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Ghostface Killah

The Big Doe Rehab
Def Jam (2007)

On his seventh album it sounds like Ghostface is handing over the reins to the less noted, giving more of his name and less of his talent, allowing the up and comers to ride on his success. The overall presentation of the album seems rushed and halfhearted; perhaps he assumes that people will purchase the album solely on the premise … Read more

Spoon

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Merge (2007)

Over the course of the last year Jim Eno, drummer of Spoon and certified electrical engineer, has produced some of 2007's best albums while working with his boys in Spoon to bring us Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Before even getting to the musical element of the record's equation, any enthusiast is quick to note the amazing quality to the … Read more

Down-Stares

The Watershed
Independent (2006)

There is a parenthetical addition to this album's title that states "This Might Take More Than You Can Brave." Ironically, this statement has turned out to describe all too well my experience with reviewing it. Before I say anything more, I have to level with you guys (not just the readers, but the band as well if they ever happen … Read more

Animosity

Animal
Black Market Activities (2007)

Animosity has proven that metal can truly reign supreme again in the Bay Area. Following the initial burst of thrash metal that drew the attention of every person with long hair and a will to bang their head, the metal scene of San Francisco and its surrounding areas fell off and almost completely dissipated. Granted, in its absence we were … Read more

Broadway Calls

Broadway Calls
State of Mind (2007)

The term "pop-punk" has been really batted around in 2007. It has been used describe every band from Set Your Goals (wrong) to The Ergs (right) and now we have Broadway Calls, an Oregon outfit who straddles the line of pop-punk but strays closer to the power pop side of the equation. When I listen to their self-titled album for … Read more

Ravens and Chimes

Reichenbach Falls
Better Looking (2007)

Lets paint a picture. After weeks of midterms and presentations in combination with 'seasonal' weather, I couldn't decide if I was more exhausted or cold. I was half asleep riding shotgun back to my parents house when I first slid Ravens and Chimes into the CD deck of my best friend's over sized SUV. About a week previously both of … Read more

Zs

Arms
Planaria (2007)

I was lucky enough to see Zs live on tour with The Locust, and I must first mention how badly my ears hurt during their set. I felt for a moment that I might fall apart right where I was standing. But upon the conclusion of their set I realized that this was more than just something that made my … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Sweet Cobra

Forever
Hawthorne Street (2007)

Attempting to mix hardcore, d-beat, and riff heavy rock, Sweet Cobra does each with authority but sound unfocused when fusing them all at once. Credit is due though for attempting to splice genres, making a hybrid of crushing music. At times Forever sounds like a From Ashes Rises record, worthy of the crust title but still accessible enough to appeal … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Romans

All Those Wrists
Independent (2007)

Romans is the latest band to be sprung forth from Vermont's underground music scene - the last two that I recall are My Revenge! and Drowningman. So, these four gentlemen from Burlington are in fairly good company in that regard. On their debut release, All Those Wrists, the band unleashes a mixture of caustic, gritty, and noisy mathcore, streamlined post-hardcore, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Xasthur

Defective Epitaph
Hydra Head (2007)

One-man black metal projects certainly have become overabundant in the past couple of years. I'm not exactly sure what brought on their increased presence in music, but nevertheless, their popularity has grown exponentially in recent years. Xasthur, which is the project of Malefic, has been releasing material under this moniker since 1995. Defective Epitaph is his sixth full-length release and … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Intronaut

The Challenger
Translation Loss (2007)

After the release of their debut full-length last year, Intronaut return with an EP containing three new songs and some added bells and whistles. The Challenger kicks off with the title-track and the members of Intronaut pick up where they previously left off with a fairly straight-forward display of metal, oftentimes reminiscent of High on Fire. "Whittler of Fortune" sees … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Don't Mess With Texas

Los Dias de Junio
Moonlee (2007)

Don't Mess with Texas is my first exposure to any artist from the country of Croatia. Despite reading through their one-sheet, I was a little skeptical of what I might hear - some crazy gypsy folk perhaps? Nevertheless, Los Dias de Junio made its way into my CD player and I was rewarded for my lack of abandoning hope. Los … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Flatliners

The Great Awake
Fat Wreck Chords (2007)

The Flatliners hail from Toronto, Canada and The Great Awake is their second full-length. By the Fat Wreck Chords connection, you can certainly expect this, in the most general of descriptions, to be punk music. And sure enough, The Flatliners offer up twelve punk anthems to cause a ruckus to on this album. However, The Flatliners aren't your run-of-the-mill punk … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Catalyst / Brainworms

Split
Rorschach (2007)

This split 7" features two up-and-comers from the hardcore punk scene of Richmond, VA: The Catalyst and Brainworms. Brianworms is up first with two cuts. "Winnie Cooper" takes to the less caustic sound we heard on the band's previous release. The song is a lot more indie rock than hardcore or punk; at times it reminds me of The (International) … Read more

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