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 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 "mathcore" but even that's a bit too broad to describe them. Basically, what you get with Worse Than Alone is, crazy guitar riffs, jazz-style drumming, a dual vocal attack (similar to earlier Blood Brothers) and a cocktail of different music styles that include grindcore, jazz, progressive rock, metalcore, flamenco and a whole bunch of others. That all sounds like a huge mess on paper, and it was in the case of some of their older songs, but the band actually sounds somewhat cohesive on this record, more so than any of their previous outings. The main thing that's different about Worse Than Alone is it shows The Number Twelve Looks Like You at their best, as a band rather than individual musicians. It's really interesting how the band manages to pull off so many time and genre changes without them … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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

750 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4948 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

William Elliott Whitmore

I'm With You
Bloodshot (2020)

When William Elliott Whitmore signed to Bloodshot, I thought it was a natural fit. I like Whitmore; I like the label. Win/win. But I also wondered how an artist I think of as more on the folk/bluegrass side fit with a label I think of as Americana/alt-country. Similar, for sure, but not quite there. These are silly semantics to worry about, but I’m going somewhere with it. After 2018’s covers album Kilonova, Whitmore is back with I’m With You, his first record of originals for the label. It’s likely that I overlooked some of Whitmore’s subtle twang in the past, but now it’s somehow one of the first things that jumps out to me. It’s certainly not his defining trait, but I hear just a little bit more country in … Read more

More album reviews

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

Sabertooth Zombie

…And Your Fathers are Dead in the Ground
Twelve Gauge (2009)

California's most intriguing current hardcore outfit, Sabertooth Zombie, returns with their latest full-length effort. Since they've last released Midnight Venom in 2006, the group has released a dual-EP 10" and a 7" EP as well as re-recording and re-compiling a few recordings for CD releases. Needless to say, Sabertooth Zombie has kept themselves busy. And You Fathers are Dead in … Read more

Junior Battles

Hotel Bibles
Black Pint (2009)

Ah, summer in full swing. For those of you attempting to battle high temperatures, I empathize as I sit in my apartment with my blinds closed and fight off the forecast 105-degree heat. But I try not to be bitter despite my preference for cold weather, and keep in mind the more exciting facets of summertime. One of these is … Read more

Shook Ones

The Unquotable A.M.H.
Paper + Plastick (2009)

Now on their third album, Shook Ones already have a pretty solid reputation. After the melodic hardcore masterpiece that was Facetious Folly Feat, I thought it would be difficult to make another record that was as fast and energetic as that one. Well, what does the band do instead? How about make one of the catchiest records of 2009 while … Read more

Oceans

Nothing Collapses
Copper Lung (2009)

Chicago natives Oceans offer up nine tracks with sixty minutes worth of music on their debut effort. The five-piece maintain a post-rock inspired craft throughout the bulk of the full-length but also find ways of incorporating mid-90's emo and post-hardcore sounds into their songs. Nothing Collapses begins with "Lit Up Under Streetlights" and you get eight minutes of light-footed post-rock … Read more

Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Glass Note (2009)

Phoenix has always been successful at lifting spirits and making people dance. Based out of Versailles, Phoenix has been going at it for almost a decade now, and their fourth full-length, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, came at the perfect time for Summer. And no, it's not a Mozart cover album. Apparently, the somewhat egotistical sounding title was a product of the … Read more

Anchor Down

Steel to Dust
Solidarity (2009)

It's always great to find all of these new breeds of punk bands coming about lately. There have been so many that I've found out about the last couple of years. And the funny thing is, nearly all of them have stuck with me. I still listen to all of these bands on a pretty frequent basis. Another band to … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Outbreak

Work to Death
Think Fast! (2009)

I'll be honest here. I was never a huge Outbreak fan. You Make Us Sick was fairly decent, but I was never really sold on the group. I have a lot of friends that swear by that record and the subsequent release of Failure. but I'm just not one of them. Anyway, Work to Death is a new 7" single … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Reed Sea

No Help
Independent (2009)

Hailing from Oregon, this four-piece outfit has brought forth a four-song EP titled No Help. The title of the EP is fitting as the band has recorded and packaged the entire release themselves. Granted, it's limited to screen printed cardboard sleeves, but that's still cool. I appreciate the DIY effort. "Holy Pigs" is the lead song and immediately you're greeted … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Man Overboard

Hung Up on Nothing
Independent (2008)

Man Overboard is the latest bubble-gum pop-punk band to come around, joining the existing one hundred thousand others. This four-piece hails from New Jersey, and like so many others they take influence from groups like Blink 182. I'm not blaming Man Overboard by any means, but I'm starting to get sick of these kinds of bands By the way, if … Read more

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