Recent reviews

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)

Elvis Costello

North
Deutsche Grammophon (2003)

By now, if you haven't heard or at least heard of Elvis Costello, something is terribly, terribly wrong with you. Emerging as a part of the punk movement in the late 70s, Costello's combination of biting wit, sociopolitical consciousness, and his amazing songwriting has led to him being heralded by many as the best pop songwriter since the Beatles. The man once known as Declan MacManus has been blessing us with his musical offerings for over 25 years now, and has covered too many genres and topics to really count. A mere year ago, Elvis offered us his so-called "rhythm record", reuniting with half of his former backing band, the Attractions, for When I Was Cruel. The album was released to critical acclaim, and to the acclaim of fans who had felt Costello had "softened up", pointing towards his Painted From Memory album, a record of orchestral pop ballads written with Burt Bacharach. Though, those fans may have looked past the fact that the songs were, in actuality, very well-written and still illicited Costello's quirky attitude, Cruel was still a welcome return to the realm of rock 'n roll. North, like Painted From Memory, before it, and The Juliet Letters … Read more

Please Inform the Captain, This Is A Hijack

Please Inform the Captain This Is A Hijack
Empire (2003)

Hardcore is a genre that is known to be stifled in it's own mediocrity. Creativity is frowned upon, in fact, … Read more

Grandaddy

Sumday
V2 (2003)

Once again, Grandaddy travel down the familiar road of attaching a human face on technology for the sole purpose of … Read more

Q and Not U

X-Polynation/Book of Flags
Dischord (2003)

Sometimes I find myself shaking my ass, clapping my hands, and just plain out getting down. I can say that, … Read more

The Appleseed Cast

Two Conversations
Tiger Style (2003)

Not looking to rest on their laurels of having three of my favorite CD's ever(LLO 1 & 2, Mare Vitalis), … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Suicide Medicine
Second Nature (2003)

Zed recently turned me onto this guy, and I've become fairly obsessed with his work ever since. The formula is … Read more

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Various Artists

ROBOCOP / DETROIT - Dead Language, Foreign Bodies Split LP
Give Praise (2012)

sharing similarities that reside more than just their names Robocop and Detroit both play blinding fast powerviolence indebted grind. While neither band have anything besides a name in relation to Michigan they share a relationship with Grindcore Karaoke which may give somewhat of a clue as to what the listener could be in for. Maine's Robocop take up the first side taking a more noisy approach to their little piece of the grind pie. So by the time track 3 opens with a bass drawl and what could either be a strangled sax line, a particularly mangled guitar or a dying cat one isn't entirely surprised but midway things go back to normal with a blindingly fast trun toward the grind that led them here. The band uses the next … Read more

More album reviews

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

First of all, I'm going to apologize for only reviewing records that I like a lot. With that being Said, American Nightmare/GUTG has done it again. I've been a fan of American Nightmare since their first 7" came out, and I've loved all of their subsequent releases. This is is no exception to the trend. We're Down Til We're Underground … Read more

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

You might be asking yourself, "who the Hell is Give Up the Ghost?" If you are, you missed out on the hardcore scene's answer to the OJ trial, in which some shitty band from Nantucket sued hardcore favorites American Nightmare over the copyright of that band name. AN had no choice but to change their name to Give Up the … Read more

The Jealous Sound

Kill Them With Kindness
Better Looking (2003)

The Jealous Sound has written one of the most infectiously catchy records I've heard in years. Poppy hooks and lyrical substance are quite a rare combination these days. The Jealous Sound plays a style of music that, while staying true to the early/mid 90's emo-rock sound, also offers a fresh take on a style of music perfected by bands like … Read more

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead
Lookout! (2003)

Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are sweeping the nation's rock and roll scene. People first began to take real notice of Mr. Leo with the release of his second LP, The Tyranny of Distance, however a few may remember Leo from his days with Citizens Arrest and Chisel. With a growing fanbase and critical acclaim to fuel their creative DeLorean, … Read more

Denali

The Instinct
Jade Tree (2003)

So many bands have release their first albums to nothing but fanfare only to dissapoint with their sophmore release. I was certain Denali would not fit that mold and release another gem. Unfortunately, they proved me wrong. First things first, this is not a bad record by any means. It's just incredibly average. The record starts off very solid. Opener, … Read more

Outkast

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
La Face (2003)

Everybody likes Outkast. How can you not? Aside from some kind of genetic predisposition to bad taste, there really isn't an excuse. Carefully blending innovation with standard hip hop elements and topping it off with an amazing pop-sense, the dynamic duo of hip hop have been able to please all kinds of people, regardless of their typical musical taste. From … Read more

Hawnay Troof

Get Up! Resolution: Love
Retard Disco (2003)

Who is the Hawnay Troof, you may ask? The Hawnay Troof is a hip-hop project in the vein of early Beastie Boys headed up by 18-year-old Vice Cooler (aka Chris Touchton of XBXRX, K.I.T). The project has many, many contributors, including 900 Dixxx (Bratmobile), Baby Donut (Bratmobile), Lil Jenny (Erase Errata), and Soft Pink Truth, as well as countless others … Read more

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Nothing is more excellent than when a fairly unknown semi decent band out of nowhere transitions into a butterfly etched in silk and razor wire. What does this all mean? Let's jump back a few years, more in particular, when Circle Takes The Square released their original album, which strangely happened to be a demo. The concept of releasing a … Read more

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Picture, if you will, a buffet comprised of the most delectable cuisines imaginable, prepared by a skilled staff of gourmet chefs. Now envision an angry mob running toward the buffet, toppling over all the trays, and gobbling every morsel of food with unreasonable haste. Not stopping to chew or swallow, the members of said mob are simply trying to jam … Read more

The Spotlight Syndicate

Forget the Static Past
Substandard (2003)

So I get this girl up in my room and we start licking each other's tongues, and before you know it, our clothes start to come off. But then all of a sudden, bam! I realize I need to put on some good love making music, or I ain't gonna get no gerjiner tonight. I start flipping through possible albums … Read more

Pretty Girls Make Graves

The New Romance
Matador (2003)

While there definitely are problems with musical priority in this album, after listening to Good Health, the most negative thing I can say about this album is it pales in comparison to PGMG's debut. While "slow and soft" is not necessarily a bad thing, it is in the case of The New Romance. When your biggest feature is the guitars … Read more

Pretty Girls Make Graves

The New Romance
Matador (2003)

'What is this band? Quasi-popular tripe not worth my time. What's the problem? The band is way too dependent upon the guitars to entertain the audiences. Although the guitarists do excellent work at times in the album, it's not enough to make this bad band good. Is the band any good? Not with what they emphasize. It's pretty easy to … Read more

The Bronx

The Bronx
Ferret (2003)

Now, I can't claim to know much about this band. I don't know what they are ex-members of or where they're from, but I do know this... this record bored me to no end. It kicks off kind of promising, actually. The opening track, "Heart Attack American", starts off with hushed guitar and drums, and then just explodes into a … Read more

Strike Anywhere

Exit English
Jade Tree (2003)

Beginning with a short riff-based intro, this record then kicks itself straight into life, inspiring this reviewer to do the same. Exit English, the band's second full-length, shows Strike Anywhere at their fastest, heaviest, and most melodic. The band's political edge on this record is as apparant as ever. Vocalist Thomas: "the songwriting on Exit English has more to do, … Read more

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