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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)

Stateside

Phonograph
Action Driver (2004)

Imagine if Limbeck and My Morning Jacket got together for a jam session and you'll be close to how Stateside sounds. Hailing from Tennessee, frontman John Paul Keith has played with heart-throb Ryan Adams, played in The Nevers, and co-founded The V-Roys. Sure the latter you probably know nothing about(shit, neither do I) but you get the point. Phonograph is 11 tracks of classic rock tinged, indie-country. The record kicks off with "Fool on a Wire" that harnesses the description from the beginning paragraph. The tempo is upbeat in a very Limbeck-ish way, the horns are swinging in a My Morning Jacket-esque tone, and everyone is having a good time. In songs such as "Time Time Time," elements of The Rolling Stones are very apparent, particularly in the vocals. This CD has a little bit of a problem with variation. It has more balls out rocking tunes towards the beginning but the songs become more ballad-like as the record goes on and it only looks back for a split second. The last two songs are very slow numbers that might have you shutting off the CD prematurely. Not to say they are bad tunes, but it just comes off as … Read more

New Found Glory

Catalyst
Drive-Thru (2004)

I realize I am talking about a band most of you will call shitty and over rated. For your convenience … Read more

New Found Glory

Catalyst
Drive-Thru (2004)

WARNING: As the writer of this review I feel that there is something you should know prior to reading this, … Read more

The Elected

Me First
Sub Pop (2004)

Admit it, you skipped Blake Sennett's songs on Rilo Kiley's The Execution of All Things! It's often distracting to hear … Read more

Your Enemies Friends

You are Being Videotaped
Buddyhead (2004)

Buddyhead Records is a label fueled by hype. Your Enemies Friends released their debut effort The Wiretap EP on their … Read more

The River Bends

And Flows into the Sea
Tooth & Nail (2004)

Denison Witmer-say the name with me- Den-i-son Wit-mer. We are doing this exercise for two reasons, because a) his name … Read more

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One from the archives

Thom Yorke

Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino film)
XL Recordings (2018)

Taking a page from bandmate Jonny Greenwood’s songbook, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has thrown himself into the breach of film scoring and it really takes only 1 minute and 47 seconds - or roughly the length of opening track “A Storm That Took Everything” to wonder why it ever took this long to begin with?For the uninitiated, Suspiria is an iconic 1977 Italian horror film from an iconic Italian horror director, Dario Argento, featuring an iconic soundtrack from Italian synth-heavy group, Goblin.While it remains to be seen how well or how much filmmaker Luca Guadagnino has updated Suspiria for a modern audience, it’s very clear to anyone familiar with the Goblin soundtrack that what Yorke has done isn’t a reworking, it’s a complete reinventing of the score. Like much of Yorke’s … Read more

More album reviews

Beastie Boys

To the 5 Boroughs
Capitol (2004)

A lot has transpired since the Beastie Boys released their last full-length Hello Nasty nearly six years ago. George W. Bush was elected President afterthe wackiest election since the infamous "Dewey defeats Truman" fiasco. We saw the worst act of terrorism in U.S. history in the attacks that took place on September 11th. These attacks have resulted in the subsequent … Read more

Hot Cross

Fair Trades And Farewells
Level Plane (2004)

When I mention Hot Cross a lot of time I'll hear some clever person sing the Hot Cross Buns jingle. I'm sure for each time I've heard this the band members have heard it a thousand times. Kinda like how when I tell people my name is Zed they do that line from Pulp Fiction. But anyways, one thing I'm … Read more

Gift of Gab

4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
Quannum Projects (2004)

For the following reasons I'm a firm believer that every CD collection should contain a few albums that confuse people when they are slipped into rotation. These albums a) give us credibility amongst different groups of people; b) make our knowledge of music superior amongst people within our own groups; and c) gives us chance to experiment with different types … Read more

Tahiti 80

A Piece of Sunshine
Minty Fresh (2004)

The temperatures across the States are getting higher. Flowers are approaching or at their finest state. The cicadas are dying out both by human consumption and just their natural cycle only to return 17 years in the future. The sun rays gently kiss exposed skin with UV radiation. It's the perfect time of year to put away the disheartening CDs … Read more

Isis

Oceanic Remixes Volume I
Robotic Empire (2004)

I am going to assume for your own sake that you are familiar with Isis, the doom-sludge-metal outfit that saw an overwhelmingly positive response to their last full-length, Oceanic. If you are completely clueless, you might want to go out, purchase said album, and them come back after you've given it a good four or five listens all the way … Read more

Atreyu

The Curse
Victory (2004)

The first time I ever heard Atreyu, I started laughing. Everything about them was laughable to me; from the name of the record Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses to the overly typical "singing into screaming into mosh" formula they followed, to the already played out "fashioncore" image they displayed. However, after my laughter subsided, I also said to myself, "this … Read more

The Advantage

The Advantage
5 Rue Christine (2004)

From my childhood there are some very specific things that I can recall: the first time I had sex (in preschool I thought it was lying on top of girls and licking them), when I realized there was no Santa Clause (sorry if I ruined that for any of you), and when I received my NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). The … Read more

Pedro the Lion

Achilles Heel
Jade Tree (2004)

Of all the bands I've liked at one point, I don't think I've received quite as much flack for any as much as I have Pedro the Lion. I've never quite 'gotten' the abhorrence some have felt for the band, as vocalist and lyricist David Bazan seems to teeter just far enough between both gratingly annoying and remarkably above par … Read more

Matt Pond PA

Emblems
Altitude (2004)

I once had a substitute teacher that repeated something 10 times, because he said that people have to hear something at least 8 times before it actually gets into their head. I had to see Matt Pond PA in print 10 times before I went to buy their latest, Emblems. When I got to the store, they didn't have it … Read more

The Magnetic Fields

I
Nonesuch (2004)

Disclaimer: I am not actually going to write much about this album itself because I don't have too much to say about it, and I feel I'm entitled to at least one snarky review here. Christ, I've grown to hate the self-conscious style of writing that's so easily employed to take a way out of a review or any other … Read more

Ryan Adams

Love is Hell
Lost Highway (2004)

Well, it's been a busy year for our friend Ryan Adams: a rock and roll record, two EP's, a broken heart, and a broken wrist. This is a lot to fit in, especially considering how busy he was whining about reviews and threatening to retire from music. If there is one thing I can count on each month it's that … Read more

Secret Chiefs 3

Book of Horizons
Mimicry (2004)

For many, Secret Chiefs 3 is considered to be "Mr. Bungle minus Mike Patton." While I feel this description does a grave injustice to the band, there are those out there blind to the genius that Secret Chiefs 3 has committed to tape. This is quite unfortunate for them, and coming from the Patton super-fan that I am, this remark … Read more

Plan of Attack

The Working Dead
Organized Crime (2004)

Upon their inception a few years ago, Plan of Attack was already a cut above a lot of the hardcore bands in the Midwest. Now, a demo, a 7", and a live 7" split with Terror & The Promise later, they continue to remain a cut above most of the hardcore bands around. Perhaps it's the background diversity of the … Read more

Ween

Quebec
Sanctuary (2003)

Ween. What the fuck is Ween? I sure don't know. If someone asked me to tell them about Ween, I would probably rub jelly on my testicles and do a handstand whilst eating Captain Crunch Cereal Bars . This band is fucked up. Not fucked up like retarded midgets playing Frisbee in a pool of peanut butter, but more fucked … Read more

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