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Down to Nothing

Splitting Headache
Thorp (2005)

With their debut, Save it for the Birds, the Richmond, Virginia straightedge outfit turned quite a few heads with their high-octane approach to hardcore. The furious noise assault was teamed with vocalist David Wood's straight-to-the-point lyrical approach - I recall the episode of The Simpson's where everyone 'tells it like it is.' With a combination like that, the recipe for … Read more

The Duke Spirit

Cuts Across the Land
Polydor (2005)

There are two kinds of reviews for The Duke Spirit's Cuts Across the Land - enthusiastic endorsements that focus on Liela Moss and her throaty, sensual vocals, or accounts of the sheer unadulterated indifference this most recent effort from the London-based group provokes. Unless, of course, you're that guy on Amazon.com who refuses to hedge his bets, and just plain … Read more

The Gibbons

Hope, Inc.
Salinas (2005)

Hailing from Detroit, The Gibbons hold a special place in my heart. Not to mention the fact that they play the style of music that first got me into punk rock. This record is quite a bit less poppy than their earlier releases, harking back to the days of The Broadways and the first Lawrence Arms album; bands that created … Read more

Mountains

Mountains
Apestaartje (2005)

Ambient music is a genre that I have been a pretty big fan of for some time now. Something I have found with Ambient music though, it's not exactly the easiest accessible music out there. Small record labels putting out releases are everywhere. Just when you thought you knew quite a bit about the genre, you find 15 more labels … Read more

Twenty Inch Burial

How Long Will We Laugh and Smile?
Immigrant Sun (2005)

Like all of you, when i think of Portugal, I think of three things: the architect Miguel von Hafe P'rez, tungsten mines, and metal. I know what you're thinking - I'm biased. Sure, we're all familiar with bands like Holocausto Canibal, Acromaniacos and Bizarra Locomotiva - all of which are named after famous Portuguese papal candidates. But no, be strong! … Read more

British Sea Power

Open Season
Rough Trade (2005)

2005 has been a good year for British bands so far; it seems that for the first time since Brit-Pop that British artists are cracking the American market with the likes of The Bloc Party and The Kaiser Chiefs getting play listings left, right and centre. With the follow up to their brilliantly titled debut The Decline of British Sea … Read more

Career Suicide

Invisible Eyes
Feral Ward (2005)

Let's be honest; Canada is pretty fucking cool.. First sentence and I've already used a semicolon...so very Canada-esque. Who's been to our neighbor that borders our Northern borders? Not I...which makes it even more mysterious and wondrous and just plain cool. Their laws are different. Their president is called a "Prime Minister." Their land is colored orange according to the … Read more

Rise and Fall

Hellmouth
Surprise Attack (2005)

This quartet hails from Belgium and obviously has better taste in music than a good portion of the people I cross paths with each day. Whether it is through random conversation, looking at what others are purchasing at records stores, or just flipping through channels on the radio, I keep an ear open to what music people are into. And … Read more

Ten 33

Nightmare on Grace St.
Blood & Ink (2005)

Yeah, I can get behind this. Speedy, straightforward hardcore punk with some youth crew influences and breakdowns. Sound like your thing? If so, I'd recommend peeping Ten 33's Nightmare on Grace St. or at least add them on Myspace or something. With eleven songs in just over 20 minutes, the record has no real flaws. Hell, it doesn't have time … Read more

Small Towns Burn a Little Slower

Mortality as Home Entertainment
Triple Crown (2005)

I once spent a month sleeping in a cramped, musty basement that doubled as a practice space for Small Towns Burn a Little Slower. They practiced three nights a week from 7 to 9 busting out what would eventually lead to the songs that make up the majority of Mortality as Home Entertainment. I couldn't stand living in the same … Read more

Magnolia Electric Co.

What Comes After the Blues
Secretly Canadian (2005)

You would be hard pressed to come across a review of Magnolia Electric Co.'s What Comes after the Blues that doesn't mention Neil Young. The reason for this is pretty simple, it sounds very reminiscent of Neil Young, on first listen at least. People who count this as a fault haven't been paying much attention to Jason Molina's body of … Read more

Baroness

Second
Hyperrealist (2005)

Baroness have been one of music's best kept secrets. With the release of their first record, an EP titled First last year, some ears began to perk up and some eyes were opened. Now, with their sophomore effort, Second, everybody who is anybody has taken notice to this Georgia band who are looking to take the metal scene by storm. … Read more

Meneguar

I Was Born at Night
Magic Bullet (2005)

Meneguar, formerly Sheryl's Magnetic Aura, hails from New York and has members of Books Lie, I Am the Resurrection, and The State Secedes. Despite the impressive background of influential and often underrated hardcore bands, Meneguar doesn't bear much resemblance to their previous endeavors. In fact, they're not even hardcore. However, this is definitely as good as or better than anything … Read more

Tides

Resurface
Teenage Disco Bloodbath (2005)

Boring. Derivate. Crap. These are all words that I have heard individuals use when referring to the craze of post-rock/instru-metal that is sweeping our nation, not to mention the rest of the world. One could argue, for days or even weeks, and I'm sure many of you do, over topics such as this. And while I do enjoy a good … Read more

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