Cursed
Blackout at Sunrise
Goodfellow (2007)
Cursed are one of those hardcore/punk bands that are genuinely worth people's time and attention. Their music is vicious, honest, and gloriously consistent. The lyrics are both personal and politically driven. One could almost say that topically there is something for everyone, particularly for those into heavy punk rock and hardcore. Every record that they release is almost guaranteed to … Read more
Cursed
II
Goodfellow (2005)
Cursed - the movie or the band? Well considering one is likely a story lifted from a Goosebumps book and transferred to the filmscreen, I don't really think there's much up for debate. I can guarantee you that Cursed, the band, will not just entertain you but will knock you to the floor with their intense hybrid of hardcore, punk … Read more
Cursed
III
Goodfellow (2008)
Finally, I seriously have been waiting for this album since Cursed released last year's furious EP, Blackout at Sunrise. No, scratch that because the wait has been going since I listened to II (their obviously titled second album), and while Blackout at Sunrise was a bit of a tease and served to get listeners through until III. Cursed lay down … Read more
Cursive
Happy Hollow
Saddle Creek (2006)
Cursive is one of my favorite bands. I was highly anticipating the release of their sixth LP, Happy Hollow. It had been over a year since their fifth release, The Difference Between Houses and Homes, a collection of b-sides, and over three years since the highly acclaimed The Ugly Organ. With all this time, I was sure Cursive would release … Read more
Cursive
Happy Hollow
Saddle Creek (2006)
After completing their tour in support of the 2003 release The Ugly Organ, Cursive went on what many fans feared to be an indefinite hiatus. During the break lead vocalist Tim Kasher and guitarist Ted Stevens took time to focus on their other projects, releasing The Good Life's Album of the Year and Mayday's Bushido Karaoke, well the rest of … Read more
Cursive
I Am Gemini
Saddle Creek (2012)
Oh, our beloved Cursive--shall we never hear another Ugly Organ from you? No, we shall not, so stop asking for one. For three albums now, Cursive have been bounded to their undeniable masterpiece, The Ugly Organ, and have been expected to reach that plateau with each subsequent release. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't one of those fans, … Read more
Cursive
Mama, I'm Swollen
Saddle Creek (2009)
I first got the chance to interview Tim Kasher directly after the release of Cursive's Happy Hollow. A friend and I drove two and a half hours to Buffalo, NY and caught up with the band in the lobby of a Best Western Express not far from the venue. Their tour manager told us that they needed to soundcheck soon, … Read more
Cursive
The Difference Between Houses and Homes
Saddle Creek (2005)
The release of Cursive's The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Lose Ends reminded me what it was like to be excited for an album to come out. I was giddy like a kid waiting for Christmas; eagerly counting down how many more sleeps it would be until I was able to get my small, greasy, hands on … Read more
Cursive
The Ugly Organ
Saddle Creek (2003)
It's nice when bands can make beautiful music and still have it rock the casa. One thing that separates this from other similar "indie" bands is a cello, and just the fact that they are really damn good and don't sound like the others. The lyrics range from satire on "emo" music to stories of lost daughters (which brought a … Read more
Cursive
The Ugly Organ
Saddle Creek (2003)
The Ugly Organ is an appropriate title for the Nebraska-based Cursive's latest effort. The band has put together an album that is dissonant, cacophonous, and beautiful at the same time. On this album, the band uses a cello permanently as well as pianos, horns, and yes, organs to the original two guitars, bass, drums and singer Tim Kasher's dynamic voice. … Read more
Cursive
The Ugly Organ
Saddle Creek (2003)
Cursive, being one of my favorite bands, had a lot to live up to with this release. Usually, when I absolutely love a band's records, they tend to fail to top themselves, and thus I get disappointed. This is definitely an exception. The first few listens, I had a hard time swallowing this album and Cursive's new sound. Not that … Read more
Cut The Shit
Marked For Life
Gloom (2004)
By the time you read this, Cut The Shit will have already finished their final west coast shows and be on the way to breaking up. Their final show will no doubt be off the hook, but for those of us who won't be able to attend said event, we are blessed with ten and a half minutes of near … Read more
Cynic
The Portal Tapes
Season of Mist (2012)
In order for me to talk about this album, you're going to need some [CONTEXT].If there's one thing I absolutely hate about Cynic, it's their squandered potential. In 1993, right in the middle of the technical death metal craze that bore the likes of Atheist, Nocturnus and Suffocation, as well as refined the raw sounds of Death, Sarcófago and Meshuggah, … Read more
Cyvoid
Self Titled
Thirty Days Of Night (2011)
Cyvoid are a band out of Britain with a strong sense of the past. This band made up of ex members of zombie fanatics Send More Paramedics among others bring the thrash. Well past the point when they could be called bandwagon jumpers they clearly love their thrash. Similar in a sense to Send More Paramedics, Cyvoid also play with … Read more
CZARFACE (INSPECTAH DECK + 7L & ESOTERIC)
Self Titled
Brick (2013)
Revisiting a collaboration that first appeared on the title track of Speaking Real Words, the debut EP by 7L & Esoteric, the Beantown duo has teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck again. Some 14 years later the three veterans come together with a full-length superhero project titled Czarface. Taking into account the back catalogue of the parties involved, it comes as no surprise … Read more
