Rip Room
Alight and Resound
Spartan Records (2022)
San Francisco trio Rip Room play a meandering art-punk style that’s forceful but equally unpredictable, largely built around bass licks and rhythm switches that give it an off-kilter dance vibe complemented by some angular guitar riffs that serve more as accent than lead. Musically I hear a good chunk of early post-punk meets math rock, but simplified into a 3-piece with a skeletal rather than wall of sound approach. At different points I find myself thinking of Dead Milkmen (it’s the voice), Sonic Youth, and the Kill Rock Stars roster. The press release fittingly shouts out Unwound and Sleater-Kinney too. Alight and Resound features 12-songs and while that lead bass and John Reed’s timbre remain pretty steady throughout, each song has a unique vibe as the record twist and turns, taking us around sudden bends like a crashing river before it finally lets out into the sea with the nautically named “Abandon Ship!” at the close. The general sound is equally explorative and caffeinated. It can’t sit in one place, but it also keeps itself on track just enough that it never gets totally lost either. The sing-song choruses and occasional call and response vocals give a sense of familiarity … Read more
Up For Nothing
Escape Route
It's Alive (2022)
While Up For Nothing has apparently been around since 2002, this is my first exposure. It’s interesting to learn about … Read more
Partial Traces
Lost In The Days / Shallows EP
Independent (2022)
Open chord guitar and warm synth start the single in a typical indie manner. The poetry that fills the space … Read more
Tim Kasher
Middling Age
15 Passenger Records (2022)
Tim Kasher has released four solo albums and another 10 with Cursive (and still more with The Good Life). I … Read more
Various Artists
Forever Reigning - A Tribute To Slayer
Satyrn Studios (2022)
Forever Reigning - A Tribute To Slayer is the debut release from US based Satyrn Studios. It features 8 up … Read more
