Chuck Ragan
Love and Lore
Rise (2024)
Genre labels have their place and I think they’re more useful than not -- but sometimes they just aren’t going to convey the point. Chuck Ragan, best known for his long tenure with Hot Water Music, also plays solo under his own name. I’m going to slap the “singer-songwriter” label on his solo work, though it pulls from bluegrass, Americana, … Read more
Chuck Ragan
Till Midnight
Side One Dummy (2014)
It’s almost at the point where Chuck Ragan has reinvented himself. Sure, he’s always had the voice and he’s done the countrified thing in the past with Rumbleseat, but the level of professionalism and dedication he’s brought to his solo project is worth noting. He’s now released four solo records and built his own momentum beyond the punk rock scene.Till … Read more
Church of Misery
Houses of the Unholy
Metal Blade (2009)
By a stroke of luck, my Last.fm did something good for once and recommended me this band called Church of Misery. I usually don't pay close attention to these recommendations as they are usually a bit off (seriously, stop recommending me stuff like Bon Jovi), but the name sounded dope and they apparently fell somewhere into that doom metal category. … Read more
Cinemechanica
The Martial Arts
Hello Sir (2006)
Cinemechanica are a math-rock quartet from Athens, Georgia. They are responsible for one of the most aurally exciting albums of the year. The Martial Arts is an exercise in both energy and audacity. While their sound is very reminiscent of early Q and Not U or Drive Like Jehu, Cinemechanica exceed these comparisons with an organically post-modern interpretation of a … Read more
Cipher
Children of God's Fire
Uprising (2005)
One of the best jokes ever created was "rap metal." A suburban fusion between nu-metal (i.e. Korn) with a frontman that yelled out words in a "rap" fashion. The result was a golden age of LOL. Remember Limp Bizkit? If you didn't prior to clicking this review, you sure do now. Backwards hats, shaved eyebrows....or maybe I'm just thinking of … Read more
Cipher
The Joyous Collapse
Uprising (2010)
Cipher is one of those bands that if you were to describe their unique sound to someone, they would undoubtedly be left scratching their heads and asking, “what is it that makes this band good again?” I always put up with quite an internal and external struggle when describing the band to people that have never heard them before. However, … Read more
Circles
When the Big River Floods
Well Below (2006)
When the Big River Floods sounds like Circles recorded it in a basement while drunk. Rough and ragged, the influences that are melted together to form the seven song mini-album slur their way along through confused drum-rhythms, low mix horns and a hell of a lot of rock, country, folk, and jazz. But not in a way that's ever really … Read more
City Mouse
Get Right
It's Alive (2017)
The Fest is a pretty cool event. The first time or two I went, I went to see the headliners on the big stages, packing a day of well known (by punk standards) into one action-packed 12-hour period. Over time, I’ve come to seek out the newer bands on the smaller stages. The atmosphere is more my vibe, but it’s … Read more
City Mouse
So Far Out
Brassneck Records, It's Alive (2024)
There are few bands that hit with the mix of raw emotion and musical talent as a live City Mouse show. There are even fewer bands that can capture that live feeling on a record. It’s been a long 7 years since Get Right, but So Far Out keeps it moving as if no time has passed. Of course, the … Read more
City of Industry
False Flowers
Amerikan Aesthetics (2020)
City of Industry is a hardcore band with their toes in a lot of corners of the scene. False Flowers is the third full-length from the Seattle band and the press sheet says it’s for fans of artists as diverse as “Ceremony, Dystopia, His Hero Is Gone, Converge, [and] Pixies.” That seems about right. This is heavy, but with mixed … Read more
City of Ships
Live Free or Don't
Forcefield (2008)
One of the more surprising events or rather instances that I have been able to witness is that of discovering the three piece outfit City of Ships. The group's frenetic energy and obvious emotional stake in the music which they play is simultaneously impressive and inspiring. Live Free or Don't is actually the band's first EP which precedes their self-released … Read more
City of Ships
Look What God Did to Us
Translation Loss/Sound Study (2009)
Occasionally, a member of the staff at Scene Point Blank will write a piece on an artist of which I'm not entirely familiar. As a result, I will have to do some investigating in order to make sure all facts are straight. Every once in a while this leads to my becoming a fan of the group. It's been a … Read more
City of Ships
Minor World
Translation Loss (2011)
Every once in a while, an album comes along that makes you rethink an entire genre. It's an album that makes you step back and rethink your musical expectations, as well as casting your future thoughts in an entirely new light. City of Ships' newest album, Minor World, is one of these albums. The only issue is that my entire … Read more
City of Ships
Tour EP
Independent (2008)
Now, I had only heard of this band's existence and never actually had the opportunity to listen to their music until I was able to see them. Honestly, I was dumbstruck by how excellent they were (good musicians, good amount of passion, good amount of energy), and it was not only me who reacted this way as many people who … Read more
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
