Rocky Votolato
A Brief History (Reissue)
Second Nature (2007)
A Brief History is Rocky Votolato's second full-length, originally released in 2000 after his hard-to-find self-titled debut in 1999. At twenty minutes long, it's really more of an extended EP, but then, the 'brief' in the title should be taken quite literally. Newcomers to Votolato's alt-country/Americana sound might be surprised to backtrack through his releases and come across this, helpfully … Read more
Rocky Votolato
The Brag and Cuss
Barsuk (2007)
Rocky Votolato has been a busy man of late. He released last year's Makers to wide acclaim and only just recently re-issued A Brief History with his long time collaborators at Second Nature recordings. This brings us to his latest musical foray. The Brag and Cuss is Votolato's sixth album since he began releasing his solo material in 1999, and … Read more
Romans
All Those Wrists
Independent (2007)
Romans is the latest band to be sprung forth from Vermont's underground music scene - the last two that I recall are My Revenge! and Drowningman. So, these four gentlemen from Burlington are in fairly good company in that regard. On their debut release, All Those Wrists, the band unleashes a mixture of caustic, gritty, and noisy mathcore, streamlined post-hardcore, … Read more
Ronen Kauffman
New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goodbye: Bands, Dirty Basements, and the Search for Self
Sub City/Hopeless (2007)
High fives to Ronen Kauffman for head stomping all over my pretentious attitude about what good literature should be. When I first heard about this book's release I was glad to see a paperback devoted to the subject matter but I was a little annoyed that yet another memoir was hitting the shelves. Are people self-centered enough to think their … Read more
Rosetta
Wake/Lift
Translation Loss (2007)
If you're unfamiliar with Rosetta, punch yourself. Seriously, I'll wait. Go ahead and punch yourself if you've never heard of Rosetta. Okay now By now, you're probably asking why you just punched yourself? Punch yourself again for thinking that! After you've finish listening to Wake/Lift, the band's sophomore release, you'll know exactly why. Following the release of their 2005 debut, … Read more
Ruiner
Prepare to be Let Down
Bridge Nine (2007)
There was a time when I thought that Prepare to be Let Down was never going to be released. The album was slated to come out via 1917 Records before the band and label amicably agreed to go their separate ways. Well, after a brief stint without a label, Ruiner have finally brought Prepare to be Let Down to the … Read more
Rwake
Voices of Omens
Relapse (2007)
Progressive sludge? That sounds like an oxymoron. When I think of progressive in terms of music I think of Rush being listened to by some nerdy kid wearing a tie-dyed shirt that is playing Dungeons and Dragons in his parents' basement (yeah I stole that image from SLC Punk, whatever). When I think of sludge, I think of some dirty … Read more
Ryan Adams
Easy Tiger
Lost Highway (2007)
The artist of the album I reviewed made it difficult to include his name in the opening sentence without thinking people would disregard the entire article, because this is his ninth studio album following three releases just two years ago in 2005. Yup, Ryan Adams released yet another album entitled Easy Tiger. It hardly feels like it's been two years … Read more
Sabertooth Zombie
Dance / The Prisoner
Twelve Gauge (2007)
Sabertooth Zombie is a band that has been waiting to explode for sometime now. After a few self-released efforts, the band release their debut full-length, Midnight Venom, in 2006, an album that brilliantly fused menacing hardcore with the fierceness of punk. The album received high praise here at Scene Point Blank and we eagerly waited for what would follow. 2007 … Read more
Sage Francis
Human the Death Dance
Epitaph (2007)
After 2005's A Healthy Distrust Sage Francis cemented himself as one of hip-hop's biggest heroes as well as one of it's most despised figures. Francis seemingly blurred the line between mainstream and the world of underground mix tapes, coming out as a possible savior of hip-hop, the opposite of rappers Nas blasted on Hip-Hop is Dead. While A Healthy Distrust … Read more
Said Radio
Tidal Waves and Teeth
Mankind (2007)
The initial rumblings of Said Radio caused a lot of excitement in the punk/hardcore community, and for good reason. Rumors of Said Radio - though different names have been tossed around - began to circulate the Internet early in the year, but by mid-Summer Said Radio was officially unveiled. Eric Ozenne, formerly of Redemption 87 and The Nerve Agents, is … Read more
Saints Never Surrender
Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Blood & Ink (2007)
Every once in awhile I use the Internet's greatest invention, Youtube, to get a feel for a band by either watching live performances or perhaps a music video if one is provided. Fort Wayne's Saints Never Surrender had a low budget video in which they show the band eating at Taco Bell, someone two-stepping everywhere, and some live footage where … Read more
Sakes Alive!!
Presents
Independent (2007)
Sakes Alive!! hails from Rochester, NY and this is the band's debut offering. Interesting enough, this recording actually started as the project of one individual, Chris Vandeviver. I'm not sure who told him to enlist other members and make this a full-time venture, but bravo to whoever did. The EP delivers what is an even mixture of the No Idea … Read more
Saves the Day
Under the Boards
Vagrant (2007)
Part two in the trilogy of concept (small C) albums, Under the Boards sees Saves the Day back on a quick release schedule. This follow up to Sound the Alarm took only a year to release, compared to the three that passed between Sound the Alarm and the critically-panned In Reverie. With a third record, Daybreak, already in the works … Read more
Seasick
Awakenings
Brain Drain (2007)
Seasick play fast pissed off political hardcore with plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested. There are some nice little breakdowns and some Integrity-like guitar solos. It reminds me a little bit of the stuff that Ebullition was hawking in the mid 90's but a lot more fun and catchy. I could see kids that use their dogs … Read more
Secondhand Serenade
Awake
Glassnote (2007)
It wasn't long ago that a bushy eyebrowed, full-sleeved tattoo sportin' Christian by the name of Chris Carrabba left his rock band, Further Seems Forever, to embark on nearly overnight emo superstardom under the guise of Dashboard Confessional. About that same time, I gave up on emo. I saw it become a marketing scheme to sell boring records to lackluster … Read more
See it Through
Breakthrough
Fierce Justice (2007)
I don't really know much of anything about Reno, Nevada other than it's like a smaller, less fun version of Las Vegas. The only other things that I have learned about Reno have come at the hands of Reno 911, even though the show isn't actually filmed there. And while I find that show to be quite entertaining, I doubt … Read more
Sequoia
Time to Change
Independent (2007)
The metropolis of Chicago, IL is home to many many artists. While listening to Sequoia, I found their sound to be somewhat fitting, but at the same time I could pick up influences that could easily place them elsewhere. Time to Change is the band's second full-length and features ten songs at just over thirty minutes of music. The opening … Read more
