28 total search results — Page 1 of 2
The Flaming Lips – At War With the Mystics
Review — May 30, 2006
Even months before its release, it seemed as if everyone had already assumed that the latest record from The Flaming Lips would effectively mark the end of the band's run as alternative rock's quirky reigning champions. When the first single from At War With the Mystics hit the airwaves, I …
Constants – The Murder of Tom Fitzgerril
Review — June 8, 2006
I'm a sucker for sprawling, epic rock music. Mogwai, Isis, M83, etc... You name it, I'm in. There's just something about music that slowly draws you in and hypnotizes you that really fuels my engine. About six months ago, my band was scheduled to play a show at this awful …
Paatos – Silence of Another Kind
Review — June 20, 2006
Prog-rock is quite an unstable ground to tread upon. One uneven step can send you hurtling into the abyss of ridiculous pretentiousness. As Silence of Another Kind begins, Paatos is already dangerously close to losing their footing. "Shame", while aptly named, does nothing more than give the impression of a …
The Futureheads – News and Tributes
Review — June 26, 2006
In late 2004, The Futureheads punctured the mope-heavy indie rock bubble with the delivery of their hyperactive post-punk debut album. The harmony laden, adrenaline fueled romp immediately caught my attention and remained in my CD player well into the next year. Now, it appears that the cycle has started anew …
End of a Year – Sincerely
Review — July 9, 2006
I have decided that a review for End of a Year's Sincerely should mimic the album's defining characteristics. So this review will be written quickly with an abundance of energy and a smattering of thought. Sincerely is an album that is so engulfed by its own influences that it almost …
Rhymefest – Blue Collar
Review — July 16, 2006
Honestly, Blue Collar could have been one of the best hip-hop albums of the year. A few months ago, when he first caught my attention, around two-dozen Rhymefest songs were already circulating the Internet. More than half of these are undeniably some of the best mainstream hip-hop tracks in recent …
From a Second Story Window – Delenda
Review — August 7, 2006
Though never officially diagnosed, I am almost certain that I suffer from some form of Attention Deficit Disorder. Apparently, only 4 to 6 percent of all Americans actually have ADD. This estimate seems remarkably low considering the ever-decreasing attention spans of many modern hardcore/metal bands. From a Second Story Window …
Supersystem – A Million Microphones
Review — August 21, 2006
A Million Microphones is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of the year. Supersystem, minus the drummer, was formerly known as El Guapo. Despite releasing records on Dischord, El Guapo never managed to make an impression on me. So when they changed their name to Supersystem and signed to Touch …
Outkast – Idlewild
Review — August 29, 2006
Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton have reached an interesting point in their careers. After a handful of exceptional albums, Outkast have finally hit their slump. Since their music is essentially created by two people, it is easy to look at their history as a relationship. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was their awkward but …
Cataract – Kingdom
Review — September 13, 2006
Heavy metal and I have been struggling through a rocky love affair since I was thirteen years old. Aside from a few exceptions, metal in the 21st century has been rather disappointing. The most encouraging thing that I can say about Cataract is that their hearts are definitely in the …
Nueva Etica – Inquebrantable
Review — September 20, 2006
Spanish is a very musical language. It flows naturally with any rhythm and can accentuate the beauty of a melody like no other. For any artist, this particular romance language is a highly favorable ally. Nueva Etica, an aggressive hardcore/metal band from Argentina, fully embraces their native language. They are …
Cinemechanica – The Martial Arts
Review — September 27, 2006
Cinemechanica are a math-rock quartet from Athens, Georgia. They are responsible for one of the most aurally exciting albums of the year. The Martial Arts is an exercise in both energy and audacity. While their sound is very reminiscent of early Q and Not U or Drive Like Jehu, Cinemechanica …
Eyes Averted – Paralyzing Passion and Motion
Review — October 8, 2006
It seems strange that a band like Eyes Averted would end up having to self-release their debut album. Before Paralyzing Passion and Motion was completed, the band was abruptly dropped from their label. Why would this happen? What acceptable excuse could there possibly be? The technical, almost progressive, hardcore style …
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
Review — October 17, 2006
Six months later... what can I possibly say about St. Elsewhere that hasn't already been ejaculated from the unnecessarily verbose ink-members of numerous self-indulgent online music critics? Yes, it's the best album of the year; it rests securely in the top-ten for this decade. It has been praised by critics, …
Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
Review — November 2, 2006
"Yes, yes, yes. Guess who's on third? Lupe still like Lupin the Third." Little did we know that our introduction to Lupe Fiasco on Kanye West's "Touch the Sky" was merely a taste of what this Chicago native had to offer. While not a complete unknown, Lupe's previous appearances had …
Gamenight – Simple Starts in the Mind
Review — November 6, 2006
In the mid to late nineties, there was an overwhelming flood of new bands practicing the musical style known as emo. At that point, the three-letter term covered a much wider range of rock groups. Bands that would now be neatly separated into sub-categories like shoegaze, math-rock, or post-punk were …
Bison B.C. – Lovelessness
Review — December 17, 2012
Every band reaches their peak at some point. Some blow their wads right out of the gate and spend the rest of their careers desperately trying to recreate an inexplicable combination of luck, talent, and inspiration. Some clumsily struggle through multiple albums worth of missteps before finally finding their collective …
The Black Widow's Project – Heavy Heart
Review — January 9, 2013
Initially, I thought I had this band all figured out. From the obvious stoner metal influence and playful title of the lead track, “Ha ha ha uh”, I felt like I knew exactly what to expect. These guys were not interested in odd time signatures or complicated song arrangements. They …
Burnt Books – Self Titled
Review — January 22, 2013
It’s no secret that women are highly unrepresented in heavy metal and its various sub-genres. Their absence is clearly a result of the “boys club” mentality that seems to have been a defining characteristic of heavy music since its inception. It would seem logical to equate aggressive music with masculinity, …
