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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)

Set Your Goals

Set Your Goals
Straight On (2004)

Recently, the scene of hardcore-punk has become a stagnant cesspool of monotony. Out of the thousands of bands playing "hardcore" music, there is only a hand-full that have the audacity to do something different. California's melodic punk/hardcore hybrid Set Your Goals is one of those bands and upstart label Straight On Records (The Warriors, Go it Alone) has taken notice. Set Your Goals draw from a slightly different pool of influences than the rest of their Bay Area peers. Instead of taking notes from aggressive acts like Madball and Integrity, the band looks up to CIV and Reach the Sky. Of course with the moniker Set Your Goals, it's not surprising they take influence from CIV, whose 1995 release was titled just that. The album opens with "Reset (Intro)" which is just that - a typical intro track that is accentuated by the upbeat drumming of Mikey and invigorating guitar of Jordan. The intro definitely got me excited for what was to come; I quickly found myself bobbing my head. The intro moves right into the next track, "How 'bout no Scott?," which bears a resemblance to the style The Movielife tackled on This Time Next Year. The vocal team … Read more

Rilo Kiley

More Adventurous
Brute (2004)

It was kind of shocking when Rilo Kiley decided to leave Saddle Creek in pursuit of their own record label, … Read more

Cut The Shit

Marked For Life
Gloom (2004)

By the time you read this, Cut The Shit will have already finished their final west coast shows and be … Read more

Funeral For a Friend

Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
Ferret (2004)

Read more

The Good Life

Album of the Year
Saddle Creek (2004)

Tim Kasher manages to juggle two well-respected bands without taking a noticeable break. The strident noise of Cursive may sound … Read more

Tree Wave

Cabana
Made Up (2004)

The sound is akin to being smothered by some heavenly, heavily pixilated pillow- warm washes of analog static, compressed layers … Read more

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One from the archives

The Beths

Straight Line Was A Lie
Anti (2025)

Dear Beths, Congratulations on the new release. I’ve been reflecting on our relationship and, as I’ve recently started to write about music again, have been asked to share my thoughts with you. First and foremost, I want to say that this isn’t easy for me. I cherish your album Future Me Hates Me from 2018. The title track alone is a powerpop ear worm, laden with relatable lyrics and soaked in cool guitar hooks, that never gets stale. Thanks in large part to Elizabeth Stokes’ unique voice and songwriting, that LP is still on regular rotation at my house from start to finish. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s not you; it’s me. Unlike a fine wine and contrary to what the Rolling Stones might have me believe, I … Read more

More album reviews

Badly Drawn Boy

One Plus One is One
Astralwerks (2004)

Before writing this review I sat down to go through my usual pre-review writing routine which consists of listening to the CD, reading some lyrics, stealing some ideas from Pitchfork, and checking out the bands website. This preliminary process usually doesn't take very long, but tonight I sat in front of this radiating screen in a state of bewilderment. All … Read more

Folsom

Folsom
West Coast Worldwide (2004)

With the way things are going in the music world these days, it should only be a matter of months before Folsom is the most jocked band in hardcore. The Las Vegas natives combine aggressive music similar to Merauder with ridiculous breakdowns and lyrics that provide a multitude of opportunities for sing-alongs. I was fortunate to see this band open … Read more

Isis

Oceanic Remixes Volume II
Robotic Empire (2004)

As I did with the review of Volume I, I will recommend that those of you who have not heard Isis, in particular the band's last full-length Oceanic, head out to your local independent record store and purchase a copy. Give the album a few listens and then you can come back and read the remainder of this review. And … Read more

The Shore

The Shore
Maverick (2004)

Could it be that my computer has a secret quality music detector and it was trying to warn me? My computer isn't that advanced, in fact, most of the time it is just dysfunctional. It is sufficient enough to play a CD, however, this time it refused to play The Shore's self-titled debut album. The CD drive made an awful … Read more

Parts & Labor/Tyondai Braxton

Rise Rise Rise
Narnack (2004)

Brooklyn strikes again with this 2-for-1 bargain from noise rock provocateurs Parts & Labor and loop-based composer Tyondai Braxton. Rise Rise Rise may only be the second major release from each of the two parties involved, but surprisingly enough, it manages to exhibit more progress than a second - not to mention split - release would normally demonstrate. Parts & … Read more

The Colour

The Colour is Out and About
Monarchy (2004)

"The Colour" are out and about - I guess. Yeah, okay. Center singer dude here sounds kind of like Robert Smith, guy from that one band, and sometimes sounds like...like notimportantenoughformetoknowhisnameleadsingerofHOTHOTHEAT (who are pretty much over at this point). The Cure is kind of 'in' again so yeah, who knows if this band will rise to fame or not with … Read more

The Veils

The Runaway Found
Sanctuary (2004)

Finn Andrews, the vocalist and guitarist of the Veils, once posed alone in front of a cemetery. The building behind the cemetery was grey, old, and had shingles flaking off the roof. The grass was an unsightly shade between jaundice yellow and moss green. There was a tree looming above the scene was bare and angular. Andrews fit right in … Read more

Camera Obscura

Underachievers Please Try Harder
Merge (2004)

With the state of pop music looking more and more depressing with every year, it is always nice to hear a band whose influences reach a bit deeper than the latest craze. In the case of Glasgow, Scotland's Camera Obscura (not to be confused with the San Diego band of same name), cues are taken as much from the British … Read more

Ween

Live In Chicago
Sanctuary (2004)

Note:If you need to really know how I feel about Ween as a band, please refer to my review on of their CD Quebec, on this very website. My other review contained a small bit on a time when I experienced Ween live. I have seen them again since, and considering this is a live DVD/CD package, I find it … Read more

Terror

One with the Underdogs
Trustkill (2004)

Terror might be the only band that could have had a successful career in music without playing a single show. The band's demo made its way online via their website and created a tidal wave of positive reviews that praised the band as the "saviors of hardcore." After the release of the demo, the band's first set of shows included … Read more

The Cure

The Cure
Geffen (2004)

Even if you're in a band whose career spans almost 30 years, there is a first time for everything. This is the first time the Cure have released an album on Geffen instead of Elektra Records. After self-producing many of their albums, they handed over the reigns of producer to Ross Robinson, who has produced for the likes of Limp … Read more

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Miss Machine
Relapse (2004)

The Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP) certainly have been enjoying the good life since releasing their last full-length, Calculating Infinity, back in 1998. The band was hand-picked by Mike Patton to tour alongside one of the bands they openly idolize, Mr. Bungle. A mutual respect between the two bands eventually led to DEP recording an EP, which contains Patton's musical vision, … Read more

The Killers

Hot Fuss
Island (2004)

I want to bash the Killer's debut Hot Fuss so much. The press sets them up easily for a beating; there's enough hype to fuel the world for a month or two and they focus on singer/songwriter/synthesizer Brandon Flowers. How could someone from Sin City have the last name Flowers and be in a band named the Killers? I looked … Read more

Oceansize

Effloresce
Beggars Banquet (2004)

A lot of my friends feel they have a duty to recommend me music. I don't mean to sound conceited, but I'm quite an educated individual when it comes to music of multiple genres. So when a friend suggests something to me, it's more often than not something I've already heard. But if I do have a weak spot in … Read more

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