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Raise the Red Lantern

Thunderfuck
Witch Trial (2006)

It's hard to say if stoner rock on a whole tries to be "epic" in a way that other instrumental oriented metals do. Mostly they try to get as heavy and slow as possible while still rocking out. Raise the Red Lantern eschews that…mostly, and makes a pretty epic EP. Now when I say epic EP I don't mean it's … Read more

The Black Angels

Passover
Light in the Attic (2006)

In retrospect, the sixties were a time of incredible music. While many aspects of the sound have influenced, been watered down, and filtered to fit the mainstream's acute taste of accessible blankness, some of the most important aspects of this era were quickly passed over. Bands like 13th Floor Elevators, Jefferson Airplane and Velvet Underground have been sucked dry in … Read more

Brian Simpson

Postcard from L.A.
Independent (2006)

Brian Simpson plays that sort of music that you feel like you've heard before but can't really remember when or who else plays that sort of music. It carries all the influences of Bob Dylan and The Allman Brothers and ends up sounding something like what Van Morrison has been doing for the past decade or so and where Brian … Read more

Cinemechanica

The Martial Arts
Hello Sir (2006)

Cinemechanica are a math-rock quartet from Athens, Georgia. They are responsible for one of the most aurally exciting albums of the year. The Martial Arts is an exercise in both energy and audacity. While their sound is very reminiscent of early Q and Not U or Drive Like Jehu, Cinemechanica exceed these comparisons with an organically post-modern interpretation of a … Read more

The Distance

The Rise, the Fall, and Everything in Between
Abacus (2006)

I like to look at pretty girls. It's easy for me; I live near a college and work at a gas station right next door to a gym called Lifetime Fitness of all things. So I get an eyeful of babes day in and day out. It's nice. I'm not trying to come off as a pervy old guy but … Read more

Young Widows

Settle Down City
Jade Tree (2006)

You could see this coming. You could see it from miles away if you listened closely and or fanatically collected the 7"s and albums from Young Widows previous incarnation as the unapologetically loud and noisy Breather Resist. The last 7" that they released, Full of Tongues, showcased a noisier but less loud sound to go along with their lock tight … Read more

The Great Crusades

Four Thirty
Innocent Words (2006)

According to the press blurb provided with Four Thirty, Midwestern natives The Great Crusades approached the songwriting process for their latest album in a way thus far unique to the band: the lyrics were written after the music, created to fit around the existing song structure. While I'm sure that some artists may be able to pull this off, the … Read more

The Ergs!

Jersey's Best Prancers
Don Giovanni (2006)

Anyone who's been paying attention can see the writing on the wall: like Cock Sparrer in 1982, pop punk's coming back. Of course, it never really left; it's just seen a variety of mutations since the halcyon days of "Locket Love": The Descendents' heartsick catharsis, The Lillingtons' television city dreaming, and the thrift store angst of Saves the Day are … Read more

Janez Detd

Like Cold Rain Kills a Summer Day...
I Scream (2006)

Archetypal scene dude: So yeah these guys are like super huge in Europe; I am sure they are going to hit it big over here. But I saw them like three years ago in like a port-a-potty with no electricity and they had a generator going to plug in their instruments. But you know they are socially conscious, so it … Read more

Keene Brothers

Blues and Boogie Shoes
Fading Captain (2006)

Everybody's got a little something to say about Robert Pollard these days. Drunk, father, master singer-vocalist. Many years ago, long before the advent of the Internet a close friend remarked how Pollard could basically do no wrong as he has the gift of having the voice of a bell. True enough. Once again, it's all here on display in Blues … Read more

Isis & Aereogramme

In the Fishtank 14
Konkurrent (2006)

By now all of should know who Isis is and what to expect from them in terms of their music output. A good number of you are probably familiar with Aereogramme - for those of you not, they're a Scottish band that mixes punishing metal with melodic moments and alt-rock vocals. So what's the deal with this In the Fishtank … Read more

The Hope Conspiracy

Death Knows Your Name
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

For those that did not hear The Hope Conspiracy's recent teaser 7" Hang Your Cross (which was later released as a CD and in digital format), now is your chance. Let me just say, WOW! I figured that the new full-length, Death Knows Your Name, would be good (this opinion was solely based off of the quality of said 7"), … Read more

As Tall as Lions

As Tall as Lions
Triple Crown (2006)

It is an awful shame that so many great indie bands often go unnoticed. As Tall as Lions is the perfect example of one of these bands. Here is a group who's already coming out on a small label, but also a label whose target audience is the complete opposite crowd that As Tall as Lions would normally appeal to. … Read more

Lamb of God

Sacrament
Epic (2006)

Lamb of God and I go back a long way. Their second album, As the Palaces Burn, was the album that really got me into them. Actually, it was the album that got me into metal in general. It is one of the select few albums from the so-called "New Wave of American Metal" that has stood the test of … Read more

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