Recent reviews

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

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

Lucero

1372 Overton Park
Universal (2009)

Lucero is a band that people feel passionately about. You either love them or hate them. Their fans are very adamant about which record is their favorite, and subsequently, the best in their eyes. With 1372 Overton Park Lucero has gone on to make what is one of the most fully realized albums of their career. Unfortunately, Lucero's vision for this new album alienated a bunch of fans. And for the people that have decided to toss this on by the wayside, you're missing out. This is the record that Lucero's been looking to record for quite a while, and the album that they deserved to make, and we should be grateful to have. The biggest addition to the Lucero sound here is the horn section. While slightly offsetting at first, the songs have been lifted up to an entirely new level. Lucero has always written with the Memphis sound in mind. The horns have just formally realized what I feel was always in the back of their minds. Along with the horns, we occasionally are greeted with some back up singers, yet again pushing that Memphis soul sound even more to the forefront. It definitely is a creative step … Read more

Shrinebuilder

Shrinebuilder
Neurot (2009)

Holy supergroup! Even as that term is overused, for underground metal and heavy music, Shrinebuilder is just that when you … Read more

Nothington

Roads, Bridges & Ruins
BYO (2009)

In what might be an early contender for "Most Improved Band of the Year," Nothington brings us their second studio … Read more

Florence and the Machine

Lungs
Island (2009)

In a U.K. pop scene increasingly dominated by uncertain female electro-pop princesses or paltry imitations of Rihanna or Beyonce, it's … Read more

Gaza

He is Never Coming Back
Black Market Activities (2009)

Following an impressive debut album is never an easy undertaking, and Gaza did deliver an impressive debut with I Don't … Read more

Thrice

Beggars
Vagrant (2009)

The release of Thrice's latest album, Beggars came as a big surprise to a lot of fans for a couple … Read more

Browse our review archives

Reviews by year

Choose a year to view reviews of albums released in that year.

Reviews by artist name

Choose a letter to view reviews ordered by that letter (band name first).

Review categories

200 Words Or Less

749 reviews

Book Review

42 reviews

Classic Album

25 reviews

Multiple Authors

300 reviews

Review

4878 reviews

Video/DVD Review

19 reviews

One from the archives

Various Artists

Amirtha Kidambi, Elder Ones – Holy Science
Northern Spy (2016)

Amirtha Kidambi is an intriguing musician, an exploratory musics creator and a stellar singer. Having participated in a number of projects, including Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Seven Teares and Tongues, with Elder Ones we see her for the first time acting as the band leader. Around her is an excellent cast, comprising of saxophonist Matt Nelson, bassist Brandon Lopez and drummer Max Jaffe, all of which are battle tested musicians of the DIY scene and improvisational world. In this context Kidambi is able to completely follow her avantgarde influences, including towering avant-garde figures as Luigi Nono and Karlheinz Stockhausen, and combining those with the meditative free jazz spirit of Alice and John Coltrane. In its core, the process followed is drenched in free jazz, with Elder Ones going through different … Read more

More album reviews

Sick Sick Birds

Heavy Manners
Toxic Pop (2009)

Sometimes life gets in the way of good music. When the Thumbs disbanded in 2003, Mike Hall and Bobby Borte needed a new outlet. They formed Sick Sick Birds, but families and education have slowed the band's production, leading them to release their first full-length in 2008. Heavy Manners isn't a far stretch from their previous band, but Sick Sick … Read more

King Khan & The BBQ Show

Invisible Girl
In The Red (2009)

In his two-piece with Mark "BBQ" Sultan, King Khan & The BBQ Show brings garage rock as it's meant to be played: layered with harmonies and catchy choruses, but oozing with distortion and dirty, sleazeball rock and roll. King Khan & The BBQ Show have perfected simple, fun rock and roll. When "Anala" first hits your player, it's not a … Read more

Rabid Rabbit

Rabid Rabbit
Interloper (2009)

As certain styles of music catch hold and thus become revered and oft emulated, making or doing something to makes one's band stand out amidst an ever burgeoning horde of groups (that range from those that find their own voice to those that come off as half rate clones) becomes a much harder obstacle as time moves forward. Rabid Rabbit, … Read more

Lipona

Pigeonholed
Independent (2009)

In what's already been a solid year for punk releases, Lipona's new self-released EP, Pigeonholed might fall under the radar to most listeners but if you do come across it, I would strongly suggest giving it a listen. Pigeonholed is a short but sweet EP of some nicely executed punk rock with a bit of a hardcore edge. The lyrics … Read more

Eagle Twin

The Unkindness of Crows
Southern Lord (2009)

Gentry Densley is somewhat of a living legend in the metal world. Unfortunately I am not as familiar with his work in Iceburn as I should be, but I've known him as an indispensable part of the Southern Lord supergroup Ascend. Ascend took experimental metal to new heights, but his latest project Eagle Twin, while moving in a similar direction … Read more

Nadja / Black Boned Angel

Nadja / Black Boned Angel
20 Buck Spin (2009)

Having these two notable monikers teaming up for a second collaboration is just right up my alley, particularly because their previous collaborative effort, Christ Send Light is one of my favorite recordings from both Nadja and Black Boned Angel thus far. This second effort (actually recorded around the same time as their previous collaboration) is two pieces of sonic manipulation … Read more

The Get Up Kids

Something to Write Home About (Reissue)
Vagrant (2009)

The release of The Get Up Kids' debut full-length Four Minute Mile is something that I recall with the greatest of ease. My sister won a contest from a record store, getting a slew of just released CD's for free. Amongst the various punk compilations and releases from bands on Epitaph, Fat Wreck, and Lookout! was said album from The … Read more

Aidan Baker

Gathering Blue
Equation (2009)

The amount of work that Aidan Baker produces is absolutely staggering. Besides solo releases like Gathering Blue he releases records as part of Nadja and Whispering Room as well as collaborations with Tim Hecker, ThisQuietArmy, and others. A double LP, Gathering Blue is one coming via Equation Records and in limited quantities (so much so that these might all be … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Fired Up

Doomed to Repeat
Youngblood (2009)

Doomed to Repeat is a posthumous release from Fired Up. Fired Up plays extremely fast youth crew inspired hardcore and gained a little bit of notoriety for being a band that played this style of hardcore...but they weren't straightedge. Whoopee-do. Doomed to Repeat is the type of record you'd expect from Youngblood Records. There's plenty of sing-a-longs, parts to point … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Face Reality

Positive Change
Dead End (2009)

It's nice to see in 2009 that's there is still youth crew hardcore bands out there. Face Reality is from Michigan and play fast hardcore with plenty of fun breakdowns. The vocals remind me of Ray Cappo with a cold. Musically it's a cross between Ten Yard Fight and The First Step. The lyrics are positive and on the straight-end … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Jeff Caudill

Try to be Here
Fortunate Son (2009)

Rising from the remains of the pop-punkers Gameface, Jeff Caudill heads out on the road by himself on this trip. Well, not exactly. He does the consistency of the producing and also being the drummer for this project. Also involved is none other than Robbie Rist (yes-"Oliver" from The Brady Bunch!) Check out YouTube for a funny clip of Robbie … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Medusa

En Raga Sul
Hawthorne Street (2009)

If the band name and scary artwork didn't tip me off that this was going to be a brutal audio assault, I guess the Hitler sample at the start of the release should have been a clue. Punishing riffs, caterwauling vocals, and plodding drum beats typify the songs on this record. If that sounds like something you need to have, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Young Fresh Fellows

I Think This is
Yep Roc (2009)

I love the PR insert that is included with this one. "First new album in 66 years! Produced by Robyn Hitchcock! No 'special guests' (except Robyn and Peter Buck) Includes 3 DIFFERENT-SIZED helmets." I'm still looking for my helmets, but I know it hasn't been quite that long since the last Young Fresh Fellows record. Scott McCaughey hasn't lost his … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Foreign Cinema

Non-Synchronous Sound
Parallax Sounds (2009)

Moody, dark, atmospheric rock from this two-piece based out of San Francisco will send a shiver down your spine with this release. Think Peter Murphy backed up by members of The Cure and Mission UK on holiday. There's a definite Faith influence here which I am being drawn into after repeated listens. The last song on this release is a … Read more

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