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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)

Ozma

Pasadena
About a Girl (2007)

After splitting in 2004, it seemed initially unlikely that California's Ozma would ever resurface with their brand of power pop / new wave rock. After an unofficial reunion show (minus former drummer Patrick Edwards) in 2005, though, the band decided to reform, and Pasadena, named for their hometown, is the result, featuring new member Kenn Shane on the drums. Opener "No One Needs to Know" is an abrupt introduction to the record, kicking straight into the chorus with a Blue album-era Weezer feel to it. The hesitant bass is soon backed up with some teasing guitar chords and some glossy flute samples, as well as a prime example of Ozma's penchant for melodic backing vocals and layered lyrics. It's not the greatest song on the record but it's familiar enough to the band's material showcased on Rock and Roll Part Three to work as an intro to the new Ozma. "Breaking the Barriers" is an 80s-esque synth-laden track with an Andrew W.K. single note piano line in the chorus. The vocals are passionate though and the song features some classic Ozma dual guitar work from Ryan Slegr and Jose Galvez. More of the same is up next with a somewhat … Read more

Ambitions

Stranger
Bridge Nine (2007)

I've been a dedicated follower of Ambitions since their introduction as a side project band that featured three-fifths of With … Read more

Eskimo Joe

Black Fingernails, Red Wine
Rykodisc (2007)

"No one in our band is in it for their ego. It's all about the songs" The above is a … Read more

Angel Eyes

...and for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars
Underground Communiqué (2007)

Let me get to this straight away; I love the movie, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, so naming … Read more

My Flea Circus

Fancy Feast
Independent (2006)

I've come across some weird avant-garde bands, but it's a rare occurrence that I hear a band as bizarre and … Read more

Nirvana

Unplugged in New York
Geffen (2007)

At the risk of sounding like a filthy hippie droning on about the sixties and how you had to be … Read more

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One from the archives

Kill Conrad

32 Short Films About Nothing in Particular
Independent (2007)

200 Words Or Less

Boston's Kill Conrad sound like just about any other punk band on No Idea that doesn't want to be or is Hot Water Music. I am reminded of the sing-along bouncy pop-punk intensity that Against Me! once had. Actually, Kill Conrad remind of Atom's (you know from Atom and His Package) punk band Fracture with their off-key vocals and the occasional stabs at hardcore's velocity. I'll tell you one thing, 32 Short Films About Nothing in Particular is a fun melodic punk rock album that you can't help yourself from dancing in your chair. If Operation Ivy put out an album in 2007 they might sound like Kill Conrad. How much more praise can you give to a punk rock band than to namedrop Op Ivy? Read more

More album reviews

Kaada & Patton

Live
Ipecac (2007)

Has it really been three, almost four, years now since Mike Patton and John Kaada released Romances? Apparently so! Live chronicles the first and only live performance of Patton and Kaada's music of Romances at the Roskilde Festival in 2005 on DVD format. The two constructed a band that contains members of Kaada's band Cloroform to perform the album, and … Read more

Make Do and Mend

We're All Just Living
Restless Minds (2007)

Don't you just hate it when an album, or in this case an EP, is marred by one or two horrible tracks? Connecticut's Make Do and Mend almost created a flawless melodic post-hardcore short player if it weren't for the second and third tracks. The latter of these two tracks, entitled "Interlewd," is a keyboard/piano driven sap fest that tries … Read more

Pusher

Pusher
Auxiliary (2007)

Pusher hails from Louisville and features an impressive cast of ex-members as Steve Sindoni (vocals) comes to the band after handling vocals in Breather Resist and Matt Jaha (drums) comes from his former drumming duties in Black Cross and Coliseum. Unfortunately this release is a posthumous document of a short-lived group that just could not keep it together, but at … Read more

Strangers

Weight
Action Man (2007)

Earlier this year Strangers really grabbed my interest with their four-song EP, Holding. On that release, five individuals from New Zealand delivered a devastating aural assault. So here we are a couple of months down the road and Strangers have unleashed their debut full-length, Weight, upon the masses. The album begins with "Expositions," a two-minute number that picks up exactly … Read more

Chosen

Promo 2007
Independent (2007)

HEY YOU! Metal Blade! Century Media! Lifeforce! Earache! All you record labels down with the metal: LISTEN UP! Chosen is an independent metal band hailing from Ireland and I can say with all sincerity that the fact that none of you have stepped up and signed these guys is a Goddamn travesty. Granted, this might be due to the fact … Read more

Air

Pocket Symphony
Astralwerks (2007)

You know those bands that everyone talks about but you never get the chance to check them out? This is one of those cases. I never knew anyone who listened to Air on any regular basis, and bands that have extremely simple names never really seem to stick in my mind. Plus, when I hear the word electronica, it doesn't … Read more

Alkaline Trio

Remains
Vagrant (2007)

I haven't met anyone in my life that is affiliated with hardcore or punk that doesn't like at least a handful of Alkaline Trio songs. Alkaline Trio's gothic twists on weathered topics like being drunk, drugs, and being heartbroken ring all but universal to the ears of every kid that has every thought about wearing black for a week and … Read more

Saves the Day

Under the Boards
Vagrant (2007)

Part two in the trilogy of concept (small C) albums, Under the Boards sees Saves the Day back on a quick release schedule. This follow up to Sound the Alarm took only a year to release, compared to the three that passed between Sound the Alarm and the critically-panned In Reverie. With a third record, Daybreak, already in the works … Read more

Tombs

Tombs
Black Box Recordings (2007)

Tombs is the latest project from Mike Hill (former member of the criminally underrated bands Anodyne and Versoma). Tombs seemingly picks up from where Hill's last and short lived project Versoma left off with their EP Life During Wartime; this short, seven song EP is a good starting point for Tombs with its thick guitars and loud sound. Opening with … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Spank Rock and Benny Blanco

Bangers & Cash
Downtown (2007)

The latest effort from Baltimore club/DJ/rapping outfit Spank Rock brings more to the table than one might think. The opening line, "Welcome to the fuck shop," gives you an idea of what you're in store for. Bangers & Cash is five tracks of sex and money, with Spank Rock rapper Naeem Juwan dominating the lyrical space. This is also two … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Terror

Rhythm Amongst the Chaos
Reaper (2007)

I love Terror. I don't care about what anyone has to say about this band being simple-minded or playing hardcore for the "wrong kids." Terror just flat out rules. Always have, and so far, always will. Rhythm Amongst the Chaos basically takes off where Always the Hard Way left off with Scott Vogel and company infusing the metallic overdrive of … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Provoke / Tempo 38

Split
Independent (2007)

This is going to be the last split CD I ever review for Scene Point Blank. Okay, this is going to be the last split CD I ever review of two unknown bands that I review for this site. Sorry, split CDs are becoming the bane of my existence as I try and think of something to say about two … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Kill Conrad

32 Short Films About Nothing in Particular
Independent (2007)

Boston's Kill Conrad sound like just about any other punk band on No Idea that doesn't want to be or is Hot Water Music. I am reminded of the sing-along bouncy pop-punk intensity that Against Me! once had. Actually, Kill Conrad remind of Atom's (you know from Atom and His Package) punk band Fracture with their off-key vocals and the … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Get Back Up

Weathering the Storm
Organized Crime (2007)

Buffalo, NY's Get Back Up unfortunately sounds like every other new school hardcore band out there playing in local venues across the United States and probably Canada. They sound like a mixture of the heavy handed emotionally drone of Modern Life is War and the crunchy 90's hardcore metallic speed inspired Have Heart. I enjoy what I'm hearing as the … 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)

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