Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Last Car in Alaska
Comfort

Independent (2006) — Matt

The Last Car in Alaska – Comfort cover artwork
The Last Car in Alaska – Comfort — Independent, 2006

South Carolina trio The Last Car in Alaska play a sort of melodic emo-core that must be pretty popular with the Warped Tour audience they've played to. Some of it sounds pretty amateur in parts (mixing on the first track, "I Like You Man... You're Crazy", features some strange contrasts in vocal volume, and the whole EP has vocals that often sound like they're totally separate from the music) but since these guys seem to have done this solely off their own backs, they do earn some props.

Track two sounds like old At The Drive-In before the vocals come in, and features possibly the most annoying backing vocals I have ever heard in the form of the "Take me home! Take me home!" refrain.

The first few tracks display the most energy here, whereas the latter half of this six-track EP slows things down, with one track telling the grim tale of being a murder suspect. The final track is the ubiquitous acoustic song, complete with wannabe-Hot Water Music gruff vocals. It definitely sounds like these guys have heart and are really into what they're doing, but they need to develop somewhat to escape the clichés and crappiness of the genre.

5.0 / 10 — Matt • September 3, 2007

The Last Car in Alaska – Comfort cover artwork
The Last Car in Alaska – Comfort — Independent, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

Nick Soulsby

Born of Struggle, Living in Hope: The Anarcho-Punk Lives of the Centro Ibérico (1971-1983)
PM Press (2026)

Living in Hope , as the subtitle suggests, is a punk-centric history of the Centro Ibérico, an anarcho-punk squat at 421 Harrow Road. It is also the first book-length treatment of the space, which was at the crossroads of far-right fascist violence, police surveillance, housing disputes, and the punk scene. Founded in 1970 by Spanish Civil War veteran Miguel García … Read more

Roky Erickson And The Aliens

The Evil One (deluxe edition)
Fire Records (2026)

I feel very fortunate to have seen Roky Erickson perform live at SXSW backed by Okkervil River in 2010 or 2011. Erickson passed away in 2019 at the age of 71. For those of you who aren’t already disciples, Roky Erickson was the lead vocalist of legendary Texas psych rockers 13th Floor Elevators. Recorded after the breakup of the Elevators … Read more

Mike D

Thank You
Capitol (2026)

Beastie Boys were a huge part of my transition from teenager into adulthood. An album for every stage of their growth musically matched the many chapters of my own personal development. Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D were like cherished friends for my earholes. The world mourned together when we lost Adam Yauch to cancer in 2012 and were heartbroken knowing … Read more