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The Spirit of 76

The Spirit of 76
Independent (2009)

There's probably nothing else that I hate worse that when bands I've never heard of because they happen to know the same people I do and they want me to review their latest release. For some reason they know I "work" for an online music site (which, by the way, they can never remember the name of) and it would … Read more

NOFX

Coaster
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

Currently on album number twelve, NOFX have become content with a certain sound that seems to represent their careers. That, of course, would be straight-forward punk rock with political overtones as well as some humorous numbers. So, what's to expect from their new album, Coaster? More of the same? You'd be right in terms of sound, but with old Georgie … Read more

The Measure [SA]

Songs About People... and Fruit N' Shit
Don Giovanni (2008)

It's another vinyl-only release from The Measure [SA]. As a reviewer, I get an mp3 disc with a handwritten label instead of the art. I'll try not to hold that against them. "Drunk by Noon" does exactly what a first song should do: it promises high energy, offers a sample of the band's melodic and lyrical approach, and gets me … Read more

Capital

Blind Faith
Iron Pier/Just a Audial (2009)

Tommy Corrigan does no wrong. Silent Majority was an amazing and completely underrated band. Blood Red was an outstanding and original sounding group. And his most recent music endeavor Capital is all of those in one. Capital's sound is fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Blind Faith is a 7" of the songs from a once-planned split with Crime … Read more

The (Fallen) Black Deer

Requiem
Southern (2008)

This is seriously one of those releases that would normally fall completely into obscurity if not for a few people who champion such records. Please, if you will, allow me to be that person for this record. Southern Records has a running series - Latitudes - where it gives artists a very finite amount of studio time to record a … Read more

Isis

Wavering Radiant
Ipecac (2009)

More than ten years have passed since the first time that these eyes witnessed Isis and man does it ever make me feel old. That brash first performance to which I am referring (Paper Weight Fest in New Jersey) was an eye opening and ear deafening experience which literally changed my perceptions on music in one fell swoop. Fast forward … Read more

Make Do and Mend

Bodies of Water
Panic (2009)

I'm just going to be honest here and let you all in on a little secret of mine. The thing is there aren't really any bands that have come down the pike in the last five years that I have actually really liked. Oh sure, there's been a heap of albums that have graced my ears in the half decade … Read more

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

Agorapocalypse
Relapse (2009)

The background of this band shouldn't need explaining - if you're at all tuned in to the world of grindcore and other extreme music styles, you've probably already heard Agoraphobic Nosebleed. If you haven't, just imagine the most obnoxious and abrasive mixture of lyrical obscenity and overdriven drum machine lunacy you can fathom, and that should suffice for now. The … Read more

Landmine Marathon

Rusted Eyes Awake
Prosthetic (2009)

One of the biggest pleasures of listening to Rusted Eyes Awake was to hear the music and not walk away with the opinion that this is just another modern U.S. metal band labeled with the death metal tag that actually plays nauseating post-millennial death-core. Landmine Marathon still does have some of those influences interspersed but for the most part the … Read more

Prefuse 73

Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian
Warp (2009)

For those of you who don't know Prefuse 73 A.K.A. Guillermo Scott Herren, this guy has been putting beats out since I was in middle school. And I'm not talking just about Prefuse 73: Herren has been active with his record label, Eastern Developments Music, and multiple artist collaborations on top of releasing new albums under several different aliases every … Read more

Silversun Pickups

Swoon
Dangerbird (2009)

It didn't take long for Silversun Pickups to become a hit with listeners anywhere. Their debut album, Carnavas, spawned two top-ten singles and their 2009 release, Swoon has been one of the most anticipated albums of this year for good reasons. Their sound can be easily compared to alternative rock bands of the 90s such as The Smashing Pumpkins, but … Read more

The Night Marchers

Mystery Machine
Swami (2009)

One really has to hand it to John Reis; he surely keeps his work interesting with consistent releases and frequent offerings. Mystery Machine is the second tour-only 7" from his latest band, The Night Marchers. Just like the previous tour-only seven inch, Mystery Machine is like a short reminder of the band's existence and a nice memento from their shows. … Read more

Austin Lucas

Somebody Loves You
Suburban Home (2009)

When O Brother, Where Art Thou sold over seven million copies, you knew that people were listening and that the soundtrack would have an influence on future music. Where you probably didn't expect that influence to show was in the punk rock world. Seven years later, we have a label named after a Descendents song releasing Somebody Loves You by … Read more

Deathright

The Collapse
Independent (2009)

In spite of its low profile, the Pittsburgh hardcore scene is one of the better currently running, consistently churning out outstanding and original bands. Because of its circumnavigating of hype, the bands that do emerge from the Pittsburgh area carry with them a sincerity not found in most bands. They never seem to succumb to trend-hitching, instead perform music that … Read more

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