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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

Planning For Burial

Late Twenties Blues
Self Released (2011)

Alright laugh all you want at my horrid addictions, but until you plunge into Late Twenties Blues yourself, you will not have the faintest idea why this tape is on its fourteenth spin already today in my tape deck (not kidding, I am going to have to get another copy as a backup for this in case I completely wear it out); and honestly as much as I want to hold this baby and hide it forever from prying ears and eyes, I feel it a disservice not to talk about this official bootleg that was self released by Planning For Burial which contains four new pieces of gloom-y hook laden post post dreamy gloom pop ‘o’ rama (those who already have the bug for Planning For Burial will love this tape, I swear). Imagine if you will, some of the prettiest paeans to the confusion of late twenties malaise and depression and angst that you will ever hear (at least until someone else writes songs like these or the album versions of these songs drop sometime within the current millennium but more on that later) pour through your speakers complete with luscious beds of hazy drones, delicious melodies, and … Read more

Wreck and Reference

Black Cassette
Music Ruins Lives (2011)

I’ll say this, Black Cassette from Wreck And Reference is good, real good; in fact, this debut has a bunch … Read more

Long Distance Calling

Self Titled
Century Media (2011)

Long Distance Calling are everything that Mogwai wants to be and can't exactly accomplish. They artfully blend elements of progressive … Read more

Have Nots

Proud
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Ska-Punk is a loaded genre. That is to say there are only a handful of bands who could balance on … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Protagonist

States
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Protagonist made their name a couple years ago by releasing a strong skate punk record. This is to say they … Read more

Tenement

Napalm Dream
Hanged Up (2011)

Wow, this isn’t at all what I was expecting. With a one word name and the title Napalm Dream, I … Read more

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One from the archives

Anne

Dream Punx
A389 (2011)

In a genre of little distinction, Anne’s Dream Punx delves deeper into their own capabilities than most would’ve thought possible. The melodies used and the intertwining riffs create a wall of sound that evoke a sense of nostalgia for when Slowdive was around without having the feeling of a cheap knock off. The most captivating thing about this album is the band’s ability to capture a mood: dreary eyed to sanguine, while romanticizing each aspect. They draw from numerous influences ranging from 60s psychedelic to 70s synth-pop while maintaining a bond with their numerous contemporaries to make a unique sound that is, in this writer’s opinion, a breath of fresh air. The vocals are camouflaged into the background almost as if they were another instrument thrown into the mix. This … Read more

More album reviews

Pirate

Left Of Mind
Bird's Robes (2011)

How on Earth do you achieve a goal as lofty and vaguely-defined as “to break out of the norm and push boundaries?” Well, Sydney-based progressive four-piece Pirate aimed to find out with their 2011 debut EP, Left of Mind, which was created with that exact goal in mind. Whether or not they actually succeeded is a different case entirely.I'll admit, … Read more

The Cool Kids

When Fish Ride Bicycles
Green Label Sound (2011)

The Cool Kids return with, oddly enough, their debut album. Seems weird, considering these Midwestern boys have been in the game roughly 5 years now, but When Fish Ride Bicycles is technically their first full-length record. With a series of singles, mixtapes, and EPs under their belts, dating back to 2007’s excellent “Black Mags” single, Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish … Read more

Adrenaline Mob

Self Titled
Adrenaline Mob (2011)

Adrenaline Mob is a new supergroup featuring some big names in rock music today. The brain-child of drummer Mike Portnoy, the album also features names like Russell Allen, Mike Orlando, Rich Ward, and Paul DiLeo. Though they come from different genres, their combined talents are...Okay, you know what? I can't fucking do this. I just can't.Mike Portnoy is an amazingly … Read more

Sleeping in the Aviary

You And Me, Ghost
Science Of Sound (2011)

It was just six months ago that I reviewed Great Vacation. Sure, I was a few months behind the trolley on that one, but the fact that Sleeping in the Aviary has already kicked out another record, You and Me, Ghost, speaks to their dedication and work ethic. Or maybe Elliott Kozel and company just can’t put down their writing … Read more

Living With Lions

Holy Shit
Adeline (2011)

After their introduction to the more mainstream world Make Your Mark a few years ago Living With Lions went through a few things. This includes losing a bass player and vocalist and signing a deal with Adeline. In the meantime the band regrouped and recorded a new album. The big question is after losing members, especially a vocalist, how does … Read more

Farewell Continental

¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!
Paper + Plastick (2011)

Farewell Continental went great lengths to keep their members secret for some time. While not anywhere close to a secret anymore the band divorce themselves in a big way from their day jobs. While their main gig may act as signs of what you would get it doesn't quite prepare the listener for what is to come upon popping the … Read more

The Biters

All Chewed Up
Underrated (2011)

I’m a sucker for punk/pop bands, but not just any crap. They have to have it all: great tunes, catchy hooks, and plenty of attitude. The Biters are just that kind of band, with a mix of power pop and punk with a dose of glam thrown in for good measure (think T-Rex). This is the third EP from the … Read more

Anthrax

Worship Music
Megaforce (2011)

The story of how Worship Music came to be is longish and a bit complicated—dating back to 2009 in what was essentially a three-way dance for the vocalist spot. Some of the original material was adjusted accordingly or, in most cases, scrapped all together and rewritten, resulting in what is ultimately the best case scenario for long-time Anthrax fans: the … Read more

Sleepmakeswaves

...And So We Destroyed Everything
Bird's Robes (2011)

All right, it's time for me to flash my hipster / indie cred. I was totally into sleepmakeswaves while they were still a small band on the Lost Children net label! BEAT THAT.*ahem* In all seriousness, these guys have been on my radar for a long while now. They've already released two EPs (one of which is album length), one … Read more

Amebix

Sonic Mass
EasyAction (2011)

Amebix have been away for twenty years plus, and if you're expecting Arise or Monolith v2.0 then look away now. Because Sonic Mass is so much more than those classic records, and all the better for the band's time spent away from the music scene. In a recent interview we did with vocalist Rob "The Baron" Miller, he explained how … Read more

Low Places

Spiritual Treatment
A389 (2011)

Low Places have done much in a short time. Coming out of California with a style that is unlikeable to most and building on said style till it makes sense while still remaining well outside of the norm. The band go from lurching Eyehategod inspired pieces to what can be either powerviolence inspired hardcore or what sounds like EHG on … Read more

Bad Sports

Kings Of The Weekend
Dirtnap (2011)

Bad Sports made a smart sequencing decision by opening Kings of the Weekend with “Off Switch.” The punk burner has a lot of garage noise and it rips past in just 1:47. Why is it a smart opener, you ask? Well, from the brick wall band photo to the band’s posture to numerous tracks on the record, this Denton, TX … Read more

Boris

Heavy Rocks
Sargent House (2011)

Boris' sound is defined by their insistence on rocking the fuck out. Their earliest works, like the classic albums Heavy Rocks and Pink, revolve around taking heavy metal and, to borrow from Sp?n?al Tap, taking it up to eleven. These albums have an absolutely huge, dirty quality to them that leaves Boris' peers in the dust. So Boris released their … Read more

Boris

Attention Please
Sargent House (2011)

I absolutely love Boris' work ethic. Four new albums of fresh material in one year is more than anyone should be able to ask of any artist whose name is not either Buckethead or Senmuth, and their dedication to stylistic diversity is a commendable trait that's generally unheard of in modern music. What's more, Boris have a history of significantly … Read more

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)