Mouth of the Architect
Quietly
Translation Loss (2008)
It has been a rather tumultuous year for Mouth of the Architect. Late last year the band announced their breakup as a result of the departure of their main songwriter and guitarist/vocalist. Not more than a few days later the band had a change of heart, revealing they would be continuing on, and with original vocalist/guitarist Alex Vernon returning to the group. The change-up surfaced a lot of questions, none more than how it would affect the band's sound. Quietly is the follow-up to 2006's The Ties That Blind and shows a different songwriting approach for obvious reasons. While still rooted in the valley between post-rock and metal, the band's sound is less guitar-driven and more guitar-accented than its predecessor, if that makes sense. Where as before the guitars were the primary instrument of the material, the guitars are now just a part of the final equation that is Mouth of the Architect. "Quietly" opens the eight-song album with a ten-minute plus foray into the world of post-rock, drone metal, and noise-rock. The resulting sound is not unlike what the band first delivered on Time and Withering. The song moves through different phases of soaring guitars and intricacies as well … 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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … 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 … Read more
