Recent reviews

Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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

Tomahawk

Tonic Immobility
Ipecac (2021)

It would be nice if art could exist in a vacuum. I’m certain that a person finding Tomahawk randomly on YouTube or Spotify or whatever would have far different opinions than somebody who has known of Mike Patton since Faith No More’s The Real Thing blew up, which is probably like fifty albums ago in the Patton discography. Personally, Tomahawk has always been something of a “listen on shuffle” band when it comes to Patton’s work -- I like it, but more so in isolated doses. A “just the hits” philosophy, I suppose.The band shares some similarities with Faith No More’s more metal elements and, conversely, with Mr. Bungle’s softer side. For those well versed in those two bands, that means Tomahawk isn’t subtle. Some metal is hyper focused on its image. Tomahawk is focused on the energy. It’s forceful metal, more about the punch than the build-up. Patton has a great voice and great range, but Tomahawk is dedicated to chugga-chugga shouting at its core, rather than showing off the technicalities. It’s not all Patton, though. The rhythmic guitar sets the tone and reinforce the punchy vocal element, but it’s really the bass that seamlessly shifts between rumble and … Read more

Raging Nathans

Waste My Heart
Rad Girlfriend Records (2021)

It’s the pop-punk conundrum. Raging Nathans are a distinct band -- yet they aren’t. On first listen their sound is … Read more

Shevils

Miracle Of The Sun
Independent (2021)

Once upon a time I picked an album to review based on its cover art. It was an album by … Read more

Yuko Araki

End of Trilogy
Room40 (2021)

Sonic playground, or finding beauty in the cracks. It feels that this is an appropriate title for Yuko Araki’s new … Read more

Satanic Planet

Satanic Planet
Three One G (2021)

Justin Pearson has a lot of irons in the hellfire. If he isn’t playing with any number of his musical … Read more

Early Riser

Vocations
A-F (2021)

I was really into a few folk-bands for a while. But while I enjoy the lo-fi and personable tones, I … Read more

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One from the archives

Ben Kweller

On My Way
ATO (2005)

Why do we like this guy so much? He is a horrible songwriter, he has a mediocre voice, and the instrumentation on his albums is decent at best. After a few agonizing hours of thinking, while sitting uncomfortably cramped in the seat of plane, I came up with this conclusion: Ben Kweller reminds us of someone we know- he is the goofy kid we sat next to in history class, he is the guy in front of us on the bus with the headphones, he is that obnoxious co-worker that laughs hysterically at his own jokes, at some point in our lives we have all met him and that's why we like him. Fresh off the recent success of Sha Sha, and his collaboration with Ben Lee and Ben Folds … Read more

More album reviews

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

When God Was Great
Epitaph (2021)

Okay, look: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones need no introduction, but here's one anyway. These suit-clad gentlemen may be Boston’s most important punk export. For over 30 years, they've been active in the city’s hardcore scene and introduced masses of American kids to the sounds and messages of real ska music. They never fell into the suburban skate punk trappings that … Read more

The Neptunas

Mermaid A-Go-Go
Altered State Of Reverb (2020)

Tell ‘em Charlie sent you!? Dolphin safe Tuna-free of long lining, bottom trawling, and blood shrimp. Sustainable fishing has cast the long sea of doubt with shadows of ghost nets dancing and entangling, engulfing innocent species with its dark hand of doom claw-like grasp.Alas ascending from Neptune’s bikini bottomless cavernous cretin encrusted trident thrust through the decrepit blackened charbroiled throbbing … Read more

Hanalei

Black Snow
A-F (2021)

It’s been ten years since Hanalei released One Big Night, which is a long time between records for anyone. Hanalei is primarily frontman Brian Moss, who has also played with The Ghost, Wunder Years and other bands with names similar to more popular groups. But Hanalei is by far its own thing. It’s from the punk world, but not of … Read more

Toska Fall

It Falls Apart
White Russian Records (2021)

Toska Fall is a new Dutch band and It Falls Apart is their second EP. The band was started in 2017 for a shared love of '90s punk rock. Over these three lads added different influences to their mix. Think some melodic hardcore and some metal. I can appreciate it when bands mix more influences together into something quite their … Read more

The Mimes

Plastic Pompeii
Lets Pretend (2021)

After all the bedroom pop to come out of quarantine, we finally have a band doing something new that sounds like a real record, not an experiment. The Mimes features Maura Weaver, John Hoffman, and Megan Schroer, who played together in Boys long ago, and more recently in separate projects such as Homeless Gospel Choir, Ogikubo Station, and Vacation.Fittingly, The … Read more

The Great Hurricane Escape

If Not Now, When?
White Russian Records (2020)

There is so much music coming out that it is impossible to keep up. Every now and then I spend a couple of evenings checking out labels that I dig, just to see what’s new. One of those evenings I visited the bandcamp of White Russian Records and discovered this EP by The Great Hurricane Escape. One e-mail later I … Read more

War On Women

Wonderful Hell
Bridge Nine (2020)

I owe War On Women an apology. This review was due months ago, but some shit circumstances came about and an unplanned hiatus was from Scene Point Blank was needed. The band deserved far better and I very much regret that I wasn’t around to give them the lauds and love upon Wonderful Hell’s release because had I been around … Read more

The Living

1982
Loosegroove (2021)

The Living will transcend and be reincarnated on April 16th via Stone Gossard’s (Pearl Jam) label-Loosegroove. This release is getting a lot of attention namely because the band contained a 17-year-old Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses fame. Digging into the punk rock vault a bit deeper the band also contained drummer Greg Gilmore who went on to play in … Read more

Come Closer

Pretty Garbage
Pirates Press (2021)

J. Wang has played in a lot of bands: Dan Padilla, Tiltwheel, Altaira, and Shallow Cuts, to name a few. In other words, he’s an active musician and when his other bands broke up, or went on hiatus, or live too far away – throw in a year-plus pandemic -- well, a creator’s gotta create. Come Closer actually kicked off … Read more

Cry Babe

Fell In Love With A Spirit 7”
Drunk Dial Records (2020)

When I was assigned this 7” from Drunk Dial Records, the name of the label caused me to assume it would be a skatepunk album. Why? I’m not totally sure. I couldn’t have been more wrong, though, and was surprised upon listening to Drunk Dial #5, the Fell in Love With A Spirit 7” by the band Cry Babe.This dream … Read more

The Wheelz

Twenty/Twenty EP
No Front Teeth Records/Boulevard Trash (2021)

This was a hard review to write. It’s not because this EP is bad, but because it’s so damn good. The pandemic has left us all dying to go to live shows again, and this EP from The Wheelz is four songs of straight-up, fist-pumping, body-slamming sing-a-long anthems meant to be experienced in a live setting. I’ve known Tony and … Read more

Honshu Wolves

Cosmic Creature Capture
Voodoo Rhythm (2021)

Over the grassy knoll, down the weed tangled pathway, and to the right of the small babbling brook lays a large one-hundred-year-old oak tree. It has widely been known that the exposed massive root system has been used by generations of wolves for years thus giving many wolf pups their first home prior to venturing out in the unknown darkness.However, … Read more

Street Eaters

Simple Distractions EP
Nervous Intent Records (2021)

The info surrounding this EP talks about how Street Eaters have changed. The band formed roughly a decade ago, so there’s always going to be evolution and whatnot -- and there is even a new shape to the band on Simple Distractions, as they’ve officially become a three-piece. Still, the first thing I hear on the opening title track is … Read more

The Next Great American Novelist

Careless Moon
Independent (2020)

Insert joke about judging a book by its cover, in reference to a band who calls themselves The Next Great American Novelist -- somewhere the ego of Dave Eggers shudders. The trio of indie rockers from Brooklyn is the brainchild of lead singer-songwriter Sean Cahill, and their moniker may indeed be tongue-in-cheek enough to stand up to the irony. Cahill … Read more

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