Marillion
Sounds That Can't Be Made
earMUSIC (2012)
All bands have an expiry date; some bands are just more aware of that fact than others. And when an act has been around as long as Marillion has, it's not uncommon for their age to begin to show. Whether or not that is a bad thing is uncertain--some classic rock acts have put out some of their best material … Read more
Marilyn Manson
Heaven Upside Down
Loma Vista Recordings (2017)
It's a different world than when Manson made his debut over two decades ago and scared the shit out of everyone. He scared us because things felt relatively safe and calm. He was like a monster scaring a child out of the peaceful tranquility of their bed. Now that things are fucking bananas and chaos reigns and we know exactly … Read more
Marissa Nadler
Strangers
Sacred Bones (2016)
Marissa Nadler has been releasing albums since 2004, and her meticulous constructions of dream states has been astonishing since the first notes of “Fifty Five Falls.” Through the years, Nadler has shown her aptitude in songwriting, not solely by awakening an emotional response with her music, but also with a sense of certainty that became more and more apparent in … Read more
Mark Lanegan
Straight Songs Of Sorrow
Heavenly Recordings (2020)
Mark Lanegan didn’t set out to write a new album, but after finishing writing his memoir, Sing Backwards and Weep (Out now from Hatchette Books), the waves of catharsis were so strong, he returned to the studio to create what’s possibly his finest work to date.To call Sing Backwards... a cautionary tale would be meiotic to an almost laughable degree. … Read more
Mark McCabe
A Good Way to Bury Bad News
Cats? Aye! Records (2014)
On one end of an (unscientific) scale of popular male singer-songwriters sits Ed Sheeran, perched comfortably at the top of the charts while still maintaining an air of authenticity, and at the other end is pop supremo Bruno Mars, master craftsman of insuppressible earworms. Somewhere between these two sits Mark McCabe's brand of insular emoting, not quite hooky enough to … Read more
Mark Ronson
Version
Columbia (2007)
To steal from the classic Ben Stiller movie Zoolander, "Mark Ronson is so hot right now!" After producing the latest Amy Winehouse album, Lily Allen's debut, and the best bits of an otherwise awful Robbie Williams album, the New York based, London born hip-hop club DJ turned producer can do no wrong. And now, he's decided to rope in the … Read more
Mark Sultan
BBQ
In The Red (2016)
Mark Sultan has long gone by two stage names: his own, and BBQ (of King Khan & The BBQ Show). Most solo work has been truly solo: just Sultan, his guitar and his drums. That’s right: he’s a one-man band instead of a “singer-songwriter.” On BBQ, Sultan merges both names and both worlds.While I’m familiar with his work, for the … Read more
Marked Men
Ghosts
Dirtnap (2009)
From time to time certain friends of mine will make the same kind of declarations in the month of February that I do. And when statements like, "This might be the best record of the year," spew from their overexcited mouth while trying to tell me about a new album, I do indeed take notice. So, when such declarations of … Read more
Marnie Stern
In Advance of the Broken Arm
Kill Rock Stars (2007)
It took me a little while to hear the music in this music. At first and even tenth listen, Marnie Stern sounds more dedicated to experimentation, or newness, or maybe just weirdness than to melody or even song structure. Her ideas appear, collide, and disappear - she's less an architect than a demolition-woman. She presents a hook or riff and … Read more
Mårran
Mårran
S-Rock (2012)
Mårran are a traditional rock band out of Sweden, playing only the most barebones, no-frills hard rock possible. They take their name from the Groke, a Swedish character from the Moomins, who is a ghostly figure constantly in search of warmth and light, and yet able to achieve neither due to her innate coldness, freezing all that comes into contact … Read more
Mars Addict
Lamecoaster
Electric Funeral Records (2020)
Mars Addict from São Paulo, Brazil released their debut album Lamecoaster last summer. Summer seems the right time for a record like this. I listened to it a lot on my morning walks the past week. For the first time in months we’ve had sun here. It really feels like spring all of a sudden. And Lamecoaster just added to … Read more
Martha
Please Don’t Take Me Back
Dirtnap, Specialist Subject Records (2022)
Martha has been building a name on the DIY scene for quite some time. I know I saw them, probably close to 10 years ago, opening for Toys That Kill or some related band. But they don’t play scrappy punk. They dabble more in power-pop that’s built around tight songwriting chops and melodies that stick with you. Britpop meets the … Read more
Martyr A.D.
On Earth as it is in Hell
Victory (2004)
Minneapolis' most crushing metalcore band are finally back with a new album and a new line up. After a few years on hiatus, Andy Hart and Karl Hensel, both from the recently defunct hardcore band Holding On, have joined Martyr A.D. on vocals and drums respectively. One of my biggest music related pet peeves is when a band I like … Read more
Maruta
Forward Into Regression
Willowtip (2011)
The saying goes "the good ones always leave too soon". When it comes to the world of music usually the reverse is applicable. Most times bands hang on way too long after their supposed peak and tend to try doing everything they can to sound modern or artistic and thereby leavi9ng whatever made them special in the wake. For either … Read more
Masked Intruder
M.I.
Fat Wreck Chords (2014)
I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t like Masked Intruder, and I prefer to keep it that way. However, despite everyone being completely in love with them, they manage to still remain mysterious. I’m sure everyone has asked themselves these questions before about Masked Intruder: How long are they gonna keep up the gimmick? Are all their songs gonna … Read more
Masked Intruder
Self Titled
Red Scare (2012)
It’s probably impossible not to smile at Masked Intruder’s self-titled debut. Hidden behind a veil of anonymity, the foursome have converged through a myriad of cell bars and prison yards to construct some of the catchiest, colour-coded pop-punk tunes ever written. Between being as violent and delusional as it is hilarious and heartwarming, Masked Intruder successfully pairs the impeccable harmonies … Read more
Mass Movement of the Moth
Outerspace
Exotic Fever (2006)
Mass Movement of the Moth is a band doing it the right way. Playing together for years and making a name for themselves in the DC hardcore scene and to some extent the whole Northeast, the band's first official release came just last year. Once the releases started, they didn't stop, and the hardcore world as a whole was introduced … Read more
Mass Movement of the Moth / Polar
Split
Discern Direction (2005)
I've heard many people blaming over saturation for many of the problems associated with punk/hardcore: too many bands and too many labels. The overabundance of bands and labels can lead to streets filled with diarrhea. But for every toilet brimming with brown stains, there's a white alligator stalking the sewers. Such is the label Discern Direction and their release of … Read more
