The National
Trouble Will Find Me
4AD (2013)
DISCLAIMER: Readers, a bold claim is about to be made. The National’s Trouble Will Find Me could, quite possibly, be as essential as air. Tread carefully, the sheer force of the overwhelmingly mournful nature of this album may surprise you with its taciturn but fitting attempts of disbelieving optimism. Happiness is not The National’s forte, but tussling with overbearing emotions … Read more
The National Rifle
Wage Life
Independent (2008)
What if Elvis Costello was still churning out upbeat, poppy numbers like his early work? What if you took away some of the crackle and rough edges, and replaced them with pristine production and a lot of "whoa-oh-oh's"? What if, to spice things up, you threw in a dash of socialist rhetoric, a pinch of hand-held percussion, and a sprinkle … Read more
The Necks
Bleed
Northern Spy (2024)
Any record The Necks release is a pathway to a deeply meditative experience. From the vastness of Open to the cinematic introspection of Vertigo and the constant build-up of Unfold, this act rarely (if at all) disappoints. Their latest offering, Bleed, sees them return to their most delicate strand of minimalism, patiently weaving their compositions in an attempt to uncover … Read more
The Necks
Disquiet
Northern Spy (2025)
There are no signs of slowing down for Australian jazz masters The Necks. Following the release of the excellent Bleed in 2024, the legendary trio makes a return with their 20th full-length record, Disquiet. Long-form compositions are nothing new for the trio, but here they dive headfirst into a three-hour tour de force, traversing the abstract and meditative territories they … Read more
The Necks
Unfold
Ideologic Organ (2017)
There is always this feeling of being amid a quiet storm when one experiences an album by The Necks. The experimental jazz band from Australia has proven record after record how their long form compositions can invoke serenity and chaos at the same time. This free flowing quality by which the trio can unravel its music, highlights an eccentric craftsmanship, … Read more
The Necks
Vertigo
Northern Spy (2015)
The Necks is an experimental jazz band from Australia, which has been outputting record after record since their inception back in the '80s. Following the release of their previous full-length, Open, this trio of excellent musicians embarked on a journey towards their next release, Vertigo. Where Open features a more minimalistic mindset, Vertigo is a cinematic piece placed against a … Read more
The Neon Hookers
Calling All Creeps!
Cabal (2006)
Calling All Creeps! is the debut EP from The Neon Hookers. Okay, so the band's choice in name isn't the greatest, but 1) most band names suck and 2) haven't you ever heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover?" On their debut, this five-piece outfit from the hardcore factory of Massachusetts serves up seven tracks of rock-influenced … 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
The Nerve Agents
Days Of The White Owl
Revelation (2000)
Though not as revered as the final album from The Nerve Agents, Days Of The White Owl is certainly a turning point for the band and a definite precursor to the critical darling of an album that succeeds it, and this is perhaps a monster injustice to The Nerve Agents because with their last and best album for Revelation, they … Read more
The New Dress
Where Our Failures Are
Red Leader (2007)
The New Dress certainly knows how to make a first impression. Twenty seconds into Where Our Failures Are the tandem sings out, "I'm setting of alarms and planning bombs instead of songs / And if the cops ask I'm their man!" The New Dress holds nothing back, singing stripped down folk-punk about socialism and society, covering Billy Brag and Ed … Read more
The New Enemy
Outsourced
Independent (2009)
The first track sounds like Kid Dynamite so right away I thought I found a new melodic hardcore band to fall in love with. Then there's track two...okay...this sounds like Quicksand or Handsome. The only way I can tell it's the same band is the vocals, which are far too gruff for this type of post hardcore rock. It's still … Read more
The New Pornographers
Twin Cinema
Matador (2005)
Have an empty space between your copies of Hearts of Oak and Chutes Too Narrow? Need a sparkling new addition to your collection of great bands with horrible names? Feel like cleansing your palette of the countless cred-thriving indie bands that couldn't write a decent, memorable tune to save their collective lives? If you answered yes to any of the … Read more
The New Trust
We Are Fast Moving Motherfuckers. We Are Women and Men of Action.
Slowdance (2004)
Talk about coming out of left field. Members of some of indie-darlings The Velvet Teen and Benton Falls have gotten together to tell the scene "fuck you" and boy is it exciting. Josh Staples (The Velvet Teen) takes the spotlight as the singer and bassist while Michael Richardson plays lead guitar. Joining them is Sara Sanger, wife of Josh, on … 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
The Night Marchers
Allez Allez
Swami (2013)
Sophomore records tend to bring a unique level of apprehension: has the artist changed; can s/he maintain the momentum from the first release; etc. Night Marchers—led by John Reis (Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes) and rounded out with another two Hot Snakes members, Gar Wood and Jason Sinclair and the not-to-be-overlooked Jason Sinclair (Delta 72, Mule)—do not face such … Read more
The Night Marchers
Mystery Machine
Swami (2009)
One really has to hand it to John Reis; he surely keeps his work interesting with consistent releases and frequent offerings. Mystery Machine is the second tour-only 7" from his latest band, The Night Marchers. Just like the previous tour-only seven inch, Mystery Machine is like a short reminder of the band's existence and a nice memento from their shows. … Read more
The Night Marchers
Scene Report
Swami (2008)
So I finally get to see the new band that has been consistently pumping through my stereo, MP3 player, computer, and car since the songs first appeared online; and yes, this is a familiar sound coming from John Reis and his compatriots, but there is something undeniably in The Night Marchers' music which compels repetitive listening of their album, See … Read more
The Night Marchers
See You in Magic
Vagrant/Swami (2008)
So, John Reis is making his "return" to the indie music with his new outfit, The Night Marchers, following the recent demises of both Hot Snakes and Rocket from the Crypt. Described as an amalgamation of sorts of the sound and themes of these previous outfits, Reis (on guitar and vocals) is not the sole member of the group as … Read more
