Recent reviews

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)

Roaming Herds of Buffalo

Alien Canyons
Independent (2013)

Self-released in November of 2013, Roaming Herds of Buffalo’s Alien Canyons is the band’s second release to date. The Seattle-based group has described this outing as a “collaborative project” in their web-based press kit, although I’m not sure what to conclude from this vague statement. Maybe everyone played everything and everyone got songwriting credits? Maybe the band considers these types of details irrelevant? In any case, all members are active in other projects, and there seems to be a broad spectrum of different/differing influences present. The record kicks off with the brief “Wild Oats” – strummed chords and tin-can-telephone vocals introduce the album’s prevailing aesthetic, while cryptic lyrics present its consistent thematic content. The follow-up is the album’s title track, which provides a pretty good idea of what to expect during the remaining songs: basic but competent drumming, a chorus of voices on the chorus, and spare but effective vocal harmonies. From here on instrumentation is added gradually (keys/synth/horns, etc.) although the overall lighthearted tone belies the (at times) dark lyrical musings. Many songs are well-structured, featuring tasteful instrumental breaks and a few nice dynamic contrasts. Still, the lead vocals (read: delivery bordering on emo) and production seem very early-2000s … Read more

Various Artists

Crybaby/Casual - Split EP
Secret Audio Club (2014)

I hate to simplify the role of the split 7”—they’re about way more than this, in truth—but one of the … Read more

Chad VanGaalen

Shrink Dust
Sub Pop (2014)

It’s 11 o’clock on a Saturday night. You’re lying in your bed, craving some late night music. You want something … Read more

Meg Myers

Make A Shadow
Atlantic (2014)

Though many have tried to position singer/songwriter Meg Myers as the latest in the line of angsty female singers that … Read more

The Trouble With Templeton

Rookie
Bella Union (2014)

All good stories need an emphatic storyteller to bring the characters to life. Beyond one dimensional storyboards where all film … Read more

Bl'ast!

Blood!
Southern Lord (2013)

Southern Californias' Bl'ast are certainly not new by any stretch but possibly forgotten by most to the annals of time. … Read more

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One from the archives

Iron Chic

The Constant One
Bridge Nine (2013)

If ever a band was created for an epic singalong, it was Iron Chic. There’s that big feeling at the core of their soaring melodies as they build and rage, starting with a verse from Jason Lubrano and building to a gang singalong at the chorus in nearly every song. They’re songs that transcend the performers, taking on the personality and voice of an entire room.The Constant One is just their second full-length after 2010’s Not Like This and a few 7”s. In that time the band has grown, become a bigger draw at Fest each year, and signed with Bridge Nine. All of that means that expectations are high for The Constant One and Iron Chic deliver as expected. The new record doesn’t show much variation from their earlier … Read more

More album reviews

La Dispute

Rooms Of The House
Better Living (2014)

La Dispute’s 2011 post-hardcore masterpiece Wildlife was not only the highlight release of that year, but one of the finest records that I myself have humbly observed. Personal accolades aside, this opinion is one shared by many others, and not without due reason. Wildlife represented at the time of it's release not only an extended display of unbridled emotionality, but … Read more

The Bare Minimum

Hit After Hit
Independent (2014)

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during one of Toronto-based The Bare Miniumum's practices. It's generally an added bonus to discover that a band has a sense of humor about themselves, but with these guys it's seemingly the only thing they're concerned with. In interviews, the band presents themselves as lots of things. At times, they're an unconcerned … Read more

Rudimentary Peni

Cacophony (Re-issue)
Outer Himilayan (2013)

In the darkest recesses of some of our minds lies an unspeakable and unknowable terror, and some artists have brushed against that darkness throughout time (some recent examples might be H.P. Lovecraft, Francis Bacon, and a select few others) and Cacophony is a perfect illustration for the madness induced by such brushes with our inner demons; although nowhere near as … Read more

Signals Midwest

Light On The Lake
Tiny Engines (2013)

I’ve sat on this review for a while, waiting for that easy-to-describe-it moment to hit me. With Signals Midwest, I don’t know if that’s going to happen. The Cleveland band uses their Midwestern sensibility in their sound—it’s gritty, honest, and non-showy—but it’s also too distinct to tie to a geographic area. The band uses a punk influence throughout while playing … Read more

John Frusciante

Enclosure
Record Collection (2014)

Though he’s primarily known for being the former, on-again, off-again guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante has long pursued a solo career that’s been full of peaks and valleys. After releasing a pair of somewhat fascinating, but difficult-to-listen-to albums in the 1990s, Frusciante hit his stride as a solo artist in the early 2000s, at one point releasing … Read more

Skrillex

Recess
Atlantic (2014)

Electronic musician Skrillex’s 2014 debut full length album Recess (released on the Atlantic label) starts with a track called “All’s Fair in Love and Brostep.” That says almost everything one needs to know about the album, prompting a WTF reaction from all except those people already firmly in the pro-Skrillex camp. The song title also hints at the juvenile mentality … Read more

The War On Drugs

Lost In The Dream
Secretly Canadian (2014)

The Philadelphia rock scene is famous for producing indie bands heavily dosed on vintage, classic rock. Folker Kurt Vile recalls Bob Dylan and neo-psychedelia band Dr.Dog draws upon Big Star. You probably know Vile from when he packed all the “Best Of” lists last year with his critically-acclaimed masterpiece Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, and you've probably heard Dr.Dog’s rootsy … Read more

Tiny Empires

Weird Headspace
Independent (2014)

Tiny Empires seek to build something new; something powerful, significant, and memorable, just as the name suggests. With their debut record Weird Headspace they’re doing just that. It’s big, grasping, and expansive work.It’s also out of the ordinary for the scene in which it originates.Lead by Eric Solomon (O Pioneers!!!) and Bryon Lippincott (New Bruises), it plays off the two … Read more

Nadja

Queller
Essence Music (2014)

As a full on Nadja addict, Queller was immediately on my radar when I heard of its upcoming release; but as a “music critic” (that is what we do here right), Queller may just be one of the finest not quite hour of their impressive discography / existence to this point, which is an impressive feat considering how large and … Read more

Seagulls

The Royal We EP
Autmun & Colour (2014)

I don't get too excited about new bands anymore. However, Seagulls recently swooped into my radar and have me pumped for sing-a-longs. If you're a fan of the guttural vocals of Fucked Up and the melodic pop-punk riffs of Latterman, then this is right up your alley. The band's new EP, The Royal We, will have you fist pumping through … Read more

Iron Hand

Injected Fear
Safety Meeting (2014)

Here’s some D-beaten hardcore out of New Haven, Connecticut. Seven songs that average two and a half minutes, which is the goddamn perfect length for this type of thing. Much like fellow CT statesmen Oiltanker, Iron Hand dives deep into the Scandinavian and Portland “epic crust” end of the pool; at least in their instrumentation. The vocals lend it a … Read more

The Faint

Doom Abuse
SQE Music (2014)

It came as a surprise to everyone. The Faint sprung up from the ground out of nowhere after being gone for a few years. They came out of the dark to celebrate Danse Macabre's 10-year anniversary. What people didn't expect was for them to accompany the tour with new music. At their merch booth, fans had the chance to purchase … Read more

Brown Brogues

Zoloto
Stolen Body Records (2014)

In an alternate universe, Brown Brogues' "Shit In Your Eye" sits atop the charts; following in the lineage of other certified gold cuts such as Ty Segall's "Girlfriend" and the Black Lips' "Bad Kids." As the shit-kicker guitar rings out of the speakers, you can practically see someone beating their fist atop a jukebox or pool table in approval. It's … Read more

Helms Alee

Sleepwalking Sailors
Sargent House (2014)

Sleepwalking Sailors is just too good, promptly inserting itself at the top of my list for album of the year (for now, and yes, I keep a running list all year long because I am a weirdo); and Helms Alee continues to impress me with every new release not just in the fact that with a few exceptions, there music … Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)