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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)

Brandtson

Death and Taxes
Deep Elm (2003)

Part of me says it's not Brandtson's fault. They formed way back in 1996, and as such, are quite possibly the last of these so-called "emo" bands left that hasn't broken up, gotten picked up by a major, or enjoyed some moderate degree of success. But part of me says fault or not, there's no excuse for a record being as bad as this one is. The whole affair's nothing more than a blatant Clarity-era Jimmy Eat World ripoff, so we can fault them right off the bat for ripping off something that's unworthy of being ripped off in the first place. It's understandable if kids with guitars want to hock riffs from OK Computer or Yank Crime, fuck, I'm even apt to let kids drag out all those cowboy chords off the first few Beatles LPs and throw them around with harmonies. But Brandtson aren't kids. Why they'd want to cop Jimmy Eat World's faux-motivational, empty, feel-good, soulless punk-pop is one question, but the larger one is why this is on Deep Elm. The label also should've known better and been shopping this insipid drivel to the majors as soon as it arrived in their PO box, and gotten … Read more

Multiple Authors

Inventing Edward

We've Met An Impasse (By Midnight We'll Be Naked)
Substandard (2003)

This CD was suggested to me by staff member Robby. I put off listening to it for a day. Really … Read more

Multiple Authors

Inventing Edward

We've Met An Impasse (By Midnight We'll Be Naked)
Substandard (2003)

Prior to listening to this album, having seen Inventing Edward twice, I thought I had a pretty decent idea what … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Cryonics
Level Plane (2003)

A new record from Hot Cross. I was so giddy to get my hands on this promo. Unfortunately, the giddyness … Read more

Multiple Authors

Hot Cross

Cryonics
Level Plane (2003)

"It's the band that has the singer from Saetia in it", was the first thing I heard about Hot Cross. … Read more

Multiple Authors

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Master and Everyone
Drag City (2003)

I am not one who can sit down and listen to a record that is just acoustic guitar and vocals. … Read more

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One from the archives

On Three

No More Excuses
Strikin' Out (2007)

I hate to pigeonhole myself as the token fast hardcore reviewer at Scene Point Blank but I just can't help myself when Michael lists off those promos we can snag up for review and I see words like "fast" "posi" and "melodic." I just have to swoop down and collect them all like a Pokemon Master of mediocre mid-level hardcore bands. On Three is yet another band from yet another state, this time being Connecticut, to come around the bend and spend way too much time occupying space on my CD shelving unit. Sure, On Three is fast, melodic, and of course more posi than an Energizer commercial marathon, but there's nothing all that great about them either. There isn't one chord strummed, one lyric shouted, nor one cymbal crashed … Read more

More album reviews

Multiple Authors

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Master and Everyone
Drag City (2003)

Four years ago to the present, record players everywhere have played the last note of "Raining in Darling," the final song on Will Oldham's Bonnie "Prince" Billy record, I See a Darkness. As his record burped and scratched to its end, newly-anointed or long-time fans of Will Oldham have eagerly awaited his return which would once again, hopefully, take us … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

Yes folks, this band is the same Cave In that released Beyond Hypothermia and played metal. Yes avid readers, this is the same Cave In that played space rock and released Jupiter. But the music that graces this compact disc isn't metal or space rock, but instead radio friendly rock music with nebula inspired riffage. At this rate Cave In … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

This is one of the many albums of 2003 that I love but am also dissapointed with. Cave In have managed to write numerous catchy, commercial rock songs without deviating from their style too much. I'm not saying 'catchy/commercial' with a negative connotation, this is a good album. However, I can't move past Jupiter. That album was brilliant, and they … Read more

Multiple Authors

Cave In

Antenna
RCA (2003)

If you have not heard Cave In yet, you are obviously living under a rock. That or you are just really stupid. Starting out playing "metal-core" in '95 or so, they have had one of the most obvious sound changes a band could ever have. It started with Creative Eclipses EP back in '99. It continued on and evolved with … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

I can always tell how much I will spin an album following its first listen. That feeling I had after listening to Hearts of Oak was immeasurable. "The Ballad of the Sin-Eaters" is a song that will instantly make you shake your ass and shout the words even though you don't know them yet because you're listening to it the … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

Wanna have fun? Wanna dance? Want a record that can be, not only enjoyable to listen to, but the perfect record that can still be fun, even when you aren't paying much attention to it? Well this record is it. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have followed up their 2001 full length, Tyranny of Distance with Hearts of Oak, a … Read more

Multiple Authors

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Hearts of Oak
Lookout! (2003)

[NOTE: Okay, I'll admit it. I'm way late. Hearts of Oak came out in February and now, half way into May, I'm finally sitting down to write this. Well, as they say, "better late than never," right?] So, all the hype is coming from New York City these days. There, you will find such indie rock favorites such as The … Read more

Multiple Authors

Boy Sets Fire

Tomorrow Comes Today
Wind-Up (2003)

The best way I can sum up my sentiments for this record is by saying that this is a Boy Sets Fire record, while at the same time, is definitely not a Boy Sets Fire record. It's basically the same band as before, but they've traded some of their post-hardcore sound for a sound that fits in more with the … Read more

Multiple Authors

Boy Sets Fire

Tomorrow Comes Today
Wind-Up (2003)

I used to have Boy Sets Fire's After the Eulogy. I thought it was good at the time, but in retrospect, it was pretty awful. I thought I'd give them a second chance by reviewing this CD. Bad Idea. Since BSF signed to a major and claimed they'd never sell out or change their music, they were, for the most … Read more

Multiple Authors

Boy Sets Fire

Tomorrow Comes Today
Wind-Up (2003)

Whenever a band signs to a major label(or in this case, the closest thing to) you always have naysayers who say, "Oh they are so going to change their sound. Sell outs." Well in 98% of cases, that is wrong. Welcome to the 2%. Now don't get me wrong. I am not calling BSF sellouts. Not at all. What I … Read more

Multiple Authors

Useless I.D.

No Vacation From the World
Kung Fu (2003)

Do we really need another run of the mill pop-punk band? Kung-Fu records seems to think so! That is why they dished out this generic, boring, derivative record for us all to listen to. Maybe if my girlfriend breaks up with me while I'm skateboarding I'll have some new found appreciation for this band, but since I don't have a … Read more

Multiple Authors

Useless I.D.

No Vacation From the World
Kung Fu (2003)

Pop punk is at an all time high: New Found Glory and Blink 182 seem to be on TRL (I haven't watched TRL in many a year, but I think it's safe to assume so), Drive-Thru has an entire stage all to itself at Warped every year and I can't stop hearing about these bands that sound all the same … Read more

Multiple Authors

Useless I.D.

No Vacation From the World
Kung Fu (2003)

Useless ID deserve so much props, it is utterly ridiculous. I know I don't really like them but you have to respect a band that has come out and done what they have while hailing from Israel. It takes a little more than hardwork to pull that off, and for that, awesome job guys. Now onto the cd. The cd … Read more

Multiple Authors

The Locust

Plague Soundscapes
Anti (2003)

The phenomena of the Locust is something I am completely incapable of grasping. I listen to the Locust, and I hear noise. The sounds coming out of my speakers when I put on Plague Soundscapes are something similar to what a serial killer must hear as he kills an 8-year old girl with a woodchipper. I do find this record … 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)