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200 Words Or Less

Various Artists

Caustic Defiance/Negative Element-Split CD
Akashic (2009)

Just when you thought all the early 1980's output from Chicago bands had been put out there, along comes this release. Negative Element was a young, loud, and snotty hardcore band from the Chicago suburbs. Although they played many a show with such heavyweights as Big Black and Articles of Faith, they remained largely unknown outside their hometown. This CD … Read more

Volcano Choir

Unmap
Jagjaguar (2009)

In the last two years Justin Vernon became a household name of sorts. Firstly it was under the pseudonym Bon Iver. Secondly it was indie rock stardom, which is similar to being Brian Dennehy. Who while a great actor in his own right is generally left to do cameos and if you were to quote him at the dinner table … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ian McNabb

Great Things
Fairfield Records (2009)

New solo record from the ex-Icicle Works frontman finds him stretching his wings creatively with spectacular results. Songwriting is the focus here, with guitar leads taking a back seat to the overall atmosphere of each song. For the most part, each song is given room to breathe (there's only one song under the 4-minute mark) and time to draw the … Read more

Tiltwheel

The Hiatus AKA The High Hate Us
ADD Records (2010)

Tiltwheel have firmly established themselves as one of the least prolific bands out there. Formed in 1991, the band had released only two proper full-lengths up until The Hiatus (alternately listed as The High Hate us)—maybe three if you count re-recording old EPs and putting them together as a collection. Was The Hiatus years in the making, or did life … Read more

Wrnlrd

Myrmidon
FSS (2009)

Following the strange intriguing experience of Oneirmantical War, I felt that I had to check out Myrmidon from WRNLRD once it arrived; but instead of diving right into Myrmidon, I avoided it like the album was some dark door that I just did not want to open. Myrmidon sat for months on my desk as it sat, always visible out … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Stone Roses

Self Titled-Deluxe Edition
Silvertone (2009)

3 disc release of their debut, which was 20 years old last year. Remastered by original producer John Leckie and Ian Brown, the original record sounds fantastic. The close to 10 minute "Fools Gold" is tacked on as a bonus track at the end of the first disc. The 2nd CD is demos, with one song-"Pearl Bastard" being the only … Read more

KK Null

Oxygen Flash
Neurot (2009)

You might not know who or what KK Null is (or his band Zeni Geva), but rest assured his twenty plus years of activity in music has given him the opportunity to play all over the world and collaborate with a variety of musicians and bands from Sonic Youth, Mike Patton (Faith No More, MR. Bungle, Tomahawk, etc), Steve Albini … Read more

Hayaino Daisuki

The Invisible Gate Mind Of The Infernal Fire Hell, Or Do You Mean Hawaii Daisuki?
Hydra Head (2010)

Now this is a shock, another Hayaino Daisuki release by which to have all of our brains melted in short order following this hitting our stereos. The band, made of most of the members of Gridlink (featuring former members of Discordance Axis, Human Remains, Burnt By The Sun, and others), plays a thrash inspired metal that constantly goes on all … Read more

Iroha & Fragment

Bittersweet
Denovali (2010)

One of the biggest thrills that I still get from music and writing about music is being smacked up side the head by some new band or (in this case bands) with a release out of nowhere or with their debut, and this release actually knocks it down with both bands on the record. Each outfit brings their own take … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Whiplash

Unborn Again
Pulverized (2009)

Three piece thrash outfit from New Jersey returns with this barnburner. In your face guitar riffage, pummeling drum beats, and punishing bass lines feature prominently on this record. These guys have been making audiences sweat it out since the 1980's-so you know they can deliver the goods. "Firewater" turns up the heat with a Black Sabbath type dirge that rocks … Read more

Laudanum

The Coronation
20 Buck Spin (2009)

Laudanum are a 3 piece band. I opened with that sentiment solely because once you hear what they do it becomes hard to believe. What Laudanum do musically is act as a noisey power electronics group that decided to play doom metal or vice versa. Everything is grimey, filthy and painful in Laudanum's collective world. This almost acts as someone … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Ryan Mallot & Kelly Thomas

Self Titled
Deep Elm (2009)

Deep Elm has, over the past few years, been relying more on their internet presence rather than being a label that releases records in a physical manner. While this is not a bad thing it is kinda sad. This new dynamic means that less people will be hearing this EP. Ryan Mallot is best known as the frontman of alt … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Gospel Gossip

Dreamland
Guilt Ridden Pop (2009)

Having never heard of this band before, I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised by the music on this EP length release. Taking the best guitar effects from 80's pop and welding it to a fierce backbeat, this one emerges from the morass and rises above. Lyrics you can make out and actual songwriting chops-absolutely … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Cheap Trick

The Latest
Cheap Trick (2009)

New release from Rockford IL's finest shows that these guys have not lost a step, and in fact, continue to reach new heights as songwriters. Will this end up on the radio? Probably not, but it certainly should. One song-"When The Lights Are Out" is a previously unreleased song from back in the day. But everything else is fresh off … Read more

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