City States
Geography
Safety Records (2014)
They say that good things come to those that wait and for City States and their main member Joel Ebner, it's certainly true. Ebner has spent many years creating and perfecting his debut - Geography - and after forming in 2008, City States first record finally saw the light of day earlier this year. Geography is a lovely little record, … Read more
CIVIC
Taken By Force
ATO (2023)
You’re a professional musician. You fixate on creation. On guitar tones. On overarching themes. You’re writing your third studio album in Elphinstone, Australia- a town of less than 500 people. You and your bandmates have temporarily taken up residence here to craft your apocalyptic new LP. You’re thinking about disasters, emergencies, horrific tragedies. Naturally, that starts to bleed over into … Read more
Civil War Rust
Help Wanted
Say-10 (2015)
With Help Wanted, California’s Civil War Rust aren’t inventing any new sounds but they’re delivering heartfelt, direct punk rock in a familiar and comforting tone. It leans more toward the introspective and personal, pop-structured and relatively clean in production while letting the energy and emotion carry the tunes. I made a repeated (early period) Alkaline Trio comparison when I reviewed … Read more
Civil War Rust
The Fun and the Lonely
Black Numbers (2013)
In case you’re missing the old Alkaline Trio, the East Bay’s Civil War Rust is calling your name. Not to say the band is strictly derivative of the Matt Skiba-fronted band, but they wear their influences on their sleeve and a number of the songs on The Fun and the Lonely not only recall Alk3’s punkier moments, even the vocal … Read more
CJ Ramone
The Holy Spell
Fat Wreck Chords (2019)
As of August 6th, it’s been 23 long, languid year’s since The Ramones played their final show. Since then, all the original members - Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy have been called home. Richie and Marky continue to carry the flag, but it’s CJ that’s been keeping the Ramones spirit alive and well through the past two decades. Whether … Read more
Clad In Darkness
Decathect
Independent (2014)
Good things come to those who wait. It's a cliché, yes, but for Clad in Darkness that old adage rings wholly true. Having formed at least fifteen years ago, the band have taken their sweet, sweet time in releasing their debut record. A couple of EPs have seen the light but for this Chicago based band, a full length was … Read more
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Wichita Recordings (2005)
I can feel it happening. The hype is a train, rumbling in the distance. Though initially faint, it's growing progressively louder by the virtual second. Soon enough, it will be all encompassing when it finally arrives at the middle of nowhere railway station known as "Release Date." Metaphors, gotta love them. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released their self-titled debut … Read more
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Some Loud Thunder
Wichita Recordings (2007)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah had a lot of pressure on them for their second album, mainly due to them being the most hyped up band of 2005. Their story was one told over and over ever since their first album came out: five indie rockers out of Brooklyn that released and distributed their debut album themselves. By great reviews … Read more
Classics Of Love
Self Titled
Asian Man (2012)
Classics of Love have a hill to climb. Considering that leader Jesse Michaels has been in bands like Common Rider, Big Rig and, oh, let’s see…Operation Ivy, there’s always going to be that inevitable comparison between 2012 and 1989. His most recent project takes a definite harder edge than the Common Rider song from which the band draws their name, … Read more
Claudio Simonetti's Goblin
Profondo Rosso/Deep Red Original Soundtrack
Rustblade Label (2015)
Though there are plenty of composers who've made a name for themselves by crafting the soundtracks to horror films, Italian progressive rock group Goblin stands as one of the few legitimate bands known more or less exclusively for their work in this field. A revolving door-type project built around guitarist Massimo Morante, keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, and bassist Fabio Pignatelli, Goblin's … Read more
Cliff and Ivy
American Saints
Independent (2018)
Every now and then I come home from the supermarket and think to myself, while unpacking: I should not have gone there while being hungry. It is empirically proven that sending me out to get some food while being hungry is not a tried and tested, best in class inventory management solution. I think this should be recognisable for you … Read more
Cloak/Dagger
Piñata
Grave Mistake (2006)
When you look at the pedigree of Cloak/Dagger, you really can't argue with it: American Nightmare, Striking Distance, Count Me Out, and Trial by Fire, among others. But what is refreshing is that Piñata really doesn't sound exactly like any of those bands. Cloak/Dagger deliver four songs of aggressive hardcore-punk, not hardcore, not punk, on this 7". "Daggers Daggers" sets … Read more
Cloak/Dagger
We Are
Jade Tree (2007)
Last year a band by the name of Cloak/Dagger released a 7" record. That record, Piñata, was easily one of the best slabs of wax I had heard in a long long time. The record was eventually re-released with their original demo following the band's singing to Jade Tree Records. As time elapsed my anticipation for new songs from the … Read more
Cloud
Comfort Songs
Audio Antihero (2013)
Cloud’s Comfort Songs is a collection of downbeat, gloomy works that create an atmosphere of utter desolation while somehow lifting the emotional aspect of the pieces beyond total sadness. There are lovely little hints of hope hidden in the depths of these songs and the young man behind it all, Tyler Taormina has, at heart, blurred the lines between sadness … Read more
Cloud
Plays With Fire
Audio Antihero (2018)
Following on from Zen Summer in 2015 and 2013s Comfort Songs, Cloud’s Plays With Fire moves Tyler Taormina’s sound firmly into the assured category. Where his debut was weighed down with a little too much padding, Plays With Fire takes a somewhat sprightlier turn into sadness, reducing the runtime by thirty minutes yet still packing a hefty emotional punch. Taormina’s … Read more
Cloudkicker
Fade
Independent (2012)
If there's any one artist who should make you happy to listen to music, it's Ben Sharp, aka Cloudkicker. Though releasing free music on the Internet isn't anything new, it's safe to say that, in terms of quality, Sharp's in a class all his own. He also voluntarily remains unsigned from a label, ensuring that his music will continue to … Read more
Cloudkicker
Hello
Independent (2013)
Ohio-based musician Ben Sharp (aka Cloudkicker) has made it clear time and time again that he has no intention on confining himself to something as pedestrian as genre labels. Though it's possible to identify trends (the progressive rock and post-anything labels seem to be fairly common for him), there's absolutely no way to tell where he's going next. That element … Read more
Cloudkicker
It's Inside Me, And I'm Inside It
Independent (2011)
Ohio prog-metal artist Ben Sharp, moniker Cloudkicker, has been in the forefront of the Internet-based free music community since the release of The Discovery in 2008. His new single “It's inside me and I'm inside it.” comes on the tail of his previous single “You and Yours,” which explored a lot of his Isis-esque post-metal influences. This track, conversely, explores … Read more
