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Yaphet Kotto/This Machine Kills/Envy

Split
Sonzai (2004)

Whenever I listen to the type of record that Yaphet Kotto or Envy would make, I always play the TV at full volume to supplement the chaos. Sometimes I'll change it to something like an MTV awards show or a shitty sitcom to add my own sort of psuedo-ironic soundtrack. It works even better in this case, because the record … Read more

Atmosphere

Seven's Travels
Epitaph (2003)

"Atmosphere finally made a good record, yeah right, that shit almost sounds convincing...." Almost. Actually, not at all. Sometimes underground hip hop boggles my mind. I'll admit, there are lots of great artists that remain 'underground' or at least avoid regular MTV video rotation and major success. Not to say that either being hugely successful or "staying true to the … Read more

Mates of State

Team Boo
Polyvinyl (2003)

Everyone needs something cute every once in a while... once in a while. Too much can make you vomit, but a little dose can make you feel a lot better about things. Mates of State's latest album, Team Boo might just be the appropriate prescription. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel are a married couple from San Francisco playing in a … Read more

The Shins

Chutes Too Narrow
Sub Pop (2003)

Since I've only heard a couple of songs from last year's solid debut, Oh, Inverted World, this review will be free of any mentions of "sophomore slumps." Chutes Too Narrow deserves better than that. The album completely shatters this notion to the point that it doesn't deserve recognition. That said, the entire album feels like a soundtrack to some wonderful … Read more

Madball

N.Y.H.C.
Thorp (2004)

So, you want to listen to some FUCKING HARDCORE?! Yes, Madball, that loveable NYHC band is coming out with a new album aptly titled N.Y.H.C. How adorable! Despite my music knowledge, I've never really been into the hardcore scene, but now, after listening to this album, I understand what the hell all those hardcore kids talk about when they keep … Read more

Hatebreed

Rise of Brutality
Universal (2003)

I'm confused how a band can take themselves seriously whatsoever, and have an album called Rise Of Brutality. Although Hatebreed doesn't talk about their large amount of bitches they are keeping in check or forties they are consuming in the club, the whole feel of this music reminds me of gangsta rap, trying so damn hard to act tough and … Read more

Constantines

Shine A Light
Sub Pop (2003)

I'm from California. I live near the ocean. I like driving. I like watching baseball. I'm the outside world's perception of a fairly typical American guy (except for my slightly unhealthy obsession with noise-rock, but this is neither the time nor the place to get into that). And like most Americans, Canada isn't really something with which I find myself … Read more

The Beatles

Let It Be...Naked
Capitol (2003)

What if Ringo finally realized that he wasn't selling out shows like his buddy Paul? What if Paul's queen may have drained her spending account and put a considerable hole in his? What if both were afraid of their ties to an alleged murderer? The Beatles have seen their share of these sticky situations, and how do they get themselves … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie

Transatlanticism
Barsuk (2003)

The members of Death Cab For Cutie equal far more than the sum of their parts; this much has been evident since a small, unknown label from Seattle named Barsuk released Something About Airplanes back in 1999. In the four years since that record, the band has released three 7" singles, two EPs, four full-lengths, and one compilation of singles, … Read more

Jay-Z

The Black Album
Def Jam (2003)

Oh, the farewell. There are two kinds of retirement in music. The first is the graceful bow out of the spotlight, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on the artist, but always covers the band or artists's body of work in a veil of class and dignity. The second is a much more shameful route. Often … Read more

Horse the Band

R. Borlax
Pluto (2003)

We are a generation that grew up with Mario, The Power Pad and the o so godly Nintendo Entertainment System as companions. It was just a matter of time until this part of our lives would be digitally inserted into our music. And although bands like The Advantage and The Minibosses pay homage by doing straight up covers of video … Read more

Against Me!

As the Eternal Cowboy
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)

A nice hodge-podge of genres. I'm not going to get into the "genre" argument, though. This album is too good to waste a review on that moot point. Anyways, this is the first Against Me! album I've listened to (despite being told to listen to them from various sources), and I must say, it's pretty damn good. The sound is … Read more

Under A Dying Sun

Supernova
Substandard (2003)

Having carved a comfortable niche in the San Francisco Bay Area, by playing shows almost constantly for three or so years, Under A Dying Sun have created an album that breaks away from their original "emocore" sound, which judging by their last full-length, they have clearly out-grown. Instead of rehashing the same, tired, "screamo" formula with heavy melodramatics and melodic … Read more

The Strokes

Room On Fire
RCA (2003)

The first words to leap out at you on the sophomore LP by the Strokes are "I want to be forgotten." How literally this can be taken is anyone's guess, but for a band under the amount of pressure the Strokes have been, Julian Casablancas' turn of phrase might be the downright truth. Five children of fortune who formed a … Read more

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