76 total search results — Page 3 of 4
Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Review — October 10, 2007
Awarding Josh Ritter the title of "the next Bob Dylan" seems audacious, but repeated listens to The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter proves it a worthy statement to make. The opening track, "To the Dogs or Whoever," exhibits Dylan-esque vocals and rhythm, reminding me of '65 when Dylan tried to …
The Leftovers – On the Move
Review — October 11, 2007
Before we start, let's go over the checklist: Leather Jackets: Check! Chuck Taylor All Stars: Check! Tapered leg blue jeans: Check! Pomade: Check! Three different power chords: Check! We even have four! Crushes on at least ten different girls: Double check! WE'RE READY TO ROCK! Boys, men, and all you …
Antelope – Reflector
Review — November 8, 2007
Sometimes simple repetition makes the biggest impact. Sometimes simple repetition makes the biggest impact. SOMETIMES SIMPLE REPETITION MAKES THE BIGGEST IMPACT. Obviously it isn't working for me, but D.C.'s Antelope make something seemingly annoying into a subtle art form. That is, if you're not easily annoyed. Most of the …
The Midwestern – The Midwestern
Review — November 8, 2007
This is what happens when a band has yet to find its style. What we have here is some decent songwriting that comes off as underdeveloped. The track "Molsen Golden" starts as a respectable jam with enough intricacy and tempo changes to call back memories of The Cancer Conspiracy and …
Dusty Rhodes and The River Band – First You Live
Review — November 13, 2007
With an Americana backbone, Dusty Rhodes and The River Band play a type of rock similar to CCR, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and other sixties acts that incorporated a strong folk/country influence into their sound without being gimmicky. Can't place those names? Then imagine Flogging Molly less punk, more …
Chiodos – Bone Palace Ballet
Review — November 15, 2007
Before we begin, a short caveat: a little more than six years ago, when first throwing myself into the world of hardcore and post-anything, I was a fan of some terrible music. My CD and t-shirt collection was almost an homage to Trustkill Records. And for a time, I actually …
Prideswallower – Lifeswallower
Review — November 20, 2007
Anyone educated in the Louisville family tree of hardcore punk bands - Coliseum, Breather Resist, Young Widows, Black Cross, etc - already knows what to expect from Prideswallower, the latest Kentucky export. But for the unfamiliar, allow me to explain: While each band has a sound unique enough to stand …
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Review — November 29, 2007
Few of us lead the jet-set life, so when television and tabloid magazines glorify the lives of celebrities it often leaves us feeling ordinary and under whelmed. Could our lives be that anti-climatic? Where does meaning lie in the routine? Is there anything extraordinary about everyday life? John K. Samson …
The Polyphonic Spree – The Fragile Army
Review — December 3, 2007
Calling The Polyphonic Spree a Flaming Lips knockoff would be lazy and unfair to the Spree's aesthetic, but the similarities are so blatant. Not using The Lips as a point of reference seems just as criminal. So what roads to both these bands walk? To begin, Spree vocalist Tim DeLaughter …
Look Mexico – This is Animal Music
Review — December 18, 2007
With the exception of Gainesville, nothing good ever comes out of Florida. Or so I thought until I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing Look Mexico. Astonishing, entrancing, downright entertaining: all proper verbs to describe their performance. The next day I couldn't remember what they sounded like due to circumstances …
Sweet Cobra – Forever
Review — December 19, 2007
Attempting to mix hardcore, d-beat, and riff heavy rock, Sweet Cobra does each with authority but sound unfocused when fusing them all at once. Credit is due though for attempting to splice genres, making a hybrid of crushing music. At times Forever sounds like a From Ashes Rises record, worthy …
Ghostface Killah – The Big Doe Rehab
Review — December 23, 2007
On his seventh album it sounds like Ghostface is handing over the reins to the less noted, giving more of his name and less of his talent, allowing the up and comers to ride on his success. The overall presentation of the album seems rushed and halfhearted; perhaps he assumes …
Dethklok – The Dethalbum
Review — January 17, 2008
Metal, or all rock and roll for that matter, exists due to two necessary components: lies - fantasy a more fitting title if you're into prog rock - and boisterous showmanship. This truth then makes the next statement undeniable: Dethklok is the best metal band ever! How do I …
The Loved Ones – Build & Burn
Review — February 14, 2008
Build & Burn begins with what ostensibly sounds like an unsure Loved Ones. The first three tracks are throwbacks of three very different styles of punk rock. The first song "Pretty Good Year," a b-side from Keep Your Heart, finds the band treading ground already heard on previous releases, …
All Teeth and Knuckles – Club Hits to Hit the Club With
Review — February 14, 2008
This is what happens when trust fund kids with expendable bank accounts get their hands on keyboards and samplers: an album of weak dance tracks with sing-speak vocalists telling bad jokes about people they despise. I'm sure this is supposed to be a joke, but then there's some truth to …
Paint It Black – New Lexicon
Review — February 24, 2008
In the world of hardcore punk there is nary a person so forward thinking as Dan Yemin. This thought applies to all aspects of his band Paint it Black: presentation, politics, and, as highlighted on New Lexicon, production. During an interview I held with Yemin, he pointed to hip-hop …
The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
Review — March 2, 2008
After hearing The Sunset Tree, I was certain that John Darnielle was incapable of writing songs that even hint at happiness. Hope is abundant, but joy is absent. His songs are stories of lives endured. Each album is an anthology of damaged characters trying to survive unfortunate circumstances. Heretic Pride …
Teenage Bottlerocket – Warning Device
Review — March 11, 2008
Bark Like a Dog by Screeching Weasel was the first punk rock album that I ever fell in love with, which means (in theory) that any album that reminds of Bark Like a Dog will serve me as a romantic rehashing of why I fell in love punk rock. This …
Lemuria – Get Better
Review — March 13, 2008
Regardless of how terrible life can get, there is truth in the statement that things will Get Better. While most people are looking for success, happiness, and love to make them complete, it's the small things, the particulars, which make life so wonderful. Get Better is an album of …
