Atmosphere’s MC, Slug has made a career, literally, out of exploiting and exercising his own personal demons as well as of those around him. He has an uncanny knack for telling a deeply personal story—sometimes his, sometimes someone else’s—all while moving the crowd. In short, he’s the heart-on-his-sleeve guy who rocks the party. Though, as Slug gets older, there’s a little less of the fun stuff. The Family Sign, the newest album by the Minneapolis, MN hip-hop powerhouse is being billed as Slug’s most intimate and personal release thus far—“metaphorically touching on themes of fatherhood, loss, love, disappointment and jubilation and tailoring them to the instrumental frame work provided by Ant.” While the lyrical content, although primarily depressing, is exactly as described above, The Family Sign, sonically speaking, is Atmosphere’s most disappointing release to date. Atmosphere has been experimenting with traditional instrumentation for several years now. However, it’s become quite clear with the release of The Family Sign that it isn’t just flirtation anymore, but rather a definite change in their overall sound. Call me a traditionalist, but I believe Atmosphere—and rap music in general—is best served in its simplest form; a DJ and an MC. On The Family Sign … Read more
Synergy is a tough sell I know because the concept is completely abstract for some, but when I first heard … Read more
The folk scene doesn’t get enough appreciation these days. Luckily, Mumford and Sons earned it some recognition when they performed … Read more
Technical prowess and hardcore usually do not go hand in hand. It seems that many bands in the genre succumb … Read more
Considering that Underground Railroad to Candyland was formed, in large part, to be a party band, and combining that with … Read more
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The constant presence of Russian Circles in the post-rock domain has raised them to a prestigious status, and rightfully so. The band from Chicago started off about a decade ago, releasing their debut, Enter, in 2006. Their music was heavy and moving, and record by record the craftsmanship of the trio progressed, and especially since Geneva and Empros, they have found the perfect balance for their sound. Heavy, emotional, pessimistic but yet cathartic, they unveil the new chapter of their legacy with Guidance.The album does hover, for most part, over the familiar territories that Russian Circles explore since their inception. The cinematic aura that their music radiates is as powerful as ever, coming with an air of certainty, flowing freely through the core of the band. Big soundscapes, created from … Read more
Who would have thought that after 16 years The Dead Milkmen would release a new album? The band went their separate ways in 1995 and lost a member of The Dead Milkmen family in 2004 when ex-bassist, Dave Schulthise, took his own life. The remaining members went on to play tribute and benefit shows soon after. In 2008, the group … Read more
You know how after your favorite bands have been around for a while they eventually make that back-to-our-roots kind of record that reminds you of the fire they once had? Well this is one of the records that happen before that one. Existing well past the decade mark, Stockholm, Sweden’s Victims have been called many things—punk, hardcore, thrash, d-beat, crust, … Read more
Over twenty-two years and ten studio albums Lucinda Williams has made a name for herself. She has a number of career achievements, but this isn’t Wikipedia, it’s the review section. Hell, I’m going to come right out and say it: I’m not that familiar with Lucinda Williams’ discography. Don’t expect any Car Wheels on a Gravel Road comparisons here. Instead, … Read more
Have you ever been so excited to hear that a record is coming out after a long wait only to have it delayed longer to the point of it actually kind of sneaking out below your musical radar so to speak? Even in this modern internet age, this scenario still occurs; and honestly it drives me nuts trying to pay … Read more
Every once in a while, after listening to literally hundreds of records, that one record will come along where, when you put it on the stereo, everything seems to melt around you and all that there is that is important at that moment is that record; I can count on one hand just how many times this has happened to … Read more
It’s comforting when a band can successfully progress. Some stay stagnant—resulting in some stale and boring music. Thursday’s a band that has been progressing since they started writing Full Collapse. Slowly, they’ve been redefining what Thursday should sound like. With their sixth studio album, No Devolución, not only has the band’s songwriting gotten even better, but they’ve taken their biggest … Read more
The Cobra Skulls are certainly not new to the punk scene. The band has made a name for themselves in the post Against Me! style of punk rock. While not nearly as folksy as that description would offer there are certain similarities. The politics are there as well as the slightly gruff vocals. Where they differ is where Cobra Skulls … Read more
Dave Grohl is a man of the people. For the last 16 years he's been one of the most endearing figures in hard music. Terminally cool, brutally honest and adept at the seemingly impossible – being able to walk that most tenuous of lines between artist and everyman. No one ever has or ever will accuse/congratulate the man for reinventing … Read more
When word broke out that Bright Eyes would be writing one final album before retiring the moniker—expectations were set pretty high. Since then, the band has retracted that statement. However, if The People’s Key ends up being the last we hear of Bright Eyes, then they conclude the story with a highly refined final chapter.The album opens with the first … Read more
Have you ever heard the expression, “where were you when…” relating to certain events in history, or have you heard people say, “I remember where I was when Kennedy was assassinated” or “I remember where I was when the space shuttle Challenger exploded?” Well, not that it is anywhere near as historically significant (at least for the United States), I … Read more
True Widow are one of the many bands that gets lumped into the burgeoning new school of shoegaze. While shoegaze bands of the past played their own style and created something different many newer bands are acting as though having an array of pedals and knowing Loveless front to back warrants having a band. The good news is Dallas, Texas' … Read more
When I first caught The Great Whiskey Rebellion live, I was immediately drawn to the amazing energy they bring to their live show. Bringing a Celtic and Americana fusion to the table this band can be counted on to bring a good time with them as well. The EP On The Whiskey Trail is an eight-song blend of both genres … Read more
Ruined Families are another band entering the hardcore sweepstakes. The band hailing from Greece carries the torch that Cursed carried. Meaning you're in for heavy nasty sounding hardcore with metal influence. The band stay fast and gritty throughout the album leaving little doubt that they are beyond pissed. Much like the aforementioned Cursed the lyrics stay on a more personal … Read more
Korperschwache may seem like a new band. In many ways this is true. This being their first widely available album after years of putting out limited run cds. This band hails from Texas and there is very little to connect their sound with any worldly surroundings. The band play a mix of heavy industrial, black metal and sludge to create … Read more
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