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Mogwai

The Hawk is Howling
Matador (2008)

The usual post-rock sites were ablaze with "new Mogwai is boring" posts a few weeks before it was released, which signaled not only the impending leak had finally happened, but also the expected, but all-too-easy, tendency to judge before really listening. I would have just ignored these dismissals anyway, but they got me wondering what to expect with album previews … Read more

Broadcast Sea

Wounded Soldier
Pluto (2008)

Wounded Soldier might be a concept album of sorts since its lyrical compositions are full of themes dealing with the experiences of the brother of Broadcast Sea's vocalist and guitarist, Sterling Wilson, while he serves time as a soldier in Iraq. So right off the bat, Broadcast Sea might present one heavy album. Even though the band is not generally … Read more

Multiple Authors

Okkervil River

The Stand Ins
Jagjaguwar (2008)

"But there's this idea that nobody can tell you if something is good or not, you have to decide whether you think it's good. And nobody is more of an authority than anyone else." The quote above is part of a response singer Will Sheff said when interviewed about his then forthcoming record The Stage Names. The interviewer had asked … Read more

Multiple Authors

Okkervil River

The Stand Ins
Jagjaguwar (2008)

I have this vaguely unpleasant sensation lately when listening to The Stand Ins that Okkervil River's Will Sheff (guitar and vocals) is peering in the windows at me. I'm probably not alone in this, though. Throughout The Stand Ins, universal themes are rendered in careful fragments, and anchored with lyrical details so seemingly specific that they're almost biographical. Sure, Okkervil … Read more

These Arms Are Snakes

Tail Swallower & Dove
Suicide Squeeze (2008)

Once again I come into a new full-length from These Arms are Snakes filled with expectations. And while I am filled with hope for repeated greatness, I am also open-minded to any twists and turns that the band may throw at me over the course of these ten songs. Tail Swallower & Dove is only two years removed from Easter, … Read more

Steve Von Till

A Grave is a Grim Horse
Neurot (2008)

For those who do not know who Steve Von Till is, Von Till is a guitarist and vocalist in the seminal outfit Neurosis. And while that band is one of the heaviest bands on the planet, Von Till's solo records are dark, folk-esque experiences which are stark portraits into a different side of the man that produces them. His solo … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Alpha & Omega

Devil's Bed
6131 (2008)

You know when George sings on Blacklisted's Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God and you really liked that grungey overblown style? Oh wait that was me. Anyhow... now you can have an entire five-song EP chock full of that over the top wailing. Not only do you get that you also get some headbanging metallic hardcore that falls somewhere between … Read more

200 Words Or Less

All Hype

Response
Bus 125 (2008)

Michigan's All Hype had the unfortunate job of opening a six-band bill show that had no local openers and I believe only ten people paid. Gotta love MPLS hardcore showing their support for bands that don't come from their cul de sac in the burbs. Anyhow, All Hype were great and did an In My Eyes cover, so naturally I … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Fucked Up

Year of the Pig (Reissue)
Matador (2008)

A re-release of an EP that came out last year from this overrated punk band from Canada that someone inked a deal with indie's scared cow of a label, Matador Records. If you haven't heard Fucked Up in a while you may remember a time where they wrote sarcastic bites of simple punk rock. If you listen to then now … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Hammer Bros.

The Kids are Dead
Welfare (2008)

I'm getting too many records that sound exactly like The Kids are Dead. It's another moshy metal crossover type hardcore album that is sweeping VFW dance floors all over the nation in '08. Sure, sometimes they play fast, sometimes Hammer Bros. goes for the menacing metal stomp. Either way, I've heard all too much of it this year. I'm sure … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Jumpercable

Jumpercable
Monkey Wrench (2008)

Awful intro that thankfully goes into speedy hardcore reminiscent of bands from the early part of this decade. It's fun and moshy. They even have a song that begins with a sweet simple bass line and some guitar feedback whine. There was a time when every band sounded like this and had names like Ten Yard Fight, In My Eyes, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Last Lights

Demo
Independent (2007)

This band sounds like The Suicide File with the spazzy noise of Panic and some chunky riffs of Hope Conspiracy all mixed in. I guess it's time for hardcore bands to recall a half a decade ago when bands from the Northeast played venomous spite-filled mid-tempo rocking hardcore. I'm already chair moshing to the breakdown in "There's No One Good … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Scream Hello

Smart & Stupid
Red Leader (2008)

Super melodic emo-pop with wimpy vocals. Your girlfriend is going to like this band more than you will. It's cute and catchy but a bit too sugary sweet for me. I like the fact that it reminds more of The Get Up Kids and The Promise Ring than any of that garbage clogging up the stages of Warped Tour with … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Signs of Hope

Choices Made
Detonate (2008)

I thoroughly enjoyed CT's Signs of Hope full-length First and Foremost and was pleased as punch to see their new EP in my mailbox. If you aren't familiar with Signs of Hope, they play fast hardcore that sounds like everyone else but it doesn't matter since Signs of Hope does it so well. Choices Made ventures into the ground of … Read more

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