There is a ridiculous amount of variation in pop punk as of late. There was one band back in the early days that crossed between pop punk and hardcore in the late 90's. That band was Saves The Day. With their first two full lengths they made a habit of including two step parts sing alongs and breakdowns into their pop punk songs. Very few bands have done that with any true efficiency since. Well, Rust Belt Lights have brought that back in style. A group containing various Buffalo hardcore mainstays have made a great pop punk album. This is an album meant to be played on both car trips and by a band in vfw halls. Everything clicks from the start of the album with "It Ain't What It Used To Be" leading the charge. The song opens with a strong bassline and speedy drumming leading into a gang chant. Each song sticks to that energy and those basics throughout. Now , I realize all of that sounds pretty simple in general. Things is this is not a groundbreaking album by any means. It is a well played and strong written album with no true curveballs just heartfelt songs. … Read more
There has been resurgence within the indie-emo genre lately, and these advocates of punctuation are taking cues from American Football … Read more
Could there possibly be any more strange a pairing than the two artists that participate in this split release? Sure, … Read more
At their heart, Buffalo Moon plays whimsical indie pop with a playfulness that is grounded by moments of straight-faced seriousness. … Read more
Dave Hause is no secret to anyone that listens to punk rock. He is known for being one of the … Read more
Back in 2002 a song appeared on a Give ‘em the Boot comp. from a band named Devil’s Brigade. The … Read more
Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.
749 reviews
42 reviews
25 reviews
300 reviews
4881 reviews
19 reviews
You’ve heard of no depression music? I’m coining a new term here: depression punk.Opening song “Loud and Ugly” might be a good description of vocalist Jesse Thorson’s approach in general. His songwriting has always been outspoken and focused on personal flaws, pointing to the uglier elements in life. I always referred to the Pretty Boy Thorson bands as essentially country songs set to punk music. He moved away from that approach somewhat with The Slow Death, but it’s back here. I mean, he named a song “Grown Man’s Tears.” Yes, there’s really a punk song about crying on this record -- take that up-the-punx.So what’s going on with Petty Larcenists? It takes that Pretty Boy Thorson downtrodden tone and it incorporates the more straight-forward punk of The Slow Death, but … Read more
Who ever said louder isn’t better? Joyce Manor have been breaking down the walls of every town they play up and down the west coast with their rowdy live performances for awhile now. Their self-titled debut album will have you hopping and singing at the top of your lungs with their boisterous pop-punk anthems in your own home.Joyce Manor jump … Read more
Having more than a passing appreciation for spaghetti western films, particularly the Man With No Name trilogy A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and the truly epic The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly), I am compelled to check out any band or group that carries any of that iconography or is themed similarly, if only to … Read more
Liam Singer plays the role of musical journeyman having been back and forth across the states playing with a multitude of different bands of many different types. He has a strong background in piano, theremin, and harpsichord among other instruments. These instruments let Singer provide a colorful and full backdrop for his calm story songs. After a few solo albums … Read more
Trouble in Mind is getting to the point with their cover art. The point is: let the music stand for itself. Or maybe it’s just a copout since they think everybody will download it instead. Anyway, with their fifteenth release, the label sticks to their favored style: Midwestern pop-flavored garage. Sticks N Stones may stick rather firmly to genre conventions, … Read more
At Our Heels is a young band coming out with a strong EP last year but never getting as much recognition as that EP probably deserved. They are certainly not a hype band or even getting any real talk outside of a few vague mentions. Strangely, this does more good than bad for them. What has resulted in this case … Read more
Seattle has always been a city with a vibrant and active music scene and it appears they survived the grunge attack of the 90’s and are beginning to really deliver some great new bands not stuck in the genre. Hotels is just one of those bands with a new wave inspired sound that brings me back to the days of … Read more
The only phrase that could describe my emotion right now is absolutely gushing, because “Inflatable Dream” is finally playing on my record player after years of obscurity as the “lost” Cave In song that blows away many other Cave In songs, and dear lord does its blasting goodness just make my 1999 barely twenty year old self scream like a … Read more
Motion City Soundtrack fans rejoice this EP simply titled #2 from Farewell Continental, is a side project of lead singer Justin Pierre’s. This is actually their second EP and contains six tracks of tunes available in two media choices, vinyl or digital download. This is one of the bands still pushing the vinyl media choice, their first EP was a … Read more
Hauntingly beautiful, The Crystal World is precisely that; and I seriously cannot believe that this almost slipped beyond my notice because Locrian has just simply blown me away with this record of harrowing soundscapes and buried melodies that coax your subconscious into a dream like state. I sincerely mean it; this record is one of those have to hear records … Read more
Bombay Sweets is a Minneapolis band consisting of Nathan Grumdahl (Selby Tigers, Dynamiters) and drummer Jeff Brown (His Mischief). Although the project has expanded beyond Grumdahl’s one-man-band vision, it remains his lovechild. Even with multiple instruments at play, the primary components remain Grumdahl’s guitar and voice. The project is heavily steeped in old 60s records, with R&B-derived rock at its … Read more
Have you ever listened to the record at the wrong time and have it just put you off on that record even though your reaction was not the record’s fault? Well, good for you if this never happens to you; but this scenario does occur to me from time to time, and, unfortunately, it can put my potential enjoyment of … Read more
Whiskey & Co.’s sound hasn’t changed, even if a couple members have. On their third record, the Gainesville band continues their old-school flavored country that spends as much time regretting past decisions as it does swilling beer at the corner bar. Like its predecessors, Rust Colors mines familiar themes- exploring the emotional gamut and adding a bit of boogie-down twang … Read more
Nahemah are a rather different band. Coming out of Spain a country not generally known for their metal and playing a style different than most. They play a style of metal that involves prog, post metal and death metal among others. While some might read that description and picture a band not being able to find a direction and coming … Read more
“To best enjoy this album… try new things” So starts one of the catchiest records this year this side of the Descendents and Rites Of Spring and maybe you do not fit the description given in this opening soliloquy set to music but that does not mean to stop listening by any means, but rather it puts you in the … Read more
Looking for the SPB logo? You can download it in a range of styles and colours here:
Click anywhere outside this dialog to close it, or press escape.