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Overmars

Born Again
Crucial Blast (2009)

Yes, yes, there are many bands that descend outward and are influenced in a myriad of ways by a certain band (Neurosis), some more so than others. And still, of those bands, some speak more on their own than others or are more unique. Overmars is just one of those bands that while yes they do owe some to that … Read more

Chord

Flora
Neurot (2009)

What happens when music nerds (hey, I am one of them) get together and bond over their music nerd-dom? Well, besides a great deal of talk, interesting musical ideas are born from just these types of occasions. Chord is an outcome of such a discussion of fellow musicians over their craft. Chord, besides being comprised of members of Pelican, Unfortunaut, … Read more

Young Livers / Army of Ponch

Live at The Atlantic: Volume 1
Sound Study (2009)

What strikes in a live show doesn't always show evenly on the studio reproduction. My first thoughts on Sound Study's Live at the Atlantic: Volume 1: Young Livers have great guitars, and Jack Bailey of Army of Ponch can really scream. On a regular studio release, I doubt either of these elements would grab me the same way. Having given … Read more

The Metroschifter

Carbonistas
Noise Pollution (2009)

Scott Ritcher was one of the masterminds behind the rise of Louisville hardcore in the early 90's. He had some extraordinary ideas on how to promote his label, Slamdek. He even had his own girls' field hockey team. Later Scott even ran for mayor, he lost, but you have to admire his ambition. The Metroschifter is Ritcher's three-piece rock outfit … Read more

The Johnson Report

The Johnson Report
Independent (2010)

During all of high school, Jen dated Zach. Jen was, hands down, the most beautiful girl in our year. Beyond that, she was extremely smart and cultured: she had been across Europe a couple of times and could tell you the capitals of all the provinces and states if she was asked. There wasn't a guy that I knew who … Read more

Mouthbreather / Enviornmental Youth Crunch

Split
Rorschach (2009)

There's a lot to say about this split. First, it features one great name (Mouthbreather) and one lesser one (Environmental Youth Crunch). What strikes me second is the contrast in band styles, though I'll elaborate on this later. And, third, that it's such a solid release with five songs - it's an EP, not a single. First on the record … Read more

Kings of Convenience

Declaration of Dependence
Astralwerks (2009)

After almost five years since their last outing, the Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience have returned with their third full-length, Declaration of Dependence. Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe are best known for weaving simple acoustic melodies into lush pop songs akin to a modern day Simon and Garfunkel. Although a return to this musical style is nothing new these … Read more

Great Falls

Demo
Independent (2009)

The demise of Playing Enemy was a tough pill for me to swallow as they were a band that I had followed for a number of years and always thought that they got better and better as their releases stacked up over time. Following the untimely end of that project Demian Johnston and Shane Mehling went on to do a … Read more

The Lotus Eaters

Mind Control for Infants (Reissue)
Taiga (2009)

Finally a vinyl release for this album is here, and there has been quite a wait since The Lotus Eaters initially released Mind Control for Infants on CD all the way back in 2002 (a seven year lag is pretty impressive). But this record screams to be on vinyl, and thankfully that is now the case. Still, with the lag … Read more

Drunkdriver

Fire Sale
Fashionable Idiots (2009)

I like to consider myself pretty versed in rock - I listen to a lot of stuff and a good amount of variety. But, every so often, I'll get something that I just can't categorize or explain well. That's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's a pretty good accomplishment, as long as the wax is listenable. Drunkdriver … Read more

Bane

Boston 6:58 PM / Los Angeles 3:58 PM / At Both Ends
Triple B/6131/At Both Ends (2009)

It has indeed been a number of years since we last heard from Bane; their last full-length - The Note - came out in 2005, and with the hectic touring schedule that the band maintains, these seven inches are the first new recording from the band in quite some time (their Ten Year Plus 7" were old recordings that were … Read more

Teenage Bottlerocket

They Came From the Shadows
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

I really wanted to like They Came From the Shadows. I did. And to an extent, I do. There are some very catchy pop-punk songs on this album. But this will definitely not be seen as one of the stronger Teenage Bottlerocket albums in the future. Opening the album is "Skate or Die," which brought me high hopes for this … Read more

The Bomb

Speed is Everything
No Idea (2009)

Considering how much I've heard about the Naked Raygun reunion, you'd think there would be more buzz regarding The Bomb. Speed is Everything is the Jeff Pezzati led group's first release for No Idea Records. When compared with Pezzati's more renowned group, I was expecting a more contemporary twist. Instead, The Bomb has a strong 80's feel to it, with … Read more

Total Fucking Destruction

Peace, Love and Total Fucking Destruction
Enucleation (2009)

Grindcore is one of those genres where these days you are just as likely to come across an abject piece of music as you are something good. This could be said of all genres but you got to be skilled to provide something original with music where speed is the primary ingredient. The classics brought something new and did it … Read more

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