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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)

Tilly and the Wall

Wild Like Children
Team Love (2004)

Tilly and the Wall is the first band to be signed onto Conor Oberst's label, Team Love. The team is so full of love that they are offering Tilly's entire debut album Wild Like Children here for free. Eat that, you money-grubbing major record label mongers! I bought the album anyway, because I like having the artwork and lyrics in a nice pamphlet. Tilly and the Wall don't have a drummer, but that just leaves room for creativity. Instead, they recruited tap dancer Jamie Williams from the now defunct Park Avenue. Drums would probably ruin Tilly's fun and light sound; they sound like a charming high school show choir. Two-fifths of the band is from Park Avenue, and Tilly could be a continuation of that band, with new and different members, but with the same musical goal of having fun. Tilly begins with hand claps and foot stomps in "Fell Down the Stairs." Kianna Alarid, Neely Jenkins, and Derek Pressnall intertwine their voices to create a small but balanced chorus. They sing lyrics that digress from the subject of catching a significant other to a story of two drunk kids. Nevertheless, it still sounds innocent combined with the sweet melody … Read more

Wilco

A Ghost is Born
Nonesuch (2004)

Ok, for a pretty big review like this I'm just going to get right to it. With Wilco's fifth studio … Read more

A Day in Black and White

My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys
Level Plane (2004)

I'm nearing twenty years of age and never once during these nineteen-plus years have I been able to view things … Read more

Blacklisted

Our Youth is Wasted
Stillborn (2004)

Philadelphia has had a long and varied history of producing great punk/hardcore bands. After all, it is this birthplace of … Read more

Minus the Bear

They Make Beer Commercials Like This
Arena Rock (2004)

It was roughly a year and half ago at the South by Southwest Music Festival that I was able to … Read more

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 … Read more

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One from the archives

Names for Graves

Worst Kid Ever
Triple Attack (2005)

Sandusky, Ohio is home to Cedar Point Amusement Park, the rollercoaster capital of the world. About 45 minutes due east is the blue-collar city of Cleveland, whose hardcore scene has seen it's fair share of ups and downs that rival that of 'The Magnum' and 'Millennium Force.' During the span of the 1990's Cleveland was home to one of the premier hardcore scenes, boasting bands such as Integrity, Ringworm, Ascension, The Spudmonsters, and Committed among countless others. But all that glory slowly began to fade as the new decade approached. Since the subsequent breakups, not to mention numerous reunions followed by even more breakups, Cleveland has for the most part remained off the hardcore radar. That is until four straightedge fellows that go by the name of Names for Graves … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

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 I have included one sentence paragraph summaries for you short attention spanners. I like a lot of NFG's other stuff, namely Nothing Gold Can Stay. I can pretty much find something entertaining about all their records, and that is no … Read more

Multiple Authors

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, as reviews are biased by whoever is writing the review. All that I have heard previous to this album was random songs from the radio, not that I listen to the radio. So now is my chance to hear a … 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 different vocalists for different tracks. All the songs he chose to sing, with his breathy voice that blended in with the instrumentation, had some downbeat melody and melancholy lyrics. It was different from the lively pop songs touched with country … 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 label. So naturally I was drawn to check it out, but I wasn't expecting much because nine times out a ten with Buddyhead the hype isn't worth. This was that one exception; they actually signed a promising band. In support … 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 is kinda hard to pronounce and b) I don't want you to forget it. Now I suppose you want to know who this guy is and what does he have to do with The River Bends? Well, please allow me … Read more

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

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