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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)

Hella

Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People
Suicide Squeeze (2003)

Hella is less a band that be thought of in terms of "good" and "bad" as they are a band that you either like, or you don't. Their sound is either captivating and enthralling to you, or you think it's just a load of disjointed, self-indulgant noise by two guys who're showcasing their chops. In reality, the truth is actually that even to those of us who think they're captivating and enthralling, we can only do so by admitting to ourselves that yes, the band is just an exercise in self-indulgance, but an impressive and occasionally fantastic one. While this record doesn't have any downright incredible moments, it has its fair share of interesting and entertaining ones that should tie over the average Hella fan till their next record drops in January of next year. Starting out with a minute and a half long blast of noise titled "Ho's in the House," the record kicks into its title track, which is really what the whole thing's about anyway, where Spencer Seim seems to throw out every weird sound he can possibly create out of his keys over Zach Hill's still incredible drumming. While listening to him on record is nowhere … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Rapture

Echoes
Universal (2003)

The Insound Tour Support Vol. No. 1 packed a few wallops of fantastic music that drew my attention; one of … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Rapture

Echoes
Universal (2003)

Something needs to be said about the infiltration of this dance rhetoric in the punk scene. I'm guessing some part … Read more

The Fire Theft

The Fire Theft
Rykodisc (2003)

Sunny Day Real Estate was a great band. No one contends with this or argues with this. They fell into … Read more

Rise Against

Revolutions Per Minute
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)

Hmm.. I'm sure this band have a large enough fanbase, I really am. I bet there's a ton of kids … Read more

Hella

Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass
Narnack (2003)

There are two sides to Hella: the side that plays around with the imagination through the use of conventional instruments … Read more

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One from the archives

Cult of Luna

Eternal Kingdom
Earache (2008)

After four albums of progressive refinement of their compositional abilities, sound, themes, and overall work, Cult of Luna is releasing their fifth and latest full-length, Eternal Kingdom on an increasingly rabid following of people who enjoy their records. Again this new record links its songs thematically in a cycle that deals with the world of a murdering lunatic of whom the band stumbled upon his writings in their practice space, which previously served as a lunatic asylum; interestingly the world is rather rich and makes for intriguing subject matter. Regardless of the subject matter or the thematic richness of the album, Eternal Kingdom does have quite the reputation to uphold when viewed in comparison with Cult of Luna's previous material, particularly the last two, Salvation and Somewhere Along the Highway. … Read more

More album reviews

My Morning Jacket

It Still Moves
RCA (2003)

My Morning Jacket pulled it off. They have officially won me over. Recently signed to RCA, they released their third full length to surprisingly, a lot of press coverage. After giving this a couple run throughs, I can clearly see why. Starting the record off with a twangy trill from a guitar and vocals with more reverb than you can … Read more

Into the Moat

Means By Which the Ends Are Justified
Lovelost (2003)

After hearing The Dillinger Escape Plan's Calculating Infinity, I had no idea that this style of weird timing technical metal influenced chaos could become a trend, mostly due to the fact that creating this music requires a lot of talent. It took a few years, but to my surprise, this sound has begun to rise from a few bands, such … Read more

Multiple Authors

Stylex

Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)

I'm not really sure why Stylex are as unknown as they are. I mean, they do this neo-new-wave (or whatever you call it) thing better than most of the bands that white belted scensters are drooling over (ahem... Hint Hint) these days. If you mention them to anyone from outside the Toledo/BG area, they just blankly stare, or pretend to … Read more

Multiple Authors

Stylex

Auto Focus
Action Driver (2003)

Stylex is going through an identity crisis. After their EP False Start, I was ready for more of the same, great, new-wave dynamite explosion recorded on the compact disc medium. The first song, "Out of Focus," holds a lot in common with that EP. It's loud, chaotic, and moves along at a brisk pace. Unfortunately the rest of the CD … Read more

As I Lay Dying

Frail Words Collapse
Metal Blade (2003)

Combining the hardness of nu metal and the catchiness of pop punk, metalcore has been created. Similar to the way ska died, and everybody moved to the pop punk, perhaps this is the new installment in music that will make kids feel "underground" without having to go any further than the local Hot Topic. Walk no further than a Tower … Read more

Elvis Costello

North
Deutsche Grammophon (2003)

By now, if you haven't heard or at least heard of Elvis Costello, something is terribly, terribly wrong with you. Emerging as a part of the punk movement in the late 70s, Costello's combination of biting wit, sociopolitical consciousness, and his amazing songwriting has led to him being heralded by many as the best pop songwriter since the Beatles. The … Read more

Please Inform the Captain, This Is A Hijack

Please Inform the Captain This Is A Hijack
Empire (2003)

Hardcore is a genre that is known to be stifled in it's own mediocrity. Creativity is frowned upon, in fact, in the hardcore scene it seems as if everything is backwards. Mediocre, stagnant bands are often regarded as the best in the genre, and creative bands that take risks are usually scorned. With that in mind, it's great to see … Read more

Grandaddy

Sumday
V2 (2003)

Once again, Grandaddy travel down the familiar road of attaching a human face on technology for the sole purpose of denouncing it. In a shockingly ironic way, Sumday's pleasant, mid-tempo/mid-range vocal melodies and soothing rhythms make it ideal music for programming. With lines like "I'm wondering if I'll ever know/if I'll be better than I was before/when I surface through … Read more

Q and Not U

X-Polynation/Book of Flags
Dischord (2003)

Sometimes I find myself shaking my ass, clapping my hands, and just plain out getting down. I can say that, for 80% of these moments, Q and Not U is the soundtrack to such ass shaking. Sure Different Damage didn't provide nearly as many ass shaking moments but when it provided one, it far surpassed any of them on No … Read more

The Appleseed Cast

Two Conversations
Tiger Style (2003)

Not looking to rest on their laurels of having three of my favorite CD's ever(LLO 1 & 2, Mare Vitalis), The Appleseed Cast defected to Tiger Style records for their newest effort, Two Conversations. The concept of Two Conversations is one of broken hearts and rekindled love. The first five songs of the record are about a relationship that is … Read more

Rocky Votolato

Suicide Medicine
Second Nature (2003)

Zed recently turned me onto this guy, and I've become fairly obsessed with his work ever since. The formula is simple, and been used a million times before - a man, his voice and an acoustic guitar. I'm not going to claim to be an afficienado of the whole singer/songwriter thing, but I know what I like, and I like … Read more

Multiple Authors

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

First of all, I'm going to apologize for only reviewing records that I like a lot. With that being Said, American Nightmare/GUTG has done it again. I've been a fan of American Nightmare since their first 7" came out, and I've loved all of their subsequent releases. This is is no exception to the trend. We're Down Til We're Underground … Read more

Multiple Authors

Give Up the Ghost

We're Down Til' We're Underground
Equal Vision (2003)

You might be asking yourself, "who the Hell is Give Up the Ghost?" If you are, you missed out on the hardcore scene's answer to the OJ trial, in which some shitty band from Nantucket sued hardcore favorites American Nightmare over the copyright of that band name. AN had no choice but to change their name to Give Up the … Read more

The Jealous Sound

Kill Them With Kindness
Better Looking (2003)

The Jealous Sound has written one of the most infectiously catchy records I've heard in years. Poppy hooks and lyrical substance are quite a rare combination these days. The Jealous Sound plays a style of music that, while staying true to the early/mid 90's emo-rock sound, also offers a fresh take on a style of music perfected by bands like … 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)