Polar Bear Club
Chasing Hamburg
Bridge Nine (2009)
Polar Bear Club is essentially the musical version of the story, The Little Engine that Could. Here we have a band, that started out merely four years ago, playing shows wherever they could when the mood struck them to do so. With their debut EP, there was great promise; everyone that heard it realized it. But it really didn't click … Read more
Prayers for Atheists
Prayers for Atheists
Strange Famous (2009)
I wasn't sure what to make of this upon getting it. I had seen it compared to hip-hop, Rage Against The Machine, Whole Wheat Bread, and spoken word. The thing is all of these comparisons fit, sometimes all at once really. This EP acts as a historical documentation of sorts. According to the liner notes this was written, lyrically, by … Read more
Prefuse 73
Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian
Warp (2009)
For those of you who don't know Prefuse 73 A.K.A. Guillermo Scott Herren, this guy has been putting beats out since I was in middle school. And I'm not talking just about Prefuse 73: Herren has been active with his record label, Eastern Developments Music, and multiple artist collaborations on top of releasing new albums under several different aliases every … Read more
Project 86
Picket Fence Cartel
Tooth & Nail (2009)
Ideological stances are polarizing. They come with a set of existing concepts and reference points that are often hard to overlook. I didn't want to talk about religion in this review. I didn't want to talk about religion as much as Project 86 doesn't want to limit themselves as a solely religious band, but it's difficult to ignore a prevailing … Read more
Propagandhi
Supporting Caste
Smallman (2009)
Canadian punk rockers Propagandhi have undergone many changes in the past few years. For one, they now have a second guitarist known as David "The Beaver" Guillias and they parted ways with Fat Wreck Chords and announced the closing of their own record label, G7 Welcoming Committee. Changes like this happen with bands, and sometimes it effects their music. Thankfully … Read more
Pulling Teeth
Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Pulling Teeth continues to be an extremely active and productive group - touring the world and releasing three full-lengths and several singles since their inception. Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions marks the band's third full-length effort, though I use that term loosely as the length of this recording is a bit on the short end for a "long player" (though … Read more
Pyramids with Nadja
Pyramids with Nadja
Hydra Head (2009)
How does a group of people who make a decent first album top that album (or theoretically top that album anyway)? Pyramids must have similar thoughts regarding sophomore records considering that their debut sparked much conversation and brought them a decent amount of attention. And when the time came for them to follow up their own record, they brought in … 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
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
Rancid
Let the Dominoes Fall
Hellcat (2009)
I could write a thousand words on Rancid here if I wanted. I spent the better part of the 90's defending them amongst the punx, though my enthusiasm for the band has waned markedly as the current decade has passed. It's been a few years since their last release: Tim Armstrong's divorce is history, The Transplants experiment is over, and … Read more
Rancid
Let the Dominoes Fall
Hellcat (2009)
Rancid changed my life when I was twelve years old. Yes, Nirvana and Green Day had me going in the right direction, but Rancid absolutely changed me with their shocking mohawks, messy tattoos, and irresistibly catchy punk rock tunes. Once I bought ...And Out Come the Wolves I knew I had to be in a band and play music forever. … Read more
Razor of Occam
Homage to Martyrs
Metal Blade (2009)
Blackened thrash metal has been getting a lot more popular recently with bands like Skeletonwitch and Toxic Holocaust getting more recognition as of late. Like most sub-genres, there are bands who are worthy contributors to the scene and then there are those who are simply followers and the United Kingdom's Razor of Occam, are without a doubt, more than worthy … Read more
Red Fang
Red Fang
Sargent House (2009)
Bold, in your face stoner rock from members of Bad Wizard and Party Time. If you like your rock heavy with Sabbath sprinkled into the mix, Red Fang are your guys. Curiously, the first four songs blast your face off. Then later on, it got a bit too Nirvana-esque for me song structure wise. "Reverse Thunder" will singe your eyebrows … Read more
Red Light Driver
and Now We Can Be Ourselves
MFT (2009)
Get out the lava light kids, and get ready to take a trip! Okay, maybe not that wacked out, but the influence is there. Produced by Paul Mahern (of Zero Boys fame), this band's debut full-length hits all the right buttons. Fans of 90's rock will hear Ride, Echo & The Bunnymen, maybe even a little Julian Cope. It's hard … Read more
Redemption
Demo
Independent (2009)
Wow. Here's a first: a Christian hardcore band that doesn't annoy the piss out of me. Someone mark that down on a calender somewhere. Anyhow, Redemption play mid-pace hardcore that reminds me of mid-period Endpoint mixed with some Champion and chug-a-chug parts ala Trial to end up with some pleasing results. The lyrics are positive and tinges of emo white … Read more
Reign Supreme
Testing the Limits of Infinite
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
In 1995 Testing the Limits of Infinite would have been standard fare by any big league hardcore band. You see, back then many bands liked to play metal. They really loved their Slayer riffs interspersed with their mosh parts and we all ate it up because our dirt bag metal head friends wouldn't piss and moan about what we played … Read more
Rise and Fall
Our Circle is Vicious
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Progression in music is never an easy thing to accomplish without getting mixed reactions; the hardcore community seems to be especially critical. You're always going to have that fan base that talks about how the older material is better, which in some cases, that is true. But in other cases, development and experimentation can lead to superior songwriting and material. … Read more
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Goodnight Oslo
Yep Roc (2009)
On this outing Robyn Hitchcock is backed by Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) on bass and vocals, Peter Buck (some big band from Athens?) on guitar and Bill Rieflin (Ministry) on drums. A lush recording with a lot of texture makes this record a lot to take in. But once you enter, you may never want to leave. "Saturday Groovers" … Read more
