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Reviews by Loren

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Nightmarathons – Hidden Vigorish

Review — December 14, 2022

Nightmarathons released Missing Parts back in 2019, but I hadn’t heard anything about the group in some time. On October 26, they surprise released Hidden Vigorish, their second LP. It follows the trajectory of their first album, but this time around I see a little more integration of dual …

Martha – Please Don’t Take Me Back

Review — December 21, 2022

Martha has been building a name on the DIY scene for quite some time. I know I saw them, probably close to 10 years ago, opening for Toys That Kill or some related band. But they don’t play scrappy punk. They dabble more in power-pop that’s built around tight songwriting …

Crisis Party – Welcome To The Party EP

Review — January 25, 2023

Crisis Party is another band from Matty Grace, who SPB has covered in various capacity, playing with Cluttered, Auditory Postcards, Future Girls, and maybe more. There’s a common lo-fi, high-energy anxiety to their poppy-punk, but Crisis Party is a new band and that comes across instantly. Those …

Goddamnit – All The Time Is Yours Now

Review — February 9, 2023

With a plodding, building guitar line, a slow drum intro and the opening lyrics of “Light a candle / For the good times gone away,” Goddamnit isn’t subtle of where they’re going on All The Time Is Yours Now. Playing Hot Water Music-style punk, it’s a break-up record …

Tim Barry – Spring Hill

Review — February 14, 2023

Spring Hill is the latest solo record from Tim Barry and, to be up front, I took the last couple records off after the first few were starting to sound a bit “samey.” But it only takes a few notes on Spring Hill to see that Barry has righted that …

The Brokedowns – Maximum Khaki

Review — February 22, 2023

As musicians grow older, they have less time to play live, to tour, and to write. It’s been five years since Sick Of Space. The world may have changed, but The Brokedowns have not. Maximum Khaki may nod to their middle-age in the title, and songs like “I’m Sore,” …

Houseghost – Another Realm

Review — February 28, 2023

Houseghost sprung up in late 2020, releasing their debut near Halloween. Two years later the ghost returns with more stories from Another Realm. The band features members of other bands and play poppy punk with a lot of harmonies. It’s peppy, catchy stuff that’s more about singalongs and …

Screaming Females – Desire Pathway

Review — March 16, 2023

The lead song and first single on Desire Pathway” is “Brass Bell,” a fine song that’s indicative of Screaming Females’ general sound. That said, it’s really the second song, “Desert Train,” which gets this album rolling for me. It’s a fierce guitar song that’s hard and driving. Just like …

Truth Cult – Walk the Wheel

Review — March 30, 2023

Walk the Wheel is the second LP from Truth Cult, but my first introduction to them. My first impression was that the sound would be loud, aggressive, and chaotic. But with 11 songs total, only the opening song, “Squeeze,” really hits that hardcore-style aggression. The rest is certainly loud and …

Gee Tee – Goodnight Neanderthal

Review — April 13, 2023

I really don’t know much about Gee Tee, and sometimes when writing a review I like to keep it that way to let the music speak for itself. Speaking broadly, Gee Tee’s sound is classic rock ‘n’ roll, rooted in swagger, sway, energy, and attitude, but with a big dose …

Various Artists – Mooorree Than Just Another Comp

Review — April 19, 2023

Mooorree Than Just Another Comp is a 33-track double LP compilation from Sell The Heart Records and Lavasocks Records, covering the entire Operation Ivy catalog, with new takes from the likes of The Raging Nathans, The Chinkees, Eichlers, Flying Raccoon Suit, even We Are The Union …

Kepi Ghoulie – Ramones in Love

Review — April 27, 2023

The (rightful) knock on many of the “old punks gone solo” is that it’s a person with an acoustic guitar, playing stripped down punk that kind of all sounds the same by the time the record ends. Add the concept of this record, a Ramones covers album, and you likely …

Postage – LP2

Review — May 10, 2023

I’m going to brand Postage as anxiety punk. It’s fast, intense and it feels on the verge of collapse at any moment. The record itself is 10 songs and plays under 20 minutes -- I suspect it might fit on a 7”. It’s mostly melodic-style punk with an upbeat tempo …

Flores y Fuego – Altar

Review — May 24, 2023

Originally released in 2021 by the band (digitally), Pirates Press just released Altar on vinyl. It’s the debut album by Flores y Fuego, a hardcore band from Mexico and it feels both fresh, yet familiar, with big riffs, tangible anger, and a cathartic call to come together. You know: classic …

Northeast Regional – Brand Managers of the Mid-Atlantic

Review — June 7, 2023

Brand Managers of the Mid-Atlantic is a lot to digest. And not just because of its lengthy title. The album itself has 23 tracks and was recorded over many years (2015-2022). The final six tracks are covers, and it’s more a discography feel than a standalone album, at least to …

Atmosphere – So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously

Review — June 22, 2023

Atmosphere has always felt like rapper Slug pouring his soul into the mic. It feels authentic and refreshing to hear his humble self-reflection. But after a few albums, it also kind of feels like overload. There’s such a thing as too much emotion and strife. That’s not a knock on …

miniaturized – miniaturized

Review — June 29, 2023

This self-titled record is the debut by miniaturized. While it’s their first record, the musicians have also played with the likes of Pinback, Rocket From the Crypt, No Knife, and more. You’ll pick up on hints and patterns from some of those groups here, but this record …

Rancid – Tomorrow Never Comes

Review — July 11, 2023

Other write-ups I see of Tomorrow Never Comes are basically calling this Rancid V, Part 2. The cover art looks a bit like the back of that album, actually. And while there is some merit to the comparison, I think that description is misleading. This record absolutely shares that …

Parker – Never Let This Go

Review — July 19, 2023

I like poppy punk: melodies, singalongs, all that predictable stuff. But I also like it rough around the edges, not the super clean production style of Ramonescore or whatever that garbage from the early 2000s that’s on the nostalgia train right now is. So I choose my words carefully because …

Various Artists – Godspeed... A Tribute to Pierre Kezdy

Review — July 24, 2023

It’s probably been 30 years since I heard my first tribute album and I’m not sure my opinion has changed. There are usually 1-2 really good covers, some mediocrity, and an unfocused tone. They’re often underwhelming, but the exceptions to this rule keep you coming back to the format. Fortunately,  …