The Shaking Hands
The Shaking Hands
Kiss of Death (2009)
In my recent Kiss of Death reviews there's been a steady diet of pop-influenced beard punk. Expecting more of the same, Gainesville's The Shaking Hands threw me for a loop with their late '90s street punk anthems. The band would be at home on a Give 'em the Boot or Old Skars and Upstarts comp, with their tendencies toward tough … Read more
The Sorely Trying Days
Survival Mode
Useless World (2009)
I knew next to nothing about this band before checking out this album but the fact that they are "recommended for fans of: Dinosaur Jr., Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, and Black Sabbath" was enough to spark my interest. This was a tad misleading as the band doesn't have too much in common with those four bands, with the exception of … Read more
The Spirit of 76
The Spirit of 76
Independent (2009)
There's probably nothing else that I hate worse that when bands I've never heard of because they happen to know the same people I do and they want me to review their latest release. For some reason they know I "work" for an online music site (which, by the way, they can never remember the name of) and it would … Read more
The Swell Season
Strict Joy
Anti (2009)
A few years ago, a low-budget film called Once made quite the impression on international critics for its minimal and poignant love story, fleshed out by a heartfelt soundtrack and the charm of its non-professional actors. After humbly accepting an Oscar for Best Original Song, the stars and songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová returned to their level of tertiary … Read more
The Swellers
Ups and Downsizing
Fueled By Ramen (2009)
The Swellers decision to sign to Fueled By Ramen Records was very confusing to say the least. Many were expecting them to sign to a bigger label after gaining some exposure with My Everest and touring constantly in support of it, but no one saw this move coming. Who would have thought that The Swellers would become labelmates with The … Read more
The Takers
Taker Easy
Suburban Home (2009)
The Takers are the latest entry in the country revival coming out of the punk scene over the last few years. What sets The Takers apart from most of these bands is their absolute ability to sound like a normal old school country band. That is to say, there isn't some folk punk nonsense or a punk chorus or even … Read more
The Tanks
Keep Breaking Down
Scenester Credentials (2009)
With only two studio albums thus far, I'm not really comfortable referring to The Future of the Left has an influential band, but only a few seconds into The Tanks Keep Breaking Down and I'm thinking clearly of the Welsh band. The guitars aren't quite as interesting, and singer Kevin Koppes doesn't accentuate as much, but the speak-sing, monologue-style vocals … Read more
The Taxpayers
A Rhythm in the Cages
Useless State/Quote Unquote (2009)
The Taxpayers are a three-piece punk outfit from Portland, OR. A Rhythm in the Cages is their second full-length, with twelve songs that run the gamut of punk styles. Opener "Never Getting Warm" brings to mind the recent influx of groups like Against Me! and Defiance, Ohio. Meanwhile "White Walls" is a ruckus-raising punk cut akin to early Anti-Flag. Then … Read more
The Warlocks
The Mirror Explodes
Tee Pee Records (2009)
Sometimes one can be anticipate something too much. Expect too much from something so as to nullify anything enjoyable from said thing. Sadly Expectations are like that. The Warlocks have had a long career of playing spacey over driven rock songs. It seems only right that they are signed to Tee Pee records. They've always carried a psychedelic vibe couples … Read more
The Whitest Boy Alive
Rules
Asound/Bubbles (2009)
Even though Rules is the second full-length from Erlend Øye, I still have a hard time disassociating his airy voice from prior folk duo, Kings of Convenience, Øye's Belle-and-Sebastian-esque alma mater. However, the more I listen to the Berlin-based The Whitest Boy Alive, the more I can appreciate Øye singing similar, heartbreak lyrics over a funky bass line rather than … Read more
The Wonder Years / All or Nothing
Distances
No Sleep (2009)
The glorious split 7" - how I love thee. What's this? Two bands from opposite sides of the Atlantic? Even better! There is something strangely comforting in knowing that two bands that are separated by thousands of miles of ocean can found a place together on a slim piece of wax. The Wonder Years return with two brand new songs. … Read more
Therapy?
Crooked Timber
DR2 (2009)
Therapy? have followed a strange path. From underground industrial punks through to rock and roll-tinged pop punk pioneers to a brief spell as darlings of the British rock scene and now relative obscurity with only other bands and a devoted core fanbase paying any real attention to them. They've flitted between independent labels like confused moths for the past few … Read more
This is Hell
Warbirds
Think Fast! (2009)
Long Island natives This is Hell have been going full-force since their formation in 2004. There has been an endless stream of releases - a demo, a couple of EP's, a split, and two full-lengths - through those years. The Warbirds 7" features three brand new songs and two cover songs, something the band seems to rather enjoy (previous covers … Read more
This Time Next Year
Road Maps and Heart Attacks
Equal Vision (2009)
The term "pop-punk" has been tarnished and dragged through the mud quite a bit thanks to the surge of boy bands disguising themselves as pop-punk bands: All Time Low, Forever the Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade, etc. These bands parade around giving a bad name to any band that draws any influence from the New Found Glory/Saves the Day school of … Read more
This Will Destroy You / Lymbyc Systym
Field Studies
Magic Bullet (2009)
Split recordings are almost always unique projects in some aspect or manner; I particularly enjoy them when there is an artist involved that I'm not too familiar with. Field Studies is one of those occasions. The two parties represented - This Will Destroy You and Lymbyc Systym - came up with the idea for this recording while on tour together, … Read more
Three Mile Pilot
Planets / Grey Clouds
Temporary Residence (2009)
Thank (insert the deity or spirit or devil that you pay allegiance to here)! Three Mile Pilot is finally giving listeners new music to enjoy, which after years since their last record of new material, 1998's Three Mile Pilot EP (The two-CD compilation of rarities, Songs From an Old Town we Once Knew was released the following year). Comprised of … Read more
Thrice
Beggars
Vagrant (2009)
The release of Thrice's latest album, Beggars came as a big surprise to a lot of fans for a couple reasons. One reason is because the band released the last two volumes of The Alchemy Index only last year and they were quick to the studio to record it's follow-up. The other reason is how quickly it leaked onto the … Read more
Thursday
Common Existence
Epitaph (2009)
I always love it when bands make each album different from the last one. Which is why I love Thursday, each of their albums have been something different and something great. With that being said, their latest album, Common Existence is heavily influenced by their hardcore roots combined with the lighter approach of A City by the Light Divided. However, … Read more
