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Bad Sports

Constant Stimulation
Dirtnap (2018)

With Bad Sports, the songs are often about the hooks. The band utilizes traditional rock structures with song titles embedded in the chorus and predictable progressions. It’s largely about where they kick the extra energy into their songs that sets them apart, and it’s usually got a bit of swagger when they do kick.“Gains and Losses” is a really good … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Death Valley Girls

Darkness Rains
Suicide Squeeze (2018)

Of all the phrases ever used to describe Ramones, “re-inventing the wheel” was most certainly not one of them. Some took this as disparaging, but what they did was take the design of the wheel and perfected it. There’s nothing wrong with this. We need bands like Ramones, and in this case, Death Valley Girls to provide that firm foundation … Read more

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Johnny Marr

Call the Comet
New Voodoo Records (2018)

With the release of his latest effort Call the Comet, Johnny Marr solidifies himself as one of the strongest solo artists in music today. However, no one seems to know this as he is forever in the shadow of his former bandmate Morrissey, who manages to cover-up substandard songwriting with endless media-grabbing pull-quotes and tour cancellations. Call the Comet is … Read more

Future Girls

Motivation Problems
Dirt Cult (2018)

Future Girls’ debut full-length is one I’m going to have a tough time describing. Motivation Problems fits well within the Dirt Cult Records catalog. It’s punky, but there’s more going on. It’s melodic in focus with some rough-around-the-edges touches, both musically and in the recording. Twelve songs race past in just 27 minutes, but it feels diverse even within that … Read more

Nag

Nagged to Death
Fysisk Format (2018)

Musicwise I grew up in the '90s. Unlike my peers I did not enjoy the punk of that time (Green Day and The Offspring), nor grunge. In fact I only recently discovered that a couple of the bands stemming from that scene are worth my time. Instead of those influences I grew up on a steady diet of '80s metal … Read more

Emma Ruth Rundle

On Dark Horses
Sargent House (2018)

Where 2016's Marked for Death battled with Emma Ruth Rundle’s mortality and medical history, and allowed the artist to work through feelings of hopelessness and pain, On Dark Horses tries to take control of the shadows found in life. Instead of succumbing to the darkness, Rundle is now finding a path out of despair and using her music to piece … Read more

William Fowler Collins

Field Music
Sige (2018)

William Fowler Collins is a very interesting experimental music producer from New Mexico, who specializes in creating abstract and majestic dronalities. Through the years he has released some excellent solo records, including Perdition Hill Radio and the amazing Tenebroso, and he has also appeared in collaborations with Aaron Turner (in their shared project Thalassa), Raven Chacon (in Mesa Ritual), avantgarde … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Gaz Coombes

World’s Strongest Man
Caroline (2018)

It’s ironic that an album entitled World’s Strongest Man should show Gaz Coombes at his most vulnerable, but that’s precisely the point. Subverting expectations as both an artist and a man is a theme that runs throughout. It should then come as no surprise to hear that the album is said to be partly inspired by Frank Ocean’s Blonde - … Read more

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 … Read more

Natterers

Head In Threathening Attitude
Boss Tuneage Records (2018)

Sometimes I like my punk straightforward. Give me some power chords, play them high speed, high energy for one to three minutes and I’m a happy man. Sometimes I like my punk a bit different. One thing I enjoy is a guitarist who dares to play something different. Just to give an example, one thing I dig is more surfy … Read more

Reunions

Aching Waits
La Escalera Records / Def Cow Records (2018)

You know how once you get an idea in your head, you can’t shake it no matter what else comes up? That’s happened to me in reviewing Aching Waits, an EP released at the start of the year by San Francisco’s Reunions.This 4-song 12” EP has nice variation across the board, yet I keep coming back to Hot Water Music, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Starcrawler

Starcrawler
Rough Trade (2018)

Starcrawler vocalist Arrow De Wilde is one of the most arresting vocalists I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing in the last 20 years. When watching Starcrawler play live, it’s really a roll of the dice as to whether the front row will be appalled or attacked. Or both. And it’s that kind of unpredictability that makes Starcrawler unique in today’s … Read more

Night Birds

Roll Credits
Fat Wreck Chords (2018)

Roll Credits is an 8-song “mini-album” homage to the classics. Night Birds--the now veteran band of 10 years--says it was made thinking of short-play classics like Negative Approach’s Tied Down and Minor Threat’s Out of Step. Short, fast, loud.It’s a good starting point for their approach, but first, more about the release. In addition to being a 12” EP, Fat … Read more

A Perfect Circle

Eat the Elephant
BMG (2018)

Regardless of which band Maynard James Keenan is recording, promoting or touring with - he is usually the one unfairly maligned for holding up the proceedings, but make no mistake...A Perfect Circle is the brainchild of guitarist Billy Howerdel. And until he was ready to record again (in this case, 14 years after the band’s previous effort, Emotive) - it … Read more

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