The Morning After Girls
Alone
Independent (2009)
The Morning After Girls are a band from New York by way of Melbourne. I have to assume their name is more a reference to the haziness that follows a night out, as opposed to the pill bearing a similar name. Musically, they are descendants of the fuzzy psych-rock of bands like Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, … Read more
The Murder City Devils
The White Ghost Has Blood on Its Hands Again
Independent (2014)
Reunited bands have a tendency to disappoint. Maybe their hearts aren’t in it the second time around, maybe they’ve changed as artists and individuals, or maybe the expectations of a rabid fanbase are impossible to meet.Whatever the case, let’s put aside our memories of In Name and Blood, their last studio full-length which came out 14 years ago, and focus … Read more
The National Rifle
Wage Life
Independent (2008)
What if Elvis Costello was still churning out upbeat, poppy numbers like his early work? What if you took away some of the crackle and rough edges, and replaced them with pristine production and a lot of "whoa-oh-oh's"? What if, to spice things up, you threw in a dash of socialist rhetoric, a pinch of hand-held percussion, and a sprinkle … Read more
The New Enemy
Outsourced
Independent (2009)
The first track sounds like Kid Dynamite so right away I thought I found a new melodic hardcore band to fall in love with. Then there's track two...okay...this sounds like Quicksand or Handsome. The only way I can tell it's the same band is the vocals, which are far too gruff for this type of post hardcore rock. It's still … Read more
The Next Great American Novelist
Careless Moon
Independent (2020)
Insert joke about judging a book by its cover, in reference to a band who calls themselves The Next Great American Novelist -- somewhere the ego of Dave Eggers shudders. The trio of indie rockers from Brooklyn is the brainchild of lead singer-songwriter Sean Cahill, and their moniker may indeed be tongue-in-cheek enough to stand up to the irony. Cahill … Read more
The Oswald Effect
Love & Sabotage
Independent (2008)
This looked promising when it first showed up in the mail. But as some wise person once said, looks can be deceiving. This Seattle four-piece certainly have their chops together, but the styles presented here are such a mish mash that it's hard to swallow. Musically they are rocking enough, but vocally I just couldn't get into them. The singer … Read more
The Pax Cecilia
Blessed are the Bonds
Independent (2007)
If I had to loosely describe The Pax Cecilia I would have to use the term "rock," but doing so would be a great disservice to the individuals that created Blessed are the Bonds. The eight songs that comprise the one hour of music that is this release do contain many different element; the band infuses their sound with elements … Read more
The Pax Cecilia
Nouveau
Independent (2004)
So you're in a rock band and you already look different than other bands with your crazy hair and fingernail polish, but you want to sound different. So you add a keyboard to your band. Fucktacular, bro! In addition to adding a new instrument to a band, another option that The Pax Cecilia takes with Nouveau is to synthesize previously … Read more
The Pledge
Distress
Independent (2006)
I don't really consider myself to be a professional journalist by any means. But in my position as an "in my spare time journalist" I frequently come across fairly unknown yet promising bands that are truly deserving of high praise. The most recent of those being Dayton, Ohio's The Pledge. Distress is the band's debut 7", or at least it … Read more
The Reed Sea
No Help
Independent (2009)
Hailing from Oregon, this four-piece outfit has brought forth a four-song EP titled No Help. The title of the EP is fitting as the band has recorded and packaged the entire release themselves. Granted, it's limited to screen printed cardboard sleeves, but that's still cool. I appreciate the DIY effort. "Holy Pigs" is the lead song and immediately you're greeted … Read more
The Resinators
Recorded In 2005 By Jay Reatard
Independent (2024)
Interesting little slab we got sent to SPB by a Mr. Ed Young. Two originals and a cover, recorded in Jay Reatard’s living room back in 2005 as the title suggests. So that would be around the time of The Reatards’ Not Fucked Enough for anyone keeping track. Jay had apparently just switched from analog to digital recording but it … Read more
The Silks
Last American Band
Independent (2013)
When I first caught The Silks playing in a friends living room I was amazed at the raw energy these guys bring to a live show and as we have learned time and again, one of the hardest things to pull off as a record producer is to capture that sound and feel in the studio. Well I'm happy to … Read more
The Spirit of 76
The Spirit of 76
Independent (2009)
There's probably nothing else that I hate worse that when bands I've never heard of because they happen to know the same people I do and they want me to review their latest release. For some reason they know I "work" for an online music site (which, by the way, they can never remember the name of) and it would … Read more
The Starting Point
It's Something You Learn
Independent (2005)
It's not often that I sit down to listen to a hardcore record from a band I'm completely unfamiliar with, and fall in love instantly. Two weeks later I'm sitting in the same seat of my Algebra II class playing chest-drums to "Let it Take You Home." The thought that there are hundreds of local hardcore outfits like The Starting … Read more
The Thucydidean Theory
Chapter III: World Reclamation
Independent (2008)
Chapter III: World Reclamation is a bizarre release. The Thucydidean Theory combine punk and trance arrangements that are heavily bass-driven. This four song release features female vocals that mingle with vocal-like synth sounds. "Please Stop Calling My Office and Yelling 'Cunt' at Whoever Answers the Telephone" is the most upbeat track on World Reclamation. Although the band's hybridized ideas are … Read more
The Tomb Tones
Ghost Of Toast
Independent (2023)
Atlanta, Georgia three piece horrorbilly rocksters The Tomb Tones released their debut album "Pumpkin Guts" in 2020 and are now following up with this brand new spooky foodie fable Ghost of Toast! This album tells the gruesome tale of Bill Higgins, a mill worker for the Miracle Bread Company back in the 60s. It was reported that Bill fell into … Read more
The Twilight Collective
All in Due Time
Independent (2005)
So lately you've seen a lot of new bands popping up. The first thing you see is 'ex-members of ______ and ______!!!!' HOLY CRAP, you mean this band has members from all of my favorite bands? They're writing songs together? YES!! It seems as though so many of the new bands recently have become sort of incestuous, all sleeping and … Read more
The Uncomfortables
Demo
Independent (2005)
When I first started to listen to this demo, I thought it sounded as if Motorhead had a side project that kind of sucked a little, but was still Motorhead, at least. Turns out, The Uncomfortables are more like if you mixed Soundgarden with something else that sucks and sucked it through a straw so you could have both Soundgarden … Read more
