daydreams, LA duo Vow's second EP Make Me Yours finds them producing a more definitive sound couched in an ethereal sweetness. Opener "Miles Away" embraces an industrial aesthetic with vocalist Julia Blake's lithe, sugar-sweet singing acting as a curveball amongst the heavy, morose synths. It sounds like … Read more
WAR//PLAGUE
Temperaments of War EP
Profane Existence (2014)
Over the course of their last few records these Minneapolis crust punk stalwarts have really honed their metal chops. I’ll do my best to avoid any “who put their metal in my punk” type of argument and just say, as someone who prefers my metalpunx leaning more to the punk side, I find Temperaments of War a little less intriguing … Read more
White Lung
Deep Fantasy
Domino (2014)
Deep Fantasy is pissed off, but it could still use a good angry howl every so often.The record, the third from Vancouver’s White Lung, is their first on Domino Records and was recorded as a trio (though they still tour as a quartet). The band has seen its fair share of comparisons to Pretty Girls Make Graves and this release … Read more
White Reaper
White Reaper EP
Polyvinyl (2014)
White Reaper is a cool-named trio who are rubber-burning their way out of the Louisville, KY DIY scene. There’s a dude named Tony Esposito who sings and plays the guitar, and twin brothers Nick and Sam Wilkerson who play drums and bass respectively. Their self-titled debut EP will appeal to fans of Wavves, Japandroids, and Jay Reatard. Hate to drop … Read more
Wild Beasts
Present Tense
Domino (2014)
Wild Beasts are a curious entity and their singular approach to “indie” is one that has seem them take on more electronic feel as their career has progressed and with Present Tense those elements come to the fore while allowing the band to retain their unique sound and emotion. Present Tense is the British bands’ fourth full length and for … Read more
