The Lotus Eaters
Wurmwluv
Troubleman Unlimited (2007)
I love The Lotus Eaters. Not many people know the surprisingly laid back side project of Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture), Stephen O'Malley (Sunn 0))), Khanate, and a myriad of others), and James Plotkin (Khanate, Phantomsmasher, Khlyst, etc); this may be due to the fact that the group does not release records at the clip … Read more
The Love Below
Every Tongue Shall Caress
A389 (2012)
California's The Love Below seemed to sadly fly under the radar upon the release of their last EP. Said EP "Reproductive Rights" played a speedy yet heavy style of hardcore the record benefited from grungey production and equally grimy lyrics. This trend continued on their split with Homewrecker last year managing to add slight touches of sludge to further accentuate … Read more
The Love Below
Reproductive Rights
A389 (2010)
Do you like your hardcore punk raw sounding so that it comes across in absolutely vicious manner? If so, then The Love Below should surely be moved to the front of the line of bands to check out and their latest EP, Reproductive Rights, is a great place to start. This whole release is pretty classic from the packaging, to … Read more
The Loved Ones
Distractions
Fat Wreck Chords (2009)
The Loved Ones' popularity took off quite a bit last year with the release of Build & Burn. This had the band taking a more basic rock-n-roll approach than their debut Keep Your Heart, which is one of the best pop-punk records to be released in recent years. The band's latest EP, Distractions shows the band going in the same … Read more
The Loved Ones
Keep Your Heart
Fat Wreck Chords (2006)
It's 2:11am on Friday morning and I'm sitting in my room in my boxers eating Frito Scoops and realizing that I am disastrously single. So I go to where everyone hooks up these days, Myspace, and start to peruse the various profiles of women in Minnesota ages 25-35. When I see a potential maiden of my manly charms, I almost … Read more
The Loved Ones
The Loved Ones
Jade Tree (2005)
Memories of listening to Lifetime and hanging out with the crew every day of the week, skating, partying, or what have you, will always be there for me. It was undoubtedly some of the best times of my life. So when I heard about The Loved Ones and their comparisons to Lifetime, I was very intrigued. I hadn't had such … Read more
The Lovely Lads
The Best You've Got
Eating Rats (2006)
The Lovely Lads score some major points with me right away by using Pulp Fiction themed artwork in their layout for The Best You've Got. Sure it isn't the most original idea ever in the history of recorded music or even in punk rock and hardcore, but it beats seeing CD cover after cover of Jacob Bannon wannabe skull and … Read more
The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Nonesuch (2009)
There where a few things that caught me about this between the record itself and the press release given to me with it. First, this release makes a great issue for continuing to buy records - the CD itself is packaged in a silkscreened cover that looks exactly like a gatefold LP cover. It definitely helps to convey the folky … Read more
The Lurkers
The Boys In The Corner-7”
Damaged Goods (2021)
Formed in 1976 in West London, The Lurkers have been projecting, pontificating, poignant punk rock and catchy chorused songs for 40-plus years. Currently comprised of three original members being Pete Stride, Nigel Moore and Esso. This is the second single to come off the 2020 album Sex Crazy with an unreleased track. Record Collector nerd alert the 7” is also … Read more
The Magnetic Fields
I
Nonesuch (2004)
Disclaimer: I am not actually going to write much about this album itself because I don't have too much to say about it, and I feel I'm entitled to at least one snarky review here. Christ, I've grown to hate the self-conscious style of writing that's so easily employed to take a way out of a review or any other … Read more
The Magnificent
Bad Lucky
Dirt Cult (2012)
As I’ve gotten older, there are punk scenes I shy away from. Among those topping the list is street punk—not to totally write off the subgenre, but a lot of it gets bogged down in sloppy slogans, ridiculous themes, and a rather rigid dress code. It’s not that I’ve grown averse to a well-written street punk song as much as … Read more
The Maine
Forever Halloween
Rude Records (2013)
Halloween can be an inspiring topic for musicians. The Misfits' "Halloween" evokes dark autumn evenings with snarling vocals and captivating riffs, while AFI's Misfits-influenced All Hallows EP is a punk-rock filled love letter to the holiday. The Maine's Forever Halloween takes a sombre look, presenting Halloween as an emotional state and not just a passing holiday.So far three singles have … Read more
The Manikins
Swedish Woods
Lövely (2023)
The Manikins previous album, 2019s Bad Times, was my encounter with The Manikins. We started off a bit weird, as I read their name as The Mankinis for a while. I expect different music from a band with a name like that. I did like that album after I ditched my assumptions and stopped messing up the band name. It … Read more
The Mars Volta
Amputechture
Universal (2006)
Have The Mars Volta finally become predictable? Were they already? Are they still churning out jaw-droppingly unexpected music? Did they ever? All these questions and more probably won't be answered in this review. Amputechture, the fairly quickly-released third full-length from the El Paso, Texas group, is in some ways a sequel to 2005's Frances the Mute, but still retains some … Read more
The Mars Volta
Frances the Mute
Universal (2005)
Have you seen the Frances The Mute cover art yet? Cast your eyes to the right, it's on display there. Two guys, both blindfolded, and oblivious to the world around them. Or maybe they just don't care what else is going on. It's all about them, driving their vehicle, with their own rules and their own vision. That painfully obvious … Read more
The Mars Volta
Noctourniquet
Warner Bros. (2012)
There are few bands as polarizing as The Mars Volta. And while I've found both good and bad in the band's discography, their recent release Noctourniquet unfortunately lies firmly on the weak end of the spectrum.The big issue? The songwriting is absolute aimless tripe. "Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound" just kind of plods along without really accomplishing anything, especially … Read more
The Mars Volta
Octahedron
Warner Bros. (2009)
Throughout their eight-year tenure as a band, The Mars Volta has never been timid about doing whatever they please. The collaborative duo that is The Mars Volta - guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala - have tried it all, and yet they continually make it a point to find new ways to express themselves. Full-length album number five, Octahedron, … Read more
The Mars Volta
The Bedlam in Goliath
Universal (2008)
For a band that immerses themselves in creating such an uncompromising and complicated sound, The Mars Volta is a very prolific bunch of musicians. One album released each year shows a very strong work ethic and a determination to never stagnate in their evolution. Not to mention a strong passion for all kinds of music. The Mars Volta sound like … Read more
