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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)

Under Pressure

Black Bile
Escape Artist (2007)

Apparently, Under Pressure hails from Winnipeg, Canada - former home of the Jets hockey team before they became the Phoenix Coyotes. Black Bile is the latest release for the band following several seven inches, compilation appearances, splits, and full-lengths; an impressive amount of work since their formation in 2003. Still, this is my first exposure to Under Pressure, and it is a shock to say the least. Listening to "Human Meat" really takes me back to old, old school hardcore and punk, it's hard to explain what this sounds like, maybe a cross between Black Flag with maybe the vocal sound of a raspier Rollins with a hint of something else that I just cannot put my finger on yet. Their sound on "A Hazing" continues with the early sound of Black Flag with a dash of the Descendents; call me crazy but I kind of hear it in some of the song structure at times. Regardless, by the time "Pale Skin" starts going I am reading Under Pressure's bio to make sure that they really are from Winnipeg because this song, and record as a whole, just reminds me of early 80's California punk and hardcore. Seriously, "Whip and … Read more

Said Radio

Tidal Waves and Teeth
Mankind (2007)

The initial rumblings of Said Radio caused a lot of excitement in the punk/hardcore community, and for good reason. Rumors … Read more

Ozma

Pasadena
About a Girl (2007)

After splitting in 2004, it seemed initially unlikely that California's Ozma would ever resurface with their brand of power pop … Read more

Ambitions

Stranger
Bridge Nine (2007)

I've been a dedicated follower of Ambitions since their introduction as a side project band that featured three-fifths of With … Read more

Eskimo Joe

Black Fingernails, Red Wine
Rykodisc (2007)

"No one in our band is in it for their ego. It's all about the songs" The above is a … Read more

Angel Eyes

...and for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars
Underground Communiqué (2007)

Let me get to this straight away; I love the movie, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, so naming … Read more

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One from the archives

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead
Lookout! (2003)

Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are sweeping the nation's rock and roll scene. People first began to take real notice of Mr. Leo with the release of his second LP, The Tyranny of Distance, however a few may remember Leo from his days with Citizens Arrest and Chisel. With a growing fanbase and critical acclaim to fuel their creative DeLorean, the RX kids headed back to the future for 2003's Hearts of Oak. Hearts was, like Tyranny, met with critical acclaim. With one of the best pop songs of the year, 'Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?', Ted and company collected even more new fans looking for a little Leo in their lives. The next single off of Hearts of Oak, 'Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead', is the lead … Read more

More album reviews

My Flea Circus

Fancy Feast
Independent (2006)

I've come across some weird avant-garde bands, but it's a rare occurrence that I hear a band as bizarre and creepy as My Flea Circus. I usually find a way to pin down even the most out-there bands, but this is kind of a first for me. I'm at a total loss for words. So I'm going to have to … Read more

Nirvana

Unplugged in New York
Geffen (2007)

At the risk of sounding like a filthy hippie droning on about the sixties and how you had to be there to understand it, the same could pretty much be said for the early nineties. The eighties were discovered to be an insanely vacuous era that by the turn of the decade had started to smell like anything but teen … Read more

Kaada & Patton

Live
Ipecac (2007)

Has it really been three, almost four, years now since Mike Patton and John Kaada released Romances? Apparently so! Live chronicles the first and only live performance of Patton and Kaada's music of Romances at the Roskilde Festival in 2005 on DVD format. The two constructed a band that contains members of Kaada's band Cloroform to perform the album, and … Read more

Make Do and Mend

We're All Just Living
Restless Minds (2007)

Don't you just hate it when an album, or in this case an EP, is marred by one or two horrible tracks? Connecticut's Make Do and Mend almost created a flawless melodic post-hardcore short player if it weren't for the second and third tracks. The latter of these two tracks, entitled "Interlewd," is a keyboard/piano driven sap fest that tries … Read more

Pusher

Pusher
Auxiliary (2007)

Pusher hails from Louisville and features an impressive cast of ex-members as Steve Sindoni (vocals) comes to the band after handling vocals in Breather Resist and Matt Jaha (drums) comes from his former drumming duties in Black Cross and Coliseum. Unfortunately this release is a posthumous document of a short-lived group that just could not keep it together, but at … Read more

Strangers

Weight
Action Man (2007)

Earlier this year Strangers really grabbed my interest with their four-song EP, Holding. On that release, five individuals from New Zealand delivered a devastating aural assault. So here we are a couple of months down the road and Strangers have unleashed their debut full-length, Weight, upon the masses. The album begins with "Expositions," a two-minute number that picks up exactly … Read more

Chosen

Promo 2007
Independent (2007)

HEY YOU! Metal Blade! Century Media! Lifeforce! Earache! All you record labels down with the metal: LISTEN UP! Chosen is an independent metal band hailing from Ireland and I can say with all sincerity that the fact that none of you have stepped up and signed these guys is a Goddamn travesty. Granted, this might be due to the fact … Read more

Air

Pocket Symphony
Astralwerks (2007)

You know those bands that everyone talks about but you never get the chance to check them out? This is one of those cases. I never knew anyone who listened to Air on any regular basis, and bands that have extremely simple names never really seem to stick in my mind. Plus, when I hear the word electronica, it doesn't … Read more

Alkaline Trio

Remains
Vagrant (2007)

I haven't met anyone in my life that is affiliated with hardcore or punk that doesn't like at least a handful of Alkaline Trio songs. Alkaline Trio's gothic twists on weathered topics like being drunk, drugs, and being heartbroken ring all but universal to the ears of every kid that has every thought about wearing black for a week and … Read more

Saves the Day

Under the Boards
Vagrant (2007)

Part two in the trilogy of concept (small C) albums, Under the Boards sees Saves the Day back on a quick release schedule. This follow up to Sound the Alarm took only a year to release, compared to the three that passed between Sound the Alarm and the critically-panned In Reverie. With a third record, Daybreak, already in the works … Read more

Tombs

Tombs
Black Box Recordings (2007)

Tombs is the latest project from Mike Hill (former member of the criminally underrated bands Anodyne and Versoma). Tombs seemingly picks up from where Hill's last and short lived project Versoma left off with their EP Life During Wartime; this short, seven song EP is a good starting point for Tombs with its thick guitars and loud sound. Opening with … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Spank Rock and Benny Blanco

Bangers & Cash
Downtown (2007)

The latest effort from Baltimore club/DJ/rapping outfit Spank Rock brings more to the table than one might think. The opening line, "Welcome to the fuck shop," gives you an idea of what you're in store for. Bangers & Cash is five tracks of sex and money, with Spank Rock rapper Naeem Juwan dominating the lyrical space. This is also two … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Terror

Rhythm Amongst the Chaos
Reaper (2007)

I love Terror. I don't care about what anyone has to say about this band being simple-minded or playing hardcore for the "wrong kids." Terror just flat out rules. Always have, and so far, always will. Rhythm Amongst the Chaos basically takes off where Always the Hard Way left off with Scott Vogel and company infusing the metallic overdrive of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Provoke / Tempo 38

Split
Independent (2007)

This is going to be the last split CD I ever review for Scene Point Blank. Okay, this is going to be the last split CD I ever review of two unknown bands that I review for this site. Sorry, split CDs are becoming the bane of my existence as I try and think of something to say about two … Read more

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