Music
Review: Laibach – Spectre
Although this release has some of the aggressive, cadence-type music that we are used to, it also has a variety of calmer music styles to it as well. It includes a touch of experimental, drum and bass, EBM and even dubstep on some tracks. … read more
Review: Jupe Jupe – Crooked Kisses
This quartet from Seattle is somewhere between Metronomy and the more emotional side of Duran Duran. Jupe Jupe’s presence, overall, is a bit too mellow for me, but it’s hard not to appreciate such a well-crafted album. … read more
Review: JG Thirlwell – The Blue Eyes Original Motion Picture...
Those who may be unfamiliar with Thirlwell’s name have heard his work if they’ve ever watched The Venture Brothers. The Blue Eyes is a dark affair, heavy on noir swells, plucked strings, drawn noise, and bass whispers. It sets and maintains a mood. I haven’t seen the film, but enjoyed the score. … read more
![Review: Jensen – Zero One [Redux]](/uploads/303/7300-jensen-crop-396x288.jpg)
Review: Jensen – Zero One [Redux]
I loved this album; it was raw, brutal and contained an explosion of angst and anger that turns this album into a must have for any fan of electronic industrial. … read more
Review: Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo
Rashad takes his father’s abandonment and turns it into a moral imperative—a move that could have been trite in hands of a lesser MC. This, however, is a daring labor of love by a very gifted young man. These strong but flawed songs creep into your soul without you even realizing it—the same way that forgiveness can. … read more
Review: Indian – From All Purity
“Rhetoric of No” and “The Impetus Bleeds” seem to signal a return to the lively riffing of their previous albums, but then the band inevitably falls back into a yawn-inducing sound coma. Containing little substance to be admired, From All Purity marks the low point in Indian’s discography. … read more
Review: The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
It’s a straightforward rock n’ roll record with a punk vibe and a 1970s rock aftertaste. This is partly due to the addition of guitarist Steve Selvidge, and partly because the session was overseen by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush). … read more
Review: Helm – The Hollow Organ EP
This album’s melodic yet uneasy synth and echoing chains of chaotic noise are carefully tucked in the background of an unsettling world. If you are a fan of Blizzard’s Diablo 2 soundtrack, I would highly recommend this album. … read more
Review: Hauschka – Abandoned City
When I listened to the album, all I could think of is how great of a soundtrack this would be for a post-apocalyptic movie. Piano is the main instrument, along with computer-generated drumbeats, which are incredibly organic sounding, and various strings being plucked to provide an interesting texture. … read more
Review: Guided By Voices – Motivational Jumpsuit
“The biggest fish in the smallest pond?” he asks in “Littlest League,” seeming to question his indie-rock legend status. Pollard seems bent on creating works that are more and more self-assured and, in some small way, monumental, even when he doesn’t always knock one out of the park. … read more
Review: The Gaslight Anthem – The B-Sides
If you haven’t at least gone through Gaslight’s more polished releases, this is not for you, and is not designed to be your first Gaslight experience. They take a shot at The Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice,” which is an uphill battle they manage quite well. … read more
Review: Gardens & Villa – Dunes
Much like their eponymous 2011 debut, the new Gardens & Villa album frequently combines lead singer and guitarist Chris Lynch’s flute playing with the synths of Adam Rasmussen that recalls the early-’80s styling of this amalgam, with mostly successful results. … read more
