September 07
6 articles, 25 reviews
July/August 07
7 articles, 30 reviews
June 07
6 articles, 13 reviews
May 07
20 articles, 23 reviews
April 07
11 articles, 28 reviews
March 07
10 articles, 17 reviews
February 07
10 articles, 17 reviews
January 07
5 articles, 17 reviews
December 06
W.W. Lowman - Plain Songs EP
Intoxicatingly mellow songs from a songwriter more interested in composition
than stardom.
E Deubner – Death is a
Vacation Through Time
Dark, moody, industrial/rock/other that presents extremely strong songwriting
skills
Melody Club - Scream
More pop hooks than you can handle, crammed into one blissed-out album.
Ammi - Imitation
Everything you liked about hip indie-rock, taken apart and put back together
better.
The Detholz! – Cast
Out Devils
Quirky new wave that actually sounds like 80’s new wave and actually works.
Food Will Win The
War – S/t
Quirky acoustic folk that charms with endearing vocals and good songwriting.
Tahiti 80 - Fosbury
Dance/pop/funk/hip-hop/whatever- Fosbury can make you dance like Justin Timberlake
couldn’t.
Fall of Transition
- Distractions
An album full of passionate rock that is a definite step in the right direction
for FoT.
The New Dumb – This
Could Be Disastrous EP
Indie-punk with enough creativity to start making waves in the scene.
Ella Rouge – Ella Rouge
Strong piano-pop that should muscle other paltry imitations out of the way.
Ezra Reich – Milkshake
Arcade
If you think David Bowie covering Cars tunes would be a great idea, Ezra Reich
beat you to the punch with his sound.
In Ink Please – Formica
Table for Two
Lo-fi pop that stays in its comfort zone and works well there.
The Hourly Radio –
History Will Never Hold Me
Pop/rock with an array of vocal types and moods that impresses throughout.
Middle Distance
Runner – Plane in Flames
Guitar rock that can’t quite settle down on a mood or idea, this album
is a good start that needs clarity.
The Seventh Season - Transposition
DVD
Trippy classic rock performed well that doesn’t stand up to the visual
test.
Dead Leaf Echo –
Faint Violet Whiff
80’s new-wave that would succeed admirably, if not for the difficult vocals.
November 06
Kkzcch! – S/t
10 amazing spaz/grindcore songs in about 3 minutes on a cassette tape. Does
DIY get any better?
Josh Caress –
Josh Caress Goes on an Adventure!
Passionate, relateable travelogue from this horribly underappreciated acoustic
singer/songwriter.
5th Projekt - Circadian
Unique art/space/indie rock that doesn’t sound forced or difficult.
This Holiday
Life – Friction
Impressive upbeat indie-rock that accomplishes exactly what it set out to do.
Look Mexico! –
The Crucial EP
Energetic indie-rock with infectious melodies and instrumental talent to spare.
Books about
UFO’s – Let the Bridges Ignite
A stellar punk release that points toward an amazing live show.
Addison Park -
Seven
Invigorating pop-punk that makes up for subpar lyrics in excellent musicianship.
Comeback Tour
– Apologizing the Broadcast
Intelligent, literate rock that builds on its influences without ripping them
off.
Inderma
Records, Vol 1
A compilation you need to hear from a non-profit record label releasing improv
and ambient records.
Andy Werth –
Back to the Sun EP
Cheery, catchy, short EP that showcases strong songwriting talent.
The Heathens –
Big White House
Alt-country that isn’t too hard to swallow, as it is tempered with rock’n’roll
and sex.
Oh No Ono - Yes
The kitchen sink is probably present on this eclectic dance-based album.
Persephone’s
Bees – Notes from the Underworld
Cultures collide on this bizarre yet still accessible pop album.
The Alpine –
On Feel Trips
Giddy power-pop sing-a-longs drive this album.
Paradigm –
The Madhouse
Great alt-rock album falls just short of awesome due to lack of a certain oomph.
Blag’ard –
Blank Faced Clocks EP
A solid release to establish Blag’ard’s claim in the rock world.
Springhill –
A Year from the Valley EP
Fun but not challenging, this pop/jam band is the roll-down-the-windows-and-sing
type.
Shiny Toy Guns
– We are Pilots
Although inconsistent, the high points of this pop/rock album outweigh the lows.
Josh James –
Painted in a Corner
Acoustic singer/songwriter works with a full band to mixed results.
September 06
Joanne Juskus
– See Your Face
An impressive new voice in the female songwriter canon, Juskus’ world-pop
shines.
Latterman - …We
Are Still Alive
Sincere, gratifying, intense punk that will impress you.
Beards – Stealing
Ain’t What It Used to Be
A sorrow-soaked minimalist folk outing that will have fans of sad music entranced.
The Great
Crusades – Four Thirty EP
Chicago blues-rock that rocks all the way through.
The Mars Patrol
– Are You With Me?
Indie-rock with a pop twist that will get stuck in your head.
Mannequin Men
– Showbiz Witch
While not a savior to grunge or punk, the energy encapsulated here makes for
a great listen.
Marc with a
C – Life’s So Hard
Quirky lo-fi acoustic-led pop with interesting, fun lyrics.
August 06
Homemade Knives
– No One Doubts the Darkness
Masterfully accomplished, this folky, acoustic album is a jewel.
Blue Velvet –
Four Songs EP
Rewriting the post-rock play book by abandoning narrative structure? Blue Velvet
wins!
Sinks of Gandy -
Trust = Damage
Garage-ish pop/rock doesn’t get much better than what the Sinks of Gandy
have put together.
Lonely China Day
– S/t EP
Glitchy, technologically influenced post-rock that’s still as beautiful
as you expect it to be.
Shotgun Monday
- Read Compare Adjust
Reminiscent of At the Drive-In and Texas is the Reason, Shotgun Monday has their
feet planted firmly in real emo.
Scanners – Violence is Golden
Establishing their claim in the Indie-rock world, Scanners’ female-led,
darkly atmospheric album is solid.
Stellamaris EP
Potential abounds for this intelligent pop/rock band- seriously.
Hairshirt – Lover
Politician EP
Gleefully done 80’s revivalism that actually merits repeat listens.
Banner Pilot –
Pass the Poison EP
A 17-minute punk blast that incorporates old-school and modern punk elements.
Edenpark – The
_______ Album
Classic-styled punk that is entertaining for a couple listens.
12 Summers Old –
Hairspray and Hand Grenades
A decent emo/power-pop band that could be so much more with a genre change.
Exist – S/t
EP
Talented musician produces an acoustic/electric guitar EP that doesn’t
stand out.
July 06
Withdrawal –
The Perfectionist Blacklist
Creative alt-rock that includes a horn in its wide scope.
Fairmont – The Subtle
Art of Making Enemies EP
A promising bitter indie-rock band lays down an exciting EP.
Metermaid – Live
Together
Indie-pop that retains both the rock and roll edge and the pop sheen.
More
Animals of the Arctic – An Appendix of Whaling Terms
Talented, isolated, atmospheric music that takes concentration to enjoy.
Esotype Records - ER
Sampler
An ambient-indie label struts its stuff with much success.
Driveby – I Hate
Every Day Without You
An extremely solid pop-punk record that should get Driveby where they want to
go.
Marwood – One Mile
Down the Road
Honest, genuine, and gripping pop/rock/blues album.
The Fades – Social
Misfits
An enjoyably non-serious punk rock record.
I Must Have - Mediocrity
Bad production and shoddy live performances cripple this album.
R Star – Songs from
the Eye of an Elephant
Piano-pop that goes a bit over-the-top and misses its mark.
June 06
The Mark– Blackouts
of Whitecaps EP
Timeless, non-trendy rock that blows the competition out of the water.
New Grenada –
Modern Problems
An extremely tight bass-heavy indie-rock band with male/female singalongs and
Steve Albini producing.
Russkaja - Aaban EP
The world’s only Russian folk/ska/punk band tears it up with this amazing
EP
Butros Butros –
The Lexington Sessions EP
Fun-loving, southern-roots rock that is brash and in-your-face.
Hacia Dos Veranos
- Fragmentos de Una Tarde Somnolienta EP
A short instrumental EP that captures a lot of moods but remains mostly dreamy.
Red Sky Morning
– Blood for Ink
An album that blasts back and forth between genres, creating surprisingly cohesive
punk/rock/reggae/ska hybrid.
Bogart – The Love
LP
A quirky album that pits pop sensibilities against experimental tendencies with
generally good results.
School – S/t
Death Cab for Cutie, as covered by the early 80’s Cure. It’s good,
though.
The Elms – Chess
Hotel
An alt/classic rock album that documents life in a small town with good results.
The Psycho Nubs
– The First Human Beings to Die on the Moon
Punk that stays true to its roots in songwriting and lyrics- raw, passionate,
and quick.
This Evening –
S/t EP
Talented, fun, enjoyable dance-rock that doesn’t push many boundaries.
Violins – Pink Water
Brit-pop via Bright eyes- a songwriter just discovering his own niche.
Jeff Huffines - Demos
A laundry list of styles and forms, these demos show real promise to develop.
Woodale – Finish
What You Start EP
Upbeat power-pop-rock with good vocals that has the benefit of right time, right
place.
Garth Michael
McDermott – Highways and Ghosts
A strong musician releases an average album of predictable pop.
May 06
Forgive Durden –
5-song Prerelease EP
Surprisingly talented pop-rock group mixes in a lot of odd influences to create
a unique sound.
Bell Hollow –
S/t EP
Nocturnal alternative rock that puts the ‘gentle’ back in gentlemen.
RIFU – Dead End Street
Punk and hardcore are blended nicely in this Norwegian band’s album.
Private Eleanor
– No Straight Lines
Sweet, thoughtful, literate indie-pop for fans of Belle and Sebastian.
Mon Frere – Blood,
Sweat, and Swords
Dance-heavy rock with pop sensibilities and the catchiest hooks anywhere.
Dropgun – Devil Music
Dirty and loving it, Dropgun is a great old-school punk band.
Airport Cathedral - Jetlag
Entrancing indie-rock that recreates the slowed-down feel of jetlag.
Last Falling –
In Loving Memory
An impressive alt-rock album that expands upon influences without ripping them
off.
Vindissues/aloo –
Diary of a Traveling Salesman
Alt Rock, Classic Rock, and Grunge all find their way into Vindaloo’s
Seattle-cooked mix.
Paul Kerschen –
The Pacific Theater
A good power-pop album that suffers when the vocals do.
The Five Mod Four -
Whiskers
A humble indie-pop release that comes off as a little too humble.
Gates Called
Beautiful – A Glimpse of Innocence
A talented screamo band doesn’t showcase its best aspects.