Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

The Poison Arrows

First Class, and Forever
File 13 (2009)

Following on from an impressive mini-album, Poison Arrows have now put their talent to use in the full album format, something sought after when Casual Wave was making the spins. Now, with room to expand and with the time to let the songs build up over almost one hour's time and with a crisp recording from Albini's legendary Electrical Audio Studio A, they are allowed to fully flourish and show their pedigree. The production is spot on and fully suits their alternative brand of dark, synth-infused rock. It manages to convey that scuzzy urban feel at the same time as being so clear that every instrument, instead of fighting for attention through the mix, works in perfect symbiosis. That said, this gives the bass, an instrument usually just kept in the background and providing a foundation to lean against like an anonymous worker, is now given enough prominence to drive the songs forward. Those familiar with the Chicago sound of the 90\'s will know what this means; the guitar playing, now with added synth for depth provides the textures whereas the bass playing is what everything is built around, a sound perfected by the likes of Big Black and The … Read more

Okie Dokie

Okie Dokie
Aagoo (2009)

The band is named Okie Dokie. The artwork is simple and to the point. In other words, Okie Dokie doesn't … Read more

Liturgy

Renihilation
20 Buck Spin (2009)

Liturgy is part of what may be referred to the new school of hipster black metal. Sure this is an … Read more

Alkaline Trio

This Addiction
Heart & Skull (2010)

So. The big question. A return to form? Quick answer yes. Less quick answer yes, but. A lot has been … Read more

Balance and Composure

Only Boundaries
No Sleep (2009)

This is the second EP in as many years from this young band. While they are overwhelmingly young, they are … Read more

Rocky Votolato

True Devotion
Barsuk/Second Nature (2010)

Only recently the consensus had been reached in my household that the time for a new Rocky Votolato album was … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

754 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

5011 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Red Sparowes

Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
Neurot (2006)

When one listens to instrumental music, he or she has room to think. This is exactly why you should listen to Red Sparowes' sophomore release, Every Red Heart Shines Towards the Red Sun. In today's music scene, an addition of thought-provoking musicianship is extremely refreshing. Since 2003, this group of talented musicians has been creating far-from-succinct songs with far-from-succinct song titles. With track times averaging 7:46 on the band's second album, Red Sparowes is the polar opposite of Some Girls, Zombie Apocalypse, and An Albatross. Because the tracks are habitually lengthy, the record inherits a hard-to-describe atmospheric quality. Red Sparowes' musicians are nothing short of accomplished; members of the band are comprised of such contemporary post-rock groups as Isis and Neurosis. Although Red Sparowes is easily placed in the same … Read more

More album reviews

Northless

No Quarter for the Damaged
Halo of Flies (2009)

I could start and end this review with just one word: brutal. Unfortunately, I think my editor would prefer a few more words. This is a four-song 12 inch EP of sludge metal transposed over crust punk dynamics. Nothing on this EP goes very fast, the tempos get ramped up in each song but the riffs are so thick and … Read more

Micahel Gira

I am Not Insane
Young God (2010)

"Swans are not dead!" So went the headlines across certain dark alleyways of the blogosphere and on the Swans Myspace page and on the Young God web site (the record label ran by one Michael Gira of Swans). People were all a twitter with mixed emotions ranging from near euphoric excitement to horrified gasps of disbelief as the news that … Read more

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

The Logic Of Chance
Sunday Best (2010)

Ah, the sophomore curse. It's a minefield for most artists, and rare indeed is the second album that matches the first. After due consideration, I declare that the problem is primarily one of gestation. The songs that comprise a debut are usually ones which have been fine-tuned over a number of years while the individuals concerned earn enough reputation or … Read more

Johnny Cash

American VI: Ain't No Grave
American (2010)

What an undeniably excellent surprise! American VI: Ain't No Grave is the remaining recordings (from the same sessions that produced American V: A Hundred Highways) that Johnny Cash made just prior to his death on September 12, 2003 (wow it seems such a long time ago now that I see that date), and I must admit that it is excellent … Read more

The Swell Season

Strict Joy
Anti (2009)

A few years ago, a low-budget film called Once made quite the impression on international critics for its minimal and poignant love story, fleshed out by a heartfelt soundtrack and the charm of its non-professional actors. After humbly accepting an Oscar for Best Original Song, the stars and songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová returned to their level of tertiary … Read more

Have a Nice Life

Time of Land
Enemies List (2010)

Has it really been almost two years since Have a Nice Life first burst into our collective consciousness as a band that was talked about in soft whispers and wild rumor? Well, it has; it has indeed been roughly two years (give or take several months), and now the band is releasing Time of Land as a free digital download … Read more

Love Collector

My Baby Goes Waaah!
Big Action (2009)

What you get with Love Collector is pretty straightforward. Only a few seconds into "My Baby Goes Waaah!," the titular track on this 7", it's clear that this is a band that plays punk-fused garage rock, with lots of guitar, a few pedals, and lots of attitude hovering around the two-minute-per song mark. It's also the kind of rock where … Read more

Flobots

Survival Story
Universal (2010)

Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours. - César Estrada Chávez Matter relates to all things. Matter is defined as "something … Read more

The Bouncing Souls

Ghosts on the Boardwalk
Chunksaah (2010)

As life continually changes, sometimes constancy is important. Putting in Ghosts on the Boardwalk, the twenty-year anniversary release from The Bouncing Souls, reminds me of times past. Not only does the band sound much like they did a half dozen records ago, but the release comes on their own label, Chunksaah, which started at the same time. This release, a … Read more

Another Breath

The God Complex
Panic (2009)

It's been quite some time since Another Breath released Mill City. Granted it has only been a few years, but in hardcore that means an eternity; a lot has transpired in the world of hardcore since 2006. Countless bands have come and gone. Some have come back too! Essentially, the entire landscape of hardcore has transformed. In spite of all … Read more

Felt

Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez
Rhymesayers (2009)

It's refreshing to put in a hip-hop disc and not have it bogged down with guest spots featured on every track. In fact, none of the songs on Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez have any star appearances - besides the rapping duo of Slug (Atmosphere) and Murs, combined with producer, Aesop Roc - as the pair returns with … Read more

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

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)