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200 Words Or Less

The Thucydidean Theory

Chapter III: World Reclamation
Independent (2008)

Chapter III: World Reclamation is a bizarre release. The Thucydidean Theory combine punk and trance arrangements that are heavily bass-driven. This four song release features female vocals that mingle with vocal-like synth sounds. "Please Stop Calling My Office and Yelling 'Cunt' at Whoever Answers the Telephone" is the most upbeat track on World Reclamation. Although the band's hybridized ideas are … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Eksi Ekso

I am Your Bastard Wings
Magic Bullet (2008)

Eksi Ekso is a group of six musicians from Boston. Their debut, I am Your Bastard Wings, highlights a musical prowess that dances between free-form and orchestrated. The breadth of instruments - viola, oboe, violin, flugelhorn, trumpet, bass, guitar, keys, drums - adds to Eksi Ekso's complex sound. Easy comparisons might be Ghastly City Sleep and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Birushanah

Akai Yami
Level Plane (2008)

Three songs, forty minutes. Akai Yami was my first introduction to Japan's Birushanah. The band uses two metal percussionists as well as a drummer, a fretless bassist and guitarist. "Jyodo" is a calm and intriguing opener that features traditional Japanese percussion. However, this doesn't last long, and the twenty-minute track, "Akai Yami," begins. Vocals vary greatly during this song. Long-held … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Light Yourself on Fire

Intimacy
Seventh Rule (2008)

Light Yourself on Fire combine hardcore and death metal on Intimacy, their second release. Ex-Reversal of Man vocalist Matt Coplon gives us notes on his lyrics, which draw from writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Kierkegaard. It's always a bonus to get insight into the thoughts behind an album. The six song long release lasts only seventeen minutes, … Read more

Future of the Left

Travels With Myself and Another
4AD (2009)

It doesn't look like a man. It doesn't talk like a man. But does it fuck like a man? Does it? Does it fuck like a man? It doesn't smell like a man. It doesn't taste like a man. But does it fuck like a man? Does it? Does it fuck like a man? Wise words there from album highlight … Read more

Minute of Arc

Future Forests
Independent (2009)

People make it a point to search far and wide for new music. I'm not against this by any means; I've found many quality bands from the other continents besides mine. But oftentimes there is little to no effort needed when searching as there is quality music being produced right under ones nose. A perfect example of this is Minute … Read more

North Lincoln

Midwestern Blood
No Idea (2009)

Most bands that are signed to No Idea Records have a sound that's usually expected from them. That, of course, being raw punk rock with gruff vocals and catchy melodies. North Lincoln are another band to add to that long list as they fit into this style almost perfectly. This album has been in the making since 2007 but recording … Read more

Nadja

Belle Bêtes
Beta-Lactam Ring (2009)

Look out now because Nadja's release schedule is kicking into high gear with the release of Belle Bêtes via the fine folks of Beta-Lactam Ring in a limited edition of five hundred vinyl LPs, and I am pretty sure that some of their more rabid collectors are both begging for more and crying at the amount of material that the … Read more

Sunn 0)))

Monoliths & Dimensions
Southern Lord (2009)

Okay, I must say that Sunn 0))) lost me with Oracle, particularly after some mild disappointment in Altar. My eventual listening of Domkirke came quite a while after its release, but it did revive my interest in the band. Now, finally delivering a new studio album (it has been quite a while since their last studio album Black One), Sunn … Read more

Skin Like Iron

All Human Failings
Free Cake (2009)

Never wasting a moment, the Bay Area's Skin Like Iron has brought forth yet another new recording with this seven-track 12" EP. All Human Failings is another blast of gritty, raw, and noisy hardcore punk from one of the genre's top bands. They didn't leave much room for improvement with their last go-around, but that doesn't seem to stop them … Read more

Cable

Variable Speed Drive (Reissue)
Translation Loss (2009)

Sometimes there is something which goes by the reference of historical revisionism whereby people go back and alter the place of a person, place, thing, or idea into a more vaunted or lower position in the historical record. I bring this topic up because it does happen frequently in the world of music, independent music particularly as artists go in … Read more

The Whitest Boy Alive

Rules
Asound/Bubbles (2009)

Even though Rules is the second full-length from Erlend Øye, I still have a hard time disassociating his airy voice from prior folk duo, Kings of Convenience, Øye's Belle-and-Sebastian-esque alma mater. However, the more I listen to the Berlin-based The Whitest Boy Alive, the more I can appreciate Øye singing similar, heartbreak lyrics over a funky bass line rather than … Read more

The Number Twelve Looks Like You

Worse Than Alone
Eyeball (2009)

The Number Twelve Looks Like You have always been a very unorthodox band to say the least. They've been trying something new with each album and it's no different with their latest album, Worse Than Alone. Pinning them to one genre is difficult because they incorporate so many different sounds into their music. A basic description of it can be … Read more

Only Thieves

Greeting from Levy Park, T.L.H.
Independent (2009)

Only Thieves pay homage to the Boss with their cover to Greeting from Levy Park, T.L.H., but the tribute doesn't stop at the artwork. From the get go of "Hammered for the Holidays" there's a clear striving toward outspoken, plainclothes guitarman at the center. However, there's a more of a band feel to it, and more Gaslight Anthem than Springsteen. … Read more

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