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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

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 in Stereo. Said split eventually fell by the wayside. The Crime in Stereo songs ended up on a b-sides collection while the Capital songs began to fade away until Iron Pier and Jus a Audial got a hold of them. "Out of Business" is a Long Island hardcore jam from start to finish. The music is fast and aggressive and yet it is also melodic. The bass tones on the song are awesome and had me thinking back to the mid-90's; like I said, Capital's music is nostalgic. "Blind Faith" is more of the same. The guitars are warm and have a definite Quicksand-inspired sound. The rhythm section is just as vibrant as the guitars. They are upbeat and energize the listener. The vocals and lyrics of Corrigan are earnest and deeply thought out; reading along, you can tell that … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … 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 … Read more

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One from the archives

Sunn 0)))

Black One
Southern Lord (2005)

This is the sound of being stalked by some unnamed horror that you are too afraid to turn around and see. The suspense builds and wanes and builds more to the harrowing climax leaving you with only the droning aftermath to contemplate that anxiety attack that you may have just experienced. What a deliciously terrifying opening to an album. Sunn 0))) truly expands on their usually feedback intensive forays into sound experimentation, and Black One is no different. But, this new album is by no means a logical expansion of their "typical" sound. It is however further proof that they intend to set new marks for their version of droning doom. Black One is a step in a new direction. Never before has the musical collective Sunn 0))) driven by … Read more

More album reviews

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

Little Brazil

Son
Anodyne Records (2009)

Musician Landon Hedges spent the better part of the late nineties/early two thousands playing along side Saddle Creek's most prominent singer/songwriters Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes. Desaparecidos) and Tim Kasher (Cursive, The Good Life). Looking for a more personal creative outlet, Hedge's began writing songs under the moniker Little Brazil. While originally planned as a solo project, Little Brazil quickly evolved … Read more

Living With Lions

Dude Manor (Reissue)
Adeline (2009)

Dude Manor was originally released two years ago on Black Box Recordings in Canada but it's now being re-released on their new label, Adeline Records where their full-length, Make Your Mark will also be re-released very soon. This up-and-coming band is looking to follow in the footsteps of former Adeline label-mates Broadway Calls as the label's next rising star and … Read more

A Storm of Light / Nadja

Primitive North
Robotic Empire (2009)

This split is completely unexpected but still very appropriate as both A Storm of Light and Nadja seem to be rather complimentary in several different ways, but, quite honestly, the record packaging for this is sure to grab you. A double LP that includes the CD of Primitive North with some rather unique looking artwork, which goes against the grain … Read more

Last Lights

No Past No Present No Future
Think Fast!/Mightier Than Sword (2009)

So often music defines our lives. We hear a song at a moment in our lives that no matter where we are from then on, we immediately recall the memory of when we first heard it each time it reaches our ears. We use songs and their meanings to help evoke how we are feeling when we might be unable … Read more

O Pioneers!!!

Neon Creeps
Asian Man (2009)

With their Asian Man debut, Neon Creeps, O Pioneers!!! is trying to make a name for themselves while upping the ante on stupid punctuation in band names. What I hear is a sloppy three-piece punk band with hints at a more minimal and sometimes folk-punk style. I call them a three-piece, but the band is clearly Eric Solomon's baby, as … Read more

Liquid Limbs

Orquid
Sound Study (2008)

I've never understood the concept of two-piece rock bands. Okay, smartasses, I get it; it's two people in a band. However I never grasped the concept of why these two people choose to call themselves a band when obviously the musical term to describe their joint venture would be duo. When a person thinks of a band a picture at … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Matt and Kim

Grand
Fader (2009)

Today's pop music is severely lacking in fun. We have over-hyped pseudo celebrities running around with no pants, actors with the impression that talent in one field somehow gives them rights to move into another, and Justin is too busy with Jessica to come back and make everything alright. Matt and Kim gained a reputation as the fun band at … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Oedipus

Covetous
The Den Recorders (2008)

Oedipus, a three piece making more noise than a three piece rightly should, manage the type of grandiose guitar rock both melodic and epic, while never coming across as trying too hard. Their latest EP, Covetous, offers seven over-sexed, balls out, tracks at a clock time of just under half an hour. Vocalist/bassist Jeremy Haffner's harmonic wail sets the band … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Matisyahu

Shattered
Epic (2008)

This four-track EP spins the typical Matisyahu sound a little bit from its pop/old school hip-hop/reggae roots, with opener "Smash Lies" bringing out a more modern hip-hop sound and the following track "So Hi So Lo" working a more prominent guitar line in to give a rock edge. It's a diversification which is no bad thing at all, but it … Read more

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