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Skin Like Iron

All Human Failings
Free Cake (2009)

Never wasting a moment, the Bay Area's Skin Like Iron has brought forth yet another new recording with this seven-track 12" EP. All Human Failings is another blast of gritty, raw, and noisy hardcore punk from one of the genre's top bands. They didn't leave much room for improvement with their last go-around, but that doesn't seem to stop them … Read more

Cable

Variable Speed Drive (Reissue)
Translation Loss (2009)

Sometimes there is something which goes by the reference of historical revisionism whereby people go back and alter the place of a person, place, thing, or idea into a more vaunted or lower position in the historical record. I bring this topic up because it does happen frequently in the world of music, independent music particularly as artists go in … Read more

The Whitest Boy Alive

Rules
Asound/Bubbles (2009)

Even though Rules is the second full-length from Erlend Øye, I still have a hard time disassociating his airy voice from prior folk duo, Kings of Convenience, Øye's Belle-and-Sebastian-esque alma mater. However, the more I listen to the Berlin-based The Whitest Boy Alive, the more I can appreciate Øye singing similar, heartbreak lyrics over a funky bass line rather than … Read more

The Number Twelve Looks Like You

Worse Than Alone
Eyeball (2009)

The Number Twelve Looks Like You have always been a very unorthodox band to say the least. They've been trying something new with each album and it's no different with their latest album, Worse Than Alone. Pinning them to one genre is difficult because they incorporate so many different sounds into their music. A basic description of it can be … Read more

Only Thieves

Greeting from Levy Park, T.L.H.
Independent (2009)

Only Thieves pay homage to the Boss with their cover to Greeting from Levy Park, T.L.H., but the tribute doesn't stop at the artwork. From the get go of "Hammered for the Holidays" there's a clear striving toward outspoken, plainclothes guitarman at the center. However, there's a more of a band feel to it, and more Gaslight Anthem than Springsteen. … Read more

DOOM

Born Like This
Lex (2009)

Even though he took up the same moniker, all-caps not withstanding, it's unlikely anyone is going to mistake the artist formerly toting metal fingers for the legendary crust band. One decade after the landing of Operation Doomsday, Danielle Dumile re-emerges with a modified alter-ego, and perhaps a bruised original ego. The reinvention of MF Doom to DOOM comes after a … Read more

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Eating Us
Grave Face (2009)

Wow, just seriously wow, even though Black Moth Super Rainbow has been on my list to check out for a while now, I am glad that their latest album, Eating Us is my first exposure to the group because it is a breath of fresh air at just the right time. When trying to describe the band to people (as … Read more

Iron and Wine

Around the Well
Sub Pop (2009)

As a long-time Iron and Wine fan, I was intrigued by the announcement of this double-disc release that spans the spectrum of Sam Beam's musical career. What most call a rarities and b-sides album, I see more of an insight into the progression of Beam's collaborative sound, compiling many of his strongest tracks that never made it onto his full-length … Read more

Church of Misery

Houses of the Unholy
Metal Blade (2009)

By a stroke of luck, my Last.fm did something good for once and recommended me this band called Church of Misery. I usually don't pay close attention to these recommendations as they are usually a bit off (seriously, stop recommending me stuff like Bon Jovi), but the name sounded dope and they apparently fell somewhere into that doom metal category. … Read more

All Teeth

I am Losing
High Fidelity (2009)

Every so often you hear a record and it instantaneously floors you. All Teeth's debut full-length I Am Losing is one of those records. The thirteen songs that make up this album are filled with such passion, aggression, and emotion - it is as though anger, frustration, resentment, and bitterness actually fuel the songs. The lyrics and music perfectly match … Read more

Gore

Mean Man's Dream (Reissue)
FSS (2008)

A great deal of hyperbole flies around regarding re-issues, which in it of themselves can be very tricky propositions, particularly ones that may or may not be integral to have a re-issue. Gore no longer exists as a unit, but the three piece's legacy resonates today in heavy (be it metal, be it some other genre) music and serves as … Read more

The Paper Chase

Someday This Could All Be Yours (Part 1)
Kill Rock Stars (2009)

The first thing that's going to strike you about The Paper Chase is that they're a quirky indie band. What you get in the first song is what you're going to get in the next nine: John Congleton's wavering voice and keyboard-driven epics. The band relies predominantly on synthesizer instead of big guitars to make their statement. When it comes … Read more

Monolith

Eclipse
Independent (2008)

A first record for a band taking their first steps is both exciting as well as potentially harrowing when putting one's work out for others to hear. Monolith make that leap with their debut album, Eclipse, and to be completely honest, I admire the fact that this Pennsylvania four-piece put the record out themselves. Monolith is one of those "post-rock" … Read more

Dinosaur Jr.

Farm
Jagjaguwar (2009)

This may be going out on a limb here, but Dinosaur Jr.'s reunion album in 2007, Beyond was one of the best albums of said year, if not one of the best reunion albums ever. Bands reuniting is always seen as a lame cash-in attempt by artists going bankrupt, but with Beyond it felt more like Dinosaur Jr. were making … Read more

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