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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)

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 Ghost, or GUTG for short. I'm not bringing this up to give some kind of backstory for this review, I'm bringing this up because everytime I see "GUTG", I read it as a word, not an acronym, so for the remainder of this review, I will refer to this band as "Gutguh". Gutguh had a lot to prove with their second full-length record. With their previous LP, Background Music, two others EPs, and constant touring, the band has managed to win over a great number of fans, and become one of the most prominent acts in the hardcore scene. However, we all know by now that a sizable fanbase in the hardcore scene amounts to diddly squat, because hardcore kids have become infamous for loving a band one day and deeming them "trash" the next. When Gutguh's new album's artwork … 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 … Read more

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead
Lookout! (2003)

Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are sweeping the nation's rock and roll scene. People first began to take real notice … Read more

Denali

The Instinct
Jade Tree (2003)

So many bands have release their first albums to nothing but fanfare only to dissapoint with their sophmore release. I … Read more

Outkast

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
La Face (2003)

Everybody likes Outkast. How can you not? Aside from some kind of genetic predisposition to bad taste, there really isn't … Read more

Hawnay Troof

Get Up! Resolution: Love
Retard Disco (2003)

Who is the Hawnay Troof, you may ask? The Hawnay Troof is a hip-hop project in the vein of early … Read more

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One from the archives

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers

Is This a Party or an Intervention?
Evil Owl (2007)

200 Words Or Less

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers are a slightly indie and extremely drunk pop-punk band that, when I actually leave the apartment, I've shared beers with more than few times. Three songs slow rock ditties fill up this slab of wax, everything is played simple and never overpowering. It's a bit melancholy with a biting sense of sarcasm. It's like saddling up to the bar at some no name dive and having the best conversation of your life with a new found friend. Raise your glass and sing along to broken hearts, stumbled walks home, and hangovers. In case you are turntable deficient Is This a Party or an Intervention? comes with a burnt CD with some extra tracks including the best song title of all time, "John Olerud Hasn't Changed in … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Nothing is more excellent than when a fairly unknown semi decent band out of nowhere transitions into a butterfly etched in silk and razor wire. What does this all mean? Let's jump back a few years, more in particular, when Circle Takes The Square released their original album, which strangely happened to be a demo. The concept of releasing a … Read more

Multiple Authors

Circle Takes the Square

As the Roots Undo
Robotic Empire (2004)

Picture, if you will, a buffet comprised of the most delectable cuisines imaginable, prepared by a skilled staff of gourmet chefs. Now envision an angry mob running toward the buffet, toppling over all the trays, and gobbling every morsel of food with unreasonable haste. Not stopping to chew or swallow, the members of said mob are simply trying to jam … Read more

The Spotlight Syndicate

Forget the Static Past
Substandard (2003)

So I get this girl up in my room and we start licking each other's tongues, and before you know it, our clothes start to come off. But then all of a sudden, bam! I realize I need to put on some good love making music, or I ain't gonna get no gerjiner tonight. I start flipping through possible albums … Read more

Multiple Authors

Pretty Girls Make Graves

The New Romance
Matador (2003)

While there definitely are problems with musical priority in this album, after listening to Good Health, the most negative thing I can say about this album is it pales in comparison to PGMG's debut. While "slow and soft" is not necessarily a bad thing, it is in the case of The New Romance. When your biggest feature is the guitars … Read more

Multiple Authors

Pretty Girls Make Graves

The New Romance
Matador (2003)

'What is this band? Quasi-popular tripe not worth my time. What's the problem? The band is way too dependent upon the guitars to entertain the audiences. Although the guitarists do excellent work at times in the album, it's not enough to make this bad band good. Is the band any good? Not with what they emphasize. It's pretty easy to … Read more

The Bronx

The Bronx
Ferret (2003)

Now, I can't claim to know much about this band. I don't know what they are ex-members of or where they're from, but I do know this... this record bored me to no end. It kicks off kind of promising, actually. The opening track, "Heart Attack American", starts off with hushed guitar and drums, and then just explodes into a … Read more

Strike Anywhere

Exit English
Jade Tree (2003)

Beginning with a short riff-based intro, this record then kicks itself straight into life, inspiring this reviewer to do the same. Exit English, the band's second full-length, shows Strike Anywhere at their fastest, heaviest, and most melodic. The band's political edge on this record is as apparant as ever. Vocalist Thomas: "the songwriting on Exit English has more to do, … Read more

The Sick Lipstick

Sting, Sting, Sting
Tiger Style (2003)

Everyone enjoys a little no-wave now and again, right? Anyone who is into The Red Light Sting, Arab on Radar, or Black Cat #13 will enjoy this. In fact, half of The Sick Lipstick is composed of members from Black Cat #13, and they have done a split with XBXRX. It seems like music this cool can only come from … Read more

An Albatross

We are the Lazer Viking
Ace Fu (2003)

Popcorn! Popcorn! The repeated statement of popcorn was one thing that was sorely missed from this album. This was due to the fact that they keyboards for An Albatross sound like the organ that is used at baseball games in the olden days. Then all of a sudden, BAM! The pitcher pegs the hitter in the side. The man with … Read more

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start

And Nothing Is #1
Ohev (2003)

The minute someone seriously suggested this name for the band, I'd have to show him the door. The name is not clever, loses it's novelty factor quickly to where it just gets annoying, and doesn't fit this band AT ALL. I was fully expecting a keyboard fronted band with some snotty vocalist. Instead what I was exposed to was a … Read more

Black Eyes

Black Eyes
Dischord (2003)

I'm glad I got into this album before seeing Black Eyes' live show, because I would have been very unimpressed with the album after witnessing the insanity of their first show in Omaha. They nearly tore the ceiling off that tiny basement, and it was a nigh-religious experience. It's hard to believe that their first full-length, the s/t on Dischord, … Read more

The New Trust

We Are Fast Moving Motherfuckers. We Are Women and Men of Action.
Slowdance (2004)

Talk about coming out of left field. Members of some of indie-darlings The Velvet Teen and Benton Falls have gotten together to tell the scene "fuck you" and boy is it exciting. Josh Staples (The Velvet Teen) takes the spotlight as the singer and bassist while Michael Richardson plays lead guitar. Joining them is Sara Sanger, wife of Josh, on … Read more

Multiple Authors

Daughters

Canada Songs
Robotic Empire (2003)

My first real exposure to Daughters would be an argument amongst SPB staff members in a thread on our dainty message board, in which their hype and their similarities to the Locust were put on the table. Not being a big fan of the Locust myself, this didn't give me too high of hopes for the Locust, in terms of … Read more

Multiple Authors

Daughters

Canada Songs
Robotic Empire (2003)

Chances are you're not going to like this record. Chances are you've never heard of grindcore and if you did hear it you would say something to the effect of "this is noise." Ignoring probability let's suppose that you, the reader, likes music that is loud. Perhaps you even like music that is filled with blast beats and screaming. And … 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)