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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)

Jenny Piccolo

Jenny Piccolo
Three One G (2006)

Discography CD's are certainly a weird bunch. Bands nowadays don't generally record three or four records like many bands of yore, instead putting out a slew of seven-inches and compilation tracks (making this format viable and feasible). Or maybe bands of yore put out seven-inches and bands nowadays put out a demo, get signed, put out an EP, a full-length and then break up. Jenny Piccolo, though, falls in the seven-inch category and it's nice to finally be able to have all of the tracks in one convenient place. Is it totally necessary? Not at all, since all but the most die-hard/weird Three One G fans will really sit through the entire thing more than once. While it's only a little over thirty-six minutes, it's a little bit more than most can stomach. For those unfamiliar with Jenny Piccolo - think The Locust, subtract the novelty, make it more punk, and add some Infest. While I can't say with much certainty that they were the pioneers of the weird San Diego grind scene, they are certainly a large part of it with members going on to…well a bunch of other Three One G type of acts. These dudes' pedigree and … Read more

Supersystem

A Million Microphones
Touch & Go (2006)

A Million Microphones is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of the year. Supersystem, minus the drummer, was formerly known … Read more

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 … 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

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One from the archives

The Bomb

Speed is Everything
No Idea (2009)

Considering how much I've heard about the Naked Raygun reunion, you'd think there would be more buzz regarding The Bomb. Speed is Everything is the Jeff Pezzati led group's first release for No Idea Records. When compared with Pezzati's more renowned group, I was expecting a more contemporary twist. Instead, The Bomb has a strong 80's feel to it, with dark guitars reminiscent of the more moody new wave bands. Superseding that, however, is the strong drive of melodic punk. "The Rescue" may exemplify the band's sound best. It features a steady, prominent rhythm, with haunting guitars laying over them as Pezzati sings, "Then I come to your rescue" in a tuneful call. As the song progresses, the volume increases and the tempo steadily increases into a melodic punk number … Read more

More album reviews

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 his beloved wife, June Carter, was marked by much hoopla and circumstance. It was a shame, but by no means a shock. The triumphant and bleak sounding record, American IV: When the Man Comes Around, was a disturbing and wonderful … 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 contemporary songs. Tom Jones tried it. Rod Stewart tried it. It's an old story that so often ends up looking pathetic. A contrived attempt to mine the last fragments of dying fame, more often than it is a serious artistic … Read more

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

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