Recent reviews

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)

Slayer

Christ Illusion
American (2006)

During one of his spoken word performances, Henry Rollins once noted that it is as if someone freezes Slayer in a block of ice in-between tours and recording; they are completely unaware of the fact it's not 1983 anymore but still continue to make music as if it was. In their twenty-something year career, they haven't really "progressed" (began sucking) and have a fairly consistent musical formula throughout their entire body of work. I'd have to agree with this statement, which, consequently, makes their new album, Christ Illusion, almost impossible to review. Truth be told, if you're reading this you probably are already a Slayer fan, or have at least heard Slayer before. With that being said I could make comparisons to the classics, Reign in Blood and Seasons in the Abyss, or I could take the "more cred than you" approach and start name checking stuff from their Metal Blade days, stuff that was released before I was born, but that would prove useless. This is Slayer and therefore it fucking owns! And saying just that provides a very clear distinction from other groups in the genre. Metallica is good - sans St. Anger, Megadeth is awesome, and Iron … Read more

Jena Berlin

Passion Waits as the Program Keeps Going
Watch the City Burn (2005)

I realize that we are more than halfway through 2006. I realize that Jena Berlin recently began recording their follow-up … Read more

The Scare

Snakes Among Saints
Lawnchair (2006)

Not many people remember DC melodic hardcore band Affront, whom has the dubious distinction of being one of three bands … Read more

Razzle Dazzle

Both
Lockin Out (2006)

Razzle Dazzle, better known as RZL DZL on this side of the computer screen, is Detroit's latest hardcore export, and … Read more

Multiple Authors

Johnny Cash

American V: A Hundred Highways
American (2006)

Johnny Cash might as well be an American institution. Many revere him and his recent death following the passing of … Read more

Multiple Authors

Johnny Cash

American V: A Hundred Highways
American (2006)

It seems almost an old story now. Ailing musician hooks up with a contemporary producer and covers a mixture of … Read more

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One from the archives

Bambies

Summer Soon
Spaghetty Town Records (2021)

The first song on Sumer Soon is titled “Dirty Taint.” And if that doesn’t put a taste in your mouth for what’s to come, well, keep reading then. There’s some trash rock influence, for sure, but it’s not that cut-and-dried. The Bambies also have some heavy Ramones influence that gives a more wholesome counter tone. It walks the trash punk line, but ultimately toes more on the punk rawk side of things instead. There’s lots of guitar with those big swingin’ licks that give some extra luster and attitude, but it’s over a strong Ramones drum beat and songs with one-to-three word titles. Second-to-last track “RNR With You” is probably more indicative of the style. The record is short, fast and meant to be played loud. It’s energetic and really … Read more

More album reviews

Between the Buried and Me

The Anatomy of
Victory (2006)

I like Between the Buried and Me, a lot. But The Anatomy of is a perfect example of a covers album gone bad. I really like the idea of paying homage to the bands that inspired you to play in the first place, but there is a productive way to go about doing that and there is also a filler-creating … Read more

Erase Errata

Nightlife
Kill Rock Stars (2006)

I fear it may happen one day; someone will slip up, let the cat out of the bag, and give the game away. Someone may, one day, tell Erase Errata that it isn't 1981 any longer. Basquiat is dead, Sonic Youth isn't so youthful anymore and John Hinckley Jr. was a rubbish shot. Step forward, Ladies, 2006 has much to … Read more

Radio 4

Enemies Like This
Astralwerks (2006)

When Radio 4 released Gotham, it instantly became one of my favorite albums of all time. It was packed full of great songs that were great to dance to and also contained a message. But the band faltered with the distinctly average Stealing of a Nation. It wasn't so much that Stealing of a Nation was a bad album, it … Read more

Scott Walker

The Drift
4AD (2006)

Scott Walker - to those who know and love his music - is one of those towering figures of American culture that is as much the stuff of legend as an actual person, like Roky Erickson or Thomas Pynchon. Walker spent the late '60s recording four astonishing LPs of lush, overwrought continental melodrama, entitled Scott through Scott 4. These are … Read more

Angel Eyes

Something to Do with Death
Underground Communiqué (2005)

There's not a whole lot you can say about Angel Eyes that hasn't already been said about Isis. If Isis were an actual person, Angel Eyes would be its impressionable, suppler younger brother. The latter always gazing starry-eyed at the former with a love and devotion to rival the strongest of bonds. Ok, that's a stretch, but they really do … Read more

Slumlords

On the Stremph!
Lockin Out (2006)

The members of Baltimore based Slumlords have been around the proverbial block a few times and know their niche. On their previous releases the band wrote street punk influenced hardcore songs. The songs tackled both serious topics as well as everyday topics that could be joked about. On the Stremph!, is comprised of, you guessed it, a combination of street … Read more

Dance Floor Justice

Breaking the Silence
Double or Nothing (2006)

There are three things that make me like this band. One, they have a ton of Star Wars references in their music. Actually, besides having a song named with a semi-obscure line from the original movie, there is an entire song about Darth Vader - shame on you if you are so culturally unaware as to who that is. Two, … Read more

The Zutons

Tired of Hanging Around
Deltasonic (2006)

When a friend of mine first introduced me to The Zutons back in early 2004 I was not hugely impressed. To me, Who Killed… The Zutons? sounded a little too much like their labelmates The Coral's Magic and Medicine and I went so far as to brazenly call The Zutons "a poor mans Coral." With the release of their second … Read more

Bombshell

To Hell with Motives
Indianola (2006)

It's never really a good sign when the first thing that pops into my head when I listen to To Hell with Motives is "ugh." The CD starts off earnestly enough with a noise-laden track that actually had me hoping Deadguy Part Deux. Sadly that never happened as the end of the intro ends with some kid (I believe his … Read more

Madlib

Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes
Stones Throw (2006)

Before we can even dive into this review we must address the issue of the cataloging this style of music. When I first got into the genre I was told it was called "trip-hop." To me this sent the message that I wasn't allowed to experience it unless I was on some mind-altering substance. Next I heard it referred to … Read more

Future Primitive

Expression Sessions
Independent (2006)

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Fuck! Fuck! No, I'm not quoting Ceremony, but instead referring to the blistering pain in my pinky toe. What could have caused my toe to go numb and bleed all over my trusty vans shoes? I blame Future Primitive, and their debut release Expression Sessions. Hailing from the traffic jammed freeways of Southern California, Future … Read more

Oxbow

Love That's Last: A Wholly Hypnographic & Disturbing Work Regarding Oxbow
Hydra Head (2006)

When I reviewed The Very Best of Men's Recovery Project recently, I thought that there couldn't be a band less suited for a "greatest hits" release. Obviously, I had forgotten about Oxbow. To put it simply, Oxbow is one of the most intense and challenging bands in America today. Oxbow sounds like an uneasy mix of the delta blues at … Read more

The Draft

In a Million Pieces
Epitaph (2006)

What happens when you are part of an established, kind of well-known (definitely well-known in all manner of independent music circles) band and one of your fellow members decides to take a break? Well, in this case, you start a "new" band and immediately begin writing an album. This is exactly what The Draft is…Hot Water Music minus Chuck Ragan … Read more

Russian Circles

Enter
Flameshovel (2006)

Hearing a new band for the very first time can be an awesome experience - it can also be horrible, but that is not the case here. I had never heard of Russian Circles prior to seeing their name listed as an opener for a semi-recent Isis tour. Being curious as to what they sounded like, I scoured the Internet … 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)