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)

Sonic Youth

Rather Ripped
Geffen (2006)

Rather Ripped showcases a slight stylistic shift for Sonic Youth. Their trademarked noisy dirge rock has been subdued a bit to allow a bit of melody to accentuate the more subtle nature of their music. Quite possibly, this may be the most accessible the band has been since Goo and Dirty, which is not a bad thing. At more than 25 years and kicking, Sonic Youth has more than proved that the unit will do as it damn well pleases. Upon popping on Rather Ripped, it is a pleasant surprise to hear "Reena" with Kim Gordon's uncharacteristic vocal rendition. The song actually displays a relaxed tuneful maturity that Sonic Youth rarely visits. It's almost bubbly sounding but in a depressing way, if that makes any sense at all. I dig the song very much. The dueling guitars have an almost clean, crisp sound that carry a counter melody of sorts to the vocals. "Incinerate" has a great guitar melody. Again, the guitars sound almost clean and very crisp. Thurston Moore lends his vocals to this track. There are moments in the song where the band teases you with potential spots for a fuzzed out guitar freak-out but are left with … Read more

No Trigger

Canyoneer
Nitro (2006)

Melodic hardcore seems to be falling back into favor these days, which is a good thing in my opinion. And … Read more

Terror

Always the Hard Way
Trustkill (2006)

Terror is one of the hardest bands ever. Not that being hard makes a band good, but it definitely adds … Read more

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Hang Your Cross is déjá vu; my ears relay the message to my head, "We've heard this before... we think." … Read more

The Hope Conspiracy

Hang Your Cross
Deathwish Inc. (2006)

Okay, okay, yes The Hope Conspiracy is back and Hang Your Cross is the clarion call for their abrasive take … Read more

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

"In such an ugly time the real protest is beauty," said some smart dude once. Right now, July 17 of … Read more

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One from the archives

Armor for Sleep

What to do When You are Dead
Equal Vision (2004)

Armor for Sleep is a band that for me failed to live up to the potential they were capable of on their debut album, Dreams to Make Believe. They had recorded a great demo, but when the record came out those re-recorded songs were the only shining moments. A few years have passed and now we have a new album to take in. First and foremost, this album is a definite step up for them as songwriters, and as storytellers. What To Do When You Are Dead is a concept album that follows an individual from the moment of death to heaven and through the daily events of a ghost. It's a really unique concept, and they pieced it together quite well. As for the songs contained within, well they … Read more

More album reviews

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

Unless you haven't heard Envy before, which would be a tragic mistake, then you already know how incredible this Japan-based melodic hardcore band is. This band truly is the instrumental representation of angst and sincerity that is a rare find in the crowded pool of crappy hardcore bands today. That being said, their new album, Insomniac Doze is sure to … Read more

Envy

Insomniac Doze
Temporary Residence (2006)

I came to Insomniac Doze with no prior knowledge of Envy, but with a strong interest in Japanese culture. As a country, Japan isn't exactly renowned for its success in the international music scene. Its successful exports tend to be few and far between, offering only a brief glimpse into what is in fact perhaps one of the most diverse … Read more

Head Automatica

Popaganda
Warner Bros. (2006)

When searching Daryl Palumbo's name on Wikipedia - a great tool to prolong pointless Internet usage - an interesting passage appears under the trivia headline: "Palumbo is an avid fan of 80's British band Squeeze and the Godzilla universe. He is considered an anglophile." After reading this last line it seems the direction Head Automatica took with Popaganda makes perfect … Read more

Force of Change

The Bond We Share
This Blessing, This Curse (2006)

Metallic hardcore is easily my favorite genre of not only hardcore, but of all musical genres. My fondness of this genre is a direct result of it being the first type of music I truly immersed myself in. Bands like Integrity, Strife, One King Down, Snapcase, and Indecision among others regularly dominated my Walkman. You know, those things like an … Read more

Soul She Said

As Templar Nites
Dim Mak (2006)

Putting their best foot forward from the off, Soul She Said's debut record opens with what is easily its strongest track, "Sunken City." Strongly influenced by My Bloody Valentine, early Primal Scream and probably a whole host of hallucinogens, it's the prefect balance to the Icarus Line's dark back alley, class A take on The Stooges. Soul She Said is … Read more

Yakuza

Samsara
Prosthetic (2006)

Chicago's Yakuza, despite two previous albums and a deal with Century Media, have not received much attention for their brand of chaotic metal. Bearing likeness to bands such as Naked City and Kylesa (a very strange combination indeed), Yakuza's third full-length Samsara has and will continue to garner well-deserved attention of metal fans looking for variety. Samsara begins with "Cancer … Read more

Attitude

We All Go Down Together
1917 (2006)

Any band that has a song called "Gets **** Started" and has not one or two, but three pictures of their guitar player doing posi-jumps you just know I'm going to automatically fall in love with even before I listen to the CD. Luckily I didn't go and make myself look like an ass by gushing over Attitude before I … Read more

Landmine Marathon

Wounded
Level Plane (2006)

All the musically discontent who seek great screamo bands and other various awesome musical projects, surrender your soul to the beacon of light that is Level Plane Records. After four years of being a die hard fan of this label, it has introduced me to such awesome bands such as Hot Cross, Envy, A Day In Black and White, Coliseum, … Read more

Landmine Marathon

Wounded
Level Plane (2006)

I'm from Arizona and I can attest that our local music scene sucks. There are occasionally a few decent bands but they never go anywhere. The exception to this would be Suicide Nation releasing 2 LPs and a split with Yaphet Kotto (who now play in the slaytanic Saviours). Unruh comes ahead with 2 LPs and a few more splits. … Read more

The Raconteurs

Broken Boy Soldiers
XL Recordings (2006)

A raconteur is defined as "one who tells stories and anecdotes with skill." A skillful storyteller draws in his audience with an introduction that makes them want more. "Steady, as She Goes," the first single from The Raconteurs debut album Broken Boy Soldiers, is this introduction. At first listen to "Steady, as She Goes," you may think, "Oh, it's The … Read more

Mass Movement of the Moth / The Catalyst

Two Thousand And Six Six Six
The Perpetual Motion Machine/Electric Human Project (2006)

Released by two stellar labels, Perpetual Motion Machine and Electric Human Project, Two Thousand and Six Six Six is a split between two up and coming Virginian bands, Northern Virginia's Mass Movement of the Moth and Richmond's The Catalyst. Two Thousand and Six Six Six is a very collective effort, with the bands switching from song to song instead of … Read more

My Dad Vs. Yours

After Winter Must Come Spring
Independent (2006)

I don't know when it happened, although I think it might have been around the time the movie Friday Night Lights came out and word got out that Explosions in the Sky was doing the soundtrack. That may have been the point but I'm not really sure. Anyways, at one time or another post-rock got popular. Now, after kids everywhere … Read more

Graf Orlock

Destination Time Yesterday
Level Plane (2006)

The connection between abrasive, warp speed music and film samples isn't new - for a whole wave of turn of the century hardcore bands, the familiar samples punctuating minute long tantrums were usually the most memorable part of the entire enterprise. But Graf Orlock takes this connection to an entirely new level. Named after the vampiric villain in Nosferatu, Graf … Read more

Scanners

Violence is Golden
Dim Mak (2006)

You, faithful SPB readers as I, listen and tend to prefer music that can best be described as "heavy". This is quite possibly the music you exclusively listen to. Perhaps you put on The Locust and Gorgoroth when you want to get pumped and juiced and rocked and whatever proactive analogy you can think of and then, when you're done, … Read more

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