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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)

Grizzly Bear

Friend
Warp (2007)

Having heard Grizzly Bear's Horn of Plenty when it was first released and liking it quite a lot, I was taken back a bit when I heard Yellow House for the first time and to tell you the truth, I didn't really like it. That was until I saw the entity that is Grizzly Bear live during their tour with The Dirty Projectors. What I saw that night made me a life long Grizzly Bear fan. Four musicians who not only were super competent at playing their instruments, but goddamn they can write a song like no other. So after getting into Yellow House a bit late, imagine my excitement when I saw they had a new EP coming out in which they "Yellow House'd" up with some of the old songs. The first song on Friend is a re-envisioning of "Alligator" from Horn of Plenty. The song is now about four times as long and just filled with the lush vocal melodies that Grizzly Bear is starting to become known for. Fuzzed out bass and drums that sound like they could start to clip at any moment roll through in what is a very enjoyable remake. After this song … Read more

Nebelhexë

Essensual
Candlelight (2007)

For those who find Evanescence's Amy Lee too goth and Sarah Brightman not quite goth enough, we have Norway's Andrea … Read more

Trap Them

Seance Prime
Deathwish Inc. (2007)

Deathwish Inc. is definitely an interesting label. Their releases span the clearly generic (Damage's Final) to the very progressive (along … Read more

108

A New Beat from a Dead Heart
Deathwish Inc. (2007)

Eleven years! It has been roughly eleven years since 108 last released a studio effort discounting last year's one-oh-eight demo. … Read more

The Dirty Projectors

Rise Above
Dead Oceans (2007)

Last February, I went to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI to catch a set by Grizzly Bear, Brooklyn … Read more

Johnny Parry

Songs Without a Purpose
Lost Toy (2007)

Applying the finishing touches to a viola-and-recorder composition evocatively recreating the world of Sloppy Joe Riggs-Lattimer (a red-headed scientologist Jew … Read more

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One from the archives

Vial

Burnout
Get Better Records (2024)

They’re calling Vial indie-punk on the press releases I’m seeing. That’s probably as fair a description as any, as the DIY punk band covers a lot of sonic ground. What’s impressive is that on burnout, their second record, that varied sound all feels unified. The 10 songs here go from indie rock to angry punk to grungy to bouncy but, however it shifts from song to song, it manages the same core aesthetic. I’d simply call it punk, with strong influence from the riot grrl movement, but just as much interest in fun, party tunes as they have in loud, angry jams. If I have to namedrop, I found myself thinking of Bratmobile, Grumpster, Kitten Forever, and even the Dwarves and ‘70s disco pomp at different times. They also seem … Read more

More album reviews

Malignancy

Inhuman Grotesqueries
Willowtip (2007)

a) "Neglected Rejection" b) "Benign Reabsorption" c) "Predicated Malformations" d) "Embryological Teratomas" Okay, here's how it works - you guess which ones are actual titles of songs by the band Malignancy, and which songs were created by me, inebriated after a night of Jäger-bombs using a thesaurus opened randomly to two different pages. Give up? All the titles are songs … Read more

Cobalt

Eater of Birds
Profound Lore (2007)

Cobalt is a two-piece black metal band hailing from the United States. They have a surprisingly full and "polished" sound that sets them apart from other black metal bands that I have been privy to hear. Eater of Birds is the band's (from what I have gathered) second full-length and showcases a marked improvement from their first full-length (War Metal … Read more

These Days

Chained to the Lake
Twelve Gauge (2007)

Following the release of their debut full-length, one of my favorites of 2005, These Days went on indefinite hiatus. Needless to say, I was bummed out by the announcement. But after little more than a year off, the band decided to give it another go, and with a revamped lineup got to work on playing shows and writing new songs. … Read more

Pechblende

Collapse
Indianola (2007)

I very nearly saw this band, in a barn, no less. From the time I saw the flier I was stoked on the show; black and white crass styled font, touring international hardcore bands, and almost certainly couscous or lentils. The show was unfortunately cancelled. I think I had to work anyway. I'm glad I picked up this CD, though. … Read more

Ambitions

Exile
Bridge Nine (2007)

Ambitions have always been one of those bands I've liked but never really got overly into. They always seemed far too cheesy in that super posi Bane way for me to never want to take them seriously. 2007 rolls around, Ambitions signs to Bridge Nine and releases a new 7". They are still cheesy as hell but I usually order … Read more

I Rise

Down
1917 (2007)

I Rise impressed me with their showing on the split with Soul Control with their ability to rewrite the best riffs from all the 90's hardcore greats and still come up with something that doesn't sounds like a rehash. Down furthers demonstrates I Rise's mastery of infusing 108's intensity with the melodic tinges of Quicksand. Lyrically they cover all the … Read more

Sinking Ships

Ten
Revelation (2007)

If the rumor serves correct, this may be the swansong for Sinking Ships. I for one will be sad to see them go (if said rumor is true) as they always played a decent version of emotional melodic hardcore that the Northwest seemed to spit out weekly after the demise of Champion. Ten gives you three tracks of speedy harmonious … Read more

Snake Eyes

Snake Eyes
1917 (2007)

Snake Eyes is just another one of those side project bands that doesn't get a lot of love outside of their home stomping grounds of California due the fact they don't get to play out much and never tour. Snake Eyes features members of Betrayed, Terror, Donnybrook, and Internal Affairs. Only Internal Affairs comes anywhere close to the violent intensity … Read more

Wasted Time

No Shore
Grave Mistake (2007)

Wasted Time basically sounds like Time to Escape but with more gruff vocals and more influences that stem from early New York hardcore than Dischord. Once again, if it's done well, I like it. Wasted Time I like. Actually I like Wasted Time a bit more than Time to Escape since they just go for throat and are a smidge … Read more

Time to Escape

Time to Escape
Grave Mistake (2007)

Bands like Time to Escape are the reason I picked up a record player. It's not so I can score crucial pre-order/fest only vinyl. It's because hardcore bands like Time to Escape just sound that much more raw and frenetic on vinyl than they ever would on CD. Time to Escape is a fast snotty hardcore band from the nation's … Read more

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers

Is This a Party or an Intervention?
Evil Owl (2007)

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers are a slightly indie and extremely drunk pop-punk band that, when I actually leave the apartment, I've shared beers with more than few times. Three songs slow rock ditties fill up this slab of wax, everything is played simple and never overpowering. It's a bit melancholy with a biting sense of sarcasm. It's like saddling up … Read more

Rosetta

Wake/Lift
Translation Loss (2007)

If you're unfamiliar with Rosetta, punch yourself. Seriously, I'll wait. Go ahead and punch yourself if you've never heard of Rosetta. Okay now By now, you're probably asking why you just punched yourself? Punch yourself again for thinking that! After you've finish listening to Wake/Lift, the band's sophomore release, you'll know exactly why. Following the release of their 2005 debut, … Read more

The Lotus Eaters

Wurmwluv
Troubleman Unlimited (2007)

I love The Lotus Eaters. Not many people know the surprisingly laid back side project of Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture), Stephen O'Malley (Sunn 0))), Khanate, and a myriad of others), and James Plotkin (Khanate, Phantomsmasher, Khlyst, etc); this may be due to the fact that the group does not release records at the clip … Read more

The Mock Heroic

Dignified Exits
SuperFi (2007)

Contrary to popular belief, screamo isn't dead. Granted, it could very well be crippled and unable to be even a shadow of it's former self, but it isn't dead and will probably never die. Aside from a handful of bands in the States playing the genre well, including Cease Upon the Capitol, Kid Crash, Loma Prieta, and to some extent … Read more

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