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Carnal Knowledge

Demo
Independent (2008)

Carnal Knowledge deliver a nice blend of fuzzy guitar-driven punk that is reminiscent of the nascent riot grrl records crossed with the East Bay bounce that anyone growing up punk in the 90's grew to love. And to top it off, they have dual vocals - something I've been a sucker for ever since I first heard Blatz. While their … Read more

5ive

Hesperus
Tortuga (2008)

A two-piece band before the format became de rigueur in hipster circles, 5ive (from Massachusetts not the boy band from the UK) play an instrumental doom-like style that incorporates psych elements to create a true sense of atmosphere and other worldly sounds - an impressive feat coming from just a guitarist and a drummer. Hesperus is the band's third full-length … Read more

Rocket from the Crypt

R.I.P.
Swami/Vagrant (2008)

It was a sad, sad day when I learned that Rocket from the Crypt had called it a day. Seriously, here was a band that attempted to put the swagger and brashness back into rock and roll with a panache and flair still unrivalled to this point. They have been gone now for several years with only their massive back … Read more

Ride Your Bike

Bad News from the Bar
Deep Elm (2008)

Bad News from the Bar serves as a soundtrack for a screenplay that Ride Your Bike member Mike Getches wrote. In the supposed movie which I shall entitle Emo Schlock #24564, he tells the story of childhood friends Lillian and Elliot drifting apart due to Elliot's big city dreams. Apparently they find each other again through police interrogators, druggie neighbors, … Read more

Lair of the Minotaur

War Metal Battle Master
Southern Lord (2008)

It is now five years into Lair of the Minotaur's existence and I think its safe to say that this band is not a gimmick or a novelty act in the least. Sure, their lyrics are based on Greek mythology and their sound harkens back to the 1980's, but Lair of the Minotaur is the real deal. This three-piece is … Read more

She & Him

Volume One
Merge (2008)

She is Zooey Deschanel, the actress and apparently all around talented individual. I remember the moment that is etched into my retina whenever I think of her is in the movie Almost Famous when she grasps the protagonist (her character's little brother) by the shoulders and proclaims to him, "One day, you will be cool" while staring at him with … Read more

Baby Guts

Gasoline
Guilt Ridden Pop (2007)

The profound influence of punk on the grunge movement should not be understated. By the time it had reached national recognition, that lineage wasn't as obvious as it was in the beginning. But my point is that when stripped down to its bare essentials, grunge is, much like 80s hardcore, loud, fast, angry, and an embodiment of youth. This brings … Read more

The Alphabetical Order

I am Magically Happening!
Independent (2007)

I get a lot of albums in the mail, a lot. Every one of them comes with one-sheet containing information and descriptions that suggest that they are the albums for me. And while most of them are filled with bombastic and over exaggerated wordage, every once in a while you come across one that lives up to the expectations developed … Read more

The Seven Mile Journey

The Metamorphosis Project
Fonogram/Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand (2008)

Operating under the post-rock banner, The Seven Mile Journey's The Metamorphosis Project offers an hour of sparse and atmospheric soundscapes. It is the group's second release for Denmark's Fonogram Agency, and is released in the United States on Pumpkin Seeds in the Sand. The design is minimal yet eye-catching, with a white logo stamped in the corner of a glossy … Read more

City of Ships

Tour EP
Independent (2008)

Now, I had only heard of this band's existence and never actually had the opportunity to listen to their music until I was able to see them. Honestly, I was dumbstruck by how excellent they were (good musicians, good amount of passion, good amount of energy), and it was not only me who reacted this way as many people who … Read more

Blacklisted

Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God
Deathwish Inc. (2008)

Let's be honest, the vast majority of hardcore music is similar sounding. There is only so many ways in which you can arrange music that falls under the umbrella of hardcore. Sure, there are small variations in style and sound, but the moment a band redefines what hardcore is and becomes the next big thing there is a fleet of … Read more

Why?

Alopecia
Anticon (2008)

I'm still trying to fully wrap my head around this album. Why? hails from Oakland, California and puts an interesting hip-hop touch to their predominantly indie rock sound. Frontman Yoni Wolf is one of the founders of Anticon Records, and was also one-third of the late electronica/hip-hop group cLOUDDEAD, where he shared duties with rapper Doseone and DJ Odd Nosdam. … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Smartbomb

Chaos and Lawlessness
Think Fast! (2008)

Members of No Trigger and Shock Nagasaki playing melodic hardcore in the vein of Kid Dynamite, Descendents, and 7 Seconds? Sign me the hell up! Heck, it really doesn't matter what bands these guys also play in when you write songs like these. Chaos and Lawlessness is Smartbomb's debut EP, an eight-song effort that tracks in at just over twelve … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Attention

Stand Strong
Independent (2007)

Pop-rock is a huge right now and Attention has a shot at being the next big thing. This four-piece group from Minneapolis contains members that did time in Gratitude and The Gloria Record, among others. Stand Strong is the band's latest offering, a six-song self-released EP filled with upbeat pop-rock. The songs that make up Stand Strong are quite catchy … Read more

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