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Stencil

The Dead Lie Golden
Independent (2007)

Hailing from Seattle, Stencil comes with their debut album The Dead Lie Golden. They have touted themselves as an orchestral indie band which draws stylistically from established artists such as Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Really now, if your band could successfully draw from all those artists, your band would be a musical juggernaut, maybe even revolutionary … Read more

The Casting Out

Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks!
Fail Safe (2009)

Nathan Gray was the lead singer of what was one of the most important band in the late 90's, Boy Sets Fire. There are plenty of people out there that would just love to refute this fact. Nevertheless from Boy Sets Fire's performance at More than Music where they had members of the audience come up and talk about being … Read more

Zao

Awake?
Ferret (2009)

There once was a time where Zao were a great Christian metalcore that stood out among their peers. Back in the 90's, they created a signature sound with powerful screams, raw guitars, and clean sung choruses. Unfortunately, this sound has been bastardized by tons of other metalcore bands that have spawned since that time. It's been ten years since Liberate … Read more

My Heart to Joy

Seasons in Verse
Top Shelf (2009)

Seasons in Verse is the debut full-length from Connecticut's My Heart to Joy. The band's first long player is the follow-up to the band's most recent EP, last years Virgins Sails. Seasons in Verse sees My Heart to Joy continuing to distance themselves from their more aggressive infancy and developing their songwriting talents towards intricate and complex indie rock. Lead … Read more

Pink Razors

Leave Alive
Houseplant/No Idea (2009)

Bands can sometimes get falsely categorized by those who don't know any better. And it really only takes a few misapplications of a genre to a band before you get frustrated, or simply declare the said genre dead to you. Anyways, we approach the new Pink Razors record Leave Alive with the term pop-punk somewhat lodged in most descriptions of … Read more

Moving Mountains

Foreword
Independent (2009)

Moving Mountains' Foreword may only be a four-song EP but they bring everything to the table and showcase their full abilities on this brief piece of music. Foreword is roughly thirty-six minutes, which seems to be the perfect length for an album like this, not terribly short but it doesn't drone on too long to the point where it's dull. … Read more

Dälek

Gutter Tactics
Ipecac (2009)

Describing Dälek is always pretty tough. Despite the fact that MC Dälek himself has stated that they should be considered purely hip-hop since the origins of the genre lie in experimentation and breaking down barriers, I would conjecture that whacking Gutter Tactics onto your stereo and playing it to your average chart-loving hip-hop aficionado would result in blank stares and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Agent

Awake in Their World
Run for Cover (2009)

Run Cover for Cover's label head Jeff and I like to go back and forth over his bastardization of the phrase "pop-punk" but the kid has a lot of heart and does a good job with his label. However, even though we will go tit for tat over our endless Screeching Weasel vs. Fireworks to everyone else's eye rolling disgust … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Police & Thieves

Amor Y Guerra (Reissue)
Youngblood (2008)

Michael already reviewed the 7" version of this. The only thing that's different is that the CD version has the demo tacked on for good measure. Anyhow, Police & Thieves is ex-members of Worn Thin and play aggressive melodic hardcore that you can tell that Police & Thieves is from the nation's capitol. If you like Dag Nasty or the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Poison Arrows

Casual Wave
File 13 (2008)

Being from Chicago, The Poison Arrows have a style that unmistakeably brings to mind the old, early to mid 90's alternative rock scene. Since that particular time spawned quite a few great bands then this can be considered a good prospect. The debut EP from this band doesn't necessarily resemble the noisy endeavors of Steve Albini or the madness of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Maria Taylor

Ladyluck
Nettwerk (2009)

Maria Taylor has developed a fanbase based on her quiet and soulful tunes, endearing and charming enough to cockle the heartstrings of nearly any cynic. She has a knack for capturing adult takes on both sentimentality and romance, a talent which has landed many of her songs in the background of numerous romantic comedies and sitcoms. Two solo albums removed … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Beep Beep

Enchanted Islands
Saddle Creek (2009)

Taking a five year hiatus between albums, Beep Beep released Enchanted Islands, the follow up to 2004's Business Casual, earlier this year. Given the current pace of the music industry, and a slight change from the original lineup, Enchanted Island has a feel closer to a debut album rather than a sophomore effort. The band freely plays with esoteric tempos, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Casting Curses

Heartificial
Tuned To You (2009)

Heartificial is a two-song EP from Upstate New York's Casting Curses. This five-piece hardcore outfit delivers an impact statement in just two songs, something that is rather impressive. "Hey Disbeliever" leads it off and brings to mind modern hardcore bands such as Have Heart. They mix the aggression of hardcore with a bit of melody, resulting in an enjoyable experience. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Gray Ghost

Deep in the Shallow End
Chainsaw Safety (2009)

Atlanta-based outfit Gray Ghost return with their debut full-length. Following up their self-titled EP from last year, the band continues to evolve their sound. Still loosely based in the realm of hardcore, the band's sound is a progressive mixture of drone, hardcore, and metal. "Siberian" sets the pace with its driving rhythms and excellent guitar riffage - think Isis and … Read more

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