Bloc Party
A Weekend in the City
Vice (2007)
Being a favorite of my friends and I during our Friday/Saturday night pre-pub dance parties, I had a certain set of expectations for what the new Bloc Party would sound like. While 2005's Silent Alarm carried a handful of mellower tracks, making up the bulk of the filler on the album, it was pushed to popularity by its killer single … Read more
Bloc Party
Silent Alarm
Vice (2005)
Hype generates a high death count, because critics are merciless. Bands with ridiculous amounts of hype seem to have big white signs with bold red lettering that spell out "KICK ME" on their backs. When these particular bands do not deliver, every minor insufficiency is exacerbated to squelch them out of existence. Giving them a fair listen is nearly impossible, … Read more
Death From Above 1979
You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Vice (2004)
To those that call this album stoner rock, metal, noise rock, a twisted take on dancepunk, or each of the above ' you're all wrong. And I wish I could tell you why in a way that wasn't already said better by someone else; as Jim Carrey put it in the critically underrated Cable Guy, 'Don't dig too deep, or … Read more
Off!
Self Titled
Vice (2012)
This record is way too long. Nah, with 16 songs in 17 minutes, it’s shorter than a heart attack. And, hopefully, that will be my only elderstateman reference in here. For those living under a rock since 2010, Off! is a new Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag) fronted hardcore band where he is joined by Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), … Read more
Off!
Wasted Years
Vice (2014)
I generally hate punctuation in a band name, but it’s uncommonly fitting with Off!. Sure, they only included it to keep the pesticide theme going, but every scrap of vitriol that Keith Morris shouts out in the lyrics deserves to be followed with the exclamation point. It’s loud, shocked, and direct as hell. Almost every song uses the first or … Read more
Snoop Lion
Reincarnated (Documentary)
Vice (2013)
"David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Madonna; pop culture is no stranger to reinvention. When the public tire of a persona or an artist wishes to make a change, the old looks, personality or profession can be remade and resold in the same climate. That said, it's a process which can chew up and spit out- just ask Amanda Bynes's cheek piercings." So … Read more
