Juliette and The Licks
You're Speaking My Language
Fiddler (2005)
Hollywood has a running list of actors and actresses who attempt to extend their talents to the music industry. For some inexplicable reason, it seems that they believe having a music career is a right. It is not a right, but a choice. Many unfortunately choose to enter the music arena on the expense of everyone's ears. As a result, … Read more
Jump the Shark
Staring Death
Dead Truth (2008)
So the other day for lunch, I decided to try a new sandwich shop in the Skyway. I'd heard decent things about it, and when I walked past it on my way to other establishments for lunch, they definitely were busy, and people apparently liked it. So I ordered their house specialty sandwich. What I got was a perfectly passable … Read more
Jumpstarted Plowhards
Round One
Recess (2019)
I’m going to jump right into the thick of it and admit I’m not well-versed in Mike Watt’s catalog. In my defense, the man is a workhorse, releasing records with Minutemen, firehose, Stooges, solo, and many many more. I know the big ones, but not the deep cuts. Watt’s songwriting counterpart with Jumpstarted Plowhards is more familiar to me: Todd … Read more
Jungbluth
Part Ache
Halo of Flies (2013)
Karl Jungbluth was a German communist involved with various resistance groups that stood up against National Socialism and the Nazis. Expectedly enough, he got arrested twice in a decade and the second time turned out to be fatal. He was executed along with fellow resistance fighters on January 12, 1945.Alpinist was a four-piece crust/hardcore punk band from Münster, Germany formed … Read more
Jungle Rot
Terror Regime
Victory (2013)
Kenosha, Wisonsin's Jungle Rot have been peddling their form of death metal since 1994. The band have managed to release a nearly insane amount of records in that time and create a fanbase that allowed them to get signed by Victory records. The band have remained committed to their original thought process, to be brutal and heavy. Where as most … Read more
Junior Battles
Hotel Bibles
Black Pint (2009)
Ah, summer in full swing. For those of you attempting to battle high temperatures, I empathize as I sit in my apartment with my blinds closed and fight off the forecast 105-degree heat. But I try not to be bitter despite my preference for cold weather, and keep in mind the more exciting facets of summertime. One of these is … Read more
Junior Bruce
The Headless King
A389 (2012)
Bloodlet seem to be a sadly forgotten band. Even in their time they were overshadowed by the other bands Victory Records released. Sadly a band ahead of their time in a sense and far beyond typical hardcore constraints. What does this have to do with Junior Bruce? Well the booming voice of Bloodlet has returned as Scott Angelacos once again … Read more
Junius
Blood is Bright
Radar (2006)
I could attempt a witty introduction for this review, but both you and I know that you never read the first paragraph of these reviews. It's just witty banter or some lame story that attempts to tie in with the band's release. So to cut to the chase, what we have here is Boston-based rockers Junius' new EP, Blood is … Read more
Junius
Reports from the Threshold of Death
Prosthetic (2011)
I will say this: Junius' newest album Reports from the Threshold of Death is certainly a unique release. But that's really the totality of positive things I have to say about it. Believe me, I really want to like this album. And, to their credit, Junius certainly do a lot of things that entice my interest. But here's the issue: … Read more
Just Surrender
We're in Like Sin
Broken English (2007)
Rob Gordon once said "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off … Read more
Justice
Escapades
Reflections/Youngblood (2007)
A band of Belgian hardcore enthusiasts who, in the summer of 2003, had only one goal: to stir, shake and move the hardcore/punk scene. Justice, is their name and their latest album Escapades can only be described as powerful. If they were out to change the genre, they definitely succeeded with Escapades. Labeled as a hardcore band, I personally consider … Read more
Justice of the Unicorns
Angels with Uzis
Little Lamb (2008)
Yesterday, I received my bi-monthly batch of promos. While sorting through the records an album named Angels with Uzis by the band Justice of the Unicorns caught my eye. If the image on your right is a bit too small let me take the liberty of describing what's going on with the album's cover. Above a burning skyline is what … Read more
Justin Bieber
Believe (Deluxe version)
Island (2012)
Editor's Note: Sarah went mysteriously missing before she could complete her review of this album. However, her therapist provided Scene Point Blank with the complete transcripts of her discussions with him over this release, which we humbly present instead, with some minor edits to protect her privacy. We apologize for the inconvenience.Sarah: Listen, you have to help me. I have … Read more
Justin Timberlake
Futuresex/Lovesounds
Jive (2006)
You are the biggest solo star of your generation and your first album since leaving the boy-band that made you famous was one of the biggest sellers of that year and everyone is clamoring for your next album; so what do you do? If you are Justin Timberlake, you spend four years making a follow-up that's so radically different from … Read more
Justin Walter
Unseen Forces
Kranky (2017)
Trumpeter Justin Walter is mostly known through his works in experimental jazz/fusion collective NOMO, his collaboration with Brian Case (of Disappears) in Bambi Kino Duo, and his contribution to works of His Name Is Alive and Colin Stetson. What is constant in all these instances, is the depth of his exploratory playing, something that whets the appetite in seeing him … Read more
Kaada
Closing Statements
Mirakel (2018)
Whimsical/ˈhwɪm·zɪ·kəl, ˈwɪm-/adjectiveUnusual and alluring. Using imagination in a playful manner.This is admittedly, not a word that would typically be used to describe an album written around final moments before death, but somehow, in the hands of John Erik Kaada, it becomes more apropos with each listen. Closing Statements is about those final words, breaths and thoughts but remarkably eschews the … Read more
Kaada
Music for Moviebikers
Ipecac (2006)
There are few artists from the last few years that I have enjoyed more than John Erik Kaada. Woefully under-informed was I of his band Cloroform that had apparently been rocking the shit out of Norway and other more fortunate countries than ours for years. It was not until the release of his first solo album, Thank You for Giving … Read more
Kaada & Patton
Bacteria Cult
Ipecac (2016)
John Erik Kaada and Mike Patton. Two great tastes that taste great together. It's been twelve long years since the pair released Romances - a sometimes lush sometimes harsh always beautiful collection of soundscapes.Bacteria Cult is the sum total of two artists that have grown into their own and are completely at ease with what they each can bring to … Read more
