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Lakeview EP
Montgomery (2007)

Before even listening to Newpapers' Lakeview EP, everything about them screams, "Hate me." It could be the fact that their album cover seems to be like a bad Simpsons rip-off, featuring a lake spewing out things like an old love bus, a factory, and what one can only assume are cheap beer cans with angel wings. It could also be … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Parhelia

First Light
Independent (2006)

The number of atmospheric rock bands has skyrocketed recently. Dublin, Ireland's Parhelia, a group of "post-rockers," play very welcoming and groove-oriented songs. This instrumental four-piece doesn't sound "groovy," but the rhythm section is extremely tight. Guitarists Greg Clarke and Diarmuid Shore create pleasant, melodic parts that keep me interested (even without crescendos!). "Ebb/Flow" contains cool delay effects combined with sudden … Read more

Silverchair

Young Modern
East West/Eleven (2007)

The Beatles and Silverchair have a lot more in common than one might initially think. But before any of you go and get your panties in a bunch, by no means am I saying that Silverchair and The Beatles are equals in influence or of the same league when it comes to songwriting. What I am saying is that their … Read more

.hinge

The Rise & Fall of Living Great
Independent (2007)

aroncag: Who the hell does .hinge sound like!? blackpony1: I have no idea. That's one of the great mysteries of music, my friend. Busted. This is the brilliance that columnists use when telling people which tunes are good and which ones aren't worth the plastic they're printed on. With the prior statements originating from a recent AIM conversation, it's a … Read more

PJ Harvey

White Chalk
Island (2007)

Beginning with her 1992 debut album Dry, much has been made of Polly Jean Harvey seemingly reinventing herself with every release that followed. For anyone else, this would be a gimmick, a hook - thus making the work less than sincere. But the calculation ends with the realization that the music is more honest than most anything created by other … Read more

The Spill Canvas

No Really, I'm Fine
Sire (2007)

Patient: The Spill Canvas Brought in by: Sire Records, after a missed bandwagon. Previous History/Notes: Patient claims No Really, I'm fine!. Third commitment to facility. This session a follow up to patient's most recent visit; the One Fell Swoop incident. Symptoms: Suffers from extreme emotional stagnation; clinging firmly to the belief that the year is permanently 2004, and as such … Read more

Kamikaze Noise

Fuck it Up Fuck it Up Fuck it Up
Independent (2007)

Remember punk rock? Remember when bands wrote songs before coming up with t-shirt designs? Remember when every shitty local band in your town didn't have a slick full-length CD after three months of playing together? Remember when DIY encompassed every aspect of being in a band rather than just which label to sign a contract with? Like Robert Zimmerman once … Read more

The Leftovers

On the Move
Rally (2007)

Before we start, let's go over the checklist: Leather Jackets: Check! Chuck Taylor All Stars: Check! Tapered leg blue jeans: Check! Pomade: Check! Three different power chords: Check! We even have four! Crushes on at least ten different girls: Double check! WE'RE READY TO ROCK! Boys, men, and all you in-betweens, let's take a little time to give thanks to … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Damiera

M(us)ic
Equal Vision (2007)

M(us)ic equals "us in music." Playful guitar lines and broken time signatures characterize Buffalo, New York's Damiera. Imagine a mélange of The Fall of Troy and Circa Survive. This comparison (to bands also on Equal Vision Records) was the first thing I thought of when listening to Damiera. Each track is respectively catchy and melodically technical, proving the musicians know … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Josh Ritter

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Sony (2007)

Awarding Josh Ritter the title of "the next Bob Dylan" seems audacious, but repeated listens to The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter proves it a worthy statement to make. The opening track, "To the Dogs or Whoever," exhibits Dylan-esque vocals and rhythm, reminding me of '65 when Dylan tried to innovate folk music by plugging in. Ritter, too, attempts to … Read more

Coalesce

There is Nothing New Under the Sun (Reissue)
Hydra Head (2007)

Yes, Hydra Head has been pumping out the reissues of late (look to Botch having American Nervoso and We are the Romans re-released in super updated formats just recently and yeah I know this review is late), but this reissue not only includes the entirety of the original release for There is Nothing New Under the Sun but it also … Read more

Pash

The Best Gun
Exotic Fever (2007)

There are two basic guidelines to follow when being apart of the D.C. punk scene: the first is that it is absolutely necessary to be a vegan, straight edge, and a bike messenger, or at least a combination of two of those, or else you're going to feel a bit alienated. I for one think this is really fucking stupid, … Read more

Call Me Lightning

Soft Skeletons
French Kiss (2007)

One of the hardest tasks of rock and roll is possibly the simplest: make a good, consistent, and memorable rock album. That's it. That's all it takes. Yet there are few, very few, who have achieved this. Call Me Lightning, a rock band straight from who-knows-where-Milwaukee-is?, has met this problem with great success with their sophomore release Soft Skeletons. The … Read more

Carrie Biell

When Your Feet Hit the Stars
Independent (2007)

Amy Winehouse. Lily Allen. Jenny Lewis. All are media darlings. Despite any and all current public backlash, neither lady could release an album of humming in an aluminum coffee tin without the pundits all standing and cheering - the applause deafening. Carrie Biell deserves this adoration more than any of them but will never ever get it. Why? Because: a) … Read more

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