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Brainworms

II: Swear to Me
Rorschach (2009)

There is a caustic, angry, and somewhat aimless feel permeating Swear to Me that convinces me that Brainworms is a good name for the band. They remind me of a lot of 80s punk where the band does one dissonant thing while the singer goes off into his own world. Every so often the two different styles converge, bringing a … Read more

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The Hold Steady

A Positive Rage
Vagrant (2009)

When it comes to live albums, it has to be a band I love or a band that puts on a spectacular live show for me to want to buy it. In the case of The Hold Steady, their live album, A Positive Rage has them put on a pretty good show with a good, varied set that even includes … Read more

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Strung Out

Prototypes and Painkillers
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)

Currently recording their eighth studio album, California punk quintet, Strung Out decided to put together this little compilation album full of b-sides, rarities, alternate takes, and demos. Given that Strung Out has undergone a bit of a transformation in their seventeen years as a band, you're bound to get just a bit of everything with this collection. It's really interesting … Read more

Broadway Calls

Good Views, Bad News
Side One Dummy (2009)

It has been two years since Broadway Calls last graced us with a full-length release. But in that time the band has been keeping busy. Their last record caught the ear of Adeline Records, who re-released it, as well as the excellent split 7" with Teenage Bottlerocket last year. In addition, the Oregon trio has kept to the road including … Read more

Pink Mountaintops

Outside Love
Jagjaguwar (2009)

Shoegaze and psychedelics just naturally go hand in hand. Sure, you can have one without the other, but you'd probably be cheating yourself of one of two things: a spiritual epiphany, or a night of sitting on your ass in your room staring blissfully into the space. Alright, maybe there isn't really a difference between the two, but Pink Mountaintops … Read more

Project 86

Picket Fence Cartel
Tooth & Nail (2009)

Ideological stances are polarizing. They come with a set of existing concepts and reference points that are often hard to overlook. I didn't want to talk about religion in this review. I didn't want to talk about religion as much as Project 86 doesn't want to limit themselves as a solely religious band, but it's difficult to ignore a prevailing … Read more

Tall Ships

Voyages
Truth and Justice (2009)

When you review as many generic melodic hardcore bands as I do, you do whatever you can to try to find things that make one band stand out from another. Believe me, it wasn't easy to as I listened to Voyages. Tall Ships sounds like just another hardcore band going through the motions of being a new school hardcore. They … Read more

Nadja

Clinging to the Edge of the Sky
Adagio 830/Vendetta (2009)

Yes, Nadja continues to be a frustratingly prolific group that pumps out records faster and more geographically spread out than most bands could ever dream of producing. And while that is exciting for fans of the group, it is also difficult to keep up with at times. Quite literally, Clinging to the Edge of the Sky is the newest recording … Read more

Constants

The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
The Mylene Sheath (2009)

Boston-based shoe-gazing space-rockers Constants return with their second full-length and follow-up to 2006's The Murder of Tom Fitzgerril EP. With The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension Constants continues to make waves in the rock world as they showcase their talent towards writing intricate, dynamic, and ominous rock music. The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension is ultimately broken up into three … Read more

Wilco

Wilco (The Album)
Nonesuch (2009)

By now, everyone should know the story of Wilco: Chicago alt-country pioneers-turned-alt-rock gurus record the most ambitious record of their career, their record label turns it down, it sits in limbo while the public consumes leaked copies on the web, another record label owned by the same entertainment giant as their previous one snatches it up, and suddenly it's one … Read more

Coreline

Bone and Blood as Stone and Mud
Sonic Mainline (2009)

There's something very important one has to keep in mind when reviewing a Coreline album, or indeed merely when listening to it. And that is this: The brain that gave birth to this is one fully capable of rickrolling an entire festival audience, in amongst a performance that also delivers a theater troupe performing in cardboard robot costumes. Tongue in … Read more

Cult Ritual

Cult Ritual
Youth Attack (2009)

Before I begin, let me get this off my chest: I wasn't a big fan of Cult Ritual's EPs. I don't mean to offend. It's very possible that the glowing reviews from punk blogs across the web had me convinced that I was about to experience some sort of musical enlightenment. Listening to Cult Ritual would somehow turn my life … Read more

Iron Age

The Sleeping Eye
Tee Pee (2009)

Texas natives Iron Age return with their second long-player, The Sleeping Eye, after making quite a name for themselves with 2006's Constant Struggle. The band's debut was highlighted by an onslaught of blistering crossover accented by classic hardcore undertones. With their new release, Iron Age builds on that foundation and adds some depth to their sound. What continues to strike … Read more

Black Hell

How the Rest was Lost
Hater of God (2009)

Venture deep into the desert of the Southwest and you'll find Black Hell, a doom metal quartet featuring ex-members of Wellington and Unruh who have just released their second album, How the Rest was Lost. Black Hell show show a bit of a split personality on their sophomore effort. On one half, they play fast, groovy stoner-influenced doom metal with … Read more

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