Search results

Reviews by Michael

588 total search results — Page 1 of 30

Pelican – Australasia

Review — February 29, 2004

Pelican flirted with my heart earlier this year when they released their self-titled debut. And now with the release of their first full length, Australasia, they have completely taken me. It's been quite some time since a band has been able to garner my attention away from all other …

Roy – Big City Sin and Small Town Redemption

Review — February 29, 2004

The whole "ex-members of" marketing campaign is starting to get out of control. The hype that surrounds these types of bands before they even release anything is ridiculous. What is the point of even reviewing them if all you ever hear is about is the artists' former endeavors? And with …

Keelhaul – Subject to Change Without Notice

Review — February 29, 2004

Remember when you and your friends formed your first band? It didn't matter what kind of music you were going to play. As long as you had a really awesome sounding name. So when a band takes the stage and screams "We are Keelhaul, from Cleveland, Ohio," I bet the …

Far From Breaking – The Identity

Review — March 2, 2004

Every once in a while, a band comes along that reminds you why you ever got into hardcore music. Far From Breaking, a five piece outfit from San Antonio, TX, plays upbeat youth-crew revival hardcore similar to Floorpunch, Chain of Strength, and Ten Yard Fight. It is an album filled …

Fantômas – Delirium Cordia

Review — March 4, 2004

Fantômas is a musical group whose sound can best be described as a schizophrenic adventure through the world of an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. The music of Fantômas is both unstable and methodical as well as beautiful and chaotic. Multitalented brainchild Mike Patton and musical cohorts Trevor Dunn, Dave Lombardo, and …

Year of the Rabbit – Year of the Rabbit

Review — March 10, 2004

Before I even begin to go in depth about Year of the Rabbit's major-label debut I want to get one thing clear. I find it unfair to make comparisons and set standards to bands based upon their involvements in previous efforts. Yet, it happens all the time, most recently with …

Premonitions of War – Left In Kowloon

Review — March 1, 2004

What can I say about Toledo, Ohio? Honestly, I never found anything about the city to be remotely appealing at all. Then again, I might be a bit biased against the city after the time I got a flat tire on my way home from a show in Detroit and …

Orange Island – Orange Island

Review — March 12, 2004

Orange Island are one of those bands who have had the unfortunate luck of being horribly mislabeled as emo. A more accurate description of their sound would be calling them an abrasive yet matured indie-rock band with an awareness of a pop-filled past. With the help of two previous releases, …

Pride Kills – Life of Hate

Review — March 18, 2004

While the majority of Texas seems to think that listening to indie rock and "emo" is where all the fun and hype are at, there are those in the know that can attest that people like that know nothing about Texas, let alone its music. During my short-lived time in …

Seemless – Seemless

Review — March 23, 2004

It's been a while since I heard a new band that played some outright rock-n-roll. Enter Massachusetts natives Seemless and their self-titled debut. Seemless, is a supergroup comprised of former members of metalcore stalwarts Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Overcast and Medium. Ironically for fans of those previous efforts, they may …

Error – Error

Review — March 24, 2004

It wasn't that long ago that a band released an album entitled The Shape of Punk to Come. While many ignored its principles, others took the manifesto that Refused declared with that album to heart. By combining elements of electronica, industrial, and punk, Error have done their best to realize …

Shockwave – The Ultimate Doom

Review — March 29, 2004

There was a time during my childhood when my after-school hours were dominated by sitting in front of the television to catch the latest episode of Transformers. It was my love for the show that prompted me to spend every penny I earned buying up Transformers toys. Fortunately I am …

Onelinedrawing – The Volunteers

Review — March 25, 2004

Long before the MTV defined "screamo" fad took the music world by storm, there was the underground phenomenon Far, a four-piece outfit from Sacramento, CA. And fronting this pioneering group was Jonah Matranga, one of the most beloved and respected songwriters in music today. His honest lyrics and soothing harmonies …

Eagles of Death Metal – Peace Love Death Metal

Review — March 31, 2004

For those of us that follow the happenings of the music world closely, it seems there is always a release that involves a Queens of the Stone Age member around the corner. This time Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, alias Carlo Von Sexron, is lending his talents …

27 – Let The Light In

Review — April 5, 2004

27 reach beyond simple classification. Combining bits and pieces from indie rock and trip-hop, as well as post-rock and traditional emo, 27 creates their own distinct sound within the teeming indie rock scene. With an EP, full-length, and a notable guest appearance (Isis - Oceanic) under their belts, the …

Murder By Death – Who Will Survive, And What Will Be Left of Them?

Review — April 8, 2004

I'll be honest right off the bat. The first mention I heard of Murder by Death was when they were making their name change from Little Joe Gould. I had yet to hear any music that the band plays, and my initial reaction was that based on namesake it was …

Skare Tactic – Remember When

Review — April 8, 2004

Remember when hardcore music had more in common with punk bands as opposed to metal ones? Remember when hardcore music was concerned with getting a message out to the people as opposed to figuring out what shirt and bandana to wear with your new kicks? Remember when hardcore lyrics talked …

Lostprophets – Start Something

Review — April 11, 2004

After releasing their debut, The Fake Sound of Progress, Lostprophets have returned with their second album for Columbia Records. On their first effort the band combined the versatility of Faith No More and the radio-appeal of Incubus with the charm of their countrymen Duran Duran. On their new full-length, …

Kid Kilowatt – Guitar Method

Review — April 18, 2004

There are side-projects and then there are supergroups. A side-project is something that a band member fiddles with when they are bored. But a supergroup is a project that no matter how hard it is kept under wraps won't be held back. Kid Kilowatt is a supergroup, a supergroup comprised …

Time for Living – The Cheat is Not Dead

Review — April 22, 2004

The Bay Area and surrounding areas must have an endless supply of hardcore bands. It seems every week I am discovering a new band from the NorCal scene. Time for Living is the latest band to receive my undivided attention, which they first peaked with their demo. With their Rival …