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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)

Stylex

False Start
Action Driver (2003)

Electroclash seems to be a genre that died as soon as it was conceived, but that doesn't mean that all music that lies under that categorization is bad. Case in point, Stylex. A mix of instrumental disco punk and digital dance elements aids to the final product that is a fun dance collection. Although I wouldn't call this completely original, as bands like The Faint and Adult. have done this, it definitely does not sound like a cheaper imitation of those. The introduction to "Duress" is simply fabulous with a jumpy bass line that reminds me of a slower This Computer Kills which is layered by a robotic voice and the kind of drum beat that forces your feet to start sliding and your hands to start clapping and swaying. Choruses with short lines with nice rhyming schemes only aid to the catchiness. My favorite part on False Start is in the song "Hit & Run" when the singer's voice sounds like it's going through a fan, but the techno ending drags on a little long. Next party you are going to, bring this CD and everybody will be thanking you, possibly with sexual favors. Read more

Multiple Authors

Stylex

False Start
Action Driver (2003)

One of Toledo, OH's most exciting young bands, Stylex, has graced us with a new EP by the name of … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Sawtooth Grin

Cuddlemonster
Dead By 1918 (2004)

Imagine being woken up to find yourself being eaten by hundreds of rats and a few flesh eating bacteria. At … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Sawtooth Grin

Cuddlemonster
Dead By 1918 (2004)

The only thing that kept repeating in my head the entire time I listened to this record was "Wow, the … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Sawtooth Grin

Cuddlemonster
Dead By 1918 (2004)

The Sawtooth Grin are quite the listen. From the first track, you are thrown into a whirlwind of grind, fronted … Read more

Multiple Authors

Brandtson

Death and Taxes
Deep Elm (2003)

Brandtson has always been a guilty pleasure type band. I have the Letterbox and Dial In Sounds CDs and listen … Read more

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One from the archives

Muse

H.A.A.R.P.
Warner Bros. (2008)

Muse is a band that has long had their music overshadowed by comparisons to the giants that are Radiohead, U2, and Queen. Rather than worry about dispelling said comparisons, Muse have taken the allegations of being a "rip-off" and "lacking originality" in stride and maintained its artistic credibility while continuing to deliver what many, even the most crass of critics, consider to be the finest rock music this side of, yes, Radiohead. H.A.A.R.P. is the band's second live offering and the follow-up effort to the band's extremely successful Black Holes and Revelations. The album is comprised of two discs, one featuring only audio, the other in video form. Like the many live audio recordings that have preceded this offering, the retail value of such a recording is for the most … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

Brandtson

Death and Taxes
Deep Elm (2003)

Part of me says it's not Brandtson's fault. They formed way back in 1996, and as such, are quite possibly the last of these so-called "emo" bands left that hasn't broken up, gotten picked up by a major, or enjoyed some moderate degree of success. But part of me says fault or not, there's no excuse for a record being … Read more

Multiple Authors

Inventing Edward

We've Met An Impasse (By Midnight We'll Be Naked)
Substandard (2003)

This CD was suggested to me by staff member Robby. I put off listening to it for a day. Really bad decision. Featuring a handful of members from Under A Dying Sun, this is not the type of band you would expect. Atmospheric, almost haunting guitars, female vocals, spoken word, this CD has it all. The first spoken word track, … Read more

Multiple Authors

Inventing Edward

We've Met An Impasse (By Midnight We'll Be Naked)
Substandard (2003)

Prior to listening to this album, having seen Inventing Edward twice, I thought I had a pretty decent idea what the band was going for: minimalist soundscapes, brooding vocals and a fine balance between loud and soft. Inventing Edward presents these elements on We've Met an Impasse (by Midnight We'll be Naked), however the delivery lacks the rawness and excitement … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Cryonics
Level Plane (2003)

A new record from Hot Cross. I was so giddy to get my hands on this promo. Unfortunately, the giddyness wore off while listening to it. There are some good tracks on this record but their new approach to melodic singing killed this record. "Pretty Picture of a Broken Face" is, without a doubt, the worst song ever recorded by … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Cryonics
Level Plane (2003)

"It's the band that has the singer from Saetia in it", was the first thing I heard about Hot Cross. Later I also heard it contains ex-members of Neil Perry and Joshua Fit For Battle, but being a huge fan of Saetia I immediately was forced to check this new all star screamo band. The first thing I noticed was … Read more

Multiple Authors

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Master and Everyone
Drag City (2003)

I am not one who can sit down and listen to a record that is just acoustic guitar and vocals. Call me shallow but, playing in Symphony Orchestras and the such has made me a sucker for instrumentation. The closest I come to such minimalistic music is Songs: Ohia's Didn't It Rain and some of the older Against Me! stuff. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Master and Everyone
Drag City (2003)

Four years ago to the present, record players everywhere have played the last note of "Raining in Darling," the final song on Will Oldham's Bonnie "Prince" Billy record, I See a Darkness. As his record burped and scratched to its end, newly-anointed or long-time fans of Will Oldham have eagerly awaited his return which would once again, hopefully, take us … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

Yes folks, this band is the same Cave In that released Beyond Hypothermia and played metal. Yes avid readers, this is the same Cave In that played space rock and released Jupiter. But the music that graces this compact disc isn't metal or space rock, but instead radio friendly rock music with nebula inspired riffage. At this rate Cave In … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

This is one of the many albums of 2003 that I love but am also dissapointed with. Cave In have managed to write numerous catchy, commercial rock songs without deviating from their style too much. I'm not saying 'catchy/commercial' with a negative connotation, this is a good album. However, I can't move past Jupiter. That album was brilliant, and they … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

If you have not heard Cave In yet, you are obviously living under a rock. That or you are just really stupid. Starting out playing "metal-core" in '95 or so, they have had one of the most obvious sound changes a band could ever have. It started with Creative Eclipses EP back in '99. It continued on and evolved with … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

I can always tell how much I will spin an album following its first listen. That feeling I had after listening to Hearts of Oak was immeasurable. "The Ballad of the Sin-Eaters" is a song that will instantly make you shake your ass and shout the words even though you don't know them yet because you're listening to it the … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

Wanna have fun? Wanna dance? Want a record that can be, not only enjoyable to listen to, but the perfect record that can still be fun, even when you aren't paying much attention to it? Well this record is it. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have followed up their 2001 full length, Tyranny of Distance with Hearts of Oak, a … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

[NOTE: Okay, I'll admit it. I'm way late. Hearts of Oak came out in February and now, half way into May, I'm finally sitting down to write this. Well, as they say, "better late than never," right?] So, all the hype is coming from New York City these days. There, you will find such indie rock favorites such as The … Read more

Multiple Authors

Boy Sets Fire

Tomorrow Comes Today
Wind-Up (2003)

The best way I can sum up my sentiments for this record is by saying that this is a Boy Sets Fire record, while at the same time, is definitely not a Boy Sets Fire record. It's basically the same band as before, but they've traded some of their post-hardcore sound for a sound that fits in more with the … Read more

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