L.A. Takedown
II (2017)
Ribbon Music (2017)
You don’t need to have been to Los Angeles to best experience L.A. Takedown’s latest album, II. It’s an album that’s evocative of a time and place, though it’s one that may or may not exist. The fact that it’s almost entirely instrumental (save for some lightly sprinkled vocoder in its final moments) doesn’t provide any concrete evidence. It’s an … Read more
L'Assassins
7 PM Go!!!
Big Action (2012)
Big Action Records’ latest release, 7pm Go!!! from L’Assassins is definitely in line with their recent catalog. Instead of throwback garage, however, L’Assassins have a surf-rockabilly sound that’s takes inspiration from the original genre instead of the bastardized psychobilly that rules punksubgenreland today. This sounds like the kind of record your parents (or, for you younglings out there, your grandparents) … Read more
L7
Scatter The Rats
Blackheart Records (2019)
At the height of the Northwest music explosion of the early 90s, L7 were among many bands branded with the ubiquitous tag of “grunge”. They weren’t from Seattle, but they had just enough distortion on their guitars to be regarded as such. This put them in a unique situation, as they were really the only all-female band to be inducted into … Read more
La Armada
Anti-Colonial Vol. 1
Creep Records (2018)
I usually lean more melodic than heavy in my daily listening. But there’s a time and place for everything, and La Armada definitely hit that craving for pure vitriolic aggression. The Chicago by way of Dominican Republic band play metal-tinged hardcore that’s blunt, brutal and angry. While there are metallic influences in the guitar, the songs are always under 3-minutes … Read more
La Armada
Anti-Colonial, Vol. 2
Mal De Ojo Records (2022)
I’ve been reading about the atrocities in Ukraine as I listen to Anti-Colonial, Vol. 2. Let’s just say that every act of imperialism is unique but combining listening to this record definitely highlights the brutal impact when a state tries to conquer a people. This record isn’t just political hardcore. It seethes with anger and inherited trauma. It’s a fucking bloodletting. … Read more
La Coka Nostra
Masters of the Dark Arts
Fat Beats (2012)
Masters of the Dark Arts marks the return of La Coka Nostra, a rap supergroup who were last heard from in ’09 on their then long-awaited debut album A Brand You Can Trust. LCN had originally assembled sometime in ’05 as a much larger entity than they are today. With a large contingent of Caucasian members in tow, the original … Read more
La Crisi
II - Tutti a Pezzi
Hurry Up! (2008)
Is there any better imagery than broken teeth? La Crisi don't seem to think so. Given the ferocity on II - Tutti a Pezzi I have to wonder if the cover image is what singer Mayo's mouth looks like after a particularly violent show. When it comes to namedropping influences, there are plenty of good ones for this band: Bad … Read more
La Dispute
Rooms Of The House
Better Living (2014)
La Dispute’s 2011 post-hardcore masterpiece Wildlife was not only the highlight release of that year, but one of the finest records that I myself have humbly observed. Personal accolades aside, this opinion is one shared by many others, and not without due reason. Wildlife represented at the time of it's release not only an extended display of unbridled emotionality, but also a huge leap … Read more
La Dispute
Wildlife
No Sleep (2011)
La Dispute is a band that catches a lot of flak. People tend to jump to conclusions about their “whiney” sound, and the infamous song “Such Small Hands” doesn’t help their case. I myself took early judgment on the band and chose to dislike them. But once I checked my ego at the door and gave Wildlife a real shot, … Read more
La Fraction
De L’Autre Côté
Crash Disques, Fraction Productions, General Strike, Gestalt, Konstroy, Maloka, Mass Productions, Mescufurus, Stonehenge Rds, Tranzophobia, Trujaca Fala, Twisted Chords (2022)
La Fraction returns after years of absence! If you responded with the same: “huh?” I ushered when I learned this, there is not much to be ashamed about. I had never heard of this band before. However, after listening to De L’Autre Côté I am a bit sad I did not hear of this band earlier. Better late than never, … Read more
La Piovra
La Piovra
Youth Attack (2006)
Music from foreign countries is something that I always find interesting, especially when they sing in their native language. La Piovra takes its name from a series on Italian TV about the Mafia - essentially the original version of The Soprano's. The band hails from Italy and play fast-paced hardcore punk. This one-side 12" is made up of six songs. … Read more
La Quiete
Tenpeun '01-'05
The Perpetual Motion Machine (2006)
For whatever reason, the Italian La Quiete is supremely underrated. They've been putting out releases since 2001 and for whatever reason dudes and dudettes alike are sleeping on them. Well, now's your time to wake up, because their newest release, Tenpeun '01-'05 is a discography of sorts that includes their OOP (out of print) material. Included are their song(s) from … Read more
La+ch and Dustbuster
Hunter
Independent (2014)
It’s safe to say that everyone’s already getting a head start on choosing the song that will be most played this summer. Over the past few months, La+ch and Dustbuster of the band Coleman Hell have become increasingly popular on Soundcloud for their remixes of songs by artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna. But this time around, the duo has made their … Read more
Ladyfinger (ne)
Dusk
Saddle Creek (2009)
I thought rock was a dead scene. The radio repeatedly fed me the term since my early teens, pushing different versions of the same band on the airways. Everything sounded like a watered down rendition of some seventies ideal I never cared about. Nothing I'd ever heard described as rock had any heart, let alone any balls. Ladyfinger (ne) are … Read more
Ladyfinger (ne)
Heavy Hands
Saddle Creek (2006)
First off, I have to say, "wow." This is really on Saddle Creek? That is totally unexpected. Being unfamiliar with what Ladyfinger (ne) is capable of musically, I am totally surprised. Heavy Hands is the debut album from these guys. It is a more than interesting offering by the description that I have been given for them. Most people have … Read more
Lafcadio
Kibosh
Joyful Noise (2008)
I truly don't know what to make of this band. Some reviewers might like to scope out the band before claiming the promo (Yes, that's how it works. Sorry to pull back the curtain kids.) But others, like myself, tend to claim a CD with only a rudimentary understanding of what they sound like - usually according to their PR … Read more
Lagwagon
Hang
Fat Wreck Chords (2014)
Punk rock veterans, Lagwagon, had been missing from the scene for quite some time. Sure, they had a tour here and there as well as reissues of their 90s classics, but it's been years since we've heard some fresh new music from the band. They released an EP in 2008, but most of that material had previously already been featured … Read more
Lagwagon
I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon
Fat Wreck Chords (2008)
Closing in on twenty years as a band, Lagwagon presents us with new songs, perhaps aiming to revive that nearly defunct Fat/Epitaph sound. Having grown up on this band, I was giddy to hear they were releasing new material for the first time since 2005's Resolve, but found myself bummed after learning it was only an eight-song EP. Couple this … Read more
