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Anti-Flag

For Blood and Empire
RCA (2006)

Punk rock has always been centered on the voicing of ones opinion, with the vast majority of those opinions taking direct aim at politics. In the 70's and 80's, leaders like Jello Biafra and Joey Shithead got so involved in political happenings that they found their way into jails and courthouses on frequent occasions. These encounters only added further fuel … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Makers
Barsuk (2006)

Seattle artist Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. His debut record for Barsuk, Makers, has already seen an episode of cult teen series The O.C. use the opening track, "White Daisy Passing", on its soundtrack. Such lofty heights for the Texan-born singer were hard to imagine back in his Second Nature Records days. Makers is a record … Read more

A Wilhelm Scream

Diver
Jumpstart (2006)

Ok, so it's no secret that I really like A Wilhelm Scream. Like, a lot. I gave their most recent full-length, Ruiner, an 8.5 out of a possible 10. The full-length has yet to leave regular rotation in my listening habits, and the thing's been out since August! There had been talks from Jumpstart Records for a long time that … Read more

Lahar

Provide & Conquer
Spook City (2005)

The Northwest is breathing new life into its hardcore scene. They've got a lot of great bands right now - Go it Alone, Shook Ones, The Answer, Sinking Ships, Betrayed, Daggermouth, and so on. And while those bands lean towards the traditional side of hardcore, there are others that aim for something a bit more metal. Seattle's Lahar deliver just … Read more

Souvenir's Young America / Spylacopa

Split
UndeRadar (2006)

Whether a record is really good or really bad, it can be very inspiring to write about. You can either go on about how "amazing" it is or stoop on how much it "sucks." But in between, there isn't much inspiration and writing about one of these types of records can be boring in itself. Such is the case with … Read more

The Appleseed Cast

Peregrine
The Militia Group (2006)

Rising from the wreckage of a failed record label and the departure of their drummer, The Appleseed Cast makes their return with Peregrine. This record marks their first with Casket Lottery drummer, Nathan "Nate Jr." Richardson. This band has many expectations to live up to on this record, especially considering the mixed reactions that their last album, Two Conversations, received. … Read more

Lion of Judah

Soul Power
Lockin Out (2005)

Despite the obviously hippie-drawn, almost Narnian cover art, and a band name perhaps more likely to evoke visions of reggae or, even worse, Christian rock, Lion of Judah sound much more interested in the likes of Bad Brains and Fugazi than Bob Marley or Creed. Putting the DC back in hardcore - rightfully making it "harDCore" once again - Lion … Read more

Lifetime

Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey
Jade Tree (2006)

Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey is a two-disc set of everything Lifetime released besides Hello Bastards and Jerseys Best Dancers. It's awesome to have the song "Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey" on a CD. The re-mastered versions of the Seveninchesare a great listen, especially for newer fans that wanted to hear exactly when Lifetime perfected the precise mixture … Read more

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Show Your Bones
Interscope/Polydor (2006)

In wake of the hurricane of hype that followed the landing of The Strokes, I did my best knee jerk reaction in 2002 and flat out dismissed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In fact, anything with a pair of ripped jeans and a NYC zip code got the preverbal Ricky Lake hand for a while. 2003 rolled around though and the … Read more

Spitfire

Self-Help
Goodfellow (2006)

Before we begin, allow me to digress and give a bit of background on the monstrosity that is Spitfire, because I want to get some things out of the way immediately. On their first album, The Dead Next Door, the band was vastly different from the current incarnation. This was 1999 or so; the record was recorded with Steve Evetts … Read more

Ambitions

No Limits
Independent (2005)

Demos can be funny sometimes. They are called a demo for a reason; it's by no means a finished product. And yet many times these demos end up becoming just that. Ambitions will see No Limits mass-produced in both 7" and CD format in the near future, but with good reason. Over the course of these four songs, Ambitions have … Read more

Inara George

All Rise
Everloving/Loose (2005)

It's taken more than a year, but finally, Inara George's All Rise opus has been given a UK release. Readily available on import at no extra cost, the necessity for it is questionable. But with a new album on the way, featuring songs co-written by Idlewild's Rod Jones, and a performance with the very same coming up in London, the … Read more

Sabertooth Zombie

The Only Good Politician is a Dead Polititian
Independent (2005)

Biting through the flesh of the unwilling. Fingering eye sockets and spilling vast volumes of blood. Some want to smash the system; others want to skull fuck it with barbed wired bats, like Sabertooth Zombie, who just self-released an EP titled, The Only Good Politician is a Dead Politician. We are treated to six songs of fucked up punk/hardcore with … Read more

Chihei Hatakeyama

Minima Moralia
Kranky (2006)

Minima Moralia is ambient artist Chihei Hatakeyama's debut solo album, with his prior musical output coming via his electro-acoustic duo Opitope and the improv group Copa del Papa. Additionally he co-runs the Kualauk Table record label and helps organize the "continuous live performance event" (i.e. "music festival") Kuala Mute Geek. All of this means absolutely nothing to me. If it … Read more

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