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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)

Welcome The Plague Year

Welcome The Plague Year
Turnstile (2004)

The introduction of a review is usually a chance to capture the reader with something funny or even insightful. Considering it's 2:27 AM and I can't go to sleep, all that's on my mind is this Welcome the Plague Year album and how much it's going to suck when I have to get on an airplane in 5.5 hours. There it is! Welcome the Plague Year is in many ways like an airplane, due to its rising sounds (plane taking off), explosions of fury (the engine), or technology that keeps getting better (this album is a great progression from the demo). Something almost all the songs have in common on Welcome The Plague Year is their tendency to start low in volume, with some soft guitars or bass line, and then rise to epic heights, only to land (plane metaphor!) with tranquil melodies. Take "Into Twilight," seven minutes of dynamic rock music. The first 2:30 of the song is a repetitive - not in a bad way - bass line that harpoons whoever is within close enough proximity. This, coupled with some floating guitar riffs that make good use of delay effects, creates a perfect lullaby. A lullaby that, at … Read more

Moving Units

Dangerous Dreams
Palm Pictures (2004)

Moving Units played at last year's Sunset Junction Street Fair, which had an impressive line-up of indie pop and rock … Read more

Taking Back Sunday

Where You Want to Be
Victory (2004)

When I started my own zine as a sophomore in highschool (I am now a freshman in college), Victory would … Read more

Isis

Panopticon
Ipecac (2004)

Despite what the calendar may tell you, Christmas has arrived early this year, though much earlier than expected. To my … Read more

Wolf Eyes

Burned Mind
Sub Pop (2004)

Listening to Wolf Eyes is not what I'd call a traditionally pleasurable experience. Unless you consider having your face ravaged … Read more

Old Man Gloom

Christmas
Tortuga Recordings (2004)

After an extensive delay, the rabid and hopeful fans sporting various Hydrahead affiliated t-shirts can finally rest. Old Man Gloom's … Read more

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One from the archives

Detournement

Screaming Response
Chunksaah/Pirate Press (2009)

Detournement are an Eastcoast band with members from a host of familiar bands. Rather than focus on who they are, though, their music should speak for itself. The fifty-one second opener, "Focus Explosion!," makes a quick impression, with melodic hardcore that's over before you've found your seat. The lyrics aren't exactly discernible, but I know both titular words were screamed with emphasis on the exclamation point. The rest of the record reminds me of Rancid V, with powerful guitars and angry group shouts. "Odessa" has a Matt Freeman-esque bass line, even if it sounds a bit tinny. The change of pace song, "No Estan Solo," is slower with some soft spoken vocals that almost feel soothing compared with the rest of the record. The song takes a subtler approach, but … Read more

More album reviews

Earlimart

Treble & Tremble
Palm Pictures (2004)

What does coping with the death of Elliott Smith sound like? It sounds poignant and pretty; in essence, it sounds like Smith's spirit is living vicariously through Aaron Espinoza. Music is a catharsis for many artists and the finest music is produced when songwriting is used to expel intense emotions. On Earlimart's fourth full-length album, Espinoza deals with tragedy and … Read more

Multiple Authors

Interpol

Antics
Matador (2004)

Turn on the Bright Lights is a great debut album. The guitars are compelling when paired with Paul Banks's jarring vocals, letting bizarre lyrics like "subway is a porno" slide. The bass lines are far from boring and the drumming is precise and deliberate. All this talent was fused into a euphoric experience that was warmly received by the press. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Interpol

Antics
Matador (2004)

Well Scene Point Blank-ers, I've got some bad news: there will be nothing shocking in this review. The reason for this is that there is nothing surprising about the new Interpol album. I know that's what all the other reviews are saying as well, but I'm going to have to agree with them on this one. I could lie to … Read more

Architecture in Helsinki

Fingers Crossed
Bar/None (2004)

Architecture in Helsinki are not your everyday indie-pop group. Sure, they are compared to Belle and Sebastian a lot, but these comparisons aren't very good. Sure, both bands boast a high number of members from varying genders. But where these two bands differ is that Belle and Sebastian just aren't good and Architecture in Helsinki, well, they just are. Hailing … Read more

Isis

Oceanic Remixes Volume III
Robotic Empire (2004)

While this may seem repetitive to say, before you listen to Volume III, it would be in your best interest to purchase the band's last full-length, Oceanic, before you listen to these remixes. After absorbing the full-length, these reworkings of tracks will make much more sense. Side A starts off with Mike Patton's rendition of the track "Maritime." Patton always … Read more

The Thrills

Let's Bottle Bohemia
Virgin (2004)

Foreign territories naturally exude mystery and romance. Dubliners the Thrills found California so intriguing that they wrote their whole debut, So Much for the City, about it. Their blatant references in song titles, from "Big Sur," "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)," to "Hollywood Kids," and their Beach Boys-influenced pop made them the best California band that wasn't from California … Read more

These Days

Death Sentence
Run for Cover (2004)

Before we begin I'd like to officially admit that I have a problem. I have an obsession with the Nor Cal hardcore scene. So if this review seems a little biased, it really isn't my fault. Especially since the Bay Area and surrounding areas have the most promising scene in hardcore. The latest rising star to come out of the … Read more

Verse

Rebuild
Rivalry (2004)

As someone who always thought What Feeds the Fire was just "okay," I was hesitant to believe all the hype surrounding Verse. However, once I actually gave them a fair chance and listened to them myself, I found what all the commotion was about. Each time I listened to their four-song demo I heard something new that I liked about … Read more

The Delays

Faded Seaside Glamour
Sanctuary (2004)

Nothing really sets the Delays apart from other mediocre Brit pop rock bands. They are all trapped in limbo between the achievements of Radiohead and Oasis and the sewage of bands like__________and__________(I can't remember any Brit bands that I thought were absolutely horrendous). No matter how ordinary the band may be, they achieve the same lush and atmospheric sound; many … Read more

Multiple Authors

Converge

You Fail Me
Epitaph (2004)

Dear Converge, After giving You Fail Me a listen, the only thing I can even begin to contemplate is: "What the fuck happened here?" I'm truly sorry to say that aside from calculating the distance from where I'm sitting to the Cosi two blocks away (I have a coupon for a free sandwich), this is the only thought that's running … Read more

Multiple Authors

Converge

You Fail Me
Epitaph (2004)

"Is You Fail Me better than Jane Doe?" Don't lie, that's what you're wondering and hoping this review will answer. So I'll do you a favor and answer your question from the get go: 25% yes and 75% no. You Fail Me brings forth twelve great tracks that work on their own but doesn't have the same cohesiveness of Jane … Read more

The Libertines

The Libertines
Sanctuary (2004)

Pete Doherty is so rock n' roll. Every other day the kid is in rehab, and on the other days he's escaping from it. Just look at the cover of this CD; Doherty's fellow band mate looks like he is trying to help him from passing out from a drug overdose. On special occasions, Doherty steals from his band mates' … Read more

Mare

Mare
Hydra Head (2004)

Maybe I am blinded by my love for Hydrahead Records, but it seems to me that as of late the label has been churning out spectacular album after spectacular album at a rapid rate. Whether it's the latest release from regular mainstay Harkonen or the debut release from the young phenoms of Mare, Hydrahead definitely has a knack for finding … Read more

Multiple Authors

Green Day

American Idiot
Warner Bros. (2004)

If you know anything about Green Day, it's no big secret that they're Who fans (see: Sweet Children EP - Track 4 - "My Generation"). On top of that, you should also know that they've been extremely creative lately (see: Warning). Now, put those two together, and you have Green Day's seventh full length release, American Idiot. Not only does … Read more

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