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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)

The Copyrights

Make Sound
Red Scare (2007)

Like the Bible's steadfast conviction in the second coming of Christ, I knew this day would someday come. And goddamnit, it's here! Pop punk - real pop punk - has returned. While far too many bands are priding themselves convoluted songwriting, a whole new batch of bands - some old, some new - are popping up and proving that all you need to write kick ass songs is three (sometimes four) chords, one melody, and a whole lotta harmony vocals. At the forefront of this revival (some will argue it never went away) is the Illinois band, The Copyrights, who are ready to usher in the summer with a brand new album, Make Sound. One listen to this album got me reminiscing about my first days as a punk, way back when Lookout Records was still a legitimate label. Rather than giving a straight review of this, I'm opting instead to take a few questions from some readers who might be confused about what this album has to offer: "For all those old fogies out there who know what pop-punk really sounds like, how would you describe this album?" Why that's a good question. Remember when punk rock seemed to … Read more

Full Contact / Heartbreak Kid

GNP Split Series Vol. 1
GNP (2006)

Split CDs are never a good idea because you usually don't have any clue what's going on, especially when you … Read more

Killswitch Engage

As Daylight Dies
Roadrunner (2006)

Complain all you want about the state of modern music. Yes, we have to deal with fake soul like Maroon … Read more

Sonic Youth

Daydream Nation (Reissue)
Geffen (2007)

When I first heard Sonic Youth, I didn't know about their formidable New York hipster cachet: Glenn Branca confederates, initially … Read more

Andrew Bird

Armchair Apocrypha
Fat Possum (2007)

With the over saturation of the industry, technology making the ability to record a feasible option for anyone who has … Read more

Six Parts Seven

Casually Smashed to Pieces
Suicide Squeeze (2007)

I'm having real trouble introducing this band. How could I set up a band that's been covered by Isaac Brock … Read more

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One from the archives

Inhale Exhale

The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred
Solid State (2007)

The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred starts off with this atmospheric near dirge ditty that I thought I might have a Joy Division clone on my hands. That would have been a treat, sadly the guitars down tune, the drums begin the pummel, and then some screaming is started. Oh of course, it wouldn't be today's metalcore without some nicely sung vocals ruining every single chorus. The rest of the The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred follows suit with it's clear but still chunky production thick with bombastic drums and guitar squeals. Inhale Exhale's sound lies somewhere between Underoath and Norma Jean so they will be a hit with the Christian hardcore fans that go to Cornerstone Fest every year. I actually don't mind Inhale Exhale so much when they … Read more

More album reviews

Marduk

Rom 5:12
Blooddawn Productions (2007)

Black metal and obscene, blasphemous imagery are like peanut butter and jelly"¦they were essentially made to go together. Of course in a sea of peanut butter as huge as the black metal scene is, it's usually hard for one band to spread on enough jelly to really stand out amongst the crowd. In 1991 Sweden's Marduk took this into account … Read more

Napalm Death

Scum (Reissue)
Earache (2007)

Surely by now, almost everyone within the underground music community has heard of Napalm Death. If you have not yet (what rock have you been living under?), check out Albert Mudrian's Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore for a bit of a history lesson. This book gives an excellent synopsis of the early history of Napalm … Read more

Tokyo Police Club

Smith
Paperbag (2007)

Back in 2006, a small post-punk quartet from Newmarket, Ontario hit the club scene and blew people away with their brilliant live shows. They then released their first album to critical acclaim and became a major Internet buzz band. Tokyo Police Club has returned in 2007 with a short but sweet three song EP that is the follow up to … Read more

Tiger Army

Music from Regions Beyond
Hellcat (2007)

First things first, where the bloody hell is the Roman numeral? This is Tiger Army IV: Music from Regions Beyond, not just Music from Regions Beyond. I feel a little lost and confused with a Tiger Army album title like this. And only eleven tracks? Who is in charge here? I demand they get back in the studio and give … Read more

Jesse Malin

Glitter in the Gutter
Adeline (2007)

It has been a long time since I've heard a pretty singer-songwriter record reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison's less folk-based records. Behind these legends there lies a giant gap of singer-songwriters varying from reasonably known to cult artists. Jesse Malin's third solo record, Glitter in the Gutter, is a good record for all who like this kind of … Read more

Gallows

Orchestra of Wolves
In at the Deep End (2006)

For the most part, the state of music - underground or major label - is stale and nothing more than a regurgitation of what has been previously done. But there are those rare gems, those bands that do something that is just a little bit different, that exist and make you excited about music. It's been quite a while since … Read more

Dead Hearts

Bitter Verses
Ferret (2006)

Sometimes a record comes along that just floors me and it's hard to find words to put to paper. I've had a couple of records do this to me lately and Dead Hearts most recent effort, Bitter Verses, is one of them. If I had to choose three words, and three words only, to describe this release, they would be … Read more

The Ergs!

Upstairs/Downstairs
Dirtnap (2007)

The Ergs are self-proclaimed dorks. The great thing is that they are dorks that can write some great hooks. Upstairs/Downstairs is simply The Ergs latest example to demonstrate their ability to write infectious songs about girls and other pop-punk staple subjects. Upstairs/Downstairs delivers where their debut full length, dorkrockcockrod, set the stage for and where last year's EP, Jersey's Best … Read more

Hot Rod Circuit

The Underground is a Dying Breed
Immortal (2007)

The Underground is a Dying Breed is a surprising comeback for Hot Rod Circuit. It appeared that even diehard fans were left disappointed with 2004's Reality's Coming Through. The album's blandness was an especially hard blow considering that their 2002 Vagrant Records debut, Sorry About Tomorrow, was on par with their much-loved Triple Crown Records material. Hot Rod Circuit had … Read more

Achilles

Hospice
Hex (2007)

People around here at Scene Point Blank like to joke and rib me about being the token melodic hardcore guy. It's all in jest and like with most stabs of humor they never stray to far away from the truth. However, there is a dark secret I would like share with everyone. Towards the end of the 90's and into … Read more

Altered Beast

Demo
Independent (2007)

About two months ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Altered Beast play a quick, understated, but totally badass set in my friend Paul's basement. Being the swamped college kid that I am, I am just now able to sit down and write a few words about the demo they passed out to everyone in attendance. If I hadn't been … Read more

The One A.M. Radio

This Too Will Pass
Dangerbird (2007)

On The One A.M. Radio's 2004 full-length, A Name Writ in Water, songwriter Hrishikesh Hirway surprised critics and listeners alike with his apprehensive brand of esoterically compact and personal lo-fi composition. Falling somewhere in the dark crevice between electronica and singer/songwriter melancholia, Hirway demonstrated an almost uncanny ability to be both rhetorically personable and musically reserved. The vaguely metropolitan musical … Read more

Building Better Bombs

Freak Out Squares
Init (2007)

Init Records is one of the most underappreciated record labels releasing music today. Documenting some of the Midwest's most important punk bands, from The Spirit of Versailles to The Vidablue, the label is consistently on point. I know Steven Init through the great invention of Internet message boards, and the guy is an absolute stand up person. So it still … Read more

Ramparts

Tramps Like Us
Independent (2007)

Complacency is one of the greatest threats to hardcore's continued vitality. Many bands fail to grasp the importance of taking risks to produce a fresh sound. Even more frustrating are lyricists who allow hardcore to become insular. On their Tramps Like Us demo, Ramparts make certain they are committed to fighting stagnation. What struck me first about Ramparts was how … 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)