Qui
Love's Miracle
Ipecac (2007)
Paul Christensen. Matt Cronk. David Yow. The former two names you have not heard before. The latter name you probably have. The latter name is a legend, in fact. The former two, not so much. David Yow was a member of two legendary bands - Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard. Both great bands of the early nineties who, while … Read more
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Goblin Alert
Goner (2020)
Quintron & Miss Pussycat is a project like no other. They call it “Swamp-Tech,” from New Orleans, and it’s dance rock with otherworldly, high energy vibes and puppets. With 16 full-lengths, most of the instrumentation up ‘til now has been on organ and homemade synthesizer.It pretty much has to be heard to be understood, and perhaps seen to reach that … Read more
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Spellcaster II: Death in Space
Pizza Burglar (2014)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat have never been known as a vocal group, but Spellcaster II: Death in Space takes that to a new level, waiting until the fourth song, “Do the Raid” for the first vocal utterings. That’s not a bad thing, but it is a slow start to the duo’s new record. In fact, it’s not until the third … Read more
Rabbit Holes
Rabbit Holes EP
Big Action (2014)
Big Action Records doesn’t pump out a ton of releases and, when they do, they run the geographical gamut. The label is based in St. Paul, MN but releases come from across the country. Still, within that, there’s a well defined style that tends to dominate: pop-tinged, melodic garage rock. The debut from Minnesota’s Rabbit Holes fits well within those … Read more
Rabid Rabbit
Rabid Rabbit
Interloper (2009)
As certain styles of music catch hold and thus become revered and oft emulated, making or doing something to makes one's band stand out amidst an ever burgeoning horde of groups (that range from those that find their own voice to those that come off as half rate clones) becomes a much harder obstacle as time moves forward. Rabid Rabbit, … Read more
Racebannon
Acid or Blood
Southern (2008)
My first thought when I look at Racebannon's Myspace profile is that their vocalist, Mike Anderson, has a bit of the curly-haired Ween look to him. That thought is quickly replaced as I scroll down at the four long-hairs, with dark symbols on their foreheads and doused with blood. The lasting impression is that Racebannon are some theatrical dudes who … Read more
Radical Attack
Priority
Ghost Town (2006)
There are a lot of hardcore bands out there who claim to be old-school, but the truth of the matter is that an insane amount of metal has infiltrated the scene. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it sure does make it harder to find a speedy, non-metallic, non-chugga-chugga hardcore band when you're in the mood for it. You … Read more
Radical Fun Time
There Is Only One Race The HUMAN RACE EP
Dilapidated Records (2018)
What’s in a name? Radical Fun Time. Well, it is radical. Just take a look at that artwork. Someone had fun with that! It hurts a bit on the eyes, but someone had fun. And sometimes you can judge a book by it’s cover. This sounds like a bunch of guys having a good time. I picture a couple of … Read more
Radio 4
Enemies Like This
Astralwerks (2006)
When Radio 4 released Gotham, it instantly became one of my favorite albums of all time. It was packed full of great songs that were great to dance to and also contained a message. But the band faltered with the distinctly average Stealing of a Nation. It wasn't so much that Stealing of a Nation was a bad album, it … Read more
Radioactivity
Radioactivity
Dirtnap (2013)
Each time I write the phrase “garage-punk” I like it less and less. Still, how else to describe a band that blends pop-punk and garage so well? Actually, in recent reviews I’ve taken to simply comparing bands to the Marked Men, which takes us directly to Radioactivity.Radioactivity is Jeff Burke and Mark Ryan, half of Marked Men, joined by Gregory … Read more
Radioactivity
Silent Kill
Dirtnap (2015)
These guys know how to start off a record, with the rapid fire “Battered” pummeling with riffage for the first minute and then Jeff Burke’s familiar vocals chime in and the record transitions to melodic and punky pop songs—and not the kind of pop that’s usually attached to that word. While a minute isn’t a long time for an instrumental … Read more
Radiohead
In Rainbows
Independent (2007)
What Radiohead have done with the release of In Rainbows will be talked about for years to come. At best, and only time will tell, it will be looked at as changing the industry as we know it, giving the consumer more power than ever before. At worst, it will be known as a failed experiment, but still remembered with … Read more
Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II
Ice H2O (2009)
For whatever reason, it took me a little while to warm up to hip-hop. Maybe I was too into that guitar and percussion sound to really give hip-hop a fair chance. And I guess the whole "rap is crap" thing sort of rang a bell back then. Yeah, I fucked up. I'll admit that I never gave hip-hop a close … Read more
Raging Nathans
Cheap Fame
Rad Girlfriend Records (2018)
This what pop-punk used to mean. On the record it’s clean and melodic, while the live show feels more aggressive and forceful. Think of those Ramones studio records and compare them to the live experience. Then throw in the pedigree of the band members here, splitting time in The Dopamines, The Slow Death, and The Queers. Two of those three … Read more
Raging Nathans
Oppositional Defiance
Rad Girlfriend Records (2020)
Boy do The Raging Nathans know how to start a record on a down note. The band plays melodic DIY pop-punk that’s of the verse-chorus-verse variety with driving rhythm to give it that extra oomph. While I tend to think of this kind of music as a little more light-hearted, the band cuts through that veneer instantly with “Tragedy Ghouls: … Read more
Raging Nathans
Still Spitting Blood
Rad Girlfriend Records (2022)
The Raging Nathans owe a lot of their sound to the ‘90s punk scene. One thing they don’t take after, though, is that need to put out an album of 15+ tracks. Still Spitting Blood comes just one year after Waste My Heart and it’s only 10-songs and 20-minutes in length. The quantity is probably there, but the band is … Read more
Raging Nathans
Waste My Heart
Rad Girlfriend Records (2021)
It’s the pop-punk conundrum. Raging Nathans are a distinct band -- yet they aren’t. On first listen their sound is familiar. Take Lookout Records and Ramones-inspired sing-alongs, add skatepunk urgency, put it in a blender and set to crush. It’s not an even mix of all the ingredients, rather familiar fragments with a lot of unique twists and turns when … Read more
Ragnarok
Malediction
Agonia (2012)
Norway's Ragnarok have made their name playing traditional Black Metal for nearly 2 decades now. On this, their 7th, full length they remain steadfast in style and attitude. Much can be said for consistency especially when it comes to genre whose fans can be as fickle as Black Metal. The record itself starts with a cold atmospheric piece before breaking … Read more
