The Decemberists
The Crane Wife
Capitol (2006)
A few eyebrows were raised on both sides of the divide when Capitol Records decided to sign indomitable indie heroes, The Decemberists. With nothing obviously commercial about their sound, musings varied from wonder to fear that The Decemberists were about to become just another pop-indie band. Most fears, however, were allayed when talk of The Crane Wife, an old Japanese … Read more
The Degenerics
Generic Record Collection
Soulrebel (2007)
Our recent Scene Point Blank reader's poll told us at least two things about you, the reader: (1) you want to see less reviews of "generic hardcore", and (2) hardcore is your favorite genre. (If this doesn't apply to you, sorry; you should've chipped in!) So you love hardcore, but also hold high standards for it; maybe you're sick of … Read more
The Delays
Faded Seaside Glamour
Sanctuary (2004)
Nothing really sets the Delays apart from other mediocre Brit pop rock bands. They are all trapped in limbo between the achievements of Radiohead and Oasis and the sewage of bands like__________and__________(I can't remember any Brit bands that I thought were absolutely horrendous). No matter how ordinary the band may be, they achieve the same lush and atmospheric sound; many … Read more
The Devil
Self Titled
Candlelight (2013)
Now this is surely a weird one. The mysterious and enigmatic The Devil, released their self titled album and they seem to have everyone’s attention. The band does not feature any vocals but they instead use recordings of famous speeches and to be fair the end result is great, it seems like the atmospheric gothic band has really managed to … Read more
The Dick Cavett Show
Rock Icons DVD
Sony (2005)
My parents dug Dick Cavett, or at least I think they did. My dad certainly dressed enough like him - the rayon slacks, horrible monster-size lapel shirts, and maybe they spoke in a similar way too. I know, too, that like Cavett, my dad snuck a joint or two, socially of course. Still, who can really remember much about the … Read more
The Dillinger Escape Plan
...One Of Us Is The Killer
Sumerian (2013)
As a disclaimer, I am not in any way an expert on bands whose primary genre tag ends in '-core'. However, I know a fantastic album when I hear it, and the Dillinger Escape Plan's latest album, 2013's One of Us is the Killer, is beyond even that.It's been clear since their 1999 debut Calculating Infinity that the Dillinger Escape … Read more
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Miss Machine
Relapse (2004)
The Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP) certainly have been enjoying the good life since releasing their last full-length, Calculating Infinity, back in 1998. The band was hand-picked by Mike Patton to tour alongside one of the bands they openly idolize, Mr. Bungle. A mutual respect between the two bands eventually led to DEP recording an EP, which contains Patton's musical vision, … Read more
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Plagiarism
Independent (2006)
Some bands churn out albums like they have nothing better to do and some bands release an album every couple of years. The Dillinger Escape Plan is neither of these sorts of bands. They have an impressive tally of three albums in nine years. Yet in that same span of time the band have managed to release five EPs, including … Read more
The Dirty Projectors
Rise Above
Dead Oceans (2007)
Last February, I went to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI to catch a set by Grizzly Bear, Brooklyn neo-folk indie band. The opener, The Dirty Projectors, I had never heard of and they opened up with a swirling guitar driven jam. Two minutes into the song, the singer/guitarist started belting out the beginning lyrics to Black Flag's "Six … Read more
The Dismemberment Plan
A People's History of...
Desoto (2003)
First off, the Dismemberment Plan gets props just for the fact that this record came out. Consistently innovative while they were active, the band is being just as interesting, if not more so, posthumously, by posting all their songs on their website and having fans download them and remix them. As far as the remixes here go, they either fall … Read more
The Distance
If You Lived Here You'd be Home Already
Think Fast! (2005)
When middle-school seemed too far away and Goosebumps represented literature, birthday parties were the fucking shit. I'd eat cake, party hard and take the occasional peak up a dress. Okay, 33% of that was a lie. The only negative aspect was having to get a birthday present for the little sucker. But, by the end of the night I would … Read more
The Distance
The Rise, the Fall, and Everything in Between
Abacus (2006)
I like to look at pretty girls. It's easy for me; I live near a college and work at a gas station right next door to a gym called Lifetime Fitness of all things. So I get an eyeful of babes day in and day out. It's nice. I'm not trying to come off as a pervy old guy but … Read more
The Distillers
Coral Fang
Warner Bros. (2003)
I hate the Distillers a lot less than I'd like to proclaim.....or do I? I'll admit, on each of the Distillers' previous works, I could find a song or two that was actually rather enjoyable. Amongst the array of other punk revivalist bands, the Distillers manage to stand above a good portion of those other bands who really have nothing … Read more
The Distortions
Machines at Night
Blank (2007)
You know what I liked when I was in high school? Actually, you can probably guess this one. I liked The Smashing Pumpkins. You probably did too. I know for damn sure the Distortions did. Their Myspace page lists them as indie/shoegaze/post-punk, but I'm not seeing it. I guess it's possible I don't know what those terms mean, but if … Read more
The Dopamines
80/20
Rad Girlfriend Records (2024)
On the brand new 80/20, The Dopamines break into a whoa-oh! about six seconds in, then their trademark shouted vocal tradeoffs. The first three songs on 80/20, their first album in 7 years, set the tone immediately. Back when they were a little more active, the group was often compared to Illinois pop-punk group The Copyrights. I bring that up … Read more
The Dopamines
Expect The Worst
Paper + Plastick (2010)
The Dopamines first caught my attention when they released a 7” that pays homage to the Big Black Songs About Fucking cover. Sure, they sound nothing like the seminal Chicago band, but anyone who gives props to that record ends up on my radar in some form. Moving forward to 2010, the Cincinnati band has signed with Paper & Plastick … Read more
The Dopamines
Tales of Interest
Rad Girlfriend Records (2017)
It’s been a while since Ohio’s The Dopamines released a new record –2012 by the looks of things, and I honestly missed that one, so my most recent reference is 2010’s Expect the Worst. I know they’ve become parents or grown up or something along those lines, leading to more time between records. Does that also bleed into their music … Read more
The Draft
In a Million Pieces
Epitaph (2006)
What happens when you are part of an established, kind of well-known (definitely well-known in all manner of independent music circles) band and one of your fellow members decides to take a break? Well, in this case, you start a "new" band and immediately begin writing an album. This is exactly what The Draft isââ¬Â¦Hot Water Music minus Chuck Ragan … Read more
